Draft:Fine and Dandy

• Comment: Headings should use ==Heading markup==, no bold, in sentence capitalization. Newspapers in italics. —Anomalocaris (talk) 01:32, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

Fine and Dandy was an Australian champion racehorse in the period 1958 – 63. As a 2YO he won all the major races he contested in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland and as a result broke Tulloch's stakes winning record for 2YO's and was rated champion 2YO by the Australian Jockey Club handicapper. As an older horse he won the prestigious Doncaster Hcp (one mile) twice. In the first time he won by 4 lengths, setting a new Australian record for the mile. This was not equalled or broken up to the time that racing converted to the metric system where the mile was replaced by the shorter 1600 metres. He was born in 1956, part of an outstanding crop that included Noholme, Aquanita and Travel Boy, all of whom he defeated in what are now Group 1 races. He also defeated younger champions such as Sky High and Wenona Girl in such Group 1 races. Group races were first introduced to Australia in the 1979-80 season.^[1] Prestige races before then are called Principal races but it is common for racing experts to try to convert certain Principal races to Group 1 equivalents to compare horses from different eras.

He was bred by W.F. and F.A. Moses who put their fast mare Shading to Star Kingdom, the champion sire in 1959–1962 and 1965. She won 7 races from 5f to a mile and was a half neck second in the Flight Stakes (Sydney Morning Herald, 9 Oct. 1947: 7). She was also placed in the other fillies classics, the One Thousand Guineas, Wakeful Stakes and Adrian Knox Stakes.

Fine and Dandy was gelded before racing. He was a large impressive chestnut with a white blaze and white socks on both back feet. His colours were white, yellow sleeves and black cap. They were a variation of Poitrel's colours, the 1920 Melbourne Cup winner (The Age, 3 April 1961: 13) but Fine and Dandy's colours reversed Poitrel's yellow for the body and white for the sleeves. Poitrel had been raced by earlier members of the Moses family, Fred and William, who had made a 'magnificent contribution to the Australian thoroughbred industry' (Arrold, 1980: 161).

His trainer Harry Plant

Harry Plant trained the great Bernborough who won 15 races in a row often with huge weights against top class horses. It ended with his Caulfield Cup fifth carrying 10 stone 10 lbs (10.10) and in his next start he broke down (Arrold, 1980: 45-7). In the 20th century, handicappers gave huge weights to champions and very low ones to inferior horses to give them a good chance to win. In the 21st century, the now 'compressed' weights are far more lenient to champions, with the top weight lower (to entice their entry) and the bottom weight higher (as jockeys are heavier). An extreme case is Winx’s 2015 Epsom win where the top weight was 58 kg, Winx had 57 kg (9.0) and the bottom weight was 56 kg, carried by 9 of the 14 starters.^[2]

Plant was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2010 and humanely looked after his horses. He complained about the high weights Fine and Dandy had to carry in relation to his opposition as a result of his brilliant 2 year old season and record breaking Doncaster win.^[3]

His injuries as a foal

He was alone in a paddock being weaned off Shading when something spooked him. He took off at great speed and crashed over a fence injuring his near side shoulder. When he went to Plant he was still lame. Plant said 'He was lame for a long time and when he came to my stables he always took his weight on his off foreleg. As a result I always had to keep his off leg tightly bandaged to help it take the strain' (SMH, 18 March 1974: 13). Fine and Dandy missed most of his three year old season from shoulder problems.

