Trainer Cyril Beechey loved a bluff, but his horse was an unpredictable champion of the 1970’s

The subject of this story is the iconic Gay Icarus, the renowned champion of the Caulfield Cup over half a century ago. Coming into 1971, the galloper had just two wins under his belt from 12 times to the races - granted he ran in a Cox Plate (12th) and was runner-up in the Victoria Derby, but his record certainly didn't reflect just how good he was. Over the space of nine months he would go on to add another nine victories, culminating in Caulfield Cup glory. Gay Icaarus was a horse that overcame humble beginnings and a slow start to his racing career to scale some serious heights in Australian racing. There were plenty of swings and roundabouts along the way and his crowning glory very nearly didn't happen, but his colourful trainer certainly ensured it was an interesting ride for all involved.

Gay Icarus was bred by the man that would train him to win the Caulfield Cup, Cranbourne-based horseman Cyril Beechey. Beechey bought the dam Gay Mamselle for a mere $270 and sent her to stallion Icarus, a mating that would produce Gay Icarus. The sire's lone stakes winner.

Gay Icarus had four starts as a 2YO, with his best showing coming when narrowly beaten by Message at Caulfield as a 100-1 shot. He broke his maiden at Werribee over 1358m in September 1970 and five starts later found himself in a Cox Plate, albeit failing to figure in the finish. The horse then bounced back a week later to finish runner-up in the Victoria Derby, beaten 3L behind Silver Sharpe who had been crunched in betting.

Beechey tipped him out for a couple of months after the Derby, then he was back into his racing by late January of 1971. Gay Icarus won the Blamey Stakes third-up, in what proved the beginning of a stellar run that saw him barely out of the placings until a fateful run in the Melbourne Cup. His autumn haul included a momentous hat-trick that began with the Blamey Stakes, then took in the Peter Young (then St George Stakes) and Australian Cup. The Cup win wasn't without a bit of drama either, as jockey Mick Mallyon came off the horse about a half-mile after the finish line and was taken from the course with "stomach cramps".

That hot-streak ended when Fileur (16-1) upset Gay Icarus (2-1) by a head in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington just five days later. But Gay Icarus headed on to Sydney and took all before him, clean sweeping the Chipping Norton (by 4L), Australasian Championship Stakes (now the Spring Champion, by 2L) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, turning the tables on Fileur by 5L in Sydney's version of the race.

Those results saw him invited to the United States for a feature race, but Beechey had his eyes firmly on one thing - the Caulfield Cup. Even for his exploits in his 3YO season, Gay Icarus was crowned Australia's champion Racehorse of the Year for 1970-71. Having earlier in the year threatened to not run in the Cup if Gay Icarus was given too much weight, Beechey doubled down in the lead-up with threats to scratch if Caulfield was going to be too wet. Whatever rain they predicted either didn’t come or had dried out come the big one.

On a good-rated deck, Gay Icarus romped home with the Caulfield Cup by a whopping margin, with runner up, the powerful Kiwi Igloo the only horse within 8L of him at the line. Those margins are even more impressive given it was reported he was “virtually easing up” on the line under jockey Mick Mallyon. The manner of that win earned him a 7lb (3kg) penalty for the Melbourne Cup, taking his allotment for the Flemington feature to 9.7 (60kg). Gay Icarus’ runs in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups were momentous, but for polar opposite reasons. His dominance at Caulfield was then juxtaposed with a fateful run at Flemington. He drew barrier 21 in his bid to win the Cups double and his bad luck didn’t stop there, enduring a tough run before petering out to finish ninth of 21, well behind winner Silver Knight.

After the Cup he would only add one more win to his career record, claiming the Craiglee Stakes, (now Makybe Diva Stakes) almost two years later, which turned out to be his final run that spring as tendon issues attributed to his ‘71 Melbourne Cup run flared up again. That win came under a new trainer in the Flemington-based Tony Lopes, who took over the horse during the 72-73 season after the previous ownership - which included Beechey - was dissolved. He was sold for a reported $7750. Beechey had fielded offers to sell him to the US, but he stayed around in Australia without ever quite reaching the heights of his high-flying 1971 antics.

Gay Icarus managed to finish fourth in the 1974 Caulfield Cup on a heavy track, holding on to beat home 11 rivals despite reports that he broke down at the top of the straight. His original trainer might've been vindicated with those wet-track fears, after all. It also has to be said that his chances to win another Caulfield Cup were also hit by the fact he was lugged with the equal 62kg topweight in ‘72 (finished 5th), and then 61kg in ‘73, but didn't take part. Ultimately, that fourth placing in '74 would be his career finale. Icarus Park Stud, who breed Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horses was named after the champion. He was retired to a property in Bacchus Marsh, which is where he died at age 28.

RACE RECORD - 42 starts, 12 wins 11 placings

EARNINGS - nearly $180,000 in stakes

1970 VATC Burwood Handicap,

1971 AJC Australasian Champion Stakes

1971 AJC Chipping Norton Stakes

1971 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes

1971 VATC Caulfield Cup

1971 VATC Caulfield Stakes

1971 VATC St George Stakes

1971 VATC Underwood Stakes

1971 VRC Australian Cup

1971 VRC Blamey Stakes

1973 VRC Craiglee Stakes