Inspired: By VAIN from THOUGHT 1981

Featured Image: Michael Jeffery Portrait Private Collection

Inspired has a strong connection with the Upper Hunter Valley by association. Bred by Simon and Jill Nivison (nee Tait) from Walcha Inspired was foaled at Kia Ora Stud. His ‘heavy physique and boisterous nature’ (Bob Charley) persuaded his breeders to ‘make the unkindest cut of all’ at an early age.

It proved to be a prescient decision. Inspired emulated his sire Vain and maternal grandsire Todman in winning the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill (in 1984). The victory was not without its share of drama. Inspired had suffered an injury in an earlier race leaving a floating piece of bone in his off-hind leg. Fellow veterinarian Norm Teague performed a successful and delicate standing operation under sedation and local anaesthetic. Inspired was passed fit for action by trainer Theo Green. In all Inspired started seven times as a 2yo, winning three, second on three occasions and one unplaced run in the AJC Sires Produce Stakes. Inspired was ridden in his early races by aspiring Theo Green apprentice Darren Beadman. As a 4yo Inspired won the Theo Marks Quality (1400m) and Group I George Main Stakes (1600m) before retiring after suffering a tendon injury.

Both the Nivison and Tait families are virtual ‘royalty’ in NSW country racing annals. Inspired’s victory in the world’s richest 2yo race was a fitting tribute to the dedication and application of both dynasties. Simon Nivison was a close school friend of Bim Thompson from Widden; hence the booking of Thought to Vain. All were great supporters of racing at Scone featuring many memorable victories in important races. Tragically Simon died far too young as did Bim Thompson. Both made huge contributions to the very essence of rural life; emulating and even exceeding their fathers. I’m proud to have known both very well.

Kingston Town (1976)

By Bletchingly from Ada Hunter (Ger)

Featured Image: Roy Miller         Moonee Valley Race Club            Peter Cook is the jockey

There is no doubt Kingston Town is the best racehorse I have ever seen.

I metaphorically ‘rode him’ in all his wins. I have well documented my close association with Bletchingly and also his birthplace at Widden Stud. His many victories ensured champion stallion status for his sire. This was like living out in real life a burgeoning ‘bull’ market in stocks and shares or real estate. It was great fun and more than mollified my non-smoking, non-gambling, non-drinking lay preaching very religious bank manager ‘with a name like a trotter’! It certainly appeased me!

The stellar career of Kingston Town as a racehorse is set in stone and has been regurgitated ad infinitum. He won 30 races from 1200m to 3200m in the best of company. He could ‘change gear’ and accelerate at any stage of a race like no other before or since with the possible exception of Winx? She has just equalled his record of three consecutive WFA W S Cox Plates at Moonee Valley. His 30 wins included many victories at Group I level. Malcolm Johnston rode him in 24 of those victories. His domination of autumn acing as a three year old convinced T J Smith he had a genuine champion. Earlier T J had plumped for Mighty Kingdom.

Lord Dudley 1972 by RIGHT HONOURABLE II (GB) from JANE HERO

Featured Image: Portrait by Michael Jeffery Victoria Racing Club

It’s a name I should remember; it’s also one of my favourite pubs!

Lord Dudley brought together some of the more important elements, old and new, in breeding in the Upper Hunter Valley. He was bred by Mr & Mrs Richard Harris of the famed Holbrook Stud family in the Widden Valley. Richard allowed his brothers John and Alan free scope at home while he pursued other interests including commerce in Denman. He sold his hardware business and became heavily involved in racing administration; firstly as secretary at Muswellbrook (Upper Hunter Race Club) and then at Queanbeyan Race Club.

He sent his AJC Oaks winning mare Jane Hero (by Holbrook Sire Persian Book) to Ted Hawcroft’s newly established Byerley Stud at Martindale, near Denman in 1971. Syd Anderson was the manager. Lord Dudley was sold as a yearling for $18,000 to clients of Bart Cummings who trained him for them. He did not disappoint winning the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200 metres) and VRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400 metres) as a 2yo. Showing incredible versatility as a mature 3yo he won the William Reid Stakes (1200 metres) at Moonee Valley, the Blamey Stakes at Flemington (1600 metres), Australian Cup (2000 metres) and finally the VRC St Leger Stakes (2800 metres). He was named Horse of the Year in 1976. Lord Dudley had a disappointing stud career at “Narrung Stud” in South Australia nonetheless producing in his first crop Sheraco who won the VRC Oaks Stakes.

The Shiralee in Scone – 1956-57

http://www.scone.com.au/history/historicalevents/theshiralee/

Featured Image: A scene from the movie, the Shiralee; filmed in Scone, 1956: Peter Finch

Liz Flaherty captured the real drama of the ‘Shiralee’ story in Scone. I duly acknowledge the source. A few recall the drama and real life theatre of having actors of the calibre of Peter Finch in town. I have it on good authority their very presence fanned much hormonally inspired bustle and excitement about the place. It was while researching the history of the Civic Theatre the subject cropped up again.

‘The Shiralee’ is not the only significant movie to be released in Scone. The Turkish film version of Gallipoli was a major event. The latter was based on letters written by the Cumberland brothers to their families in Scone from the Dardanelles in 1915. It was a moving and poignant occasion attended by extant descendants of the Cumberland clan. The Turkish Director proved to be a most erudite, urbane and compassionate person; humble in ‘victory’. He selected Scone based on the letters he uncovered in Turkey.

