Paddy Wade (1878 – 1941)

 The  Truth

"Don’t bother about them, they’re only by Night Raid.  Glad to sell him, he’s gone to New Zealand.”  Paddy Wade talking about his Night Raid progeny to inaugural Hall of Fame jockey Bobby Lewis Barrier Miner 5 January 1934

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

All copying, broadcasting, resending or use in any way both commercially and privately without author’s permission is strictly prohibited.

If you ever wondered why swearing was invented, one only need look at Paddy Wade's horse owning career for the answer.

A bright morning sun filtered through branches of magnificent red river gums and she-oaks lining Tarcutta Creek. A screeching cacophony echoed around Borambola Park Stud* as flocks of red-headed Gang-gang and Glossy Black cockatoos came sweeping down from the surrounding trees. Two men, deep in conversation, slowly rode through lush paddocks of thoroughbreds towards a beautiful whitewashed homestead. Once home to John Donnelly's pastoral empire, this rich land, with frontage to the winding Murrumbidgee River, now belonged to New South Wales grazier A.P. "Paddy" Wade.** Looking to transform Borambola Park into one of Australia’s preeminent thoroughbred studs, Wade called on his riding companion, international bloodstock agent and racehorse importer, Andrew Robertson for assistance. Wade outlined his grand plan. “Andy, I want every owner in Australasia knocking down my door.” Andrew Robertson, some ten years the pastoralist’s senior, in turn always addressed his patrons formally. "That will require a serious investment into the best bloodlines." the bloodstock agent replied, adding, "But you know that already, Mr. Wade." 

* 30 klms east of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales

 ** Abraham Patrick Wade

Paddy Wade, animated at the thought of building a world class stud, his ebullient mood quickly evaporated each time the subject of Night Raid came up. Despite only having a light season at stud, from the beginning, Wade displayed little patience for his English imported stallion as the farm's main sire. Wade did not wish to hear his bloodstock advisor waxing lyrical about the wonders of a Bend Or bloodline. Particularly the bloodline possessed by Night Raid. As far as A.P. Wade was concerned, this horse needed to be sold as quickly as humanly possible without resorting to a one-way trip to the glue factory. In 1924, this task fell to Andrew Robertson and more importantly, to replace Night Raid with a sire to advance Wade’s breeding aspirations of building a celebrated stud.* Despite his notable record as a leading bloodstock agent, Andrew Robertson suspected both these tasks might prove more difficult than a simple wave of a wand.       

* Sporting Globe 12 November 1930       

                       Borambola Park Homestead (Borambola Wines)

Racing historians view A.P. Wade as having pulled off two of the great blunders in horse owning and stud operating history. By coincidence, both fateful decisions connect to this story. Considering Night Raid a rank failure, he happily sold him far more cheaply than the exorbitant amount paid only two years earlier.* There is nothing unusual about his decision. Breeders do this all the time. If not satisfied with a sire or broodmare, or an owner receives an offer so lucrative they would be foolish not to accept, horses invariably change hands. In most instances these decisions prove correct. Occasionally, it goes the other way. Then there is Paddy Wade’s decision to sell Night Raid. Unfortunately for him, it turns out to be a colossal clunker. After Night Raid leaves Borambola Park in 1924, he goes on to inexplicably sire 1929 Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup winner, Nightmarch. This horse is one of the most underrated or, in this case, overshadowed, horses in the history of Australasian racing. Had Nightmarch raced in any other era, he would be viewed today as a racing legend. Yet Paddy Wade’s regret over his disposing of Night Raid only to see the emergence of Nightmarch paled to an afterthought the following season. There emerged an even greater superstar in Australian racing, also sired by his exiled Night Raid. Phar Lap.

 *Barrier Miner 5 January 1934

Nightmarch with Roy Reed

Paddy Wade’s compounding remorse, bafflement, and downright annoyance grew every time Phar Lap glided effortlessly past the winning post. An extraordinary horse, so superior to all other racehorses of this era, and most other eras, as to defy nature. Put simply, Phar Lap haunted Paddy Wade for the remainder of his days. However, his selling of Night Raid was not the only snafu in Paddy Wade’s horse owning career. A couple of years later there appeared another monumental lapse in judgment, adding to his growing “Oh Shit!” moments of horse ownership. This came with a rash decision to sell a Kia-Ora Stud bred Magpie sired gelding, Amounis, to bookie Billy Pearson.   

In August 1925, after scoring wins in his first two outings as a three-year-old, owner-trainer Joe Cook sold Amounis to Wade for £2,500 plus a percentage of any future wins. Part of this deal involved Cook continuing to train Amounis. Wade hoped to capture both the AJC and VRC Derbies with his new racehorse. Instead, Amounis ended up being trounced by the mercurial Manfred in both races.* Again, Wade’s impetuosity would prove to be his own worst enemy. He unwisely decided to offload Amounis at auction in April 1926 before sailing to England. While Paddy Wade blithely tally-hoed off thinking all was right in the world, to even the most casual racing observer, he may have been experiencing a psychotic episode. Champion horses do not grow on trees. For many, Amounis presented as close to a gold brick on legs one could ever dream of owning. In part caused by the incredulity surrounding Amounis even being offered, rumours started circulating about the horse's soundness. Unfazed by the hearsay, ex bookmaker Billy Pearson instructed his trainer Frank McGrath not to come away from the auction without him.

*Amounis was fourth in the 1925 AJC Derby after Manfred was left 100 metres at the start for one of Australian racing’s most remarkable wins. Amounis was again fourth in the VRC Derby three weeks later in which Manfred won. (Australian Racing Museum records). 

Amounis (Australian Racing Museum)

McGrath's bid of 1,800 guineas secured their prized horse. Compared with the average price of geldings at sale, Pearson paid higher than most. On the other hand, history will view 1,800 guineas a pittance compared with the astronomical return in store for the bookie. Amounis raced for the next six seasons, breaking an existing Australasian stake earning record long held by Gloaming.* In doing so, Amounis earned Pearson well over £40,000 in stakes alone.** Adding to this massive windfall, Pearson, McGrath and Sydney super punters, mother and son duo, Maude and Ernie Vandenberg could very well have made five times that in their well-publicised backing of Amounis.  In 2006, the Australian Racing Hall of Fame inducted Amounis into their illustrious ranks while the memory of Wagga Wagga’s Paddy Wade continues disappearing into racing obscurity.

