Antipodes: British Stallions sent to Australia
By Keith R. Binney for Thoroughbred Heritage. ©Keith R. Binney, 2009. Keith Binney is author of Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) & The Serpents Legacy (Volcanic Productions, 2005) and a contributor to Thoroughbred Heritage.
http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/GoneAbroadf/Antipodes/Antipodes2.html
Featured Image:
‘Skeleton’ was one of the very early importations into NSW (1827) and ‘Dover’ (1836)
The Influence of British Stallions in Australia
In the period 1788 – 1882, almost 400 stallions were imported to the colony of New South Wales, forerunner of the nation of Australia. Yet despite the commercial and practical advantages available to Cape of Good Hope and Indian exporters, arising from their much shorter shipping distances — plus a general recognition by early Australian horse breeders of the worth of Arab bloodlines — more than 90% of these imports were English or Irish-bred thoroughbreds. Colonial Sons of British Sires From the earliest times, Australian breeders interested in “breeding up” from their mares of eastern origin, preferred to use the few English thoroughbred sires available, as even Colonial-bred stallions from English sires were naturally of mixed blood. Reputedly, the Honourable Thomas Icely’s Chancellor (c1826, by Steeltrap (GB) 1815, out of Manto (GB) 1817) was the first colonial-born, pure thoroughbred stallion, but as he died at just six years of age, Chancellor did little as a sire. However, beginning in the early 1840s, pure-bred colonial sires, such as the famous Sir Hercules (1843, by Cap-a-pie (GB), out of Paraguay (GB) by Sir Hercules (GB)), stamped their mark on the Australasian racehorse. Sir Hercules’ acceptance continued through his sons, particularly Cossack (1846, out of Flora McIvor) and Yattendon (1861, out of Cassandra). However, perhaps his most famous racehorse son, The Barb (1863, by Sir Hercules (AUS) and out of Fair Ellen), was somewhat disappointing as a sire. Other Colonial pure-bred sires of the early period, such as Waverley (1845, by St. George (GB), out of Splendora (GB)), Lawson’s Tros (c1844, by Tros (GB), out of Persiani (GB)), and Whalebone (1844, by Speculation (GB), out of Paraguay (GB)), were also successful and reasonably well patronised. They were followed by Touchstone (1853, by Touchit (GB), out of Thetis), Chevalier (1854, by Lawson’s Tros, out of Flora McIvor), and William Tell (c1855, by William Tell (GB), out of Maid of the Oaks), a full brother to dual Melbourne Cup winner Archer (1856). By 1882, there were a large number of well-bred, Colonial-born, thoroughbred sires available. Some of these thoroughbred horses were put to use over station mares to upgrade the “Australian Stock Horse,” which was to become famous as the “Waler” in military circles during the Indian and Boer Wars, as well as the 1st World War in the Middle East. Major Australian thoroughbred breeders of the time showed a strong bias against using locally-bred stallions, in favour of imported English sires. This preference — or perhaps prejudice — extended well past the interruptions to English imports due to the two World Wars. Today this bias no longer exists, as confirmed by the fact that Australia’s current leading sires are both Australian-breds, albeit with large doses of international blood: Redoute’s Choice (AUS, 1996) by Danehill (USA) (a son of Danzig (USA)), out of Shantha’s Choice (AUS), and Encosta de Lago (AUS, 1993) by Fairy King (USA) (a son of Northern Dancer (CAN)), out of Shoal Creek (AUS). Both Danehill and Fairy King were purchased as yearlings in the USA, and were raced and retired to stud in England and Ireland. With the modern “shuttle stallion” system, Danehill and Fairy King and other superior stallions were and currently other superior stallions are flown by airplane to the southern hemisphere, after covering mares on northern hemisphere time. Travel time for shuttle stallions is 24 to 48 hours, depending on lay-overs, origin and destination — a blink of the eye compared to the journeys faced by their predecessors. Some Imported British Stallions |
Some Important Early Imported Stallions From Great Britain, Unless Otherwise Noted |
