Hydrogen was a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse.
| Hydrogen | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Delville Wood (GB) |
| Grandsire | Bois Roussel (FR) |
| Dam | Sweet Sound (AUS) |
| Damsire | Magpie (GB) |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1948 |
| Country | Australia |
| Colour | Brown |
| Breeder | Percy Miller Kia Ora Stud |
| Owner | E.R.Williams |
| Trainer | Ted Hush |
| Record | 60:26-8-9 |
| Earnings | £59,444 |
| Major wins | |
| Hobartville Stakes (1951) Rosehill Guineas (1951) Craven Plate (1951,1952) Caulfield Guineas (1951) Victoria Derby (1951) VRC St Leger Stakes (1952) AJC St Leger (1952) Hill Stakes (1952,1953) Cox Plate (1952,1953) C.B.Fisher Plate (1952,1953) Alister Clark Stakes (1953) P.J. O'Shea Stakes (1953) Brisbane Cup (1953) Mackinnon Stakes (1953) St George Stakes (1953) Colin Stephen Stakes (1953) AJC Randwick Plate (1953) VRC Queens Plate (1953) | |
| Last updated on 28 December 2012 | |
By the imported stallion Delville Wood (who also sired Melbourne Cup winner Evening Peal) he was foaled in 1948 and was trained throughout his career by Ted Hush.[1]
Hydrogen failed by a neck of being the first horse to win three Cox Plates when beaten in 1951 as a three-year-old. He won the subsequent two editions of the race in 1952 and 1953.
An outstanding three-year-old he developed into one of Australia’s finest weight-for-age performers and the highest stakes earner at the time eclipsing the record previously held by Phar Lap.
A winner over six furlongs (1,200m) to two miles (3,200m) he won many major races including the 1951 Caulfield Guineas, 1951 Victoria Derby, 1951 Rosehill Guineas, 1951 Craven Plate, the 1952 and 1953 Cox Plate, 1953 LKS Mackinnon Stakes and the 1953 Brisbane Cup.[2]
He was retired to stud in 1954.
Owner E.R Williams was a founding part owner of the Woolworths retail chain in Sydney 1924 and was known in racing as the man with the 'Midas Touch' also owned Pride of Egypt, Lord Forrest and Forest Beau.[3] E.R.Williams died in March 1961
Trainer Ted Hush originally was a strapper for Newcastle trainer Alf Inkpen also rode as a jockey in the western districts of New South Wales.[4] Major race winners in Abspear 1943 Sydney Cup and Dewar 1943 Tramway Handicap bringing Hush into prominence at Randwick with other major winners being Russia 1946 Melbourne Cup, Pride of Egypt 1954 Victoria Derby and Caranna 1955 AJC Derby. Hush died in February 1957.
Hydrogen's racing record: 60 starts for 26 wins, 8 seconds, 9 thirds and 17 unplaced runs.[5]
Image gallery
edit-
1953 VRC Derby racebook front cover -
1953 VRC Derby raceday officials -
1953 LKS Mackinnon Stakes page showing the winner, Hydrogen -
Back cover showing enclosure information for visitors -
Ted Hush trainer at Kensington Racecourse
References
edit- ^ Arrold, Tony (1983). More Champions. Sydney: Tralca. pp. 98–101. ISBN 0959445811. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ "Hydrogen Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ National Library of Australia (25 November 1954). "Man with the Midas Touch". No. P 19. Western Mail, Perth. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ National Library of Australia (6 November 1946). "Hush Was a Strapper". No. P 2. Newcastle Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ "Hydrogen's Career Racing Record". millersguide.identika.com.au. Millers Guide. Retrieved 10 February 2019.