At two years

1958 Breeders Plate, 5f

Fine and Dandy had won his only barrier trial, at Randwick, and was the race favourite but was very unlucky. From gate 9 he was wide all the way and sixth on the turn where he ran very wide. He was then checked, but finished brilliantly to fail by a head to catch his speedy stablemate Front Cover, who from gate 2 had led all the way on the fence.^[4]

1958 Canonbury Stakes, 5f

A week later in the Randwick Canonbury Stakes he had learnt from his race experience and was more tractable. He raced to the front and accelerated away to win by 8 lengths in the fast time of 59.2 secs.^[5]

1958 Maribyrnong Plate, 5f

Here he met the best 2YO's of Sydney and Melbourne. The filly Endure had won the Gimcrack Stakes and Debutante Stakes and the top class Melbourne colt Royal Artist had won the Debutant Stakes in fast time. Fine and Dandy won effortlessly by 8 lengths from Royal Artist. The Age, 3 Nov. 1958: 17 reported that it was one of the easiest wins in the history of the 2YO classic and that 'The further he went, the bigger his lead became'.

1959 Rosehill Flying Hcp, 31 January, 6f

To avoid huge weights Plant ran his champion 2YO against older horses. In this Flying he met the 3YO Bold Pilot who had won his first two races by 6 lengths and was the early favourite for the 1958 Golden Slipper, but fell ill on the Friday before and had to be a late scratching. He was second in the Canterbury Guineas, won the Rosehill Guineas, and beat Skyline (the 1958 Slipper winner) in the Rawson Stakes in course record time (all Group 1). The latter race was on the same day as Fine and Dandy's Golden Slipper. Fine and Dandy and Bold Pilot fought out the finish with Fine and Dandy winning narrowly.^[6]

1959 Rosehill Flying Hcp, 21 February, 6f

In this Flying he started favourite against several older top class rivals. Second favourite was 3YO In Love who won a Doomben 10,000 and was second in a Doncaster and Epsom (all Group 1), while 3YO Gabonia had beaten Skyline when both were two, won a Toorak Hcp, was a head second in another Toorak, and was placed in the Newmarket and Craven A sprints (all Group 1). A third rival was 5YO Book Link who won three Group 1 races, one being the Railway Quality run just before Fine and Dandy's Golden Slipper. As they jumped Fine and Dandy shifted backwards, landed awkwardly and was briefly last in a field of 20, but his speed enabled him to make up the ground. He moved past In Love who was fourth at the ½ mile post and hit the front a furlong out to win by a length, an extraordinary win for a 2YO.^[7]

In the 2YO race 35 minutes earlier, Todman's younger brother Noholme had won impressively. Fine and Dandy's time was 0.2 sec faster, despite him missing the start, but Noholme looked a threat in the Golden Slipper.^[8]

1959 Golden Slipper, 6f (Group 1)

Fine and Dandy was 11/8 on and Noholme second favourite at 11/4. Endure from gate 2 led the field and Fine and Dandy from gate 7 moved up to second. Noholme from gate 5 was sixth. At the ½ mile post Fine and Dandy was still second and Noholme had advanced to fifth spot. On the turn Fine and Dandy was closing on Endure while Noholme was seventh. In the straight Fine and Dandy joined Endure and accelerated away to establish a huge lead. The race was effectively over. Noholme couldn't make any headway, Endure was fading, and from well back Akimbo was finishing strongly. Jack Thompson, his jockey, let Fine and Dandy just coast to the line for an easy win from Akimbo and Morning Star.^[9]

1959 AJC Sires Produce Stakes, 7f (Group 1)

Here he met the strong and tenacious Travel Boy who had won the VRC Sires Produce and Ascot Vale Stakes beating Victoria's best 2YO Prince Lea in both. His trainer Tom Smith thought so highly of him he was thinking of taking him to the USA with Tulloch. He later won the VRC Derby by 5 lengths, QTC Derby by 6 lengths and Craven Plate. He was also a strong second to Martello Towers in the AJC Derby, beaten only ¾ length (Arrold, 1983: 120). Fine and Dandy led with Travel Boy keeping in close touch. The two had a battle royal down the straight with Fine and Dandy doing better near the post to win narrowly.^[10]

1959 QTC Sires Produce Stakes, 7f

This was the big race for 2YO's in Queensland and had strong fields at the time. The great Tulloch had won it in 1957. Fine and Dandy jumped well and led all the way, defeating Queensland's best 2YO, Intrigued.^[11] After an unlucky defeat at his first start he had finished his 2YO season with 7 consecutive wins.

