Rising stars to honour past great

A strong field of harness racing’s rising stars will contest Saturday night’s Chariots Of Fire qualifier at Tabcorp Park Menangle, with two raiders set to tackle the locals.

Making the trip north of the Murray River, Messini and Major Crocker have also been greeted with visitors’ draws in the feature.

Messini will begin from gate six for trainer Brent Lilley, while Major Crocker will come out of nine for Vince Vallelonga.

Both will need luck against talented opposition, including Bling It On, All Eyes On Us, El Fuego and recent Kiwi import, Whozideawasthis.

Yet, with all respect to the connections of the promising four-year-olds, they have a long way to go before they can be mentioned in the same breath as the champion which the heat honours – the immortal Hondo Grattan.

A once in a generation pacer, Hondo Grattan – or the Bathurst Bulldog as he was affectionately-known – was the idol of Australia during the 1970s.

In a time when harness racing was flourishing, Hondo Grattan was a household name as was his trainer-driver, A D (Tony) Turnbull.

Although he was a small, compact stallion, Hondo Grattan was built like a tank, with a heart as big as himself.

A dour stayer, with a tremendous burst of speed, Hondo Grattan was capable of testing any pacer in the world with his seemingly endless supply of stamina.

A son of Hondo Hanover, a 1:59.4 American-bred pacer, from Lola Grattan, Hondo Grattan was an instant success, scoring upon debut at Penrith on May 24, 1971, beating Tuapeka’s Garry and Karamea Stranger in 2:10.2.

Enjoying mixed luck during his next five starts, which netted a couple of placings, Hondo Grattan showed a glimpse of the greatness to come by winning 17 of his 21 three-year-old starts.

One of those victories included a New South Wales Derby heat at Harold Park, where he equalled the three-year-old track record of 2:02.8.

He finished sixth in the Final behind Bold Biami after enjoying a torrid run as the odds-on favourite.

Continuing his rapid rise through the grades at four, Hondo Grattan became the toast of the industry when he captured the Inter Dominion at Harold Park.

With Turnbull in the cart, Hondo Grattan worked hard outside the leader before digging deep into his reserves of stamina to score by a head from Royal Ascot, with Glamour Chief a yard away third.

Racing in solid form at the beginning of his five-year-old campaign, Hondo Grattan was set for his Inter Dominion defence.

With that year’s carnival staged at Perth’s Gloucester Park, Hondo Grattan was aiming to become the first pacer to claim consecutive titles.

Former warhorse, Captain Sandy, was the only dual Inter Dominion winner, having scored in 1950 and 1953.

Experiencing mixed luck during the heats, Hondo Grattan scraped into the Final as the lowest points earner.

In one of the most disastrous standing starts of all-time, a major pile-up brought down half the field, but not before Turnbull had Hondo Grattan safely away and in front of the crash.

Again working overtime during the run, Hondo Grattan outstayed his rivals to score from Adios Victor and Bret Armagh.

Next on the agenda was the Miracle Mile at Harold Park on March 15, which remains one of the most exciting editions of the famed sprint.

Much to the large crowds delight, Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios engaged in an epic struggle along the home straight.

With Hondo Grattan’s courage once again shining through, he completed a head win, with Mitchell Victory six metres away third.

At six, Hondo Grattan was given his chance for an unprecedented third Inter Dominion, but after an interrupted campaign, could only manage sixth in the New Zealand Final won by local star, Young Quinn.

Hondo Grattan competed with distinction during the next year, including a third behind Paleface Adios and Don’t Retreat in the Miracle Mile, before being retired following his minor placings at Bathurst on April 17, 1976.

He went to stud with 58 wins and 35 placings from 120 starts for earnings of $215,432.

Hondo Grattan failed to replicate his racing feats in the breeding barn, with moderate success coming as a sire.

• PAUL COURTS