Piping Lane (foaled 1966, died 1996) was a brown
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
n
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse
gelding
A gelding (Help:IPA/English, /ˈɡɛldɪŋ/) is a castration, castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. The term is also used with certain other animals and livestock, such as domesticated Camelidae, camels. By compa ...
by Lanesborough out of the mare Londonderry Air by Piping Time. Piping Lane came to prominence by winning the
1972 Melbourne Cup over 3,200 metres at odds of 40/1.
Piping Lane was owned by R.E. Prevost of Epping Forest,
Tasmania
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
and his racing had been confined to Tasmania, where he had won $12,638, prior to April 1972.
He was then purchased for $6,000 by Ray W. Trinder, then 69, and a licensed amateur jockey and also an owner-trainer. Trinder had purchased the horse with the specific aim of winning the Melbourne Cup.
Piping Lane was sent to be trained by
George Hanlon of Melbourne. He was allotted 48 kg in the cup and with many top jockeys unable to ride at this weight
John Letts of Adelaide
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
was given the ride.
John Letts had not ridden on the Flemington course before and had stated "We're only here to make up the numbers" regarding his chances of winning. Thus Piping Lane became only the third Tasmanian bred horse to win the Melbourne Cup after
Malua
Malua is a small village on the Samoan island of Upolu. The name originates from the Samoan word "Maluapapa" which is translated 'shelter under the rock'. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island in the electoral constituency (''faip ...
and Sheet Anchor.
[Cavanough, Maurice, “The Melbourne Cup”, Jack Pollard P/L, North Sydney, 1976] The very good racehorse
Gunsynd ran third.
Piping Lane's other significant wins included the 1972
C B Cox Stakes and the 1972
Hobart Cup.
References
1966 racehorse births
1996 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in Australia
Racehorses trained in Australia
Melbourne Cup winners
Thoroughbred family 3-j
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