A winner at two and second to Red Manfred in the Great Northern Derby at three (also third to the subsequent Epsom Handicap winner Silver Ring in the Awapuni Cup at that age), Catalogue broke down during his 4Y0 year.

Resuming from a long break in March 1937, he was a first up winner over a mile, McDonald the trainer and Ted Barnes the owner.

Recording another four wins over the next twelve months or so, Catalogue took out the Canterbury Winter Cup and he was second to the tough stayer Padishah in the Wellington Cup.

Changing hands, purchased by Barnes' sisterin- law Mrs Jamieson (an adventurous lady who combined her racing hobby with that of travelling - visiting the world's racetracks), Catalogue was nominated for the 1938 Melbourne Cup and at the juicy odds of 100-1 his connections had a bet.

Despite this investment, Jamieson seriously considered not taking her horse to Australia - disgusted by the rules that prevented her trainer doing her job. The VRC, however, quickly permitted McDonald's husband a licence and Catalogue headed to Melbourne - making his debut in the Coongy Handicap.

Needing the run he faded after sitting on the pace but he was far from disgraced at his next outing, outclassed but sixth in Ajax's W.S Cox Plate.

The Hotham Handicap was next on Catalogue's programme and after making the pace he battled on well for third behind the Brisbane Cup winner Spear Chief and the Sydney Cup winner L'Aiglon.

On that occasion Catalogue was ridden for the first time by the Queenslander Fred Shean who had twice before been in the placings in Melbourne Cups. He had been riding in especially good form that spring - taking out the Caulfield Cup on Buzalong.

And he was again in good form come the first Tuesday in November, not panicking when Catalogue, from barrier 17, swerved at the start, losing ground. Hunting him up towards the pace, Shean settled the 8Y0 before letting him go a startling six furlongs from home!

A slightly different ride to Scott Seamer's aboard Ethereal 53 years later but the story of a jockey from the north taking the Melbourne spring by storm is familiar!

As it turned out, Shean knew just the way to ride Catalogue, the horse having the race won a long way from home and saluting by three lengths. In doing so he made history - becoming the oldest horse to win the famous Flemington two miler. No 8Y0 has achieved the feat since, although Mr Prudent went close last year.

History was made in other ways that day but sadly not recognised at the time - despite the fact that Catalogue's owner and the registered trainer (her husband) on the day both gave credit to Granny McDonald in their speeches.

Whilst we cannot, sitting here in 2003, judge the standards of the 1930's, it does seem a shame that over 60 years later the achievement of Granny McDonald is yet to be officially recognised.

Meanwhile we are justified in honouring Sheila Laxon's deeds and it is certainly not belittling her achievement to suggest that she is actually the second female trainer of a Melbourne Cup winner.