 * Record 16 November 1929

**Gloaming - £43100. Amounis’ earnings record - £48297 - was then smashed the following year by Phar Lap - £66738

Gloaming 

Andrew Robertson held a commanding presence. Always immaculately attired, at six feet two, he towered over most in the racing world. Beyond his physical presence and movie star good looks, Robertson’s sobriquet, “The Wizard”, referred to his astonishing knowledge of international and Australasian bloodlines being second to none. When he expressed an opinion on a horse, bloodlines or breeding, even the most successful, or arrogant, owner and breeder took notice. He waited until Paddy Wade finished barking instructions at his station manager, Jack Honnery, as plates of bacon and eggs arrived at their solid oak table set up on the Borambola homestead’s wide verandah. Between slurps of coffee and demolishing his breakfast, Wade locked a steely gaze firmly on his bloodstock advisor, “Andy, I don't care about the cost. Just find me a sire in England worth having. That is all I want." He thought for a moment, adding, "And for Christ's sake, help me get that useless sire out of my sight.” Andrew Robertson returned an enigmatic smile and nodded, thinking, “Let’s see how this pans out?”

Son of a station owner, A.P. Wade made his considerable fortune wheeling and dealing multiple cattle and sheep stations around the Riverina.* In later years this immense pastoral empire would atrophy to the point of bankruptcy through a combination of droughts, the Depression, family tragedies, bad investments, bad decisions, bad second marriage and illness. On this day, sitting opposite Andrew Robertson, Paddy Wade was one of the most powerful graziers in Australia. 

During his long career as a bloodstock agent, Robertson’s wealthy owners often opened an extra bank vault when deciding to purchase a “must have” horse. He enjoyed a long-held international reputation for honesty, frankness, and his total absence of sycophancy around aristocratic clients, nobility, members of the Raj, powerful industrialists and successful pastoralists like Paddy Wade.  

 * Wade was born at "Cooradigbee," Yass, a son of Abraham Wade, of "Salt Box" Station, Yass. Paddy Wade acquired properties around the Riverina including "Douro" and "Kenilworth," Yass, "'Gundabooka," Bourke, "East Bland," "Curraburramra" and "Morangorel" in the Young district, "Lake Cowal," outside Forbes and “Borambola Park" and "Windgmara," outside Wagga Wagga and "Bredbo" near Cooma, to name but a few- Yass Tribune Courier

Andrew Robertson waited until he gained his patron’s full attention. “Mr. Wade, to achieve this, there will be little remaining of £10,000.” In modern valuation, Robertson wanted him to commit upwards of three million dollars for a new sire. Wade sat back, tapping his fingers on the ivory damask tablecloth, knowing he had purchased some of his properties for less. Robertson knew this estimate to be more likely on the high side, but it gave him some room to negotiate. If, by chance, Wade’s wonder sire could be imported for less, quoting high and delivering a sire with some change left over always made patrons happy. Wade paused, before continuing to butter his toast, nodding, “If that’s what it takes. Trust you’ll find me something of real value, Andy?” Robertson smiled when Wade couldn’t suppress his natural instincts to caution him, “Goes without saying, I find myself with another Night Raid, I am not going to be too pleased.” Covering his mouth with a linen serviette, Andrew Robertson gave a small involuntary cough, thinking, “Good God! How many times have I heard this from a breeder?” Dipping a fork full of thick bacon into his runny fried eggs, he commented, “This is a lovely breakfast.”  Half smiling, Wade grumped, “Bloody expensive one.”

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

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Andrew Robertson (1869 – 1948)

(Photo courtesy of Bruce and Liz Robertson)

“DEATH OF FAMOUS RACING MAN

The death occurred in Melbourne during the week of Mr. Andrew Robertson, brother of the famous Melbourne trainer, Lou Robertson. Mr. Robertson, who was 78 years old, had a colourful career in racing, not only in Australia, but also in America, England, France and other countries. An acknowledged judge of breeding he was responsible for scores of racehorses, sires and breeding mares being imported to Australia.” The Chronicle, 18 March 1948, page 39

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

All copying, broadcasting, resending or use in any way both commercially and privately without author’s permission is strictly prohibited.

Born in Spring Grove, near Brightwater, just south of Nelson, New Zealand in 1869, Andrew Robertson and younger brother, trainer Lou, grew up in the same town as Nobel Prize winning physicist Sir Ernest Rutherford, a close family friend.* Most settlers in the Waimea Valley at this time either made the perilous four to six month journey from Great Britain or were the first generation children of those who had. His father, James, a blacksmith, ventured from Fife, Scotland in 1860.  James was an immensely strong individual, able to throw a 22lb (or nearly 10 kilo) stone 26 feet (8 metres) at their local Caledonian Games.** Blacksmithing skills passed down by their father provided a sound basis for Andrew and Lou understanding horses, literally from the ground up. The brothers’ entry into racing was not as trainer and bloodstock authority but farriers. 

 *James Robertson’s closest friend was Andrew Rutherford, a wheelwright and the brother of James Rutherford, also a wheelwright, father of physicist Ernest. Andrew Robertson is very likely named after Andrew Rutherford. Both James Rutherford and James Robertson teamed as local draft champions in the Waimea Valley. James Robertson’s brother Alex, also a blacksmith working out of Wakefield, just down the road from Brightwater, married Barbara Rutherford, James and Andrew Rutherford’s sister. All the Rutherford children and Robertson children grew up together. Martha Rutherford, the mother of Ernest and Jane Robertson, mother of Lou and Andrew, were both schoolteachers when they were not raising huge families. Ernest Rutherford is often referred to as the Father of Nuclear Physics. – “The Oyster and the Wizard” dp robertson  

Lord Rutherford, a family friend 

** Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 6, 19 January 1870

Recognising his younger brother’s brilliance, Andrew Robertson made it his life’s mission to support Lou and the owners he trained for. While Lou Robertson is better known today as an Australian Hall of Fame trainer, at the turn of the 20^th century, he was viewed as one of New Zealand’s great trotting drivers. He began managing Brooklyn Lodge at Brighton, near Christchurch in 1902, for a New Zealand founding father of trotting, cordial manufacturer Henry Mace. Unfortunately, Mace passed away six months into Lou’s appointment and Brooklyn Lodge was forced into a dispersal sale. Lou brought in his brother to catalogue bloodlines for the upcoming sale in October 1902. At the auction, the Robertson brothers were approached by Allen and George Tye, Canadian born furniture manufacturers, and retailers with a chain of successful stores around Melbourne. Even though Victorian harness racing at this time could be best described as a chaotic mess, the Tye brothers harboured dreams of racing and importing standardbreds and developing a magnificent stud in Mentone, such as Brooklyn Lodge. With Lou driving, training, and managing their farm, Andrew was sent to America to research bloodlines and import quality stock to build their stud farm.

