Bletchingly
Encyclopedia
Bletchingly was an Australia
n Thoroughbred
racehorse
and stallion. A brilliant sprinter, he was by the successful speed stallion Biscay
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
(IRE), from the United Kingdom in the 1950s, and the Irish stallion established Australia's foremost 20th century sireline.
Stakes at Randwick
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.
, who was named Australia's champion racehorse
in 1980, and he was the leading sire in Australia
from 1980 to 1982. Subsequent crops included 1984's champion Emancipation
, the Golden Slipper
winners Star Watch (1988) and Canny Lad (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
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
winners, including Charge Forward, Bonanova, and Stella Cadente. In addition, one of his grand-daughters, Shantha's Choice (by Canny Lad), is the dam of champion sire
Redoute's Choice
.
Bletchingly is honoured through the annual running of the Bletchingly Stakes, a Group 3, weight-for-age race over 1,100 metres at Caulfield
in August.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Thoroughbred
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...
racehorse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
and stallion. A brilliant sprinter, he was by the successful speed stallion Biscay
Biscay (horse)
Biscay was a brilliant two-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Australia in 1965 and who easily won the Maribyrnong Plate by eight lengths....
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
Star Kingdom 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 times as well as heading the broodmare sires' list three times.Foaled on 30 April 1946, Star...
(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. At four, he showcased his ability by winning The GalaxyThe Galaxy (horse race)
The Galaxy is an Australian Jockey Club Group One Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run over a distance of 1100 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in April...
Stakes at Randwick
Randwick Racecourse
Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters...
and the Moomba Handicap at Flemington
Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
, 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 TownKingston Town
Kingston Town was an outstanding Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won a record three Cox Plates and 11 other Group One races in a career spanning from 1979 to 1982...
, who was named Australia's champion racehorse
Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
in 1980, and he was the leading sire in Australia
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred 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.----- References :* -See also:...
from 1980 to 1982. Subsequent crops included 1984's champion Emancipation
Emancipation (horse)
Emancipation was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. By Bletchingly, Emancipation was a grey, like her dam, Ammo Girl, and her damsire, Gunsynd...
, the Golden Slipper
Golden Slipper
The Golden Slipper Stakes is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race for two year old horses held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney run over 1,200 metres on turf at set weights. It is the premier two year old race in Australia and is the world's richest race for two-year-old Thoroughbreds....
winners Star Watch (1988) and Canny Lad (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
Group races
Group races are the highest standard of Thoroughbred horseraces in Australia. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board which races shall be designated as Group races...
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 One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
winners, including Charge Forward, Bonanova, and Stella Cadente. In addition, one of his grand-daughters, Shantha's Choice (by Canny Lad), is the dam of champion sire
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred 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.----- References :* -See also:...
Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice was a multiple Group One-winning Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and is now a champion sire. He is by the phenomenal international sire Danehill out of the lightly raced mare Shantha's Choice...
.
Bletchingly is honoured through the annual running of the Bletchingly Stakes, a Group 3, weight-for-age race over 1,100 metres at Caulfield
Caulfield Racecourse
Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs...
in August.