Trelawney Stud is New Zealand’s oldest commercial
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
horse stud farm. It was established in 1930 by Seton Otway near
Cambridge, New Zealand
Cambridge ( Māori: ''Kemureti'') is a town in the Waipa District of the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated southeast of Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato River, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champi ...
.
It has stood a number of top quality stallions including Foxbridge, Kingdom Bay and Carnegie (IRE) and produced many fine race horses including seven
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Me ...
winners.
History
Seton Otway’s stud foundation was commenced when he purchased several mares with impeccable female families. Unable to purchase well-performed mares he bought half-sisters to top performers but not necessarily outstanding horses themselves. His early acquisitions included Persis and Lady Marie (both foaled in 1923), who established families of major stakes-winners in New Zealand and
Australia.
[Digby, John; "Thoroughbred Families and Sires of Australian and New Zealand", AJC & VRC, 2002]
The site of the present stud farm was established when Seton Otway purchased a run-down, , dairy farm on the banks of the Waikato River, on the
North Island
The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-larges ...
of New Zealand. This was to become the famous Trelawney Stud and the future home of some of Australasia’s top thoroughbreds and racehorses.
In 1935, Seton Otway purchased and imported the sire
Foxbridge (GB), who was a good racehorse in England, for £2,625. He became one of New Zealand's most successful stallions and brood-mare sires for eleven consecutive seasons.
[Pring, Peter; "Analysis of Champion Racehorses", The Thoroughbred Press, Sydney, 1977, ]
Another very successful Trelawney Stud stallion was Alcimedes (GB) (by
Alycidon
Alycidon (1945–1963) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was described as "one of the greatest stayers in history". In a career which lasted from the autumn of 1947 until September 1949 he ran seventeen times and won eleven races. He w ...
), a winner over distances from 7 to 10½ furlongs. Alcimedes’ first crop included
VRC Derby
The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbo ...
winner Prince Grant and the
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Me ...
winner
Galilee
Galilee (; he, הַגָּלִיל, hagGālīl; ar, الجليل, al-jalīl) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Galilee traditionally refers to the mountainous part, divided into Upper Galilee (, ; , ) and Lower Gali ...
. His progeny often raced in Australia, including Divide and Rule and
Silver Knight a Melbourne Cup winner and in turn the sire of 1984 Melbourne Cup winner, Black Knight.
Alcimedes also sired the winners of 20 races in South Africa.
[NZ Blood-horse Ltd, ''Register of Thoroughbred Stallions of New Zealand'', Vol. IX, May 1976]
Trelawney Stud was briefly owned by Australian businessman,
Robert Holmes à Court
Michael Robert Hamilton Holmes à Court (27 July 1937 – 2 September 1990) was a South African-born Australian businessman who became Australia's first billionaire, before dying suddenly of a heart attack in 1990 at the age of 53.
A great- ...
and his Heytesbury Stud.
During the early 1990s Trelawney Stud was purchased from Robert Holmes à Court by the Taylor family. As at 2021, Brent and Cherry Taylor still own the property.
In 2006, Trelawney stood the top juvenile, Van Nistelrooy (USA) (by Storm Cat), a US$6.4 million yearling.
In recent times the farm has moved away from standing stallions. It now focuses on broodmares and young horses. It is also a working sheep and cattle farm.
Progeny
The Trelawney brand has been carried by seven Melbourne Cup winners:
* 1949 -
Foxzami
Foxzami (1944−1969) was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse.
In November 1949 at Flemington Racecourse, Foxzami won the Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metr ...
, (Nizami - Honeywood).
* 1947 -
Hiraji
Hiraji (NZ), foaled in 1943, was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Melbourne Cup.
Hiraji was a grey gelding sired by Nizami (Fr) out of Duvach by Foxbridge (GB). He was bred in 1943 at Duvach Lodge, Matama ...
, (Nizami - Duvach)
* 1959 -
Macdougal
Macdougal, foaled 1953, was a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse.
In November 1959 he won the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse. He was ridden by Pat Glennon and carried a weight of 8-11 (123 pounds). Macdougal started at odds of 8/1 in ...
, (Marco Polo - Lady Fox).
* 1960 -
Hi Jinx, (Pride of Kildare - Lady's Bridge).
* 1964 -
Polo Prince
Polo Prince (1958−1973) was a New Zealand Thoroughbred horse, racehorse who won the 1964 Melbourne Cup.
Having run an excellent fourth in the Victoria Racing Club, VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes and allotted just 8 Stone (unit), ...
, (Marco Polo - Sou' East).
* 1966 -
Galilee
Galilee (; he, הַגָּלִיל, hagGālīl; ar, الجليل, al-jalīl) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Galilee traditionally refers to the mountainous part, divided into Upper Galilee (, ; , ) and Lower Gali ...
, (Alcimedes - Galston).
* 1971 -
Silver Knight, (Alcimedes - Cuban Fox).
The champion racehorse
Tulloch Tulloch may refer to:
People with the surname
*Alexander Bruce Tulloch (1838–1920), Major-general in the British Army, author
*Bert Tulloch, English footballer
*Bitsie Tulloch, American actress
*Francis Tulloch (born 1940), Jamaican politician
...
also spent the early part of his life at Trelawney Stud.
