Carbine: Champion Australian Racehorse

Foaled in New Zealand at the Sylvia Park Stud near Auckland, New Zealand, on 18 September 1885, Carbine was a bay stallion known for his versatility, speed, and weight-carrying ability. An excellent lineage, speed, stamina, and a good temperament were the stallion's positive characteristics that brought him success on the racetracks, ending his career with 33 wins, 6 second places, and 3 third spots out of 43 starts.

Carbine was sired by Musket out of Mersey. Nicknamed 'Old Jack', Carbine blazed the tracks as a two-year-old in New Zealand, remaining unbeaten in 5 starts in top class races. However, his main achievements were Down Under where he won 9 races from 13 starts as a three-year-old. Carbine made punters take notice when he won the AJC Sydney Cup, a 2-mile weight-for-age race carrying 12 lbs, in a record time of 3 minutes and 31 seconds. Victory came against all odds when he was pushed back to last place caused by interference at the half-mile post. Owner-trainer Dan O'Brien sold the stallion for 3,000 guineas to Donald Wallace, a breeder and Member of the Victorian Parliament.

Under the watchful eye of trainer Walter Hickenbotham, Carbine set about breaking records as a four-year-old, winning two races on the same day. The 1890 Melbourne Cup was one of the stallion's most notable victories, breaking the weight record with 66 kgs. In an exciting race, Carbine beat Highborn who had a 24 kg weight advantage in a race with 39 starters. A chronic heel injury kept him out of the 1891 Melbourne Cup and other major events after which he was retired to Wallace's stud.

In 1892, Carbine sired a colt named Wallace that turned out to become one of the most outstanding racehorses of the decade. Carbine's career as a stud in Australia produced winners worth £48,624 that included Amberite and La Carabine, two multiple stakes winners. The stallion made his way to England after being purchased by the Duke of Portland for 13,000 guineas. At the Duke's English stud at Welbeck Abbey, Carbine was second stud sire to St. Simon. The 1906 Epsom Derby winner, Spearmint was sired by Carbine. He was also the grandsire of Johren, an American champion racehorse and winner of the 1918 Belmont Stakes.

Among the post-World War II horses with Carbine in their pedigrees are Rising Fast, Rain Lover, Think Big, and Cosmic Court, all Melbourne Cup winners. The invincible Makybe Diva is also one of Carbine's descendants.

If it wasn't for the chronic heel injury that kept Carbine out of racing, the stallion would have definitely gone on to break more records. However, his progenies continued his legacy with all time greats like Phar Lap, Gurners Lane, and Kingston Town. Carbine suffered a stroke on 10 June 1914 and was put down in order to end his suffering. His skeletal remains are displayed at the Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Melbourne. Carbine was one of the five inaugural inductees into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com