The film The Shiralee was shot in Scone in 1956 and was the location for the Australasian premiere the following year. The film was based on the novel by D’Arcy Niland and shot on location in Binnaway, Connabarabran, Scone and at MGM’s studios in London during 1956.¹

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Bletchingly (1970) by Biscay ex Coogee by Relic (Am) by War Relic (Am).

Breeder: S T Wootton

Featured Image: ‘Bletchingly’ at Widden Stud in 1980 with Henry Plumptre

See also: Bletchingly – Wikipedia

Bletchingly has provided for both my retirement plan and superannuation. Perhaps I should explain?

I always admired Biscay and the profound percipience of Stanley Wootton. The success of his import Star Kingdom is legendary. I was actually party to at least two priceless pearls of wisdom from the master. I have in my possession a hand written letter from STW to my then employer Murray Bain dated 31/12/1972. It was written on flimsy notepaper from the Southern Cross Hotel (Intercontinental), 131 Exhibition Street, Melbourne 3000. I typed it out so I could absorb its magical messages. Later in 1974 I had occasion to write to Mr Wootton at Treadwell House, Epsom, England. This was about the time Murray Bain passed away. In his reply My Wootton thanked me for my letter and also my congratulations on ‘Bletchingly’s recent maiden win’. He stated in his reply: ‘This is a very nice horse and I believe will make a very good sire one day’. I’ve kept the letter and framed it.

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Biscay

By Star Kingdom out of Magic Symbol (by Makapura by Big Game) foaled 1965

Featured Image of BISCAY at Bhima Stud, Scone with groom Peter Gleeson (‘The Star Kingdom Story’ by Peter Pring: ‘The Thoroughbred Press’, Sydney)

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/biscays-staggering-early-breeding-statistics/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/biscays-minders/

It’s a very close contest. I declared for my favourite stallion as Vain with Biscay and Bletchingly very close behind in an extremely tight finish. I’ve asked the judge for a review of the photo finish. He announced a triple dead-heat; for the second time in history.

The story of Biscay’s racing and stud career is remarkable by any standards. Biscay showed exceptional precocious speed in his early races. Trained by Angus Armanasco in Melbourne for owner/breeder S T Wootton he arrived in Sydney to contest the Golden Slipper Stakes in 1968. He was a short priced favourite at prohibitive odds. History proclaims that Scone-bred Royal Parma won the race in style while Biscay ‘compounded’ in the straight to run fourth. He was branded a ‘speedy squib’. This was grossly unfair. What is not generally known is that Stanley Wootton ‘commandeered’ his training regime at Rosehill. He attempted to impose Epsom, England training methods instead of the accepted sprint preparation routine familiar in Australia. Angus Armanasco was livid; but the owner’s rules prevail. How do I know all this? Good friend Hilton Cope was a Sydney apprentice jockey at the time (Vic Thompson). He watched the whole drama unfold.

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Subsequent SUBZERO

Featured Image: SUBZERO inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in March 2014

See also the Video: ‘In the Blood: Thoroughbreds in the Hunter Valley’ on this website

Until ‘Shocking’ came along (2009) SUBZERO was the most recent Upper Hunter-bred winner of the Melbourne Cup (1992). By Kala Dancer (GB) out of Wiley Trade (USA) Subzero was bred at ‘Wakefield Stud’, Nandowra Road, Moobi, SCONE; then under the provenance of Sydney-based lawyer Brian T. Agnew. This is the self-same ‘Redbank’ property which had seen so many iterations in its rich and colourful colonial history. It housed Scone’s very first hospital and later was home to Laurie Morgan and his young family before Laurie found enduring fame as an Olympic (Equestrian) Champion in the Rome Olympiad 1960.

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GUNSYND – Again

Featured Image by Michael Jeffery   Victoria Race Club

I wrote an earlier post. I think it needs to be included here also; if only to keep Baguette company?

We’re just going through another phase of massive national euphoria with the superlative performances of ‘Winx’. Good mate Rick Wright has composed his poetic tribute ‘What About Winx’. We’ve barely had time to recover from similar passions pertaining to ‘Black Caviar’ and ‘Makybe Diva’. ‘Champion’ and ‘Best Ever’ epithets make their customary and consistent revivals. Unresolved pub arguments will always prevail. Speaking of exultation the first running of the innovative ‘The Everest’ has literally ‘scaled the heights’. I deal with this separately under an eponymous title with a further encomium to victorious Scone-bred locals Peter and Paul Snowdon

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Baguette by REGO (imp) from DARK JEWEL (by Star Kingdom)

Featured Image: Maurice Tulloch Portrait Private Collection

Baguette was arguably the best progeny of exceptional Star Kingdom mare Dark Jewel. By Nasrullah stallion son Rego (IRE). He was a therefore full brother to Heirloom and Birthright plus half-brother to Betelgeuse, Cabochon, Ginger Bread, Powella, Lucie Manette and Briolette.

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Vain 1968

BY Wilkes (Fr by Court Martial) from Elated (by Orgoglio)

Featured Image: Portrait by Paul Fitzgerald Victoria Race Club

During my professional career now spanning more than 50 years since 1967 I’ve been extremely fortunate to have kept company with some of the modern era’s greatest sires, broodmares and even racehorses. I’ve just completed another Scone Literary Long Week End. I met special guest and author Don Watson from Victoria who admitted to a weakness for thoroughbreds. He’s a broodmare owner. Don declared for Vain. See below. This is my considered response Don.

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