Trelawney Stud’s first million dollar yearling, a son of
Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice (15 August 1996 – 26 March 2019) was a multiple Group One-winning Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and also a champion sire. He is by the phenomenal international sire Danehill (USA) out of the lightly raced mare Shantha' ...
out of the stakes winning-mare National Treasure, sold for
A$1.5 million at the 2009 Inglis Yearling Sale in Sydney.
Other horses that have come from Trelawney include:
*
Ocean Park (
Thorn Park - Sayyida by
Zabeel
Zabeel (25 October 1986 – 25 September 2015) was a New Zealand-bred racehorse who predominantly raced in Australia. He was retired to stud and became a champion sire. He is a bay son of Sir Tristram (IRE) from the Nureyev mare Lady Gisell ...
): winner of the 2012
Cox Plate
The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at ...
.
*
Grunt
Grunt, grunts or grunting may refer to:
Sound and music
* Grunting (tennis), in tennis refers to the loud noise, sometimes described as "shrieking" or "screaming", made by some players during their strokes
* Death grunt, the death metal singin ...
(
O'Reilly
O'Reilly ( ga, Ó Raghallaigh) is a group of families, ultimately all of Irish Gaelic origin, who were historically the kings of East Bréifne in what is today County Cavan. The clan were part of the Connachta's Uí Briúin Bréifne kindred a ...
- Ruqqaya, by Van Nistelrooy): winner of the 2018
C S Hayes Stakes
The C S Hayes Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for three year old colts and geldings, at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Austral ...
(G3),
Australian Guineas
The Australian Guineas is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Ca ...
(G1) and
Makybe Diva Stakes
The Makybe Diva Stakes, previously called the Craiglee Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for age conditions for three year olds and older, over a distance of 1,600 metres held at Flemington Racecourse in ...
(G1).
* Spieth (
Thorn Park - Stella Livia by Titus Livius): Winner of the listed City Tatts Lightning Handicap (1100m) and 4 other races. Also runner up in the 2016
Darley Classic
The Champions Sprint, registered as the Victoria Racing Club Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over, under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres held at Fl ...
(Group 1, Flemington 1200m) and 2017
Black Caviar Lightning
The Black Caviar Lightning, registered as the Lightning Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in February. Prize mo ...
(Group 1, Flemington 1200m).
Past Stallions
* Alcimedes
* Al Akbar
*
Carnegie
Carnegie may refer to:
People
*Carnegie (surname), including a list of people with the name
* Clan Carnegie, a lowland Scottish clan
Institutions Named for Andrew Carnegie
*Carnegie Building (Troy, New York), on the campus of Rensselaer Polyte ...
: sire of Amalfi (2001
Victoria Derby
The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbo ...
winner), Carnegie Express (winner of
Canterbury Guineas
The Randwick Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March as a part of the Sydney Autumn Carnival. ...
,
Rosehill Guineas
The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia annually in March. Total prize money for ...
), Perlin (winner of the
Doomben Cup
The Doomben Cup is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia during the Queensland W ...
and
Underwood Stakes
The Underwood Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions, held at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late September each year. Total prize money for the r ...
), Tuesday Joy (winner of the
Coolmore Classic
The Coolmore Classic, registered as the TAD Kennedy Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards under set weights conditions, run over a distance of 1500 metres at Rose ...
,
Ranvet Stakes
The Ranvet Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of 2,000 metres, held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March. Total prize money is A$ ...
,
The BMW and
Chipping Norton Stakes
The Chipping Norton Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, run at weight for age, over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in February or March. Priz ...
) and Vision and Power (winner of the
Doncaster Handicap
The Doncaster Mile, registered as the Doncaster Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred handicap race for horses three years old and older, held over 1,600 metres at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia. Although th ...
and
George Ryder Stakes
The George Ryder Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in March or April. I ...
).
* Dance Floor
* Elusive City
* Foxbridge: 11 times New Zealand premier sire.
* Groom Dancer
* Is It True
* Khorassan
* Kingdom Bay: 2 time New Zealand premier sire.
* Marco Polo II
* Nizami
* Palace Music
* Pride of Kildare
* Van Nistelrooy
* Wolverton
See also
*
Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
The racing of Thoroughbred horses (or gallopers, as they are also known) is a popular gaming and spectator sport and industry in New Zealand.
History
Thoroughbred horse racing commenced soon after European settlement. The first totalisator mac ...
*
Cambridge Stud
Cambridge Stud is a Thoroughbred stud farm established in 1976 at Cambridge, New Zealand by Sir Patrick Hogan.
Stud sires
It has had a number of top quality stallions including:
* Sir Tristram: sire of 45 Group 1 winners and inducted into the Ne ...
*
Windsor Park Stud
Windsor Park Stud is a New Zealand thoroughbred stud farm that was established in 1998 near Cambridge, in the Waikato region of the North Island.
Windsor Park was established by Ian and Jesse Duncan. In 1971, it passed ownership to Nelson and Sue ...
References
External links
Trelawney StudLeonard Seton Otway
{{Coord, 37, 55, 12.27, S, 175, 30, 57.19, E, display=title
Horse farms
Farms in New Zealand
Buildings and structures in Waikato
Cambridge, New Zealand