The brilliant enigma was a dapper grey who dominated the turf during the early 1980's

Unraced as a two-year-old, Emancipation, the grey filly competed only as a three year-old filly and four-year-old mare, yet managed to win 19 times, six of those wins coming in group one races before continuing on to pass her genes to multiple group one winners, Virage De Fortune and Railings. Emancipation, foaled in 1979 to Australian parents Bletchingly and Ammo Girl, served as the sire and dam, respectively. Ammo Girl was sired by the great Gunsynd himself and a 3 times great grandsire came by way of the United States in Man O' War. The rich quality of her pedigree know doubt equipped Emancipation with the natural ability to become a champion in her own right. Based in New South Wales, her breeder, M. C. Hough was interested in her only as a broodmare and instructed her trainer Neville Begg to lease her for any racing purposes, an event which proved fortunate for Muskoka Farms principle Bob Lapointe. The Canadian born restaurant owner had once meet the famous KFC founder, Colonel Sanders which inspired him to set up his own successful business and establish Muskoka Farm more than fifty years ago.

Emancipation was ridden throughout her career by Ron Quinton, with the exception of her win in the 1982 VRC Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington Racecourse, where Kevin Moses stood in. That same spring produced listed race wins in the Sydney Turf Club Tea Rose Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse and the Victoria Racing Club Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington.

Four additional starts that spring produced no further wins for Emancipation. First up in February at Randwick Racecourse, she won the AJC Light Fingers Stakes, a listed race. Emancipation's next win came in the Gr.2 Canterbury Stakes. Shortly thereafter she defeated Manikato over 1400 metres on a slow Rosehill track to take her first victory, the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes. She backed that with the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick. Emancipation won 10 of 13 starts 3yo, which was an exceptional campaign by any racing standards.

Commencing as a four-year-old mare, she won the Gr.3 Sydney Turf Club Premier Stakes at Rosehill. Next came the Gr.1 AJC Chelmsford Stakes at Warwick Farm Racecourse and two weeks later, the Gr.2 Hill Stakes, where she overcame a dead track and won at 1750 metres, her greatest distance that ever produced a win.

Another feature event, the Gr.1 George Main Stakes was her next win. She then failed twice in succession to Strawberry Road in the Caulfield Stakes and the Cox Plate, seeming to indicate that 2000 metres was beyond her. Returning that autumn for her final nine starts, Emancipation extracted revenge on Strawberry Road, besting that thoroughbred in the AJC Apollo Stakes and Chipping Norton Stakes. Next came the STC Rosemount Classic at Rosehill, and another George Ryder Stakes. She notched the win at Randwick in the All Aged Stakes, giving her an impressive three group one wins in as many tries. At the end of that season, Emancipation was fittingly accorded Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year honours.

Emancipation's overall record of 19 wins and one second out of 28 starts in just two seasons of racing set the mark high for sprinters of either gender. She is possibly the greatest grey to have ever run in Australasia alongside Surround and Gunsynd. In the 40 years that have elapsed since she won what was then called the Rosemount Wines Classic, there have been 16 stakes winners to feature her on the female lines of their pedigree, across four generations.

RACE RECORD - 28: 19-1-0

EARNINGS - $550,510

Tea Rose Stakes (1982)

VRC Carbine Club Stakes (1982)

Edward Manifold Stakes (1982)

Light Fingers Stakes (1983)

Premiere Stakes (1983)

Canterbury Stakes (1983)

Chelmsford Stakes (1983)

Hill Stakes (1983)

George Ryder Stakes (1983)

Doncaster Handicap (1983)

George Main Stakes (1983)

Rosemount Classic (1984)

Apollo Stakes (1984)

Chipping Norton Stakes (1984)

All Aged Stakes (1984)

Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year (1984)

Australian Racing Hall of Fame

Emancipation Stakes named in honour (Rosehill)