Tommy Smith never imagined the tiny pony purchased in 1956 would be a racing legend

This is the extraordinary story of the great thoroughbred Tulloch, who would come to known as "Haleys Comet," the virtually unwanted yearling who rose to greatness with the support of Australia's most flamboyant trainer, and a contrasting, dogged owner who often clashed about what was best for their horse. It's more than a story about a great racehorse, who was one of the best ever to grace Australia's turf and often mentioned in the same breath as Phar Lap and Carbine. It's a story about the characters behind the scenes - his trainer, the legendary Tommy Smith - his owner Evelyn Haley - the jockeys, such as George Moore and Neville Sellwood, who rode him and the his strapper and track rider, Lem Bann, a song 'n dance man who whistled his way into Tulloch's heart. His race record and the amount of travel involved is the stuff of legends. Few horses possess the requisite fortitude and resilience to endure the rigorous demands and challenges associated with such intensive racing.

Tulloch was a small bay/brown colt foaled in 1954 in New Zealand at Trelawney Stud, Cambridge. He was by the good racehorse and sire, Khorassan, out of the race winner, Florida (by Salmagundi). Khorassan (IRE) was the sire of 18 stakeswinners with 65 stakes wins, mostly in NZ. Florida was also the dam of Tallahassee Lassie. Tulloch was purchased as a yearling in 1956 at the Trentham Yearling Sales for 750 guineas by T.J Smith as a potential future derby prospect. Many considered the horse, hollow backed and weedy, and unlikely to ever amount to much. He in turn offered the colt to E. A. Haley who thought Tulloch's clever breeding offered a bright future. This keen appraisal of talent would serve to produce a remarkable return for the original investment. Tulloch went on to win £110,000 in career earnings, almost 50 times his purchase price. Winning those same races today would be the equivalent of $5.6 million. Between 1956 and 1961, Tulloch was a dominant force in the racing world down under. His only significant setback was a 7th place finish in the 1960 Melbourne Cup, where he carried the heavy weight of 64kg and endured a challenging ride from the jockey Selwood who put the horse 60L last at the start of the race. It was the geldings only non place finish within his entire career. Tulloch possessed an incredible turn of foot and high crusing speed. Once he charged for the line few could match the acceleration and swift pace.

Tulloch, one of most notable horses in Australian racing history, derived his name from the Scottish town where the mother of its owner, E.J. Haley, originated. Tulloch achieved numerous remarkable feats, setting a precedent that only a select few thoroughbred horses have managed to match or surpass, guided by the legendary Tommy J Smith, a defining man of genius in post-war Australian racing who would change the methods of training racehorses forever. He oversaw Tulloch to a career race record of 36 wins, 12 seconds, and 4 third place finishes. Only once in his fifty-three starts did he fail to place. It is noteworthy that Tulloch accomplished this feat despite facing significant health challenges in his 4yo season. An undiagnosed digestive disorder resulted in severe weight loss and recurrent infections, posing a substantial threat to his well-being. This illness caused him to miss two years during what could reasonably be considered prime racing age. A vet thought it may be an infection in his mouth and concocted a mixture of port wine and brandy mixed into his oats - it seemed to have an immediate effect.

Tulloch was most impressive as a 3yo and considered the fastest in the world for his age. A particularly notable victory was the AJC Derby, beating the highly talented, Prince Darius, and in the process shaving two seconds off the track record of no less a horse than, Phar Lap that had stood since 1929. Of his 16 starts, Tulloch posted 14 wins, one second, and one third, bringing his career record to 29 starts, 21 wins, 7 seconds and one third. Despite the protestations of trainer Tommy Smith, owner Mr. Peter Haley refused to start him in the Melbourne Cup. It’s a pretty safe to say that Tulloch’s name should be on the honour roll of Melbourne Cup winners as the only major trophy missed.

Tulloch's return in the fall of 1960 affer a brush with death has to be considered one of the most incredible comebacks of all time. Competing at distances ranging from 10 to 14 furlongs, he won his last four races of the autumn season: The AJC Chipping Norton Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Autumn Stakes, finishing up with the BRC PJ O'Shea Stakes, all with Neville Sellwood aboard. At the end of his career, Tulloch had won 19 Group One races, and seven that are now Group 2 races and two are Group 3. The VRC St Leger (now only a listed race) and AJC St Leger were principal (stakes) races in Tulloch's era, which indicates how impressive his record was. Tulloch sired two stakes winners after retiring and died at Old Gowang Stud near Coonabarabran on 30 June 1969.

RACE RECORD - 53: 36-12-4

EARNINGS - £110,121

VRC St Leger (1958)

AJC St Leger (1958)

P.J. O'Shea Stakes (1960, 1961)

Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1958, 1960, 1961)

C B Fisher Plate (1957, 1960)

Chipping Norton Stakes (1958, 1960)

Brisbane Cup (1961)

W S Cox Plate (1960)

Mackinnon Stakes (1960)

Chelmsford Stakes (1960)

Craven Plate (1960)

All Aged Stakes (1958)

Rawson Stakes (1958)

Caulfield Cup (1957)

Caulfield Guineas (1957)

Warwick Stakes (1957)

VRC Derby (1957)

AJC Derby (1957)

QTC Derby (1957)

Rosehill Guineas (1957)

AJC Sires Produce Stakes (1957)

VRC Sires Produce Stakes (1957)

QTC Sires Produce Stakes (1957)