Breaking Tulloch's stakes winning record for two-year-olds

In 1957 the champion Tulloch had won the VRC, AJC and QTC Sires Produce Stakes treble, setting a new stakes winning record for 2YO's of £18,479. Fine and Dandy's major wins in the Golden Slipper, AJC Sires, QTC Sires and VRC Maribyrnong Plate enabled him to break the record with earnings of £19,024.^[12]

Top of the Free Handicap

When the Free Handicap weights were issued by handicapper Ken Goodwin in August 1959, Find and Dandy was the clear champion 2YO. He was 5 lbs above the next best Travel Boy, 11 lbs above Noholme, 12 lbs above Martello Towers, 14 lbs (1 stone) above Prince Lea and 1 stone, 3 lbs above Front Cover and Endure.^[13]

At three years

Fine and Dandy missed all the 3YO classic races due to soreness in his near shoulder.^[14] Plant gave him a long spell.

1960 City Tattersalls Club Flying, 6f

After nearly a year's absence, he made it 8 wins in a row when he easily won the Tattersalls Club Flying at Randwick carrying 11 lbs more than 5YO Great Blaze who ran second. He was then sent to Brisbane for the rich Stradbroke Hcp.^[15]

1960 Queensland Turf Club Lightning Stakes, 5F

In this sprint he had the big weight of 9.1 for a 3YO and struggled on the heavy track which dulled his speed. He was second to 4YO mudlark Wallgar who had 2 stone less at 7.1 and whose true ability had been hidden in bush racing. The top class Stradbroke fancies Second Earl and Prince Lea were unplaced.^[16] In 1959 Second Earl had won the Lightning Stakes and Doomben 10,000.

1960 Stradbroke Hcp, 7f (Group 1)

Here he was handicapped at 1 stone 8 lbs more than Wallgar. From gate 13 he raced on the outside of Second Earl and the two set a fast pace. He drew clear and looked the winner but was again second, caught late by Wallgar who from gate 7 had a soft run behind the pace. The other fancies In Love, Second Earl, Prince Lea and Correct were unplaced. Turf expert Roy Abbott commented on Fine and Dandy's great run and the huge disparity in weights.^[17]

Wallgar's ability was now evident and with 8.2 he started favourite for the Doomben 10,000 but couldn't get the easy run he had in the Stradbroke. He had drawn wide and ran fourth. His sire Ungar was top class, winning his first six races including the Merson Cooper and VRC Sires Produce. In the Sires he beat the great Comic Court. Ungar also won the 1949 Doomben 10,000.^[18]

In his next two races Fine and Dandy's form deteriorated. He was third in the Healy Stakes to horses he had beaten clearly in the Stradbroke. Plant wanted to scratch him from the Doomben 10,000. However after consultation with the owners it was decided to run him, but he ran below his best and was unplaced.^[19]

At four years

1960 Chester Handicap, 6f

After a spell he met Merry Polly who had been a close third in the 1960 Newmarket Hcp (Group 1), only a ½ length behind winner Correct, with Noholme unplaced. She had recently won The Shorts (Group 2). He defeated her by 1¼ lengths but carried 1 stone more and Plant and the owners were not happy with the heavy weights he had been getting.^[20]

He then had an unsuccessful trip to Melbourne with two unplaced runs under 9.1, one of which was a poor run in the George Adams mile. The track was heavy and on the anticlockwise turn he had to take the impact of his 9.1 weight on his troublesome near side (left) shoulder. He carried 11 lbs more than the champion miler Aquanita, who won by a head from Sky High (The Age, 7 Nov. 1960: 23). Plant had to spell him.

