RACING Champion sire will stay in Australia

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32633, 15 June 1971, Page 8

RACING Champion sire will stay in Australia

A partnership that has given Australia some of its greatest racehorses has refused $500,000 so that the champion thoroughbred sire, Todman, can end his days where he was foaled.

The offer came from an unnamed American syndicate and was for a five-year lease of the stallion, whose progeny in Australia have earned more than slm in stake money.

The partners do not need the money and their attachment to Todman is deeply etched in the story of his sire, Star Kingdom, and the Baramul Stud, in the lush Widden Valley, 200 miles north-west of Sydney. In 1947, Mr Alfred Ellison bought Baramul as a refuge from his extensive Sydney law practice. Baramul in those days covered only about 1000 acres in a saucerlike hollow.

The fences were unsuitable for horses, there was native pasture only and nothing to met the demands of 1 a thoroughbred stud, but the primitive nature of the property allowed the new owner to use his imagination in its development. The best horse pastures

were grown; hundreds of trees planted and the paddocks and stallion yards were laid out to assure health and freedom to move about.

Broodmares were carefully selected and Mr Ellison had almost immediate success with New Flower, a mare he purchased for only 60 guineas. New Flower’s second foal was Alister, winner of the A.J.C. Derby in Sydney and the V.R.C. Derby in Melbourne. BIG MOVE

In was in 1948, however, that the foundations were laid to lift Baramul from a small cattle run to one of the outstanding horse studs in Australia, covering more than 6000 acres. Mr Ellison was introduced then to Mr Stanley Wootton, a millionaire Australian racehorse owner, who spent much of his time in Britain. They decided to stand the English stallion, Kerry Piper, at Baramul, under a partnership agreement. Kerry Piper was only moderately successful but in 1951 came Star Kingdom also from England. From the time the first Star Kingdom two-years-olds started racing in 1954, there was no chance of Baramul remaining pnly a hobby and a recreation. Star Kingdom became the only stallion whose progeny had won $2,000,000 in Australia. He was the leading sire five times, leading sire of two-year-olds in his first six seasons and sire of the winners of the first five Golden Slipper Stakes, Australia’s richest event for two-year-olds.

In 1967-68 Star Kingdom established an Australian and possibly a world record. He was not only the top sire of two-year-olds but was also the leading sire of dams of winners. GREATEST SON In 16 years, 211 yearlings by Star Kingdom were sold at auction for a total of $1,598,282. His greatest son, Todman, out of the English mare Oceana, had 12 starts on the racetrack for 10 wins, a second and a fourth, Star Kingdom died in April, 1967. His grave at Baramul, carefully tended, is marked by a plaque reading: “Erected in memory of their great thoroughbred by S. T. Wootton and A. O. Ellison.”

Oceana, now aged 24, will be buried on one side of Star Kingdom when she dies, and Todman, now 16, will be buried on the other.

In 1970, Baramul’s entire draft was dispersed by Mr Ellison, who felt he could no longer give the stud the personal attention and management which had made it so successful.

There were just not enough hours in the day for him to continue as a breeder of racehorses, Mr Ellison said. Moreover, he had no family who could take over the stud farm from him. MARES SOLD

Baramul’s 56 mares and 23 foals were shipped to the United States, bought by Mr Rex Ellesworth and Dr Pessin for their Winchester stud at Lexington, Kentucky, at a price said to be in the vicinity of $500,000. It was the biggest single deal of Australian bloodstock in history. Ten of the mares were by Star Kingdom and four by Todman. The Baramul stallions were sent -to local studs but Todman, so that he would not fret too much, was moved only to the adjoining Widden Stud where he could still survey his old domain.

Today, the Star Kingdom bloodlines are valued in the United States as they are in Australia.

Todman’s brother, Noholme, a top performer in Australia and a winner of top-class handicaps ' in the United States, has done well a sire for SUS2m. One of Noholme’s sons, Nodouble, was voted America's best handicap horse in 1969 and 1970. Now standing at Mr' Gene Goff’s El Rancho Murieta Stud in California, Nodouble was syndicated as a sire for SUSI2m.

