[AusRace] Lost momentarily - there is some horse racing in this, also geography and geology

[Tony Moffat]

50 years ago today I was lost, somewhat, although I knew where I was I
couldn't find what I was looking for, Tyrendarra 15, a well site in western
Victoria. It had been completed some years previously and I was looking for
some evidence of its presence, often  some sumps where the shale shakers had
removed the cuttings, a well head is always a good indicator you'd think, a
limestone pad is another, and always the crap and rubbish those drillers
leave behind, drums of this and that, cables, surplus cement. None of it was
seen amidst the swaying trees and lava stone walls of the district.

It's ok, I did find the well site, I was about 2 minutes out,
geographically, and whilst at the right latitude I was awry with the
longitude, a little. 

Whilst lost and strolling around the perimeter of the prettiest paddock
anywhere I was approached by a duo of galloping horses, an older male and a
kid who rode past me, waved, and rode on, then reined back to ask if they
could help. They did, they at least knew where the well site was, a mile
towards Codrington and on the other side of the track. There it was, without
a well head, without a sump, without mess or anything of notoriety regarding
drillers and their habit of making a mess and moving on. Well done.

The older male returned on his horse a couple of days later, he was a
grandson of the earliest owners of these paddocks, although not the area
where the drilling had occurred, that was Victorian Government land. Horse
riding and horse ownership got us talking punting, as it does. This man's
father rode Massinissa into Portland to collect Revenue off the delivery
boat from Melbourne. So, you may well ask.

Massinissa ran second in a Caulfield Cup. Revenue won the Melbourne Cup of
1901 at a short price (7/4 or perhaps 2/1). Both of those horses were sent
to the owners property 'Ellangowan' to hack for a year as a holiday and
respite for injuries, to remove them from the eye of the racing public,
amateur and professional, and to see if either or both had another racing
season in them. It was not uncommon for stayers to stroll about doing not a
lot for extended periods of time, although this was then.

Neither raced again. Revenue became a ride for the Clerk of the Course at
Melbourne tracks. He achieved hero status again when taken to the First
World War and was killed in action there, in a cavalry charge in Romani
Egypt. See below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Romani

The owner of these two was also the owner of Wakeful. Now there is
racehorse. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakeful_(horse)

At her last run she ran second in The Cup, conceding the winner 22 kilograms
(or the imperial equivalent). In the book 'Melbourne Cup' under the year
1903 there is about 17 words dedicated to the winner, the rest of the page
is about Wakeful!! - she was bonny, whatever that is.

The elder male, and his daughter, (presumably 'the kid' mentioned) won
prizes for their cattle. He was a Learmonth, and several of those won medals
in battle. The airforce base in WA is named for them.

Windemere 2 a well nearby that went through the same strata, essentially,
produced oil, condensate and gas. It was sealed after completion. There is
gas, tight though, underneath most of that ground.

Cheers

Tony



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