Toowoomba trained, she was certainly no cream puff compared to the big stars she faced

More then 30 years after the other great grey mare from north of the border, Gunsynd farewelled the crowds, Gold Edition emerged from obscurity to become one of the nation's best ever sprinting mares. The classy, dapple grey, Queensland super mare developed a cult following right around Australia because of her sheer speed and dogged determination to win. Gold Edition was foaled in 2003, by Lion Hunter (Danehill) out of the mare Glimmers (by Success Express). Purchased for $120,000, she was described as a heavy boned, boofhead draughthorse type by her trainer, but the type that could probably run well early on as a juvenile. She certainly wasn't much to look at, quite a skinny little thing compared to many of her high class, royally bred competitors, but boy could she boogie. Little-known Toowoomba trainer Ron Maund knew he had a pretty special galloper on his hands when the daughter of Lion Hunter led all the way for a dominant victory at Eagle Farm on debut. At the end of her two-year-old preparation, Gold Edition had started 12 times for 5 wins, including a luckless performance in the Golden Slipper behind Miss Finland. She would go on to win another 16 races from 37 starts including 2 at G1 level.

She returned as a powerful three-year-old with two wins in Brisbane and Sydney. Her first Group One victory came in the spring of 2006 when she displayed breathtaking speed to canter home in the Ascot Vale Stakes (1200m) at Flemington by four lengths. She backed that up only five days later with a dazzling seven-length romp in the Schweppes Stakes over the same course in what was one of her more impressive career wins. In the next 18 months, Gold Edition would start another 15 times against the best sprinters in the land, and although she only claimed one more Group one crown in the Manikato Stakes, Gold Edition would finish runner up in four more G1 features.

Considered somewhat of a risk over 1400m in the 2007 $1,000,000 Magic Millions, Gold Edition crossed over from out wide to lead and gave nothing else a chance as she streaked away in the straight to win by five lengths. Her second Group One came in the spring of 2007 when she took out the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley for the late Stathi Katsidis. Maud ignored the knockers who criticsed the trainer and said he had over-raced the little grey horse, since he knew his filly was tough as old boots, as she just kept on running wonderful races. It wasn't made any easier by the fact that Gold Edition ran in an era of great, young sprinting champions. Ron Maud always claimed Gold Edition was a great eater and saw no sense in putting her in a paddock to go fat and as a peak equine athlete in her prime kept the filly up to the mark - proved by the results; 17 wins, 30 times in the top three from 37 race day starts.

Her battles with champion speedsters Miss Andretti and Takeover Target will long be remembered in what was a golden age for Australian sprinters. In the 2007 VRC sprint down the straight at Flemington, Gold Edition sprung from the gates and booted to a dominant lead alone on the inside rail until Miss Andretti challenged hard with 300m to go. It was a ding-dong battle won by Freedman trained mare with Gold Edition fighting to the line and daylight third. Her fight with Takeover Target in the Doomben 10,000 was a great sight to behold. After the Manikato win in September 2007, Gold Edition would win the Gr.2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield, run 2nd in the Gr.2 Schweppes and 2nd in the Gr.1 All-Aged Classic before her final exit. Her amazing racing career came to an end after an unplaced run behind Apache Cat in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington. When you consider the quality of the competition Gold Edition faced over her career, the mare has to be rated as one of the greatest ever to emerge from Queensland.

RACE RECORD - 37: 17-12-1
EARNINGS - $3,182,195

BTC Champagne Classic
VRC Ascot Vale Stakes (now Coolmore Stakes)
Silver Shadow Stakes
AJC San Domenico Stakes
STC Magic Night Stakes
VRC Schweppervesence Stakes
BTC Classic
Gold Coast Guineas
Schillaci Stakes
Manikato Stakes
Light Fingers Stakes
Surround Stakes
Magic Millions 3YO Guineas