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.

Baguette was the outstanding 2yo of his age group even shading Vain (one year older) in winning the Sydney Triple Crown of Golden Slipper, Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes.; the first to do so. Trained by Fil Allotta at Randwick and ridden in most of his wins by George Moore he maintained his form as a three year old. His wins include the Hobartville Stakes, VRC Newmarket Handicap at Flemington (1971 defeating Dual Choice), Doomben “10,000”, Canterbury Stakes and the George Main Stakes. He had 15 wins, 7 seconds, 4 thirds and 5 unplaced runs from 31 starts; stakes totalling $195,200.

Baguette retired to stud at Kia Ora where he sired 18 individual stakes winners including Dark Eclipse and Crown Jester. Brilliant Crown Jester sired successful stallion Rory’s Jester who was also a Golden Slipper winner. Dark Eclipse won the 1980 Golden Slipper Stakes for Mrs M J Bain and her daughters Morag and Fiona. I believe they were the first female owners to achieve this feat. Mace Bain was the widow of my employer and mentor Murray Bain who died in 1974. He purchased the dam Marjoram as a yearling but she did not race due to a chronic upward fixation of the stifle (‘locked stifle’).

Dark Eclipse was actually raised on the Bain’s small farm at Yarrandi near Scone. I used to maintain my very small and modest band of mares there. This farm has belonged in succession to my veterinary colleague Ray Gooley, my parents-in-law Bob and Ponty Mackay (‘Melness’) and later Muswellbrook solicitor David White and spouse Helen. Latterly the farm has passed fortuitously into the ownership of David and Claire Paradice. David has a very keen interest in thoroughbred breeding and racing having whetted his appetite during a ‘gap year’ at Widden Stud in the late 1970s. It may be he doesn’t even know he owns the nurturing paddocks of a Golden Slipper winner? I’ll make sure he finds out!