Pure Steel was born in New South Wales in 1971 and purchased as a yearling by Perth bookmaker and businessman Russell Roberts for $2,400.
Pure Steel won the WA Derby and, as a 4yo, was taken to Adelaide for the 1976 Inter Dominion carnival with a record of 10 wins in just 15 starts.
He set an Australian Record for 1800 metres, when winning a heat on the opening night, but despite drawing the coveted pole position for the final, he was unable to run down the front-running Carclew.
While the biggest prize in harness racing was to continue to elude Pure Steel, almost every other major prize fell his way and often more than once.
He won four successive WA Pacing Cups in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 and remains the only three-time winner of Victoria's A G Hunter Cup.
Pure Steel's 1978 AG Hunter Cup win in World Record time, after racing outside NSW champion Rip Van Winkle, is still regarded by many as the greatest race ever run at Moonee Valley.
Pure Steel was an amazing athlete over a distance and in 1977 he won the 3300 metre Victorian Marathon rating 2:02.1.
The race is no longer run over 3300 metres, as it was considered too hard on the horses - perhaps mortal horses but never too hard for Pure Steel.
While Pure Steel was the undisputed staying champion of Australia he could also sprint at the highest level as evidenced by his win in the 1978 Miracle Mile. Pure Steel was the fastest horse in Australia in 1978 and again in 1980.
He was voted Australian Harness Horse of the Year in 1980 and was regarded by many as unlucky to not take this title in 1978 when honours went to the trotter Maori's Idol.
Principal Wins
3yo season
WA Derby Group One
4yo SEASON
WA Christmas Gift
5yo SEASON
WA Pacing Cup Group One
Victorian AG Hunter Cup Group One
Victorian Marathon Stakes
6yo SEASON
WA Pacing Cup Group One
Victorian AG Hunter Cup Group One
7yo SEASON
WA Pacing Cup Group One
South Australian Pacing Cup Group One
8yo SEASON
WA Pacing Cup Group One
Fremantle Cup Group One
Victorian AG Hunter Cup Group One
Match Race of the Century