St Aubins Stud Special Reduction Sale 1951

Reduction and Dispersal Thoroughbred Stud Sales all tell a tale. The stories are sometimes ‘embellished’ to either promote or disguise salient facts. The exceptions are deceased estates. This is called marketing. It’s a strategy which has been very finely honed in the thoroughbred industry; almost to ‘exquisite expert’ perfection as an extended continuum and recurring theme. Perhaps I’ve become a trite cynical well into my eighth decade?

Mr W J Smith had clearly decided to reduce his vested interest in his extensive thoroughbred breeding enterprise. The enigmatic and mercurial leviathan had enjoyed a brief but profitable foray as the short-term owner of one of Australia’s all-time great thoroughbred racehorses; ‘Shannon’. It was the heady stuff of legend. This reduction sale perhaps accurately presaged the eventual complete dispersal of St Aubins Stud in 1956?