A conditioning run in a Flying

Fine and Dandy and Wenona Girl resumed in February 1961 in a Flying Hcp (6f). He carried 9.4, 12 lb more than her and 1 stone 2 lbs more than the winner Achnacary who was race fit and had won three of his last four starts. Fine and Dandy ran a creditable third given his high weight and lack of fitness.^[21]

1961 Railway Quality, 7f (Group 1)

He then ran in the Railway Quality with the big weight of 9.4 and gate 17. He spent energy crossing the field but had the race won until the last stride when lightly weighted 6YO Grecian Vale, with 1 stone 7 lbs less, beat him by a short head. He was on the speed all the way and the time was a race record.^[22] This run brought him to peak fitness.

1961 Doncaster Hcp, 1 mile (Group 1)

Sky High with 8.9 was odds on in a strong field, having won his last 4 races, including an easy win over Aquanita in the All Aged Stakes. He had drawn perfectly in gate 4. Fine and Dandy with 8.10 had drawn wide. Keith Smith his jockey urged him along from gate 19. Ken Howard's call noted Fine and Dandy going fast out wide. He crossed the field of 22 and set a very fast pace. Sky High was well placed, not far from the lead, as was Wenona Girl. Fine and Dandy led into the straight and Sky High threatened briefly but Fine and Dandy drew away again to win easily by 4 lengths. The lightly weighted Friar's Peak edged Sky High for second by a ½ head. Wenona Girl was fourth, 6 lengths behind Fine and Dandy and Aquanita was 7 lengths behind him. Fine and Dandy had set a new Australian record for the mile of 1 min 34.2 secs.^[23]

Turf expert John Schofield called it an 'amazing feat of sustained sprinting' (The Bulletin, 5 April 1961: 42).

The Age turf expert 'Heroic' wrote: 'Sky High was always handy but, brilliant as this colt has proved himself, he was run off his legs by the winner' and 'The first two furlongs were run in 23½ sec., the first half-mile in 47½ sec., the first five furlongs in 1.0½ and the six furlongs in 1.11. It was a terrific exhibition of sustained speed as Fine and Dandy ran home the last two furlongs in 23 1-5 sec. to win by 4 lengths.' (The Age, 2 April 1961: 16).

Fine and Dandy still holds this mile record. A mile is 30.7 feet longer than 1600m and the racing metric change was in August 1972. A check of all the main Australian mile races shows that the record wasn't equalled or broken up to this date.

1961 City Tattersalls Club Flying, 6f

Fine and Dandy next ran in the Tattersalls Club Flying, handicapped at 9.7, and the strong field included Fountainhead (9.4), Grenoble (9.1) and Martello Towers (9.0), all of Group 1 calibre. He won easily from extreme lightweight Seal Keeper (6.11) with Grecian Vale (7.11) beating Martello Towers in a photo for third, and Fountainhead another ½ length back.^[24]

1961 Civic Handicap, 6f

He then met the champion filly Wenona Girl in the Civic Handicap. He had 9.11 and she had 8.11. Ray Bradley's 5 lb claim reduced his weight to 9.6. From gate 2 Wenona Girl led while Fine and Dandy from gate 10 was caught three and four horses wide. In the straight he joined her and the two champions went head and head until Fine and Dandy proved too strong and won by a neck. His odds as the 1961 Stradbroke favourite shortened. Wenona Girl was the Stradbroke second favourite.^[25]

1961 Stradbroke Hcp, 7f (Group 1)

He was top weight at 9.4, 7 lbs more than Aquanita and 11 lbs more than Wenona Girl. Unfortunately he fell ill in Brisbane on the Tuesday before the race. He was distressed after slow work and had a fever of 104°F, his temperature taken twice by vet Percy Sykes. Plant said not to back him until Saturday to see if the issue resolves (SMH 7 June 1961: 20). On Wednesday he seemed normal but Plant was still concerned (Canberra Times 8 June 1961: 32). On Friday morning his temperature was up slightly but was then normal in the afternoon. Plant said he appears to be well 'but the race is the only thing which will prove if he is himself' (Canberra Times, 10 June 1961: 28).

