In the warm Spring of 1973 one horse dominated them all in Melbourne

Taj Rossi was sired by Matrice from the mare Dark Queen. From a breeding perspective, the stallion Matrice, was a distinguished sprinter miler, achieving remarkable success throughout his career. Notably, he secured victories in the prestigious 1956 SAJC Goodwood Handicap, the 1956 VRC Cantala Stakes, and the 1956 and 1957 VRC Linlithgow Stakes. He sired 24 stakes-winners including Taj Rossi, Manihi, Toltrice, Pago Pago and La Trice – all high-class performers. He was trained throughout his career by Bart Cummings who bought him at the 1972 Adelaide yearling sales. Taj Rossi was raced by Melbourne businessman Victor Peters who, along with his wife Lila, also raced the very good Fulmen back in the late 1960s. Their colours of white with the brown circles would be synonymous with quality horses throughout the late 1960s, 70s and 80s.

During the spring of 1973, as a three-year-old his career blossomed, winning the Ascot Vale Stakes, Carrum Handicap, Moonee Valley Stakes, Cox Plate, Victoria Derby and the Sandown Guineas. Jockey Roy Higgins had a deep appreciation for the horse, believing he possessed a constitution unseen in most thoroughbreds. On Taj Rossi he rated him as the best three-year-old he ever rode. His only real failure was a fourth in the Caulfield Guineas where he finished under a stranglehold by Higgins. The skilled jockey conveyed to Bart that the horse should have won by two lengths. Next start he took on the older horses at Moonee Valley in the W.S Cox Plate (2040m) then reverted back to his own age group in the Victoria Derby (2500m) a week later. He would then drop back to a mile one week after that to run in the George Adams Handicap (1600m) and then go on and return to his own age group in the Sandown Guineas (1600m) the following week. He won them all. In a spring that was extraordinary, Taj Rossi went on to be judged Australian Champion Racehorse for the 1973/ 74 season.

Taj Rossi won nine races from 21 starts with most of them coming from his three-year-old season, earning the plaudits from his trainer who believed the horse was the the best three-year-old Australia has known in the last fifty years. Taj Rossi was a great type, except for a plain head, an inheritance from his boof-headed father, Matrice. More importantly, he was tough, incredibly so. He hit his head on the starting stalls before the Caulfield Guineas, bringing up a lump as big as a cricket ball, yet still ran fourth. During the spring he just kept walking up, week after week, and winning. There was nothing Taj Rossi couldn't do that spring (1973). But he caught a stomach virus the next autumn and was never the same. The virus had troubled the horse throughout his career which eventuated in his retirement from the racetrack at the age of four.

Taj Rossi spent two years at stud in America where he had moderate success before returning to Australia to continue stud duties. Amongst his stakes winners were Taj Eclipse (Victoria Oaks) and Merimbula Bay (Doncaster Handicap). The Peters would later establish Fulmen Park on the Mornington Peninsula named after their first racehorse, a winner of 8 stakes races including the Brisbane and Adelaide Cups. Taj Rossi died in 1986 at the age of 15.

Whilst there have been many horses grace the hallowed turf at Flemington, few could do it in the manner that Taj Rossi did. He raced in an era which included other top 3YOs the like of Imagele, Grand Cidium and Leica Lover. Through the popular Taj Rossi racing Series held over 1600m at Flemington his memory lives on.

Record - 21: 9-1-4

Earnings - A$208,980

W.S Cox Plate (1973)

Victoria Derby (1973)

Ascot Vale Stakes (1973)

George Adams Handicap (1973)

Moonee Valley Stakes (1973)

Sandown Guineas (1973)

Australian Horse of the Year (1973/1974)