|||
Imported | Horse | Sire (Sire of Sire) | Importer |
1823 NSW | Steeltrap (1815) | Scud (Beningbrough) | Mr. Aspinall |
c1825 NSW | Bay Camerton (1817) | Camerton (Hambletonian) | Robt. Lethbridge |
1825 NSW | Herald (1819) | Marmion (Whiskey) | Aust. Ag. Co. |
1826 TAS | Peter Fin (1819) | Whalebone (Waxy) | Capt. Lamb |
1827 NSW | Skeleton (1820) (IRE) | Master Robert (Buffer) | Alex. Riley |
1828 NSW | Rous’ Emigrant (1822) | Pioneer (Whiskey) | Capt. Henry Rous |
1828 NSW | Theorem (1824) | Merlin (Castrel) | Henry Rous |
1829 NSW | Toss (1822) | Bourbon (Sorcerer) | Mesrs. Scott |
1830 NSW | Trumpet (1827) | Tiresias (Soothsayer) | W.A. Scott |
1830 NSW | Whisker (1828) | Whisker (Waxy) | Henry Bayley |
1832 TAS | Little John (1831) | Little John (Octavius) | Mr. Henty |
1835 NSW | Gratis (1829) | Middleton (Phantom) | Capt. Daniels |
1835 NSW | Velocipede (183-) | Velocipede (Blacklock) | Capt. Daniels |
1836 NSW | Dover (1832) | Patron (Partisan) | Scott Bros. |
1836 NSW | Gil Blas (1834) | Muley (Orville) | Chas. Roberts |
1836 NSW | St. John (1834) | St. Nicholas (Emilius) | J. Wood |
1837 NSW | Operator (1832) | Emilius (Orville) | Hon. T. Icely |
1838 NSW | Lawson’s Emigrant (1831) | Tramp (Dick Andrews) | Wm. Lawson |
1839 NSW | Bassano (1837) | Filho-da-Puta (Haphazard) | Robt. Dawson |
1839 NSW | Cap-a-pie (1837) | The Colonel (Whisker) | Henry Kater |
1839 NSW | Muleyson (1833) | Muley (Orville) | Robt. Dawson |
1839 NSW | Tros (1822) | Priam (Emilius) | W.A. Scott |
1842 NSW | Boyd’s Camel (1838) | Camel (Whalebone) | Benjamin Boyd |
1842 NSW | The Doctor (1840) | Physician (Brutandorf) | Chas. Smith |
1842 TAS | Jersey (1839) | Buzzard (Blacklock) | Mr. Rose |
1843 NZ | Aether (1836) | St. Patrick (Walton) | Hon. Mr. Petre |
1847 NSW | William Tell (1843) | Touchstone (Camel) | Cooper & Holt |
1849 VIC | The Premier (1843) | Tory Boy (Tomboy) | McKnight & Irvine |
1854 NSW | Warhawk (1848) | Epirus (Langar) | H.N. Simpson |
1855 SA | Muscovado (1851) | Sweetmeat (Gladiator) | Messrs. Fisher |
1855 SA | South Australian (1850) | Cotherstone (Touchstone) | Messrs. Fisher |
1856 NSW | Cheddar (1850) | Cotherstone (Touchstone) | Messrs. Busby |
1856 NSW | Magus (1853) | Pyrrhus the First (Epirus) | Cheeke & Tait |
1856 NSW | New Warrior (1851) | Pyrrhus the First (Epirus) | Tait & Jenner |
1857 VIC | Indian Warrior (1849) | Napier (Gladiator) | R.F. Greene |
1857 TAS | Peter Wilkins (1853) | The Flying Dutchman (Bay Middleton) | James Purves |
1857 NSW | Pitsford (1847) [2,000 Guineas/ 2nd Derby] |
Epirus (Langar) | Mylne & Tindal |
1858 VIC | Boiardo (1851) | Orlando (Touchstone) | James Purves |
1859 VIC | Kelpie (1855) | Weatherbit (Sheet Anchor) | Simpson & Row |
1859 NSW | Freetrader (1849) | The Sea (Whalebone) | Gord. Sandeman |
1859 NZ | The Peer (1855) | Melbourne (Humphrey Clinker) | E. Moorhouse |
1860 SA | Fisherman (1853) [Ascot Gold Cup twice] |
Heron (Bustard) | Hurtle Fisher |
1860 NSW | Lord of the Hills (1854) | Touchstone (Camel) | Richard Dines |
1860 VIC | The Hermit (1851) [2,000 Guineas] |
Bay Middleton (Sultan) | James Purves |
1861 NSW | Kingston (1860) | Kingston (Venison) | John Lee |
1862 NSW | Yelverton (1861) | Gemma-di-Vergy (Sir Hercules) | Chas. Baldwin |
1867 VIC | Snowden (1853) | Pyrrhus the First (Epirus) | T. Henty |
1869 NSW | Grandmaster (1868) | Gladiateur (Monarque) | Dangar & White |
1871 VIC | The Marquis (1859) [2,000 Guineas/ St. Leger/ 2nd Derby] |
Stockwell (The Baron) | Mssrs. Dakin |
1874 NSW | Hawthornden (1867) [St. Leger] |
Lord Clifden (Newminster) | Mssrs. Dangar |
1874 NSW | Warlike (1865) | Weatherbit (Sheet Anchor) | G.C. Tindal |
1874 NSW | The Drummer (1866) | Rataplan (The Baron) | Chas. Baldwin |
1876 SA | Gang Forward (1870) [2,000 Guineas] |
Stockwell (The Baron) | Sir Thomas Elder |
1878 VIC | Musket (1867) | Toxophilite (Longbow) | Auckland Stud Co. |
Letters behind import date indicate which country or state horse was imported into, although in some cases the horse later moved to another location. NZ = New Zealand NSW = New South Wales (Australia) TAS = Tasmania (Australia) SA = South Australia (Australia) VIC = Victoria (Australia) |