Ammon Ra was bandy-legged, but the colt had a perfect galloping action

The Trentham Sales were first held in 1927, and that year, Concentrate, purchased for 800 guineas proved to be an exceptional investment. The following year, in 1928, the legendary Phar Lap emerged from the sales. In 1930, it was Ammon Ra, purchased for a gift 450 guineas by one Clifford Sheath, originally from Auckland, a Sydney businessman and director of Lifeguard Tobacco Limited. The buyers at Trentham allowed themselves to be bluffed by an unsightly twist in this yearling’s near forefoot. A dark bay colt, Ammon Ra was a son of the outstanding English stallion, Limond, the New Zealand based entire that became the premier sire in Australia in the 1931-32 season. Ammon Ra was bred by Dr Edwin Milsom and passed in at auction for 450 guineas. Dr Milsom, was a quite remarkable Auckland surgeon who pioneered many new techniques for amputees during the great war period 1914-18. He was a passionate Thoroughbred Breeder who raced the fillies Phaola and Prodice, both out of the sire Catmint via Ammon Ra's dam, Hyades. 'Ngokanui' Macdonald from Masterton had gifted the broodmare Hyades to Dr Milsom under the premise that he had ownership in the first foal, which turned out to be Phaloa.

Limond (GB) was the leading sire in New Zealand from 1930 to 1931, and the produced the winners of nine Derbys' in Australia and New Zealand, as well as 25 Southern Hemisphere classics. Limond sired the champion Limerick, (1931 AJC St Leger and VRC St Leger), Theo (1934 AJC Derby and VRC Derby) and Limarch (1934 AJC St Leger and VRC St Leger). Dam Hyades (NZ) produced winning fillies in New Zealand, including Prodice 1929 Great Northern Oaks, 1930 Avondale Cup and Phaola, 1925 Avondale Stakes.

The youngster was among the team of sixteen horses that sailed out of Auckland Harbour in mid-June bound for Sydney on the Ulimaroa, but he went shin sore and failed to start. On return Ammon Ra had a brilliant run of success back home in New Zealand. Ammon Ra raced between 1930 and 1934, establishing a formidable record on both sides of the Tasman. He was brilliant in his second and third years, winning the classic 1931 AJC Derby, beating Johnnie Jason, 1931 VRC Derby and defeating champions Chatham in the 1932 C. M. Lloyd Stakes and Nightmarch in the 1932 AJC Chipping Norton Stakes and the 1932 Rawson Stakes. Recurring bleeding issues at 4 and 5 years old forced his retirement in New Zealand. As the great Banjo Patterson once said: “When Booth was training Chatter and a stableful of horses mostly by Linacre, he wouldn’t have a Linacre with straight legs. He reckoned there must be something wrong with them. Bandiness is, therefore, no bar to greatness.”

Trainer Jack Jamieson originally trained from Awapuni, Palmerston North, New Zealand. He was contemporary of trainers Harry Telford and T. R. George, winning the New Zealand trainers premiership in 1929–1930 and making many successful visits to Sydney before purchasing stables at Botany Street, Randwick in 1934. His notable winners included the champion High Caste, Prince Humphrey 1928 AJC Derby, Closing Time 1933 AJC Villiers Stakes, 1934 VRC Linlithgow Stakes, Limarch 1934 AJC St Leger and VRC St Leger and Gold Salute 1940 Toorak Handicap and 1940 Cantala Stakes. Ammon Ra had to be humanly destroyed in January 1936 after breaking down badly in Auckland.

RACE RECORD - 29: 17 - 4 - 1
EARNINGS - £25,831

Trentham Stakes (1931)
WRC Wellington Stakes (1931)
AJC Sires Produce Stakes (1931)
Hobartville Stakes (1931)
Chelmsford Stakes (1931)
AJC Derby (1931)
Caulfield Guineas (1931)
St George Stakes (1932)
Futurity Stakes (1932)
C.M Lloyd Stakes (1932)
Rawson Stakes (1932)
Chipping Norton Stakes (1932)