Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios Memorial in Temora.
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| Breed | Standardbred |
|---|---|
| Discipline | Pacing |
| Sire | Deep Adios (USA) |
| Grandsire | Adios (USA) |
| Dam | Rayjen |
| Maternal grandsire | Brigade Command |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1 November 1969 |
| Country | Australia |
| Color | Chestnut |
| Owner | Shirley Pike |
| Trainer | Colin Pike (and driver) |
| Record | |
| 240: 108-43-25 | |
| Earnings | |
| $535,640 | |
| Major wins | |
| 1973 Victoria Derby 1973 New South Wales Derby 1973 Queensland Derby 1974 & 1976 Lord Mayors Cup 1975 & 1977 Sir Clive Uhr Championship 1976 Miracle Mile Pace 1977 Winfield Cup |
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| Awards | |
| Youngest Australian pacer to earn $100,000 World record 2:02.3 standing start 2,400m First Australian 3yo to break 2:00 |
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| Other awards | |
| Best mile rate: 1:57.6 | |
| Honors | |
| 1976/77 Aged Pacer of the Year & Australian Harness Horse of the Year 1976/77 Australian Pacers Grand Circuit Champion |
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| Last updated on: 28 July 2011. | |
Paleface Adios (1969–1989) was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, (from the age of two years until he was retired at the age of 11 years) when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan and Pure Steel.
He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and feet, and a golden mane. Paleface Adios was foaled on 1 November 1969, at Temora, NSW and was by Deep Adios (by Adios) out of Rayjen by Brigade Command. Rayjen was the dam of several full siblings to Paleface Adios, but they failed to match his ability as racehorses.
Paleface Adios was trained and driven throughout his career by Colin Pike, and was owned by Colin's wife, Shirley Pike. He was nicknamed The Temora Tornado, in honour of the town where he was bred and trained. He raced with a 'daisy cutting' action which gave the impression that his feet were not touching the ground with each stride that he took. Paleface had brilliant early speed and when drawn from the front row of the mobile barrier or in a standing start was rarely headed at the start of his races. He did however win many races coming from back in the field with a sprint in the last lap.
The colt however made an inauspicious debut at Sydney's Harold Park as a two-year-old when he fell, as a short priced favourite. He started in an incredible seven consecutive Miracle Miles at Harold Park (one of Australia's Grand Circuit races which is invitation only) winning once in 1976 beating Don't Retreat and Hondo Grattan in a time of 1.58.4. The 1974 Miracle Mile will live in the memories of those that saw it as Paleface Adios and Hondo Grattan contested the last lap with victory going to Hondo Grattan over his arch-rival to the applause of the crowd. He was also second in the Miracle Mile four times and third once.
He never won Australasia's biggest race, the Inter Dominion but did win eight heats of the event including two heats in 1980 at Harold Park at the age of 10. In his first attempt at the Inter Dominion in 1974 he was involved in a multi horse fall at the start of the race and did not finish. He had the distinction of competing in the Sydney series with his full brother Jacraig Adios, a rare feat.
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