Lou Robertson 1903 

(Victorian Trotting Record - courtesy John Peck)

Andrew Robertson visited some of racing’s most famous stud farms including Leland Stanford’s Palo Alto Stock Farm, Robert Alexander’s Woodburn, James E. Madden’s Hamburg Place Stud and August Belmont II’s Nursery Stud. He revealed himself to be a skilled negotiator. He developed into an invaluable bloodstock authority for the Tyes and his brother, Robertson also assisted many other breeders in Australia and New Zealand in their stock selection. Beyond his importing of horses, organising auctions and developing sophisticated breeding programs to improve standardbred bloodlines in Australia and New Zealand, he wrote newspaper articles and bloodline catalogues for the racing industry. When Allendale Stock Farm transferred their attention to thoroughbreds, he developed into an exceptional thoroughbred authority advising breeders running stud farms throughout the United Kingdom, America, India and Australasia. Looking behind Lou Robertson’s incredibly successful training record stands the long shadow of Andrew responsible for importing or breeding almost every major standardbred and thoroughbred winner his brother trained or drove.

L to R: Andrew Jr, Andrew, Wallace, Annie Jane & Louis 1915

(Courtesy Bruce & Liz Robertson)

Andrew Robertson’s international success as a bloodstock authority hid a tragic and isolated personal life coupled with a lifetime of chronic ill health. He struggled with severe asthma and rheumatism. There were many instances where these conditions hospitalised him to moments of near-death collapse. Just making it through the day required enormous will and strength of character. Deeply devoted to his family, Robertson lost his beautiful wife Annie Jane to Bright’s disease in 1921 just as the family had settled in Hampton to run her hotel. Her death forced Andrew to resume his bloodstock career, taking him overseas for months at a stretch. This meant having his young boys cared for by a sister in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He became one of the most traveled sportsmen in the world, racking up over sixty ocean voyages throughout his long career. 

Up until 1936, almost all the bloodstock and breeding choices at Sol Green’s stud “Underbank” were the responsibility of Andrew Robertson. Many of the sires and mares during this period imported for Percy Miller at Kia-Ora stud, Alexander Creswick at The Nook, Alex Hunter at Northwood Park and Paddy Wade at Borambola Park Stud can also be attributed either directly or indirectly back to Robertson’s involvement or bloodstock influence on these breeders. Later he would also build up Shirley Park Stud for Aspro King, George Nicholas and assist shirt manufacture Alf Griffith with his bloodstock.  

LtoR: Ashley Reed, Percy Miller and Alex Hunter at Young Idea Caulfield Guineas 1935

Robertson’s contribution overall to both standardbred and thoroughbred importing and breeding, even decades after his death, sees almost every race in Australasia with at least one horse tracing back to his influence. In the 1950's, it was a common occurrence to see half a field in any given race trace back to his imports. Over 15% of all Hall of Fame horses,* both thoroughbred and harness racing can be traced back to him. Melbourne Cup winners Comic Court, Galilee, Gala Supreme, Think Big, Just A Dash, Gurner’s Lane, Black Knight, Kingston Rule and Saintly. Champions Railings, Fawkner, Gunsynd, Taj Rossi, Fields of Omagh, Surround, Redding, Plastered, Provoke, Rose of Kingston, Taj Eclipse, Kirramosa, Pinot, Gothic, St, Razzle, Wenona Girl, Manikato, Vo Rogue, Mufhasa, Placid Ark, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Brazen Beau and Sydeston, along with thousands of other horses have genetic traces back to his breeding and imports.

 *This takes into account only the bloodlines from imported sires. Taking the imported mares would increase this percentage significantly.

The extraordinary effect he had on Australasian standardbred bloodlines is equally as impressive with his breeding influence found in New Zealand Cup winners Ahuriri, Haughty, False Step, Stanley Rio, Il Vicolo, Flashing Red, Monkey King and Arden Rooney. Other harness racing champions include Dan’s Son, Dusty Miller, Minuteman, Jack Morris, Our Sir Vancelot, Shakamaker, Lennytheshark, Smolda, Tiger Tara, Paleface Adios, Tricky Vic, Bellas Boy, Divisive, Tanabi Bromac, Pure Steel, Grand Voyage, Happy Voyage and Hands Down. It is easy to see why so many breeders and owners wanted Andrew Robertson’s opinion, and just how widespread during this era his influence really was. 

In the first few decades of Australian thoroughbred breeding, many owners and breeders favoured a St. Simon sire line. Andrew Robertson became a vocal advocate on matching a Bend Or sire line with a St. Simon dam line. His influence helped see Valais imported to Australia. It is therefore unsurprising Andrew Robertson’s opinion also influenced Alec Roberts and Harry Telford. The latter, a long standing family friend of the Robertson’s, long before the story of Phar Lap.  

Andrew Robertson's real skill, beyond his extraordinary knowledge and understanding of horses, was his ability to read people and be able to converse on almost any subject with some authority. He was a voracious reader and avid student of history. His travels were not confined to just looking for horses. A frequent visitor to South America, Japan, and other Asian countries, he spent months every year in the warm, dry climate of Egypt to keep his asthma at bay, when Cairo was a multicultural hub. 

Robertson also understood business. Most meaningful business decisions and transactions by Lou Robertson were made by Andrew on behalf of his brother. This came about in part from Lou being both disinterested and unskilled in running his stable commercially. When the breeder of Lawrence and Counsel, Les Aldridge sent Lou a cheque after going months without an invoice from his trainer. Attached was a note, “I must owe you this!”* Traveling to obtain the best horses, he was physically absent from his boys for most of their life. Andrew Robertson constantly offered his three sons' financial advice often enclosing rare stamps and stock tips. More than Lou, Andrew continually stressed the importance of building networks of breeders and owners around the world over his long career. 

*Lou Robertson's oldest son, John Robertson

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

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Top Gallant

 

 “Had Top Gallant been a clean winded horse, all our records would have been shattered to ribbons.”  Ken Bracken, 1936* 

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

All copying, broadcasting, resending or use in any way both commercially and privately without author’s permission is strictly prohibited. 

Suffering from chronic asthma and rheumatism most of his adult life, this would be Andrew Robertson's 27^th ocean voyage. Gasping for air, he slowly made his way up the gangway at Melbourne’s docks. He was surrounded by families hugging, crying and waving goodbye to loved ones as trails of bright streamers hung from their departing ship. Docks and ships held as much appeal for him as modern commercial travellers have for airports and planes. For the next month, Robertson relaxed, read and studied thoroughbred bloodlines and wondered where Paddy Wade’s diamond might be hiding in England. Percy Miller and Sol Green also had commissions for Andrew to find horses for "Kia-Ora" and "Underbank". The ocean voyages gave him an opportunity to write letters to his many friends and contacts scattered around the globe. There were articles for papers and racing journals in Australia, England and America to be written along with auction catalogues to be studied. Looking through dozens of horses, he kept returning to one sire, and found himself circling his name, “SWYNFORD”. 

