Off the Track Horses Honoured at Ascot Racecourse
With the conclusion of our race naming competition, we are thrilled to have finalized our off the track race names. With so many retired racehorses to honour, we are proud to announce that there will be two races named by the Off the Track WA community.
We look forward to cheering home the following races:
Joello – Proudly Off the Track Handicap
Blazing Morn – Proudly Off the Track Handicap
In memoriam, we have also added an additional race named in honour of Jade Tangaroa’s beloved clerk of the course horse, Cassius Grey. After an impressive racing and clerking career, Cassius displayed the versatility, talent and trainability of retired racehorses in everything he did. Sadly, Cassius passed away in early 2025.
We look forward to cheering home the winner of the ‘Cassius Grey – Proudly Off the Track Handicap’.
Join us at Ascot on Saturday, March 22nd to cheer home the winners of these three races. We also have features with retired racehorses, Super Maxi, Ocean’s Fifteen and fellow clerk horse Mervyn parading. With face painting, horses to pat, and many more off the track features, this is a day for all Thoroughbred enthusiasts to enjoy!
Learn About These Three Horses
Representing Retired Racehorses
Cassius Grey – Proudly Off the Track Handicap
Cassius Grey epitomized versatility. After an impressive career of 44 starts with Warren Radford, Cassius retired from racing but never strayed far from the track.
As a clerk of the course with Jade Tangoroa, Cassius ensured the safety of racehorses for over a decade. He led out winner after winner, and loved to watch the horses as they raced passed him.
Beloved by Jade, Cassius lived a fulfilled off the track career. While he continued to care for horses at the track, he also dabbled in various disciplines including competing in the Blackwood Marathon.
Cassius’s heart belonged at the track. Whether he was leading out an unsettled entrant, or watching from the mounting yard, Cassius loved his job with his best friend Jade and their co-workers.
We are proud to name the ‘Cassius Grey – Proudly Off the Track Handicap’ in honour of this wonderful horse.
Joello – Proudly Off the Track Handicap
Submitted by Cindy Lyall, Joello was a wonderful off the track competitor who achieved great heights throughout his career. Cindy described Joello as a ‘once in a lifetime horse’.
Trained by Daniel Morton, Joello raced for 15 starts to claim a total of two wins. While he wasn’t the most impressive racehorse, he found his niche off the track in eventing.
While with Cindy, Joello competed in a variety of disciplines, such as showing, jumping and dressage, but his true talent lay with eventing.
“He was extremely brave and athletic, with wins up to four-star classes (Olympic level). Each year, he won or placed in the eventing leaderboards.”
Joello competed at many international level events, flying the Thoroughbred flag. He competed at the Adelaide International Three-Day event for four years in a row, finishing in the top five for three out of his four starts.
“Joello gave his all in everything he did, and he enjoyed every minute. We were blessed to have him.”
We are proud to name the ‘Joello – Proudly Off the Track Handicap’ at Ascot on March 22.
Blazing Morn – Proudly Off the Track Handicap
Submitted by Kate O’Connell, Blazing Morn is a wonderful representation of the versatile and gentle nature of retired racehorses.
Known as ‘Sunnie’, this twenty-seven-year-old gelding has lived a fulfilled life after his extensive racing career with Kellie Grantham. After 41 starts, Sunnie retired from racing in late 2006 and has since dabbled in a bit of everything.
After moving to Melbourne with Kate briefly, Sunnie showcased his beautiful nature by assisting a young girl with Lymes disease. Though she had lost the use of her legs, Sunnie gave freedom to this young girl to escape from her wheelchair. She did eventually regain some movement back in her legs, aided no doubt by the rehabilitation riding Blazing Morn provided.
In the early years of his off the track career, Blazing Morn competed in show jumping, mounted games, fox hunting, polocrosse and pony club events. Since retiring, he has enjoyed a relaxed lifestyle of frequent trips to the beach and playing with his best friend, Kate.
We are proud to name the ‘Blazing Morn – Proudly Off the Track Handicap’ at Ascot on March 22.