Baramul is now going to be developed as a beef cattle property, but privately-owned yearlings, some belonging to Mr Wootton, still graze in the lush pastures. Only the empty stallion yards and deserted stables offer poignant evidence of the days of glory now past, but Baramul will not be forgotten.—Australian News and Information Bureau. Ashburton entries

NomlnaUons for the Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting on June 26 are.— HINDS HACK HURDLES, $600; 13m.—Beginner's General, Sleeky Fox, Alaergrove, Macula, Tally Simm, Blazing Star, King’s Club, Beau Bevan, Maliron, Golden Promise, Prince Magundi, Sail Away, Russian Jack, Ayrshire Dawn, Stranger, Sea Harvester, Acrobat.

MAIDEN STAKES, *480; 71. Southern Gent, Mysterlze, Monaleto. Miss Good, Dantlc, OrtanIque, Red Royal, Opening Knight, Khlri Khan, Glentavia, Ribolelgh, Bonavla, Disdained, Silver Charm, Jigger, Sedgercn, Williever, Sharleena, Kayak, Citronell, Direct Idea, Tussle, Dyala, Carse O’Gowrie, Miss Hlb, Gold Last. Rosamle, Eskay, Nlpalong, Golden Ranges Aqualette, Dlsuade. Celbay, Secret Love, Game Flight, Niggercan. Silver Head, Lord Sheeny, Pleasure Pal, Loppy, Queen’s Request, Cuff Link, Hlkari, Anna John, Jeanie Park. Between Times, Puherangi, Misty Rose, Billowed, Bright Diana, Black Orphan. Lordlt, M-lrlfic, Admiral Duncan.

LYNDHURST TWO-YEAR4LD HANDICAP, $600; 6f._Attentive, Anne Lindsay, Anabasis, Zamla, Sir Ribot, Paper Bank, Eastern Clouds, Flying Fiver, Just a Bird. Irritate, RiboUta, Red Boy, Balia, Merry Whistle, Sudden Change, Mintmaster, Leyleigh, Gold Count, Shezan, Jay Wyn, Lomond Lass, Afghanistan— Wtndvale Lad filly. Big Flight, Lady Be Good, Sammawa, Loch Llnnhe. St Andrews, Royal Rapport, Red Paper, Crusade.

DROMORE HACK AND HUNTERS' STEEPLECHASE, $800; 2Jm. —Timely, Little Johnny, Kai Bank, Mister Raad, Celtic Chief. Lambano, Big Bang. Sumburgh, Berwen, Pickering, Indian Chief, Master Leigh, Sand Bank, Scram, Starvato, Cassbridge, Timbercombe, Light Hope. Golden Promise, Mosque, Lager. Near Go.

MARONAN HANDICAP, $1400; Ilf. —Effgee, Beau Leigh, Flying Melda, Red Carpet, Empire King, Harold Bank, Silver Fountain, Hayburner, Hydel, Auto’s Pride, Norma’s Lass. Blank Cheque, Jay Ribbon.

MAYFIELD HACK HANDICAP, $600; Ilf. Blmerah, Paerau Chief, Glentavia, Kriste, Parwin, Jeykalu, Laura Gray, Stormy King, Carse O’Gowrie, Eskay, Nlpalong, Jumbo, Magic Man, Space Flight, Game Flight, Beau Gatan, Count Sigma, Coaster, Loppy, Sweet Nothings, Mr Subtle, Blue Melody, Carioca, Cheeky Fella, Moranskl. SEAFIELD HANDICAP, $1000; 7f.—Job Hanan, I Spy, Flying Melda, Find It, Red Carpet, Glamis Lad, Kiowa, Warrington, Grippie, Haste Ye Back, Strad, Sony, Watchman, Martha BeU, Gay Peter, Royal Mount, Star Turne, Honey Carlyle, Blank Cheque, Jay Ribbon.

MORETON HACK HANDICAP, $600; 7f.—Gold Wood, Arctic Acre; Fairy Cloud, Shiraz, DumbBell, Mark Anthony, Timothy Francis, El Marie, Distant Blaze, Eastern Royal, Best Game, Solved, Bosa Nova, Dialette, Yapinga, Elloughton, Jubal, Diamond Hunter, Siren, Frosty Blue, The Pines, Savoir Falre, Beau Gatan, Chat Pak, Lord Nelson, Coaster, Graeme, Circus Giri, Queen’s Request, Cult Link, Colbrodor, Regent Royal, Bev Leigh, Cheeky Fella, Te Rani, Moranskl, My Greatest, Acrobat, Sea Serpent, Barbank, Lord Manfred.