Mullee Modus IV (4)

Featured Image: Acknowledge Scone Advocate: The winning team at the RAS of NSW Royal Easter Show 1971 at Moore Park. This features a very rare image of Owner/Breeder Mr F K ‘Darby’ Mackay who was quite reticent about publicity for himself.

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s Mullee Stud at Scone was the benchmark for production of very high quality pedigree (‘Stud’) Poll Hereford Cattle. The best brought stratospheric prices when successful in the show ring at Royal Shows in NSW, Queensland and Victoria. The foundation sires (bulls) were Kildrummie Iosta and Milton Rebel. Many of the pedigree cows were sourced from the Moreduval Herd of the Simson family at Spring Ridge. Mullee David ($30,000:00) was another very successful product from this now bygone era.

F K ‘Darby’ Mackay was also one of the most pre-eminent owner/breeders of thoroughbreds at this time. His impressive resume of achievement included ‘Sabah’ (AJC Oaks), ‘Royal Sovereign’ (Triple Derby winner AJC/QTC/VRC) and ‘Nebo Road’ (VRC Newmarket Handicap). In addition Mr Mackay was a Vice-Chairman of the Australian Jockey Club.

Manager Bruce Martin (pictured) was no mean pastoralist himself. He established his own ‘Glenmartin Stud’ (now Holbrook Thoroughbreds) along the Gundy Road. Leading off from his foundation mare ‘Warren Stream’, a daughter of champion stallion ‘Midstream, he produced a string of winners including ‘Todstream’ (Todman/Warren Stream) as well as outstanding sprinter ‘Cantabrian’ (by ‘Biscay’). Bruce was a great devotee of the Star Kingdom breed and applied the same line breeding strategies which he gleaned from his time at Mullee with F K Mackay.