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.