The Wingatui grey turned up at Melbourne in 1970 and caused a big upset in the Cup

Baghdad Note foaled in 1965 and sired by Kurdistan (GB), his dam Fair Note (NZ) was by Fairs Fair (GB). His broodmares sire, Fairs Fair was the father of the grand New Zealand champion Even Stevens, who won the 1962 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. He was trained by Bob Heasley at Wingatui in Otago. He was breed by William Hazlett who was an All Black's loose forward on the tough South African tour of 1928 and against the British touring team in 1930. Following the death of his brother in WWII and then his father, Bill acquired the Chelandry thoroughbred stud at Taramoa, near Invercargill, which had been established by his father in 1918. Most of Hazlett's racehorses were bred at the Chelandry stud, where Kurdistan sired Baghdad Note, as well as such famous jump horses as Kumai, Koral and Eiffel Tower. A highly motivated and astute individual with a proven track record of success in the high country farming industry, Bill made significant and pioneering contributions to the thoroughbred breeding sector in New Zealand.

As a two-year-old Baghdad Note ran only four times. He won a juvenile maiden at Riccarton in July of 1968 and had one start in Australia at Warwick Farm for a 2nd. Turning three he had two further starts in Australia before returning home. Out of 12 starts Baghdad Note ran five second placings and at the end of that campaign in July of 1969 won two Handicaps at Trentham over 1600m.

1970 would be Baghdad Note's year, beginning with a 2nd at Wingatui in February, then defeating Pretentious in the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton, a third in the Gloaming and Waterloo Stakes at Trentham before winning the Mahora Stakes at Hastings and the Whyte Stakes back in Wellington. A 2nd in the Palimentary Handicap in July would be one of his last runs in New Zealand. In October Baghdad Note would pull off a victory at Flemington in the Navy Day Handicap over 2400m then run 2nd to Beer Street in the Herbert Power at Caulfield. He now had the miles in his legs to take on the prestigious staying features.

Given most of his previous wins in New Zealand had been on wet tracks, Baghdad Note was dismissed before the 1970 Cup as a 'mud-lark'. Despite his solid dead-heat third in the Caulfield Cup, (won by the Tasmanian, Beer Street), and a fifth placing in the Mackinnon Stakes he was sent out by punters a 25/1 chance in the Melbourne Cup. A pinpoint ride from top Kiwi jockey Midge Didham showed just how very wrong that assessment was. He duly won the race over Vansittart by ¾ of a length in a time of 3:18.7, carrying 54kg and becoming just the third grey to win the race after Toryboy in 1865 and Hiraji in 1947. He was strapped by young New Zealander, David Newman.

Baghdad Note's win is arguably the most impressive feat notched by a horse trained in the Wingatui and Taieri region. The area has contributed so much to Australasian thoroughbred racing that it was due reward when the cup was sent to the deep South courtesy of Baghdad Note's win. The whereabouts of the trophy won by Baghdad Note in 1970 is unknown. The Cup was stolen from the owner’s house in Dunedin. At the age of six Baghdad Note's best result was a 3rd to Gay Icarus in the 1971 Underwood Stakes. He would have 17 starts as a seven-year-old in the 1972/73 season. He would finish 13th in the Melbourne Cup won by Piping Lane.

After a lengthy break from racing due to injury, Baghdad Note was leased by young trainer Terry Millard at Kilmore, (65km north of Melbourne) who gradually returned the horse back to race fitness. As an 8-year-old years old Baghdad Note turned back the clock and returned to the racing spotlight as the oldest winner of the Sandown Cup. A stirring win at Sandown in 1973 was Baghdad Note's first metropolitan success since the Melbourne Cup victory. The horse featured in the 1973 Adelaide Cup, running second to Tavel, and then went to Queensland where he won the O'Shea stakes, defeating Runyon. He then started in the Brisbane Cup, when, despite breaking down again nearing the home turn, he still finished in third place. After retirement he became a clerk of the course horse at Flemington, then later a police horse. He spent his twilight years at the farm of former jockey, trainer Jim Lawrence, and at his passing had been the oldest surviving Cup winner at 27.

RACE RECORD - 64: 13-15-7

EARNINGS - $115,068

Melbourne Cup (1970)

P.J. O'Shea Stakes (1973)

Sandown Cup (1973)