Death of Alex McMullan

Press, 25 June 1981, Page 20

Death of Alex McMullan

By

J. J. BOYLE

Mr Aiex McMullan. a colourful character in a. racing career extending beyond half a century died last week at the age of 86. , He spent many years of his training career at Riccarton but ranged far and wide earlier when he was race riding. In 1912 he won the Taranaki Cup on Lady Menschikoff. Nine years later he won the Riverton Great Western Steeplechase on Glenisla. Between those years he was at Wanganui with Fred Tilley and had Maurice McCarten, a champion jockey and later a top Sydney trainer, as a contemporary.

Later he went to Hastings to join the stable of T. F. Quinlivan. who trained Sasanof until not long before, the good stayer won the Melbourne. Cup. Mr McMullan lived in Southland for four years, making his headquarters at Gore. there were very few jumpers trained at Gore in those days he was still in demand as a jumping rider and won 27 races over fences. He was one of a number of jumping riders invited on a tour' of inspection of the Riccarton fences during one jumping carnival. A big sod wall, long since replaced, had been taking a heavy toll and the late Mr John Grigg asked if any of the riders

could -suggest how to improve the fence. "You could put a bloody tunnel under . it," Alex McMullan suggested. Mr McMullan had major successes as a trainer with Royal .ypyage and Imitation Royal-Voyage won the 1951 C.J.C. Challenge StakeSas a maiden and repeated . that success a year later. Imitation won the 1958 Wanganui Jackson Stakes and other races in the McMullan colours. By that time Mr McMullan had settled at Trentham but seized the opportunity to campaign the consistent chestnut on South Island courses he knew so well.