On arrival in England, Robertson coughed and wheezed, labouring for breath as he always did on damp English days. Flipping through his magic black book of racing contacts gathered over years of visiting stables and sale yards, few men were more valuable to him than Clarence Hailey, director of Hailey’s Bloodstock Agency. Beyond his journalism and bloodstock brilliance, Hailey is recognised as an elite photographer and expert painter of thoroughbreds. Besides Top Gallant, Hailey would also assist Robertson in importing Verbius, Robespierre, Gothic, Manitoba, Alpine Rose, and Marconigram. On top of these were a slew of champions for other Australian breeders including Midstream for Percy Miller and Emborough for Andy Maguire.** After many fruitless weeks visiting his favourite studs, Robertson heard Top Gallant could be available. If this were true, he may have found Paddy Wade his horse.

*Sporting Globe, 1 January 1936

**Truth 1 August 1948 Midstream sired Shannon and Emborough sired Bernborough.

Lord Derby’s Swynford – one of the English turf’s great sires (Wikipedia)

This stunning chestnut son of Swynford held a sprinting world record as a three-year-old. Top Gallant lost form as a four-year-old under trainer Harry Sadler but remained remarkably fleet of foot - or hoof. His loss of form caused in part by him being slightly broken-winded. Flying like an arrow some days and, similar to Andrew Robertson with his chronic asthma, could hardly draw a breath on others. Robertson contacted Hailey to assist in negotiations with Lord Penrhyn in September 1924 for a week’s option. By coincidence, Archie Douglas-Pennant, former owner of Night Raid, was the uncle of Edward Douglas-Pennant, 3rd Baron Penrhyn, owner of Top Gallant. This allowed Robertson time to have the horse checked over by a vet and to be certain Top Gallant would be suitable for Paddy Wade. Especially as he was about to spend 7,000 guineas of the grazier’s money. He also conferred with another of his friends, Australia’s first truly international jockey, Frank Bullock. Performing riding duties in England, Bullock was quick to tell Robertson what he already suspected - by any measure, Top Gallant was an incredibly impressive horse. Like most bloodstock agents, Robertson’s decisions were being based on Top Gallant’s bloodlines more than past performance. Wade made it very clear he was seeking to improve his stud, not his trophy cabinet. Purchased for 7,000 guineas, Robertson immediately insured Top Gallant for 10,000 guineas.* 

*Private letter from Andrew to his son Wallace

Pedigree Query

Breeding rather than racing may have been Paddy Wade’s initial thinking but this quickly changed on Top Gallant’s arrival at Borambola Park. Again, on Andrew Robertson’s recommendation, A.P. Wade sent Top Gallant down to Melbourne for Lou Robertson to train. While selling the idea to Wade as a good opportunity to display Top Gallant’s potential magnificence on the track, Andrew always held his younger brother’s best interest before anyone. Having Top Gallant in his brother's stable was definitely in Lou Robertson's best interest. Top Gallant remains one of the fastest horses Andrew Robertson ever brought to Australia's shores and was very likely, when he hit form, one of the fastest horses in the world. The Robertson brothers were not alone in their assessment of Top Gallant. In 1934, even after seeing Gothic, Peter Pan and Phar Lap, Mollison and Greenline all in action, Hall of Fame jockey Bobby Lewis stated without hesitation, 

“The fastest horse I ever saw racing in Australia was Top Gallant in a six furlong trial before he won the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield in 1926. He carried flat shoes and he had big feet.*  At Aspendale Park racecourse he ran the distance in 1.13, a wonderful trial. He won the Futurity easier than any horse I have ever seen in a flat race. He was trained by Lou Robertson. He’s the neatest man with horses I have ever ridden for. He is a hard worker and doesn’t train his horses in the yard - the lazy style. When his horses go to the races, they are a great credit to him and his staff, I’ve never seen horses turned out like them.”**

 *Top Gallant’s champion sire, Swynford, according to his trainer George Lambton also noted that Swynford had big feet. “Men and Horses I Have Known” George Lambton

**The Daily News 5 January 1934

It is the same opinion shared by Lou Robertson to the day he died and by jockey Ken Bracken who remained adamant nothing could come near Top Gallant for pace, even Gothic. 

“Broken winded Top Gallant was the fastest horse I have seen and possibly the fastest ever foaled. He could run a furlong in nothing and was at his top in a stride. The mighty Woorak that streak of lightening, Valicare and the dashing importation, The Night Patrol were not in the same street as the mighty son of Swynford. In my 25 years as a jockey I have ridden some of the outstanding sprinters of the commonwealth, while I have been passed and beaten by great gallopers, and I feel competent to make the sweeping claim that Top Gallant could lead out of the barrier any horse we have known. Had Top Gallant been a clean winded horse, all our records would have been shattered to ribbons"*

*“Broken-winded Horse that beat everything for Pace” Sporting Globe, 26 December 1935

Most agreed, no one could recollect a horse galloping as quickly. However, the faster Top Gallant galloped, the more his tongue protruded, and the closer Top Gallant’s head would lean towards the ground. Lou decided to use the controversial method of suppressing the horse’s tongue with a special devise he invented when working a decade earlier at Allendale Stock Farm. Paddy Wade was not impressed. He insisted his trainer not resort to that. It was here Paddy Wade discovered Lou Robertson to be a very different individual to his brother Andrew. Despite Lou training during this period almost exclusively for bookie, turned pastoralist Sol Green, he was still officially a public trainer. Lou barely tolerated Green interfering with his training or instructing jockeys on race day. What is more, Lou Robertson knew Sol Green far better and worked more closely with him than he did Paddy Wade. He was not about to cop it from Wade, who soon found himself effectively banned from Lou Robertson’s Mordialloc stables.

Sweet natured like his sire Swynford and easy to train,* Top Gallant still required much of Lou Robertson’s attention and skill to be fit for the upcoming weight for age VATC Futurity Stakes. Despite it being a short season, Top Gallant had in effect gone from the boat to stud to the track in just over a month. The VATC handicapper penalized Top Gallant a crippling 10 stone two pounds (64.4 kilograms). No horse ever won a Futurity with a weight greater than 10 stone up to this point.**  Despite these concerns, it transpired, the handicapper could have penalized Top Gallant eleven stone two and not made too much of a difference in the result. In preparing Top Gallant, Lou Robertson displayed why his peers referred to him as possibly the greatest conditioner of racehorses by transforming Top Gallant in a matter of weeks into something remarkable.*** As Top Gallant thundered by Lou at his private Aspendale training track, the trainer kept staring incredulously at his stopwatch, wondering if it was working properly. Each training run quicker than the last until Robertson declared to his jockey Ken Bracken, “Only be a matter of going to the post to collect the prize. This is the biggest certainty I have ever turned out.”****  When he said, “collect the prize”, he meant it. A brilliant trainer, Robertson was also one of Australia’s principal gamblers.  

