Nowadays a majority of the successful Thoroughbred Studs in the State have their home on the Hunter River or waters that run into it, and within a radius of about 100 miles, on the upper stretches of this famous district, most of the principal horse-breeding establishments are to be found. The Hunter, on account of its extreme richness and soundness is peculiarly adapted as a nursery for the Thoroughbred. The Hunter, which derives its name from Governor Hunter, during whose regime it was discovered, is one of the most important rivers of New South Wales. It rises in the Mount Royal Ranges and flows in an easterly direction past Muswellbrook and Denman. Three miles below the latter town its waters are increased by the Paterson, and it eventually empties itself into the sea at Newcastle. An extremely rich belt of country follows the banks of the Hunter from Singleton up to Aberdeen, and some miles beyond crosses to the Widden Mountain, and it is on these rich flats and reaches that most of the studs are situated.
One of the oldest studs in Australia—the far-famed Tocal—is the first to be met with after leaving Newcastle, and here the Reynolds’ Estate are still carrying on the stud which the late Mr. Frank Reynolds owned for so many years. No name is held in greater reverence among lovers of the Australian Thoroughbred than that of Frank Reynolds—a man whose heart and soul were centred in his horses and cattle, and who was in a great measure responsible for the adoption of the Bruce Lowe Figure System. Bruce Lowe and Frank Reynolds practically originated the system between them, and, up to the day of his death, Frank Reynolds was a hard and fast believer in the figures. One could write volumes on the Tocal Stud and its influence on the Australian racehorse, but space is limited in an article such as this. Tocal’s glory is at present somewhat diminished, so far as its Thoroughbred Stud goes, and it is now some seasons since a first-class horse has come from its paddocks. A new sire, in use for the first time this season, is the Amphion horse The Nut (imp.—an own brother to Lally), a very bloodlike individual who has met with a very fair measure of success as a winner getter. About four miles from the picturesque old Georgian homestead of Tocal is another Reynolds holding in Duninald, and here Mr. Sydney Reynolds has been breeding more than his share of winners for many years past. At the time of writing, two English horses—Prudent King (a son of Love Wisely) and Piedmont (a tail male descendant of Barcaldine)—are being used. The first-mentioned horse has sired a number of winners, and, in Cadonia, gave us a good-class Leger winner. Near Maitland Mr. John Hart keeps a small but select stud at Bolwarra, and at the present time has the imported sire Something Irish in use.
The next stud of importance to be met with is Wills Gully. It is situated about five miles from the town of Singleton, and here it is the coal magnate, Mr. John Brown, breeds on a lavish scale for his own racing. There are upwards of 200 mares at the stud, including a number of English importations, and a number of good winners have been bred at Wills Gully during recent years. Prince Foote, Duke Foote, Wallace Isinglass, Richmond Main and Prince Charles are names that suggest themselves, and their owner and breeder has generally a good horse running for him among the big string that F. J. Marsden trains for him at Randwick. Stallion honours at Wills Gully are shared by Duke Foote, Richmond Main and Wallace Isinglass, all three horses having been bred at this stud. The first-mentioned two are of Wisdom descent, and Richmond Main, who is a son of Prince Foote, the best horse ever bred at Wills Gully, takes up his stud duties for the first time this year. The Australian racehorse suffered a severe loss in the recent death of Prince Foote, a racehorse of the highest class and held in almost reverent affection by his owner.
Another breeder close to Singleton is Mr. Thomas Longworth, whose property, Dulwich, shelters the English horse Shadowland and a number of good mares. Shadowland is a half-brother by Dark Ronald to Troutbeck, and is, consequently, a member of the successful Agnes family.
Across the railway line from Wills Gully is the famous old Dangar holding, Neotsfield, held by that family since 1824. The present occupier, Mr. R. H. Dangar, has practically given up Thoroughbred horse breeding, having dispersed his fine stud in 1904. Many good performers first saw the light of day in the rich Neotsfield paddocks, such horses as Gibraltar, Sussex (of jumping fame), Mooltan and Poseidon all having been bred there. About 18 miles from Neotsfield, on the Cockfighter Creek, is the South Wambo Stud, the property of Mr. R. C. Allen. Here St. Simon is represented by his son Charlemagne II., a horse of beautiful quality, whose daughter Carlita may be counted among the ranks of the first class. Another St. Simon descendant in William the Silent is also here, and the South Wambo stallion ranks have just been added to by the arrival of the French-bred Francinet, a half-brother to the Ascot Cup winner, Willonyx, by Flying Fox’s son Ajax. Here, too, spending the evening of his life, is Antonio, a remarkably fast English horse who won good races for his Australian owner before going to the stud. There are some fifty mares at Wambo, and the stud sells a large number of yearlings each year at the Sydney sales.
The next stud of importance is Arrowfield, founded by Messrs. W. and F. A. Moses, who have been remarkably successful breeders. Any success that has gone to them is well deserved, for they have bought nothing but the best, and have kept up the high standard of their stud by regular importations from England. On these rich flats, in stallion state, is to be found Poitrel, one of the best stayers Australia has produced, and the winner of the V.R.C. Melbourne Cup, and practically all the principal weight-for-age races of his time.
Poitrel is now in his second season at the Stud, and has let down and developed into a magnificent horse, who may do big things in his new sphere. Two high-class English importations—Valais, by Cicero, and Roseworthy, by William the Third—are being used at Arrowfield; and the twenty-three-year-old St. Alwyne, a son of St. Frusquin, and a great sire of stayers, is also ending his days in happiness near his best son, Poitrel. The Arrowfield mares are a splendid collection, and the stud ranks as one of the most representative of Australia’s horse-breeding establishments.
The peerless Wakeful, a winner of over £16,000 in stakes, is among the mares at Arrowfield, and the way she carries her age is a good advertisement for the richness of the Arrowfield pastures. She is still the property of Mr. C. L. Macdonald, whose colours she made so famous.
Adjoining Arrowfield, with only a fence between the two properties, is Woodlands, originally owned by the late Mr. H. C. White, but now the property of Mr. E. G. Blume. The original old stone-built homestead is still in use, and the view from the flagged verandah across the Hunter to the hills beyond has to be seen to be appreciated. Shepherd King, a good-looking horse by Martagon, is at the head of the stud, and is ably seconded by Duke Humphrey, a half-brother by John O’Gaunt to the English One Thousand Guineas winner Vaucluse, and these English horses have as a mate Piastre, a Melbourne Cup hero, by imported Positano. Woodlands can boast of a fine collection of mares, and the property has been brought thoroughly up to date since coming into the hands of its present owner.
Several small studs are to be found in more or less close proximity to the town of Muswellbrook, 76 miles from Newcastle and some 12 miles away from Woodlands. Among these are Messrs. Jos. Brown’s and Walter Brunton’s properties. The former has the Desmond horse, imported Montecello, in use, while Mr. Brunton does not keep a stallion but sends his well-bred matrons to the best available. His colours are conspicuous at Randwick, and he is not only a breeder but regularly buys at the yearling sales.