A forgotten champion, Katanga savaged the great Flight on many occasions in the 1940's

Like most of the progeny of The Buzzard, Katanga was a racehorse that has been largely forgotten by history. In 1930, Jack McDougall, the stately gentleman owner of Lyndhurst Stud in Warwick, Queensland had his agents search for a quality stallion to import. They found that Lord Rosebery in England had a well performed stallion for sale named, The Bastard, (by Spion Kop), but when imported to Australia the racing authorities were so shocked by his name he was re-registered as, The Buzzard. The 1926 offspring of Irish sire Spion Kop and Valescure (GB), The Buzzard exhibited exceptional lineage through its sire and notable ancestors such as Spearmint and Carbine.

Foaled in 1936, Katanga was out of the broodmare Biddy's Robe (by Seremond). The 1940-41 racing season saw the emergence of the colourful character Katanga during the peak WWII period as racing suffered a lull. Bred and owned in Queensland, the colt was purchased by Mr. CH Hicks & Mrs Hicks for 450 guineas at auction in Sydney. They named him Katanga, a term of endearment applied by Australian First Nation people to their children. A big, burly bay horse, Katanga developed into a remarkable galloper who proved as hard as iron and was arguably the only genuine WFA performer that Bayley Payten ever trained in his life. When Tom Payten died in 1920, his son Bayley took over his father's stables at Randwick and was one of the first trainers to recognise the riding talents of Darby Munro, who would become the stables principal jockey.

Katanga was to win prestigious races that were called Principal stakes races at the time. Many would now be considered Group 1 races. He was to win a total of 22 races from 88 starts and £17,064 in stakes. Payten won a string of races with Katanga on all tracks and at all distances, although invariably with Darby Munro in the saddle. Katanga won three A.J.C. Autumn Stakes, two A.J.C. Colin Stephen Stakes and two A.J.C. Chipping Norton Stakes as well as the Rawson Stakes, Warwick Stakes, Canterbury Stakes and A.J.C. Plate. A laid-back type in the stables, once Katanga came up against the great galloper Flight, he turned into a psycho.

Katanga savaged her in the 1944 All-Aged Stakes, and despite winning, resented the fact she was even around. Whether it was the smell or the sight of Flight, Katanga was hellbent on savaging the grand little mare in every future clash. It was reported Katanga would "become upset" and fractious if she was anywhere near him at Randwick during training. Flight defeated her nemesis Katanga in the Warwick Stakes and the Colin Stephen Stakes, however, Katanga came back to defeat her in the Chipping Norton Stakes and the 1945 Autumn Stakes. He managed to contain himself in the Autumn Stakes, only to attack Payten's stable manager after the race, no doubt upset he had to put up with Flight once more. He wasn’t the easiest horse to ride at any time as he was consistently prone to pulling up if he hit the front too soon. Accordingly, Darby Munro invariably had to ride a waiting race and time his finishing sprint to perfection. 

Katanga was to go to stud at Angle Stud at Dubbo where he had limited success. He did produce a Randwick winner in Golden Tan before being transferred on loan to the Barnes family at Canning Downs Stud on the Darling Downs in Queensland, as well as a very good broodmare in, Dolled up. This following the death of his owner, Mr CH Hicks.

RACE RECORD - 88 Starts - 22 Wins

EARNINGS - £17,064

AJC Colin Stephen Stakes (1942)

Tatt's NSW James Barnes Plate (1942)

AJC Autumn Stakes (1943)

AJC Colin Stephen Stakes (1943)

AJC Warwick Stakes (1943)

RRC Rawson Stakes (1943)

STC Canterbury Stakes (1943)

AJC All-Aged Stakes (1944)

AJC Autumn Stakes (1944)

AJC Chipping Norton Stakes (1944)

AJC Plate (1944) (Queen Elizabeth)

AJC Autumn Stakes (1945)

AJC Chipping Norton Stakes (1945)