*“Men and Horses I Have Known” George Lambton

**Ajax won in 1939 carrying 10.6 and Eurythmic in 1922 carried a whopping 10.7. Bernborough carried the same weight as Top Gallant in 1946 and Phar Lap carried an even heavier ten stone three pounds to victory in 1931. Suavito, 2015 winner carried 57 kg or nine stone (126 pounds).

*** Eric Connolly, Dave Price, Bobby Lewis among a host of other are all on record.

**** Sporting Globe, 26 December 1935

Manfred, practicing his AJC Derby start with Billy Duncan

(The Victoria Derby, Marc Fiddian)

The Caulfield Futurity Stakes in 1926 developed into a star-studded affair in which the chestnut Top Gallant eventually emerged favourite.  Lining up next to Top Gallant was the cream of Australasian racing. Valais sired Manfred had won both the AJC and VRC Derby, MVRC W.S. Cox Plate and just lost by a rat's whisker the thrilling 1925 Melbourne Cup to Windbag. Manfred would go on to win a Caulfield Cup later in 1926. Also sired by Valais, Heroic fronted up in the 1926 Futurity Stakes, he had to his credit an AJC Derby, Caulfield Guineas, Champagne, Ascot Vale and Chelmsford Stakes. Later, he would become a brilliant sire in his own right. 

If this 1926 Futurity Stakes only saw Heroic, Manfred and Top Gallant, it would still be considered a classic for the ages. What separates this race from most other years is the inclusion of other superstars of the turf. Martian sired The Hawk, Futurity winner in 1924, also wins in two Hill Stakes and two C.M. Lloyd Stakes.  The field included another swift son of Valais, Fujisan. 

Early favouritism lent towards lightly weighted brothers Heroic and Manfred.  In the public’s mind, besides having to haul his heavy handicap, there were genuine concerns over Top Gallant not yet having acclimatised to Australian conditions. Coupled with his short season at stud,* all helped the punters decide the sons of Valais to be a more profitable bet. All the while a devastating betting plunge orchestrated by Lou Robertson and his close friend, Australia’s most notorious punter, Eric Connolly began steamrolling the bookies. As the pair's betting intensified right up to race day, thanks in the main to Manfred’s popularity, it avoided the book being closed on Top Gallant.

*Top Gallant served more than 20 mares. Sporting Globe, 24 February 1926

Trainer Lou Robertson, known by many as “The Oyster” for giving almost nothing away to the press, was equally adept doling out scraps of misinformation. After being on the receiving end of decades of plunges, hardboiled bookies usually viewed any utterance by Robertson with outright scepticism. Concerns over Top Gallant’s readiness for Caulfield began circulating, even though all the rumours appeared to be originating from Lou’s stable. Despite Robertson openly stating everything was fine and dandy with Top Gallant, these rumours persisted. Top Gallant was off his feed, not training well, thrown a shoe, near lame, recovering, relapsing, worried if he will start, not sure if he will be fit enough, just come from a season at stud and a bit of a worry over his weight. All the while Connolly, Robertson, and late to the party ex-bookie and owner of "Underbank Stud" Sol Green with extra wads of cash for their commissioned agents, kept hitting the bookies even harder. If one listened to the rumours, by the time race day arrived, no one would have been surprised to see Top Gallant taken around to the start on a stretcher. 

Being overconfident in a horse can often lead to tears but after Top Gallant flew over two furlongs like Pegasus in under 22 seconds at his Aspendale training the day before, Lou Robertson knew his money was safe. He gave his jockey precise instructions on how he wanted Top Gallant ridden, “…a donkey’s gallop, short and sweet. Jump him out and hang onto him until you get to the top of the hill and then let him go. He’ll do the rest.”* What transpired at Caulfield that afternoon, for supposedly one of the most underprepared and heaviest weighted horses in the race’s history, Top Gallant’s performance ended up being one of the most convincing and glorious runs of all time.** Two decades later, the press still considered what Top Gallant donkey walloped as being one of the greatest Futurity fields ever assembled, making his run even more astonishing. Then there is the little known fact, Ken Bracken’s ride could have set a record to last decades.   

* Sporting Globe, 26 December 1935

**Along with Bernborough in 1946

***The Australasian 20 February 1943

Bracken walked his laconic champion around to the starting barrier like an old riding school pony wandering along a forest trail. While Heroic, The Hawk, Manfred and Fujisan were on high alert waiting for the start, for a moment Ken Bracken become concerned Top Gallant may have nodded off standing so quiet and still for the starter. Fearing he may be left flatfooted when the rope went up, to Bracken’s utter amazement it was if a switch had been thrown. Top Gallant almost left his jockey sitting in mid-air like a Road Runner cartoon, as if zapped in the rump by a cattle prod.  Starting second from the outside Top Gallant flew to the front in a couple of long strides, turning into the straight lengths ahead of the field. Following his trainer’s instructions, it was not until the sixth furlong of this seven furlong classic did Top Gallant fully show his class. When he did, he shot even further away from Heroic, Manfred and Fujisan with such consummate ease as to make it look like Black Caviar in a picnic race.  The Caulfield crowd watched in stunned silence by the speed displayed by Top Gallant, scoring the easiest of victories, by four lengths in a record 1:26.5 while being eased a long way from the post.* Putting this run into perspective. The Caulfield track record for seven furlongs, or just over 1400 metres, is 1.21.20 held by the brilliant Danehill sired stallion, Exceed and Excel, set in 2003 while carrying 52 kg in the Dubai Racing Club Cup. In other words, only five seconds faster than Top Gallant cruising in from halfway down the Caulfield straight, while carrying 12 kg more weight than Exceed and Excel over 80 years earlier.  

