He made an audible whistling sound when he ran but could foot it with the best

Although he never enjoyed anything even remotely close to the feelings evoked by Phar Lap, Chatham (1928) was a superstar. Bred by Percy Miller at his Kia Ora Stud in New South Wales, AUS, Chatham was by the esteemed sire and 1925 Melbourne Cup winner, Windbag. His dam, Myosotis (by The Welkin) was an excellent broodmare and a granddaughter of the British Triple Crown winner, Flying Fox (1896). Chatham was sold at the 1930 Sydney yearling sales for 650 guineas to trainer, Ike Foulsham. Racing from 1931-1934 for Foulsham and Fred Williams, the handsome bay colt became one of greatest milers, winning 12 of his 21 starts, however, lightly raced by Australian and New Zealand standards of the era. Chatham was a “whistler" and as a result of a severe throat infection as a colt he made a distinct, audible whistle when he ran. Chatham did have a lot to “whistle” about: he won the Epsom Handicap twice, the W.J. Cox Plate twice, the Doncaster, All Aged Stakes and the Craven Plate three times during his magnificant career on the turf. Chatham was ridden by 'The Master' Jim Pike who won the 1930 Melbourne Cup with Phar Lap and won on Peter Pan in the St Leger and AJC Derby. Pike also rode champions of the era, Hawk, Amounis and Heroic. Incidentally, Jim Pike is the great-great-grandfather of Western Australian champion jockey, William Pike.

So accomplished was Angus Blair’s colt that he was inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame in 2005. Chatham was the best sprinter/miler of his day, and especially at Victoria Park, a course that despite its long straight, distinctly favoured sprinters. Peter Pan wore Chatham down in the straight there to win by a neck in the AJC Kings Cup. Although he was beaten by Phar Lap once, the handsome bay would defeat the champions Peter Pan and Rogilla before his retirement. Rogilla, Chatham and Peter Pan chased each other on the turf for highest honours throughout their careers. But even in the company of champions, Chatham was no slouch.

Retired to stud in 1935 he stood initially in NSW. In later years he stood in South Australia where he was a leading sire. His last foal was born in 1950. Among Chatham's progeny, he was the sire of: Craigie (born 1940) - won Sydney Cup, Chatspa (born 1942) - Adelaide Cup, a three-time winner of the SAJC Birthday Cup. Conservator (1943) SA Derby and High Rank (born 1936) won the Stradbroke Handicap. Chatham sired 16 stakeswinners with 36 stakeswins for over £210,000 in prizemoney.

RACE RECORD - 45: 23½-6½
EARNINGS - £18,095

Craven Plate (1931, 1933, 1934)
Linlithgow Stakes (1931, 1932, 1933)
W S Cox Plate (1932, 1934)
Epsom Handicap (1932, 1933)
Canterbury Stakes (1933)
Caulfield Stakes (1933)
Hill Stakes (1933, 1934)
Warwick Stakes (1933, 1934)
All Aged Stakes (1934)
Doncaster Handicap (1934)