Win salutes ‘Snauzzer’

Bruce Stewart Journalist

The Fahy family owned Rakamurph’s (Captaintreacherous) win at Ascot Park was a fitting result for both the Fahy and Gillespie families. Friends Brendan Fahy and John ‘Snauzzer’ Gillespie went over to Australia to attend the Interdominions but very sadly and unexpectedly, John died in Brisbane last week.

“He was always at the races. He was a passionate racegoer and we were fortunate enough to train a few horses for him. It’s a shame, but he was doing what he enjoyed doing. It was fitting today to have black armbands on for him,” Rakamurph’s trainer Tony Stratford said.

John had shares in numerous horses over the years, including Silent Assassin who won five, four for Nip Crooks and one for Roy and Barry Purdon. His win for the Purdons was in the Northern Hemisphere Final at Alexandra Park.

Gillespie raced another recent winner in Son Of The Cleaner, and he was also part of the Essemdee Syndicate which raced Snow Fella who won ten races and ran third behind two champions, Chokin and Christopher Vance in the 1993 Federal Motors Peugeot 2000 which is now called the Canterbury Classic.

In today’s race, from his second line draw driver Mark Hurrell had little option but to settle Rakamurph off the early pace as favourite Utah Jazz sped to the lead from her wide draw. Blaze Lightning took it to Utah Jazz early, while Hurrell sat back in sixth posse. With a lap to run Utah Jazz was softened up again by Song Sung Blue which again played into Rakamurph’s hands. At the 500 Hurrell let Rakamurph roll and he powered around the field three wide. Just when Song Sung Blue looked a likely winner, Rakamurph kept up his sustained run to get up and beat Song Sung Blue by a neck with a nose back to Step It Up A Notch.

The gelding began his career with Nathan Williamson and won three races as a two year old, starting in both the Sires’ Stakes Final and Ace of Spades that season.

He only had seven starts at three and ten starts for one win at four, before he struggled with issues of being unsound.

He had his last start for Williamson in May 2024 and reappeared for his new stable a year later, winning at Winton fresh up. He then had another twelve months off before he started his six year old campaign at Gore last month, 1 finishing last.  

“He’s always had a few leg issues which is why it was twelve months before we got him. Luckily enough he won first up when he was down in grade. He looked a bit unsound again so we threw him out. This was his second run back this time and it took that run at Gore to bring him on for today. He’s a good horse.”