McKINNON STAKES:
Perhaps his most notoble win is his 1947 McKinnon Stakes win overcoming ATTLEY and COLOUMNIST. This race, first run in 1869, was originally known as the Melbourne Stakes. Run at Weight-For-Age over 2000 metres, it provides an important final lead up to the Melbourne Cup. After starting as one of three favourites for the 1947 cup it was a huge disappointment when DON PEDRO was withdrawn from the field after showing signs of soreness.
It has been won by great names such as:-
Carbine (1890), Phar Lap (1930 & 1931), Peter Pan (1932), Ajax (1938), Tranquil Star (1942, 1944 & 1945), Flight (1946), Comic Court (1949 & 1950), Rising Fast (1954 & 1955), Tulloch (1960), Sky High (1961), Tobin Bronze (1966), Leilani (1974), Dulcify (1979), Horlicks (1989), Better Loosen Up (1990), Let's Elope (1991), Lonhro (2002) and Grand Armee (2004).
DON PEDRO BREEDS CHAMPION STEEPLE CHASER:
Winning a total of £17,218 prize money over his racing career of 11 wins, 10 seconds, 8 thirds and 8 unplaced DON PEDRO was put to stud at Braeside Park, located near Dandenong, Victoria. The notice of DON PEDRO'S availability noted the fee of 100 guineas. The first service of DON PEDRO was over a mare which produced a filly renown for her big heart, PEDRO PRIDE, was a champion steeple chaser which many believed was one of the greatest steeple chasers the country had seen with an outstanding race record which includes:
1957 Australian Steeple, 79kg
1957 Grand National by 10 lengths, 75.5kg on a heavy track.
1957 Hiskens Steeple, 79.5 kg