 *Daily Advertiser 22 February 1926

**MRC web site. A top flight sprinter can travel around 100 meters in five to six seconds seconds

What was really unnerving for competing owners and trainers, Top Gallant appeared not to have shifted out of second gear. Before the race, Paddy Wade was offered 10,000 guineas for his horse. After, this was upped to 12,000. Both offers were refused.* Wade, was of course happy with the result but nonetheless miffed with Bracken for having slowed Top Gallant so soon before the post. He would have much preferred to see his horse win by the length of the Caulfield straight against Heroic and especially Manfred, as an advertisement to all breeders and owners in Australia. As it was, most owners and fellow breeders hardly required any more convincing after such a dominant display of brilliance to send their mares to Borambola Park. Clarence Hailey, who so ably assisted Andrew Robertson in prising Lord Penrhyn’s grip loose on Top Gallant, was at Caulfield. The press crowded around him for a comment. His frank reply being as candid an appraisal and as blunt an answer as his English manners would allow.  There is almost a subtext of Hailey feeling guilty of having just betrayed his own country by helping Robertson procure Top Gallant for Wade and the antipodes. 

“If Top Gallant had registered in England such a performance as he did in the Futurity Stakes, he never would have been allowed to leave the country.”**

*Sporting Globe, 24 February 1926

**Evening Post, 13 March 1926 & The Daily News 3 March 1926

Top Gallant entered the Newmarket Handicap the following Saturday an unbackable favourite for the famous sprint. To everyone’s shock, and disappointment to thousands who lost their money backing him, he failed dismally. Paddy Wade immediately returned him to Borambola Park to resume stud duties. Part of this decision may have been caused by Wade interfering with Lou Robertson’s training and racing decisions. During the Futurity, Top Gallant ran with a tongue suppressor. Despite the ease in which Top Gallant won, Wade ordered his trainer not to use it again in the Newmarket. Whether it was due to this or what sometimes happens with imported horses not fully acclimatised, Top Gallant finished near last. Next time Paddy Wade wanted Lou Robertson as his trainer, it would be made plain, there was to be no interference from the grazier.

Blandford thoroughbredracing.com

Paddy Wade had every reason to be optimistic of Top Gallant transforming Borambola Park’s stud fortunes into something glorious.  By the time he came into possession of Top Gallant, other Swynford progeny, Bettina, Ferry, Keysoe, Tranquil and Sansovino had already won a clutch of 1,000 Guineas, St. Legers, Oaks and an Epsom Derby back in England.* Then there was Blandford.** Andrew Robertson was not to have known when he purchased Swynford sons Top Gallant for Wade and Verbius*** for Sol Green, another son of Swynford, Blandford would go on to become Britain’s sire of the year three times. This included siring four Epsom Derby winners.**** As for seeing Night Raid off to New Zealand, in 1926, Paddy Wade could not have been more pleased with his decision, and that of his bloodstock agent, to purchase Top Gallant. 

* Swynford also sired St. German and Challenger II – both leading sires in the US. St. German sired Twenty Grand that would have been Phar Lap’s main East Coast challenger had he lived.  

**Blandford was a remarkable sire having produced four Epsom Derby winners -  Bahram won the UK Triple Crown for the Aga Khan in 1935 and went on to sire over 1100 winners in the UK and US. Blandford also sired Blenheim, winner of the Derby in 1930 and leading sire in the US including 1941 US Triple Crown winner Whirlaway. Trigo won the Epsom in 1929 along with the St. Leger. Another son of Blandford, Windsor Lad won the Epsom Derby and St. Leger in 1936. Just as relevant to Australian breeding, Blandford is also the sire of Midstream. Imported into Australia by Kia-Oro Stud owner Percy Miller, Midstream is the sire of Hall of Famer Shannon. Blandford sired winners of over 300 races, many of them Group 1 wins and generated over £300,000 in stakes. Blandford also sired one of France's greatest horses - Brantome. 

*** Had Verbius not broken down, it was predicted he could well have won any race he was prepared for and was considered by Sol Green and Lou Robertson, potentially an even greater horse than Gothic which both men rated as their best ever horse.

**** Trigo (1929), Blenheim (1930), Winsor Lad (1934)  Bahram (1935)

To further emphasise how favourably Top Gallant was being viewed at this time is highlighted when Paddy Wade forced erratic trainer and owner Frank Tavena into court over some long overdue service fees.  Tavena did not believe the £200 per service of his mares Lorna Hatan and Early Star to be worth it. Bloodstock auctioneers Clive Inglis and Ken Austin spoke on behalf of Wade and of the quality of Top Gallant, stating, “Top Gallant was one of the finest horses ever imported into Australia”. Both men could understand why Robertson recommended to Wade, Top Gallant as a better stallion than Night Raid.*

*Sydney Sportsman 14 June 1927 

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

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Alec Roberts (1860 – 1931)

 

Phar Lap – The Untold Story by Graeme Putt and Pat McCord (Highly recommended read)

 “I have travelled in very many countries, but I have come to the conclusion and can prove it on paper that New Zealand is positively, absolutely the best country in the world for breeding thoroughbreds.” Andrew Robertson, Auckland Star 

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

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James Roberts settled down in the stunning French settlement port of Akaroa, south of Christchurch. Surrounded by the beautiful rolling hills of the Banks Peninsula, he was appointed Provisional Engineer. In June 1860, his wife Agnes gave birth to Alexander Frederick Roberts, better known as Alec. James’ decision for Alec to be educated in England forced his son away from his family for over a decade. Alec Roberts boarded at the picturesque Malvern College in Worcestershire only a few years after it had been founded in 1865.* Alec pushed open the heavy oak door to his senior dormitory. A letter lay on his desk. For the past six months, letters from home painted an increasingly bleak situation. Recognising his mother’s writing, ripping open the envelope, Roberts anxiously started reading. 

* George Ranald Macdonald for the Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biography project, 1952-1964 – Canterbury Museum

**Elizabeth was better known as Bessie and named after James Roberts’ mother (Putt McCord). Agnes was named after her own mother.

Stunning Banks Peninsula looking towards Akaroa

Private collection David & Vicki Robertson

It sometimes became unavoidable in his government role as Provisional Engineer for James Roberts, while making decisions, to give advantage to one interested stakeholder over another. In doing so, he attracted political enemies, levelling the usual accusations of favouritism and collusion. Many of these slurs emanated from Provincial Commissioner of Akaroa, Richard Rowe, a man seen as one of the most loathsome men in the region. Unfortunately, these claims started taking a hidden toll.* Alec Roberts’ education was cut short with his father’s descent into alcoholism. This eventually resulted in James Roberts losing his job and separating from Agnes and their daughters. Following his mother’s urgent plea to come home, Alec Roberts returned to a gravely ill father, mother and sisters in despair and their family almost to the point of destitution. James Roberts died in February the following year, only 58 years old.

* After writing a boastful letter of self-congratulations on his election to the Canterbury Standard, the Standard took the extraordinary measure of reply by describing Rowe’s behaviour, “…it shows a vulgar and ignorant mind exulting in its own vulgarity.”   