Sadly he ran last, pulling up very distressed. Plant said 'there was definitely something wrong with the horse' (Sun Herald, 11 June 1961: 32) and withdrew him from the Doomben 10,000. The Stradbroke winner was Persian Lyric whom Fine and Dandy had easily beaten two weeks earlier in the Civic Hcp.

At five years

In his 5YO season he had to carry heavy weights against top class opposition. He resumed in the Warwick Stakes (now the Winx Stakes, Group 1) over 7 furlongs. The track was soft which did not suit him, but he ran a solid fourth behind Sky High. His jockey George Podmore said that 'he slipped all over the place' (SMH, 31 August 1961: 14).

For the rich Daily Telegraph Stakes the handicapper thought he was 2 lbs superior to Sky High over 6 furlongs, giving him 9.5 and Sky High 9.3. Sky High won the race by a neck from Columbia Star. Fine and Dandy under his 9.5 came home strongly from eighth on the turn for fourth. Wenona Girl was fifth, 2 lengths behind him.^[26]

1961 Epsom Hcp, 1 mile (Group 1)

His main target in Sydney was the prestigious Epsom Handicap. Again the handicapper rated him superior to Sky High giving him 9.4, Sky High 9.2 and Wenona Girl 8.9. George Moore had Sky High third for most of the race but suddenly stole a winning break on the turn, dashing him clear. Fine and Dandy finished fast but couldn't catch him and ran a strong second. Wenona Girl was sixth, four lengths behind Fine and Dandy. Sky High with 9.2 had run the mile in 1 min 34.3 secs, only 0.1 sec outside Fine and Dandy's Australian record.^[27] Fine and Dandy was 1¾ lengths behind, running approximately 1 min 34.5, a superb run considering his 9.4. Sky High was now widely regarded as Australia's best racehorse after Tulloch's retirement.

Plant had been preparing Fine and Dandy for the Caulfield Cup (1½ miles) but returned him to races up to a mile after he ran fifth in two middle distance races and sent him for a spell.

He resumed in a Rosehill Flying (6f) where he was handicapped at 9.11, 1 stone 2 lbs more than the rising star Kilshery and 2 stone, 9 lbs more than the speedy Minikin. He needed the conditioning run and was only ninth at the ½ mile but finished strongly to get third behind Kilshery and Minikin.^[28]

1962 Railway Quality, 7f (Group 1)

Here the betting order was Kilshery, Fine and Dandy and Prince Regoli. Fine and Dandy had the heavy weight of 9.7, 10 lbs more than Kilshery. He was fifth early, second at the ½ mile and took the lead in the straight but was beaten a ½ neck by Prince Regoli who carried 2 stone 5 lbs less, a huge differential. Another lightweight, Friar's Peak was 1¼ lengths away third, narrowly ahead of Kilshery who was fourth.^[29]

1962 Doncaster Hcp, 1 mile (Group 1)

Plant was very pleased with his condition and was optimistic that he would win his second Doncaster. He was top weight at 9.5, with Wenona Girl on 8.12 and Kilshery on 8.8. He was going well in second place behind Ginnagulla but at the ½ mile post he 'was knocked out of the race' (Sun Herald, 22 April 1962: 23) by the wayward Mullala and almost came down. He just managed to stay on his feet but slowed to a near canter under his 9.5 and rapidly fell back through the field, ending his prospects. At the stewards' enquiry Mullala's jockey, J. Baker, said he had been fighting Mullala all the way to try to keep him straight. In the same incident the stewards noted that Borneo was forced onto the rails. The winner was Te Poi at 20/1 with Prince Regoli second and Emboss third, all carrying light weights. Kilshery and Wenona Girl were unplaced.^[30]

Shortly after, Fine and Dandy was third in the All Aged Stakes (Group 1) behind Kilshery and Wenona Girl on a bog track where they ploughed through the mud in a very slow 1 min 43.7 secs for the mile.^[31]

1962 City Tattersalls Club Flying, 6f

He then ran in the Tattersalls Club Flying where he was handicapped at 9.11. Neville Voigt's 7 lb claim reduced this to a tolerable 9.4 and Fine and Dandy won easily. The favourite Prince Regoli had 8.5 but was unplaced.^[32]

1962 Stradbroke Hcp, 7f (Group 1)

In the 1962 Stradbroke Fine and Dandy carried 9.2. Kilshery had 8.10 and Samson had only 8.0. Kilshery, at the peak of his form, won in race record time. Fine and Dandy ran on gamely under his 9.2 for a strong third, a nose behind the lightly weighted 4YO, Samson.^[33]

As it often did after several starts, his form tapered off with a fourth and a second in the lead up races to the Doomben 10,000 before finishing unplaced in that race.

At six years

He resumed in the Tramway Hcp (7f) where he was allotted 9.7 and ran a solid fifth to Bogan Road.^[34] Then in the Theo Marks Quality with 8.12 he finished fast along the rails for a close third to Bush Belle who had 7.7.^[35] These were warm-up races for the 1962 Epsom where he would again clash with Sky High but his form had deteriorated and he was unplaced. Sky High took the lead in the straight but struggled under his huge weight of 10.2 and was also unplaced.^[36] Fine and Dandy followed this with a moderate fifth to New Statesman in the George Main Stakes, about a length and a half from the winner in a bunched finish.^[37]

Temporary retirement

Plant knew that Fine and Dandy was racing well below his best and related why he was temporarily retired. He said 'Although he is a big horse, Fine and Dandy cannot carry big weights, yet practically all his life he has been handicapped to carry more than 9 stone' (SMH, 13 April 1963: 15). Rather than have him continue under heavy weights that could aggravate his shoulder problems the owners retired him. He was turned out to the paddocks and left to fend for himself, eating only grass and not being given any feed. He began to thrive on this and his owners noticed how well he was doing. After 4 months out, they decided to give him another chance at racing, in particular another shot at the Doncaster.

He resumed racing in the G. F. Wilson Hcp at Warwick Farm and was allocated top weight at 9.7. Neville Voigt's 7 lb claim reduced this to 9.0. Voigt didn't bustle him and he settled down in fifth place. In the straight he finished strongly along the rails for third to Trace Call (7.9) and Port Fair (7.0), only a length behind the winner.^[38]

1963 Liverpool Handicap, 7f

He then ran in the Liverpool Handicap, now the Liverpool City Cup, where he was given 9.3. It was usually held at Warwick Farm but rain had flooded the track and was held at Randwick where the track was heavy. He started from gate 14, the outside, and met top class horses including Birthday Card, Le Storm, King Brian and Native Statesman. Rather than bustle him for a good position, Neville Voigt sat quietly and let him choose where to settle, which was tenth. He was ninth into the straight and Voigt moved him to the outside to get a clear run. He then finished brilliantly to take the lead near the post, beating Figaro by a long neck with Le Storm a close third.^[39]

1963 Doncaster Hcp, 1 mile (Group 1)

Fine and Dandy was now thriving. In trackwork on the Tuesday before the race he gave Le Storm 6 lengths start, caught up to him and then drew away to beat him by 6 lengths.^[40] In the race he had 8.12 and was 4/1 favourite in a strong field. His main rival was thought to be Prince Regoli who was second in the 1962 Doncaster and had won the last two Railway Quality Handicaps. He was known as a strong finisher. Another threat was Our Cobber with 5 wins and a second from his last 7 starts. In the Newmarket Handicap (Group 1) he showed brilliant speed from gate 17 to cross over to the inside rail to lead all the way, beating Kilshery, with Wenona Girl unplaced. Other top class rivals were Toi Port who won two Epsoms and beat Sky High and Wenona Girl in the Hill Stakes (8½f) and New Statesman who won the William Reid Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, VRC Derby and George Main Stakes and was a neck second in the Cox Plate.

From gate 10 Fine and Dandy easily crossed over to be third behind the leaders Our Cobber and Lord Kandavu. In the straight he joined Our Cobber a furlong out and took the lead. Our Cobber ran a great race and fought back tenaciously but Fine and Dandy was never threatened. Without being pushed right out he won by half a length from Our Cobber. His rider, Bill Pyers said 'he won with something in hand' (Sun Herald, 14 April 1963: 25). His time for the race was very fast, only 4/5 sec outside his Australian record. Toi Port and Bush Belle flashed home to be close up in fifth and sixth spots. Prince Regoli finished strongly but was about 5 lengths behind Fine and Dandy in a cluster of horses.^[41]

Eight weeks later he ran his last race in the 1963 Stradbroke carrying 9.5 in a field of 24 but was unplaced.

Harry Plant's tribute

On 18 March 1974 racing expert Bert Lillye wrote an article in the Sydney Morning Herald breaking the news of Fine and Dandy's death at age 17 and giving a brief account of his outstanding career. In his last few years of retirement the horse had been plagued by rheumatism and was in fat condition on his owners' property 'Valais' at Willow Tree, NSW. He was finding it difficult to get about. Finally he got down and couldn't get up. His owners tried to get him to his feet and couldn't succeed so they decided to have him mercifully put away.

In Lillye's article Harry Plant paid a tribute to the horse: 'He was a true champion because Fine and Dandy was never really sound'. He then gave an account of the injury to Fine and Dandy's shoulder when a foal and his lameness. Plant concluded: 'He was really a marvel to be able to do what he did. How sad it is to hear of his death' (SMH, 18 March 1974: 13).

Summary

44 Starts: 15 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, 3 fourths.

Main races contested

Result	Year	Race	Distance	Hcp weight
First	1963	Doncaster Handicap	8 F	8.12
First	1961	Doncaster Handicap	8 F	8.10
First	1963	Liverpool Hcp (Liverpool City Cup)	7 F	9.3
First	1961	Civic Handicap	6 F	9.11
First	1960	Chester Handicap	6 F	9.3
First	1962	City Tattersalls Club Flying	6 F	9.11
First	1961	City Tattersalls Club Flying	6 F	9.7
First	1960	City Tattersalls Club Flying	6 F	8.13
First	1959	Golden Slipper Stakes	6 F	8.7
First	1959	AJC Sires Produce Stakes	7 F	8.10
First	1959	QTC Sires Produce Stakes	7 F	8.10
First	1958	Maribyrnong Plate	5 F	8.10
First	1958	Canonbury Stakes	5 F	8.5
Second	1961	Epsom Handicap	8 F	9.4
Second	1962	Railway Quality (George Ryder Stakes)	7 F	9.7
Second	1961	Railway Quality (George Ryder Stakes)	7 F	9.4
Second	1960	Stradbroke Handicap	7 F	8.8
Second	1960	QTC Lightning Stakes	5 F	9.1
Third	1962	Stradbroke Handicap	7 F	9.2
Third	1962	All Aged Stakes	8 F	9.1
Third	1962	Theo Marks Quality	7 F	8.12

Pedigree

Pedigree of Fine and Dandy (AUS), chestnut gelding, 1956^[42]

Sire Star Kingdom (IRE) ch. 1946	Stardust (GB) 1937	Hyperion (GB) 1930	Gainsborough (GB)
			Selene (GB)
		Sister Stella (GB) 1923	Friar Marcus (GB)
			Etoile (GB)
	Impromptu (IRE) 1939	Concerto (GB) 1928	Orpheus (IRE)
			Constellation (GB)
		Thoughtless (GB) 1934	Papyrus (GB)
			Virgin's Folly (GB)
Dam Shading (AUS) ch. 1944	Brueghel (ITY) 1932	Pharos (GB) 1920	Phalaris (GB)
			Scapa Flow (GB)
		Bunworry (GB) 1921	Great Sport (IRE)
			Waffles (IRE)
	Gold Tinge (AUS) 1925	Claro (GB) 1919	Clarissimus (GB)
			Harmonica (GB)
		Rangiriri (AUS) 1917	Linacre (GB)
			Regent Bird (AUS)

References

1. Linnett (2017: 247).
2. Marshallsea (2018: 315).
3. For Plant's concern about Fine and Dandy's weights, see Sun Herald, 9 Oct. 1960: 57 and Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), 13 April 1963: 15.
4. Sun Herald, 5 Oct. 1958: 34.
5. Sun Herald, 12 Oct. 1958: 54.
6. Sun Herald, 1 Feb. 1959: 43.
7. Sun Herald, 22 Feb. 1959: 47.
8. Sun Herald, 22 Feb. 1959: 46.
9. Sun Herald, 15 March 1959: 58.
10. Sun Herald, 29 March 1959: 27.
11. SMH, 16 June 1959: 16.
12. The Bulletin, 24 June 1959: 37; Sun Herald, 9 Oct. 1960: 57.
13. SMH, 5 August 1959: 21.
14. Canberra Times 12 Aug. 1959: 24; Sun Herald 9 Oct. 1960: 57.
15. Sun Herald, 15 May 1960: 53.
16. Sun Herald, 29 May 1960: 41.
17. Sun Herald, 12 June 1960: 33.
18. Ungar's win over Comic Court is in Arrold (1980: 66). Ungar's 1949 Doomben 10,000 win is in Arrold (1980: 194).
19. Sun Herald, 26 June 1960: 41; SMH, 27 June 1960: 14.
20. Sun Herald, 9 Oct. 1960: 57.
21. Sun Herald, 26 Feb. 1961: 49. Also Caves (2002: 44).
22. Sun Herald, 19 March 1961: 43.
23. Sun Herald, 2 April 1961: 27.
24. Sun Herald, 14 May 1961: 47.
25. Sun Herald, 28 May 1961: 47.
26. Sun Herald, 1 Oct. 1961: 33.
27. SMH, 3 Oct. 1961: 26.
28. Sun Herald, 18 March 1962: 47.
29. Sun Herald, 1 April 1962: 45.
30. Sun Herald, 22 April 1962: 21.
31. SMH, 24 April 1962: 12.
32. Sun Herald, 20 May 1962: 47.
33. Sun Herald, 3 June 1962: 29.
34. Sun Herald, 2 Sept. 1962: 51, 53.
35. Sun Herald, 16 Sept. 1962: 51, 54.
36. Caves (2002: 58).
37. Caves (2002: 59): 'barely a length and a half covering them all'.
38. Sun Herald, 10 March 1963: 49.
39. Sun Herald, 31 March 1963: 47.
40. Canberra Times, 13 April 1963: 28.
41. Sun Herald, 14 April 1963: 25-26.
42. https://www.pedigreequery.com/fine+and+dandy2 Retrieved 3 September 2025 from Online Thoughbred Database.

Bibliography

Arrold, T. (1980). Champions: the Racing Record of Famous Thoroughbreds in Australia. Tralca Publications: Sydney, Australia. ISBN 0 9594458 0 3.

Arrold, T. (1983). More Champions: the Racing Record of Famous Thoroughbreds in Australia. Tralca Publications: Sydney, Australia. ISBN 0 9594458 1 1.

Caves, G. (2002). Wenona Girl: the forgotten champion. Caves: Greystanes, NSW, Australia. ISBN 0 9581596 0 2.

Linnett, K. (2017). Tulloch: The extraordinary life and times of a true champion. Slattery Media Group: Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 9780958029032.

Marshallsea, T. (2018). Winx: biography of a champion. HarperCollins: Sydney, Australia. ISBN 978 0 7333 3965 3.

External links