THIS year marks the 100th anniversary of a rare Melbourne Cup quinella that has a strong connection with the Manning.
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The great race in 1920 was won by Poitier with Erasmus second. Both were trained by Harry Robinson who was born at Glenthorne, although he was living in Sydney at the time.
Poitrel was a six-year-old stallion when he won the Melbourne Cup, lumping a mammoth 10 stone - he is one of just three horses to win carrying that much weight. Stablemate Erasmus was in front until the last half furlong when Poitrel shot through to greet the judge.
Ken Bracken was the jockey. Poitrel started at 8/1 and the winning time was 3.25.75 while the prizemoney was 9252 pounds. The start before the Melbourne Cup on October 9, Bracken steered Poitrel to win the AJC Randwick Plate.
Poitrel suffered from hoof problems, so was sparingly raced. It was claimed that Robinson had to stand the horse in boxes of clay, because racing shoes could not be nailed. In all Piotrel had 37 starts for 17 wins, three seconds and three placings and prizemoney of 26,920 pounds.
In 1932 the Sydney Mail newspaper declared Poitrel the best stayer of the previous 50 years.
Harry Robinson was born at Glenthorne and developed a love of racing from an early age, eventually becoming a trainer.
However, according to his obituary published in the Wingham Chronicle in 1944, Robinson tired of the racing game after his Melbourne Cup success and moved into other business ventures. He had interests in at least three suburban cinemas in Sydney, including the Boomerang at Coogee.
He returned to the Manning and purchased a farm at Taree Estate, described as one of the finest in the area. Robinson also built the Boomerang Theatre in Taree. The complex still stands and is the home of a number of businesses including Saltwater Wine.
Robinson also built an impressive residence in Victoria Street, where KFC is now situated.
He eventually returned to Sydney's northern beaches, residing at Balgowlah.
Robinson died in 1944 after a number of years ill-health. He was 73.
The Manning's association with the Melbourne Cup includes the 1881 winner, Zulu, owned by Charles McDonnell of Mondrook, where Zulu is buried.
In more recent times Wingham-born jockey Corey Brown won the cup on Shocking in 2009 and Rekindling in 2017.
Meanwhile, as previously reported there'll be no local program at Manning Valley's Bushland Drive next Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup meeting. However, the Winning Post Function Centre will be open.
Contact the race club for details.