**James Roberts received a show of support and testimonial from the 13 most prominent men in Akaroa, including his cousin John Watson. Roberts also faced stiff opposition over his decision to keep the Little River road open at great expense. It is interesting to note the board was chaired by Hugh Buchanan. A close friend of the Roberts family and would later marry Lucy Lyon Roberts. AKAROA MAIL AND BANKS PENINSULA ADVERTISER 25 FEBRUARY 1881

Waimate horse breeder, John Studholme

After a decade of private education at Malvern College, Alec Roberts presented as a refined English gentleman more than any image of a Footrot Flats sheep farmer. He purchased his first farm just north of Akaroa, at Takamatua before expanding to 3,000 acres at Le Bons Bay. Nearing thirty, Roberts married Ethel Moorhouse, daughter of Thomas and Kate Moorhouse in 1889 at St. Mary’s Church, Merivale. They held their glorious reception in the grand home built by Ethel’s uncle, famous South Island politician William Sefton Moorhouse. His magnificent 21 room residence now belonged to his sister Lucy (Ethel's aunt) and her husband, influential politician and Waimate horse breeder, John Studholme. It is easy to tell, just by their wedding guest list, Alec Roberts married into a very well connected group of family and friends. Celebrating their nuptials were many of the most powerful families in Canterbury. A guest list including a few sitting members of Parliament and council, and owners of the most important thoroughbred studs in Christchurch. As far as well-connected goes, this is about as good a list of Christchurch’s who’s who assembled in one spot in 1889. These family friends and relatives of Ethel’s assisted Alec’s elevation in South Island social circles.  It is also these political connections, or children of these powerful pastoralists and politicians, who later prove invaluable to Ethel and Alec Roberts during their most dire moment of need.

Alec Roberts continued upsizing his farming interests near Hickory and later a new estate at Westerfield, expanding his run to 5,000 acres by 1907.* With the financial backing from stock and station agents Wright Stephenson and close family friend and politician Arthur Rhodes, Roberts purchased the 30,000 acre Treviot Station at Miller’s Flat in Central Otago.** After initially thriving, the Roberts started running into severe financial difficulties. Falling into a state of disrepair, Treviot’s demise pushed Roberts into alcoholism. Many farmers in Otago found themselves in the same boat from a combination of rabbit plagues devouring feed and outbreaks of sheep scab destroying their flocks. Declared “mentally defective”, Alec Roberts was committed into a gothic house of horrors near Dunedin, Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, in mid-1917. Luckily, Roberts would be treated by health innovator Truby King.*** Saved by King’s radical reforms in mental health and particularly his more humane cures for alcoholism, a second stroke of luck soon ensued. Thanks to their good political connections, the Roberts were able to fortuitously offload their debt-laden Treviot Station as a Soldier’s Settlement for £90,000.

* 90 kilometres southwest of Christchurch. 

**90 kilometres west of Dunedin. Phar Lap – The Untold Story by Graeme Putt and Pat McCord.

***Sir Frederic Truby King (1858 – 1938) became one of New Zealand’s great health reformers. King is best known in New Zealand for creating the Plunket Society and raising the health of New Zealand children. He still had his faults being a strong advocate of eugenics and opposed to higher education for women, but in the case of Alex Roberts, he was a Godsend.

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Seacliff Lunatic Asylum circa 1890 (New Zealand Archives)

Clearing all debts in one fell swoop, the relieved couple, still salvaged enough to purchase the 300 acre Seadown Stud and a beautiful house in Park Lane, Timaru. This allowed Alec Roberts newfound freedom to concentrate on just his horse breeding. Always incredibly frugal and probably made more so by his near bankruptcy and brush with New Zealand’s Mental Health system, Roberts ran his stud on a minimal outlay. This included his purchasing of sires and broodmares. If your aim was winning a local picnic race or opening a riding school, he may have had the right idea. If planning to produce the world’s greatest racehorse, you would not be using Alec Roberts’ parsimonious method of thoroughbred breeding as your template. Up until his purchase of Night Raid, Roberts yearling results at auction were consistently below the auction's average sale price.*

*In fairness to Roberts, he was possibly better known in racing circles than one may imagine. Not only did Alec and particularly Ethel Roberts have very good political connections, they also enjoyed good racing connections. Ethel’s cousin Joseph Francis Studholme took over directorship of the New Zealand Shipping Company on the death of racing powerhouse Sir George Clifford in 1930. (New Zealand Herald 12 May 1930, page 8). It should be noted that when Ethel’s father died in Tasmania in 1903, although his estate was only £160 at probate, it was all bequeathed to Joseph Studholme. The Studholmes had long been associated with Canterbury racing dating back to the first New Zealand Steeplechase in 1859. (Oamaru Mail 19 April 1919, page 1) Michael Studholme and his sons Michael and Edgar were important Canterbury racing administrators at Waimate Flat Racing Club as officials, stewards, and judges and also closely associated with George Clifford, George Stead and John Reid and his two sons “JB” & “JF” of Elderslie Stud.  

Owner of Martian, Jack Buchanan and 1916 Melbourne Cup winner Sasanof

(NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9 AUGUST 1927 and John Peck)  

The Buchanan brothers operated a thriving sheep farm out of Little River (on the road to the Banks Peninsula). Alec’s younger sister Lucy Lyon Roberts married Hugh Buchanan in 1890, possibly after being Alec’s guest at their wedding the year before. Hugh Buchanan’s brother Jack, President of the Banks Peninsula Racing Club, owned the prized stallion of New Zealand breeding, Martian. Andrew Robertson had long extolled the excellence of Martian’s progeny, especially his fillies.  From the moment George Stead imported his mare Otterden, in foal to Bend Or sired Martagon in 1899, Martian proved himself to be something very special. By the time Jack Buchanan purchased the five year old Martian from Stead, he had already been a reasonable racehorse but was about to do something extraordinary at stud.  Martian’s stud career counts among the greatest and most influential in New Zealand and Australian thoroughbred breeding history.  

Martian (Tapestry of the Turf)

Martian sired 1916 Melbourne Cup winner Sasanof, 1926 second place Naos, and brilliant weight-for-age champions The Hawk, Danube, and Reputation. Apart from Sasanof, ten Melbourne Cup winners can be traced back to Martian through his mares.* Small wonder Andrew Robertson was such a vocal advocate in using them. This opinion, along with his wanting to use St. Simon mares with a Bend Or sire line was also well known. If we are joining the dots, Robertson personally knew and advised professionally or in conversation, Alec Roberts, Ian Duncan, Hugh and Jack Buchanan and most of the reputable New Zealand breeders.** He was also acquainted with the bloodstock agents and auctioneers operating in New Zealand and Australia including his friend Ken Austin. There was also Paddy Wade’s former trainer, George Jones. Originating from Palmerston North, Jones had in his stable at one time Sasanof, Nigger Minstrel, Commendation and Night Raid. There is also Bob Heron claiming to be the most influential person in Alec Robert’s decision to purchase Night Raid. He certainly places himself in the thick of it.

