Biggles guns them down

The win by Biggles (Tintin In America) at the Forbury Park harness meeting at Oamaru gave his Geraldine trainer John Murdoch another lift.

Murdoch has been through some tough times recently after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

“The big buzz is that the doctors fixed me. They did a wonderful job and I’m away again. I’m all clear and the Doctor said he doesn’t want to see me for another year,” he said.

Biggles qualified on the Oamaru course in March 2022 but didn’t begin his racing career until two years later when he ran second on debut on the Oamaru grass surface.

“He could have raced as a young horse but he was immature and needed to grow up a bit. In the meantime I got cancer and had to have treatment, so he just stayed in the paddock waiting on me. It was probably really good for him. He’s a lovely horse to do anything with and as I’m getting on a bit he’s ideal for me.”

The gelding’s fourth dam Dawn Mist, won twelve races including the inaugural Nevele R Three Year Old Fillies Series Final in 1979.

“He (Biggles) was advertised on the internet as a yearling with his mother. He was just down the road so we went to have a look at him and he was magnificent. So we just bought him.”

The Murdochs still have Biggles’ mother Jill Ireland on their property.

“She’s an Artsplace mare. They’re like gold. I’m tempted to take her down to Macca Lodge and get her served by Lord Forbes. She’s seventeen but she’s as fit as a trout.”

Biggles is named after the First World War comic character and Murdoch races the gelding in partnership with his wife Joy.

“Our daughter was having a baby and we knew it was going to be a boy. I came up with this bright idea tongue in cheek, to call him Biggles. Anyway she had the baby and rang up and said Biggles had been born, but she was only kidding. She never called him Biggles so when we bought the horse there was only one name for it.”

In today’s Icon Interior Construction Handicap Pace, driver Seth Hill got Biggles away safely from the ten metre mark and heading out of the first bend he had the gelding in front.

The seven year old was challenged by both The Highlander and Catherine at the end of the 2600 metres but found another gear and beat Catherine by half a length with The Highlander a length and three quarters back in third.

BIGGLES REPLAY

“We’re thrilled with that. He’s a bit of a trick because he knocks off if there are no horses around him. When the other horses came up beside him Seth said he kicked into it again. He said he activated the pulled down blinds at the 1000 metres because he was just goofing around.”

The win was Biggles third in his eighteen start career and second in a row. He won a week ago at Ashburton and with the race conditions carrying a junior driver concession, his rating points will remain the same.

Murdoch has held a training license since 1991, his first winner was General Grace at Omakau in 1994.
He’s been his best horse, winning ten races including two Waikouaiti Cups.

“His name came up today because after we won that race Phil Williamson said that horse would be ideal for another Waikouaiti Cup. There’s a fair chance we will.”

John and Joy have a twelve acre lifestyle block near Geraldine where he does some of his training.

“I jog him around on the back of a motorbike but mostly I go down to the track (Orari). It’s only nine ks from here and a flat tarseal road. It’s a great crew there. They’re all volunteers.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink