As stated in previous writings Bart Cummings is the greatest trainer of stayers of all time. To prove the point his trained the winner of 11 Melbourne Cups and 6 Caulfield Cups. It is also a fact that he is the greatest trainer of sprinter-milers of all time. The names of the great sprinter-milers to have passed through his hands illustrates this point. Horses such as Century, Storm Queen, Tontonan, Campaign King, Belmura Lad, Maybe Mahal, Leica Show, Cap D'Antibes, Sky Chase illustrates this point. One horse well and truely added to this list is Shaftesbury Avenue.

After a win and a second Shaftesbury Avenue was given a sudden raise in class in the Stan Fox Stakes. A third placing though beaten three and a half lengths behind sensational sprinter Show County showed that there was above average ability.He was to go to much greater heights and by the end of his career had won six group one races.

After being spelled following his Stan Fox run Shaftesbury Avenue resumed in the Hobartville at Warick Farm In a two horse struggle with boom three year old Majestic Boy Shaftesbury Avenue won by a head in track record time of 1-21.4. The same day the older horses in the Apollo Stakes won by Key Dancer run 1-22.9. Next up was the Canterbury Guineas where he started short priced favourite to win despite the query over him running the 1900 metres. After looking set for victory at the 150 he was run down by his stablemate Interstellar.(Bart often wins big races with his second stringers). Derby plans were scrapped and his target became the Doncaster. After finishing unplaced in the Diners Club Cup Shaftesbury begun 12/1 in the Doncaster on Easter Saturday. After sitting on the fence behind the leader Wong Shaftesbury Avenue got a run on straighting and took the lead and shot away. Only the Kiwi Our Grey Invader gave chase but with John Marshall wheeling the whip Shaftesbury Avenue was racing clear for an easy win when from no where came the Melbournian Super Impose. Finishing as quickly as any horse has in the big mile Super Impose grabbed victory right on the line.The win was some consolation for Super Impose who five months earlier had been runner up to stablemate Tawrrific in the Melbourne Cup. The win begun a suquence of big mile wins for Super. The following week saw more frustration for Shaftesbury Avenue when he was second to in the All Aged Stakes to Easters Classic.Sent to Bribane Shaftesbury Avenue was unplaced in the Dooben 10000 behind Prince Triallia and was sent for a spell to be set for the spring.

At his first run back from a spell over 1200 in a welter Shaftesbuty Avenue was able to score brillantly after being held up until the final 80 metres. Next up was the time honoured Tramway which he won brilliantly from Livistona Lane and Easy Prey in the quick time of 1-22.6 under 57kg. The win in the big field of 18 was full of merit and it was all systems go for his clash with the likes of Super Impose, High Regard, Solar Circle, Stargazer, Show County, and the boom import and favourite Alquoz in the Group One George Main Stakes. And what a race it turned out to be. Show County led and set a brisk tempo up front with Stargazer on the outside two lengths away second with the favourite Alquoz and High Regard up close and handy. After being up close and handy to the lead Shaftesbury Avenue had drifted back to midfield. Meanwhile arch rival Super Impose was back second last at the 600. As they straightened up Show County lead but was immediately attacked first by Stargazer and then by Alquoz. Shaftesbury Avenue begun to chime in as Super Impose who had been second last and hemned in on the fence was coming down the outside. As Alquoz begun to struggle Shaftesbury Avenue went to the lead 120 out and drew clear as Super Impose in the open was giving chase many lengths back. With John Marshall wealing the whip Shaftesbury Avenue was clear. Super Impose was beginning to fly. He was cutting down the margin rapidily but Shaftesbury Avenue had pinched a break and it was a winning one.Shaftesbury Avenue had won by a head with a length away third Stargazer. The win had put Shaftesbury Avenue in the top league and had made him one of the best hoeses in the land.

Super Impose was able to revenge the defeat with a fantastic win in the Epsom. Coming from near last on the turn Super Impose was able to get up and win going away from Our Poverty Bay and Ricochet Rosie. Shaftesbury Avenue finished tenth after being held up until the last twenty five metres but all honours went to the winner who not only came from last but carried top weight. The following week Shaftesbury Avenue contested the Toorak Handicap. Seemingly flattened by recent racing he finished well back behind Ricochet Rosie. Shaftesbury Avenue was freshened up and didn't race again until the final day of the VRC carnival where he lined up in the George Adams Mile. Racing back to his best Shaftesbury Avenue raced up on the speed to be second on the turn. From there he took the lead at the four hundred and kept going by jockey Darren Gauci he came away to win by an easy three and a quater lengths from Spot The Rock and Pressman's Choice. It was a super win to beat a group one field that easily and futher demonstrated his outstanding ability After the George Adam's Mile Shaftesbury avenue was sent for a spell after a campaign which saw him win two group ones and one group two.

Shaftesbury avenue resumed in the group one Lightning Stakes in what seemed a little short in distance against specialist sprinters such as Lightning Bend, Redelva and Bureaucracy. After being behind a wall of horses until the last 100 metres he charged home to defeat Bureaucracy and Lightning Bend. Redelva was close up and only a length covered the first four.The win futher high lighted his potential and showed an extra dimension to his repitoire, namely versatility. Cummings decided to skip the Oakleigh and sent him straight into the Newmarke where top Sydney mare Joanne and straight six specialist Planet Ruler would be apposed to him. On a track rated dead the speed was on early and saw Shaftesbury Avenue up close to the lead.Then at the three hundred Redelva surged to the lead with Planet Ruler and With Me coming with big runs. Then Shaftesbury Avenue ridden along by Darren Gauci exploded at the two fifty to race to the lead with a great turn of speed. Hitting the front Shaftesbury looked set to win easily but big Redelva refused to lay down and begun to go stride for stride with Shaftesbury Avenue. A head in front at the hundred Shaftesbury Avenue maintained that advantage to the end to score a thrilling victory. It was a special peformance under the weight of 58kgs a weight which only truely great horses can carry.The runner up put in a great run to push the winner right to the wire. For the record the light weight West Aussie Century God ran third. Next Shaftesbury Avenue would return to Sydney to contest the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick

Shaftesbury Avenue begun favourite in the Doncaster in what was a vintage year. The field included Super Impose, Stylish Century, ST Jude, From The Planet, Royal Creation, Livistona Lane and Dark Beau.In the big field of twenty Shaftesbury Avenue settled back ninth on the rails with Super Impose back last. Domino who lead on straightening was immediately headed by Spot The Rock who in turn was challenged by Kiwi Royal Creation and former Epsom winner From The Planet. As these two took the lead Super Impose was hooked wide and began a whirl wind run down the outside.Mean while Livistona Lane had achieved a rails run and without going around a horse hit the front. At the hundred Livistona Lane lead with Super Impose giving chase. Stride for stride Super Impose grabbed the lead in the shadows of the post to score his second straight Doncaster win and his third in the Randwick big miles. Royal Creation finished third and Shaftesbury Aveneu fourth. Shaftesbury Avenue had no luck and only recieved a clear rails run 50 metres from home. The crowd were euphoric over Super's win and little was mentioned over any aspect of the race except except the great win of the top weight. Privately Bart thought Shaftesbury Avenue should have won and this opinion was eventually shared by members of the press when the euphoria of Super's win died down. Super Impose and Shaftesbury Avenue would meet the following week in the All Age Stakes in a race which had quite a bit of excitement and expectation to it.

The All Age field attracted a WFA field of the highest quality. The field of six had class stamped all over it. Besides the big two there was in the field Stargazer, Stylish Century, Post Elect. Only the Nzder Impressionist was out classed. Super Impose immediately dropped back at barrier rise with Stylish Century and Stargazer setting a cracking pace up front.Shaftesbury Avenue settled third on the rails and remained there until the 500 when Marshall came of the rails to challenge Stylish Century.Wanting to get a break on Super Impose, Shaftesbury Avenue challenged for the lead before the turn. On straightning Shaftesbury Avenue hit the lead with Super Impose pulled to the outside to challenge the leader but Shaftesbury was travelling well at the 200 and had Super Impose under the whip. With Jonny Marshall riding hand and heels Shaftesbury Avenue begun to come away from Super Impose who was having trouble getting past Stylish Century.At the line Shaftesbury had an easy three and a half lengths to spare from Super Impose with Stylish Century a neck away third. The time recorded was a staggering 1.33.8 only one tenth outside Belmura Lads track record. The win was the best of his career and had proved that he was with the absence of Better Loosen UP the best horse in Australia. Spelled after the All Age he was to return in the spring and what expectations there was of him.

Shaftesbury Avenue resumed in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. Jim Cassidy was now the rider of the horse that some experts thought would go through the spring undefeated. Unfortunately this didn't occur. First up in the Manikato at odds on Shaftesbury Avenue failed to handle the heavy track and finished well out of a place.Once again favourite in the J.F Feehan he once again had to contend with a wet track and finished well back behind the top class mare Mannerism.Concern begun to surface in the Cummings camp with these two unplaced runs.There was also futher niggling injuries which was futher causing problems in his lead up to the bigger races. His next race was in the group one Caulfield Stakes.The race assembled one of the best WFA fields in a long time. In the field was Super Impose who a week earlier had won his second Epsom to go with his two Doncasters.If that wasn't tough enough competition for a horse out of form also in the race was Sydeston the Caulfield Cup winner and the winner of the race previous year,. Multiple group one winner DR Grace Who that campaign alone had won the JJ Liston and Underwood Stakes.Boom New Zealander Rough Habit a winner of his last eight starts. These top line horses were joined by Shivas Revenge, Castletown and Durbridge. Darren Gauci got the ride as Jim Cassidy elected to ride Rough Habit.

THE track conditions were fast as was the tempo up front. Shaftesbury avenue Settled second behind rank outsider Palace Guest. Dr Grace and Sydeston were up close and handy while these four broke open the field. Rough Habit raced midfield and Super Impose lagged behind second last some twenty lengths of the leaders. At the 600 Shaftesbury Avenue moved of the rail to be on the outside of the leader. On straightening Shaftesbury Avenue hit the front with Dr Grace a half length away second.As Sydeston made his run out three horses wide a huge roar from the crowd appeared as beginning his run out wide was Super Impose who was beginning to wind up with his accustomary finishing burst. Via the 150 Shaftesbury Avenue had beaten off Dr Grace but Sydeston as always was running a determined race.Super Impse was flying but Shaftesbury Avenue was full of running. Super Impose though cutting down the margin couldn't bridge the gap. Shaftesbury Avenue held him in fact over the final fifty metres to win by a convincing two lenghts with a long neck to the ever green Sydeston. Fourth and fifth respectively was Dr Grace and Rough Habit.Once again Shaftesbury Aveneue had proved the master of Super Impose having conquered him all three times they'd met at WFA.

The WS COX PLATE was a big dissapointment. Up leading Shaftesbury Avenue caved in and was beaten at the 300. Shaftesbury Avenue seemed to dislike Moonee Valley and raced lengths below his best there.He raced right back to his best in the George Adams Mile. Carrying the heavy burden of 60.5kgs Shaftesbury Avenue ran a great race to finish second behind Pontormo who only carried 49kgs.Prince Salieri with 55kgs ran third. It was a run that only a class horse could run with that weight. He also unsuccessfully protested against the winner. With this grand run he was sent to Japan to tackle the Japan Cup.

Leading up to the Japan Cup there was queries over whether he'd get the 2400 metres.Coming from well back in the field he ran a sterling third behind American Golden Pheasant and French filly Magic Night.Overseas pressman were very impressed with his run. Bart Cummings warned them by telling them how he had a horse back home Lets Elope who was six lengths better and would be there next year.

Recurring leg injuries meant Shaftesbury Avenue missed the autumn and didn't resume until the spring in the Warick Stakes. Once again opposed to Super Impose, Shaftesbury Avenue raced on the pace and was able to gain a break on Super Impose who made late ground but once again found Shaftesbury a Avenue too good.Quick Score ran third.Shaftesbury Avenue now lead Super Impose 4-1 in there weight for age clashes. Sadly futher leg problems saw the retirement soon after of this wonderful galloper.

The career of Shaftesbury Avenue was one that saw him continually excell at the elite level.Victory in six group one races in distances ranging from 1000-2000metres is testomony to this. Combine this with his many wins in group two and three races shows a horse who must be rated very highly. How many horses who win a Lightning or Newmarket can win a Caulfield Stakes or run third in a Japan Cup. Shaftesbury Avenue deserves to be rated amongst the top echelon of horses who raced througout the nineties

David Waters..