His Flemington 2000m track record remained unbroken for more than four decades, and he was the only Slipper winner to run in a Melbourne Cup

Sky High, a remarkable offspring of Star Kingdom, demonstrated exceptional speed in sprinting events, but he also possessed the stamina and endurance to compete effectively in the prestigious Derby distance races. His lineage includes royal blood, with Star Kingdom, Hyperion and Gainsborough all featuring. Sky High’s dam, Flight’s Daughter, was delivered by Hall of Fame inductee Flight, considered by more than a few to be one of the greatest race mares in the history of Australian racing. There was highly quality speed and power right throughout the pedigree.

As an extremely versatile horse, Sky High won races over distances ranging from 5 furlongs (1000m) to 12 furlongs (2400m) and remains the only Golden Slipper winner to have contested the VRC Melbourne Cup (in 1961). Incredibly, he held the Flemington track record for 2000m until equalled by Let's Elope in 1992 and broken by Makybe Diva in 2005. During his career, Sky High raced against quality horses the calibre of Aquanita, Dhaulagiri, Fine And Dandy and his long-time rival Wenona Girl Foaled in 1957 he was son of the champion sire Star Kingdom (IRE) from Flight's Daughter by Helios (GB). He was bred and raced by former AJC chairman Sir Brian Crowley. Sky High was a younger brother of another notable performer Skyline (AJC Derby and Golden Slipper Stakes). He was trained by Jack Green. Although Green never won the Sydney trainers' premiership, he was four times second to Tommy Smith, and had some 80 feature race wins.

Sky High began his career in October, 1959, with a slashing win in the AJC Breeders’ Plate at Randwick. In the autumn of 1960 he was a 7-4 on winner of the Golden Slipper, defeating his great rival, Wenona Girl. In the spring he moved to Melbourne where he was given little hope in the Victoria Derby; but he blitzed the field, leading from start to finish. 1961 was a stellar year for Sky High, winning the VRC Lightning Stakes, VATC Futurity Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, VRC Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne, the STC Canterbury Stakes, AJC All Aged Stakes and Epsom Handicap in Sydney. In 1962 he won a further ten races at the highest level. When he raced in 1963 he won the Rawson Stakes for the second time and won again at 12 furlongs in the AJC Autumn Stakes. He has been compared to Manikato, a legitimate comparison in that both horses were great sprinters and each won 29 races. The primary difference was that Sky High could handle middle distances with ease and even had good showings as far out as 12 furlongs. His owners even gave him the opportunity to see what he could do in the Melbourne Cup. Even with George Moore aboard, Sky High could manage only 18th. 

At the end of his career Sky High had accomplished an incredible 29 wins and 19 placings from 55 starts. When he retired at the end of the 1963/64 season, his earnings trailed only those earned by Tulloch. His stud years were spent at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, where he enjoyed a successful career and sired Autobiography, US Handicap Horse of the Year in 1972 and 1973, Flying Fox ($167,653), Take Off and Sky Cast's Double

RACE RECORD - 55: 29-10-9

EARNINGS - £77,055

Golden Slipper Stakes (1960)

Champagne Stakes (1960)

Victoria Derby (1960)

Lightning Stakes (1961, 1962)

Futurity Stakes (1961)

All Aged Stakes (1961)

Canterbury Stakes (1961, 1962)

Warwick Stakes (1961, 1962)

Epsom Handicap (1961)

Caulfield Stakes (1961, 1962)

MacKinnon Stakes (1961)

Rawson Stakes (1961, 1962)

Chipping Norton Stakes (1962)

Hill Stakes (1962)

Linlithgow Stakes (1962)

AJC Autumn Stakes (1963)

Racing Hall of Fame