*Two directly – Marsa (Nightmarch 1929) and Left (Wotan 1936). Then there is Lovelock (Skipton 1941), Martian Princess (Sirius 1944), Caress (Light Fingers 1965), Stardancer (Galilee 1966), Marsa (Kensei 1987), Battleflag (Doriemus 1995), Minsk (Rogan Josh 1999) and War Scare (Brew 2000) all carrying Martian’s blood.( http://www.pedigreequery.com/martian) One of the greatest Australasian mares, Winx has Martian on the dam side of her bloodline. There was also Soldier’s Love the dam of Strephon.  By the time Martian died in 1927, just in New Zealand alone, his progeny had collected over £240,000 in stakes. (Auckland Star, 26 July 1927, Page 8 - Similar to the story of Dan Patch and Will Savage where Savage died a couple of days after his beloved horse, so too did Jack Buchanan pass away only a couple of days after Martian.) Sasanof –besides the 1916 Melbourne Cup, winner of the 1916 Chelmsford Stakes, 1917 Great Northern Derby and 1918 New Zealand Cup. Nigger Minstrel won the 1924 Great Northern Champagne Stakes and Rosehill Guineas. Commendation won 1925 Wellesley Stakes, 1926 New Zealand Derby Stakes, Hawkes Bay Guineas, 1927 Great Northern Derby and the New Zealand St. Leger.

**Should be noted Hugh Buchanan died in 1916 and Lucy Buchanan in 1918

William the Third (National Horseracing Museum)

According to a "Sporting Globe" story, Bob Heron told racing writer R.J. Daldy in 1939, it was he who assisted in the purchase of Night Raid from Paddy Wade in 1924 for 700 guineas. Then Alec Roberts had his Park Lane neighbour Bob Heron and salesman for Pine Gould Guinness secure Entreaty for just £15/15 and ..."if you pay her grazing fees." Heron managed to claim a few more zingers in his story, stating he had the opportunity to buy Phar Lap for £25 and was also offered to Harold Preston and he too rejected the foal. Heron claims it was he who also auctioned Phar Lap at Trentham in 1928. It does remind me of some of my daughter's prep grade friends. One had a father who had been to the moon, he was a plumber while another had a grandmother that witnessed the crucifixion of Christ. Bob Heron's story was met a week later in the New Zealand press, particularly in Otago, where articles of thinly disguised WTF appeared questioning the veracity of Heron's telling of the tale.* Considering it has so many factual errors, Heron becomes a very unreliable source. 

* https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189140548?searchTerm=bob%20heron%20phar%20lap

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19390301.2.38?items_per_page=10&query=Bob+Heron+phar+lap&snippet=true

When looking for a mare to match with his newly imported sire, Alec Roberts sought either a Martian or Winkie bloodline. By the mid-1920’s New Zealand was awash with Martian mares and considering Martian was owned by his sister’s in-laws, Roberts would have no shortage of choice.  Washdyke trainer Pat Hogan assisted him to procure the Winkie (St. Simon) sired Entreaty for closer to £95,  rather than the reported £15.* Without either taking away from Alec Roberts or giving Andrew Robertson undue credit, this breeding mix had long been publicly advocated by Robertson for over a decade.  The breeding of Phar Lap closely follows Robertson’s pattern of purchase and breeding choices favouring Bend Or sire lines serving St. Simon sired dam lines. The chances of Entreaty throwing up a good foal was always on the cards.** At the heart of all breeding choices remains a huge dollop of dumb luck in picking one horse over another. While you can look back and trumpet yourself as a bloodstock oracle, more often, two years on even the most expert owners, trainers and bloodstock agents are swearing and muttering about their choices. 

*Winkie, sired by William the Third which was in turn sired by St. Simon. Through the dam side, there is yet another cross back to the grandsire of Bend Or, Stockwell and therefore Pocahontas, one of the main progenitors of large hearts in thoroughbreds. Winkie sired Pilliewinkie winner 1923 AJC Metropolitan, 1925 Melbourne Stakes, Fisher Plate, Dunedin Cup and 1926 Australian Cup. Behind the classic Melbourne Cup in 1925 with Windbag and Manfred tearing neck and neck to the post, Pilliewinkie ran third. 

** William the Third won the 1901 Newmarket Stakes and 1902 Ascot Gold Cup and was considered to be one of the best stayers in Britain.  From Galopin-St. Simon-William the Third-Winkie to Entreaty, also stands out as a very strong bloodline. By the mid-1920’s, possibly influenced by Robertson’s advocacy of Cyllene and more particularly the Moses brothers importing Valais, this mixing of a Bend Or sire line with St. Simon bloodlines continued gaining ever greater popularity in Australia. Winkie’s half-brothers were also very good horses. King William won the Ascot Derby in 1911, Pelliwinkie, won it in 1913, Battle-Axe the 1908 and Roseland 1914 July Stakes, Roseworthy 1913 St. James Palace Stakes, Majestic picked up the 1913 Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berin in Germany, Navovian the 1916 Prince of Wales Stakes at Newmarket, William the Fourth in 1909 and Old Bill won in 1919 King Edward VII Stakes, trained by legend Frederico Tesio Rembrandt won the 1912 Group 1 Gran Premio di Milano,  Sprig of Orange won the 1921 Liverpool Spring Cup, Trois Temps 1914 Jockey Club Stakes and then the best of the lot Willonyx, only out of the money twice and claiming along the way in 1911 the Jockey Club Cup, Ascot Stakes, Chester Cup and finally the converted Ascot Gold Cup.  Then in Australia, there was Entreaty’s half-brother to Winkie, Pelliewinkie winning the Melbourne Stakes, Fisher Plate, Dunedin Cup, Australian Cup and finally third behind Windbag and Manfred in that extraordinary 1925 Melbourne Cup. The other bloodline connection to Robertson is Winkie’s sire, son of St. Simon, William the Third.  Andrew Robertson was very well acquainted with this bloodline having almost been beaten by another son of William the Third, William the Silent when he came second to Allendale’s Lavendo in the 1915 Caulfield Cup.  

“Phar Lap, Amounis and the $100 million Swindle” by dp robertson © 2020

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