David Hayes was fortunate enough to have one of the fastest horses ever seen on the Australian turf

During the VRC Lightning Stakes G1 event, the renowned sprinter Black Caviar achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new course record of 55.42 seconds for the 1000-metre race. This achievement brought attention not only to Black Caviar's exceptional performance but also to the previous record holder. In 1987, not long out of school, a young David Hayes and his mother, Betty, purchased an alert young filly by the name of Special. She would prove to be a super slick speedster capable of running amazingly quick times.

The daughter of Habituate and Sal II, aptly named Special, remained in good health and resided at Arrowfield Stud during the extraordinary achievements of Black Caviar. Special's remarkable record time of 55.50 was also achieved during the Lightning Stakes, where she emerged victorious against the exceptional sprinters Snippets and Redelva. That was 35 years ago, with Special's time the second-oldest course record at Flemington. Special, Snippets and Redelva were all triple Group 1 winners, but 1988 was Special's year of glory at racing Headquarters. Special showed quite extraordinary speed and all of Australia saw in late February of 1988 just how much explosive speed this youngster had.

She triumphed in the Lightning and the Newmarket, then returned as a 5YO in the spring to defeat Prismatic Star and multiple Group 1 winner Our Westminster in the G1 Gadsden Stakes, now registered as the Victoria Racing Club Handicap. That was the final success in Special's exceptional 10-win, million-dollar career for the famous partnership of trainer Colin Hayes and owner Robert Sangster. She subsequently ran third in the 1989 Gr.1 MVRC William Reid Stakes behind Zeditave and Vo Rogue (11 Group 1 wins between them), and split Zeditave and Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate winner Clay Hero in her third Lightning Stakes.

Special's transition to motherhood was almost seamless. She was in foal during her last two campaigns and delivered a colt by Bluebird (USA) in August 1989. Named Strong, he was the first of Special's nine winners, which included the stakeswinners Specialize (also by Bluebird) & Stavka (by Xaar), as well as Lady Special (dam of G1 winner Bomber Bill and two other stakeswinners). Another daughter, Special Sal left the G3 winner Demographic. In 18 years at stud, twelve of them in Arrowfield's ownership, Special missed only three times, and her final foaling in 2007 at the age of 24 was straightforward. That foal, Dashing Dunlop (by Not A Single Doubt), is a three-time winner.

Though her racing and breeding days finished up, Special lived up to her name. At the grand age of 29 she was enjoying a third career as a cherished nanny mare at Arrowfield, where she has just taken charge of a new group of weanlings. A quarter-century after her performance at Flemington, with only the rarest of champions able to break her record, it's clear how special she really was.

RACE RECORD - 31: 10-8-3

EARNINGS - $1,079,880

Lightning Stakes

VRC Newmarket Handicap

AJ Moir Stakes

Gadsden Stakes

Bobby Lewis Quality