A trailblazing jockey, a favourite horse of one of Australia’s legendary trainers, and a world class breeder and administrator are being inducted into South Australian racing’s Hall of Fame this Saturday at Morphettville. The event coincides with TAB Finals Day which is a culmination of heats run right across South Australia.
Jockey Glynn Pretty was a household name in the 1960’s and 70’s and his influence is still felt today. He was instrumental in introducing safety vests and jockeys’ liability insurance as President of the SA Jockeys Association for 15 years.
After winning the 1963 Goodwood Handicap and the 1964 Adelaide Cup, Pretty moved to Singapore in 1966 where he dominated for four seasons including riding 10 winners on the Singapore Gold Cup card in 1969.
Glynn was also considered among the top jockeys in Hong Kong and Malaysia and rode for master trainer Bart Cummings in Adelaide who said that Pretty “may have been the best horseman he’d ever seen.”
Master broadcaster Bruce McAvaney is on the Hall of Fame selection panel and remembers watching Pretty ride.
“The first thing that struck you watching Glynn ride was his soft touch and balance. Horses travelled for him. He had that knack of making them run faster without hurting them,” said McAvaney.
“As we know, Bart paid him the ultimate compliment and his CV in this state would be even larger had he not gone to Asia and made such a mark there.
“It’s so fitting that he joins a group of contemporaries and competitors that were household names in South Australian sport, including Billy Pyers and Jimmy Johnson,” he said.
Multiple Group 1 winner Fileur was one of legendary trainer Colin Hayes’ favourite horses, and Colin’s son David has described the weight for age performer as a horse which helped Colin get his start in Melbourne.
In 1969 Fileur won three Group 1’s including the C F Orr, Turnbull and the Memsie Stakes, and finished second to Rain Lover in the Melbourne Cup.
“I remember Fileur so well. He was an absolute favourite of mine,” said McAvaney.
“It was the golden period in South Australian racing and this stayer who was bred to be a champion is one of the very first absolutely top-class horses trained by the legend, Colin Hayes.
“His rivalry with another South Australian great, Rain Lover, was so captivating. And arguably, his lasting legacy,” said McAvaney.
Even though he was a young boy at the time David, who’s now training in Hong Kong, clearly remembers Fileur being one of his dad’s absolute favourites.
“He was the stepping-stone from being a leading Adelaide trainer to stepping into the Melbourne Market and then of course the rest is history with 18 premierships but this horse helped him get his start in Melbourne,” said David.
“He was an incredibly consistent weight for age horse. For the best part of three seasons he performed in 1400 metres in the Memsie and competed very well in everything including a placing in the Melbourne Cup. It’ a horse every trainer needs and he is a really worthy inductee into the South Australian Hall of Fame,” he said.
The third inductee in 2023 is David Peacock who has been a leading breeder of thoroughbreds over many years, and a passionate supporter of SA breeders on a national basis.
Peacock’s horses carry the Discreet name and his lime green silks have been synonymous with success over many decades.
There were also two stints on the SAJC board from 1981 to 1991, and he served again from 2009 to 2012 as Chairman successfully helping to restore the club’s reputation with the State Government.
Peacock is known for his strong leadership and being a fierce advocate for the underprivileged. He has previously earned a Matrice Award for his service and contribution to breeding and racing administration in this State.
“David Peacock’s influence is significant – as a thoughtful administrator in some tough times, an owner, and, particularly, as a breeder,” said McAvaney.
“It’s people like David that are so important in that breeding area for South Australia, to maintain our relevance in the competitive world of yearling sales.”
The three inductees will be honoured at a function on TAB Finals Day (Saturday, November 25) and the nine-race program includes races named in their honour.
Along with McAvaney, the Hall of Fame selection panel includes Adrian Hancock, Terry McAuliffe, Leon Macdonald, Greg Rudolph and Aron Quinton.
