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Bletchingly (1970–1993) was an Australian
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
and stallion. A brilliant sprinter, he was by the successful speed stallion
Biscay Biscay ( ; ; ), is a province of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the Bay of Biscay, eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilb ...
out of Coogee (GB) (by Relic (USA)). Bletchingly was bred by Stanley Wootton on the Baramul Stud in the Widden Valley, and was a three-quarter brother to another high-class sprinter, Beaches (by Todman). Stanley Wootton had imported Bletchingly's grandsire,
Star Kingdom Star Kingdom (formerly known as Star King) (1946–1967) was a Thoroughbred race horse bred in Ireland in 1946. Exported to Australia, he was an outstanding sire, being the leading sire for five seasons, the leading sire of two-year-olds seven ...
(IRE), from the United Kingdom in the 1950s, and the Irish stallion established Australia's foremost 20th century sireline.


Racing career

Thought by his owner to be too small and unsound for a long racing career, Bletchingly was unraced as a two-year-old and won his only start as a three-year-old at the provincial track of
Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is an Australian city in north-central Victoria. The city is located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2022, Bendigo has a popula ...
. At four, he showcased his ability by winning The Galaxy Stakes at
Randwick Randwick is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government ar ...
and the Moomba Handicap at Flemington, in which he equalled the course record of 56.8 seconds for 1,000 metres. His five-start career produced four wins and a second, and prize money of A$28,715.


Stud record

Entering Widden Stud in the spring of 1975, Bletchingly was an immediate success. His first crop included Kingston Town, who was named Australia's champion racehorse in 1980, and he was the
leading sire in Australia The list below shows the leading Father, sire of Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season. The 2016 novel ''Mount ...
from 1980 to 1982. Subsequent crops included 1984's champion
Emancipation Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure Economic, social and cultural rights, economic and social rights, civil and political rights, po ...
, the Golden Slipper winners Star Watch (1988) and
Canny Lad Canny Lad (1987 – 2014) was an Australian thoroughbred racehorse that won two Group 1 races and went on to become a successful sire. Canny Lad was the brother of Sister Canny and Canny Lass who were also bred by Alec Dodson, their descendants ...
(1990), and the Group One winners Canny Lass (won three G1 races), Coronation Day (two G1 wins), Boardwalk Angel, Kenny's Best Pal (VRC Australian Guineas), Spirit Of Kingston, Best Western (won AJC Spring Champion Stakes), True Version and Wrap Around. His progeny were also notable for winning over a variety of distances. Bletchingly died on 13 July 1993 having sired 61 individual
Group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...
winners of 174 Group races. Since his death, he has been a leading broodmare sire in Australia, with his daughters producing at least 18 individual
Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...
winners, including Charge Forward, Bonanova, and Stella Cadente. In addition, one of his granddaughters, Shantha's Choice (by
Canny Lad Canny Lad (1987 – 2014) was an Australian thoroughbred racehorse that won two Group 1 races and went on to become a successful sire. Canny Lad was the brother of Sister Canny and Canny Lass who were also bred by Alec Dodson, their descendants ...
), is the dam of champion sire
Redoute's Choice Redoute's Choice (15 August 1996 – 26 March 2019) was a multiple Group One-winning Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and also a Leading sire in Australia, champion sire. He is by the phenomenal international sire Danehill (horse), Danehill ( ...
. Bletchingly is honoured through the annual running of the Bletchingly Stakes, a Group 3,
weight-for-age {{use dmy dates, date=October 2022 Weight for Age (WFA) is a term in thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. History The principle of WFA was developed by Admiral Rous, a handicapper with the English Jockey Club. Rou ...
race over 1,100 metres at Caulfield in August.


Pedigree


References

{{Reflist


External links


Bletchingly's pedigree and racing stats
1970 racehorse births 1993 racehorse deaths Racehorses trained in Australia Racehorses bred in Australia Champion Thoroughbred Sires of Australia Thoroughbred family 7-a