Sir Tristram (7 April 1971 – 21 May 1997)[1] was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who stood at stud in New Zealand, where he sired an extraordinary 45 Group One winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners. His progeny earned him 17 official Leading Australasian sire premierships, plus nine broodmare sire titles.

Sir Tristram
SireSir Ivor
GrandsireSir Gaylord
DamIsolt
DamsireRound Table
SexStallion
Foaled(1971-04-07)7 April 1971
Died21 May 1997(1997-05-21) (aged 26)
CountryIreland
ColourBay
Breedernot found
Owner1) Raymond R. Guest
2) Sir Patrick Hogan (at stud)
Trainer1) Clive Brittain
2) Charles G. Milbank (USA)
Record19: 2–6–3
Earnings238,465
Major wins
Prix de Saint-Pierre Azif
Prix de Tire Gerbe
Awards
1984–87, 1988–90 Leading sire in Australia
Leading Broodmare Sire in Australia
1986/7 Leading Sire of New Zealand
Honours
New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2008)
Last updated on 22 October 2011

Background

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Sir Tristram was by the outstanding racehorse and sire Sir Ivor (by Sir Gaylord) out of Isolt (by Round Table), and had 19 starts for two wins in France.[2]

Racing career

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Trained by Charles Milbank and raced in Ireland, England and France, owner Raymond Guest sent Sir Tristram to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to compete in the 1974 Kentucky Derby. Under jockey Bill Hartack, the colt finished eleventh. [1]

Stud record

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Following his racing career, he was purchased by Sir Patrick Hogan of Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, and entered stud in 1976 at the modest stud fee of $1,200. By the time of his death in August 1997, his fee had risen to $200,000. 'Paddy', as he was affectionately known, had a reputation as a difficult horse to handle, although this is not a trait which seems to have been inherited by his progeny. In fact, he was so difficult that his handler was forced to wear protective gear, which remains on display at Cambridge Stud. Sir Tristram is the sire of over 140 stakes winners, including the Melbourne Cup winners Gurner's Lane (1982), Empire Rose (1988), and Brew (2000). He is also the broodmare sire of over 200 stakes winners, including the Melbourne Cup winners Saintly and Ethereal, and has earned himself a reputation as a sire of sires. His sire sons include Zabeel (who stood at Cambridge Stud at a fee of NZD$100,000),[3] Marauding, Dr Grace and Grosvenor.

Whilst he was known as a sire of stayers, Sir Tristram's progeny and further descendants have excelled over a wide range of distances. As well as siring winners of the Melbourne Cup (the world's richest handicap – over 3,200 metres), Sir Tristram sired Marauding, who won a Golden Slipper (the world's richest two-year-old race – over 1,200 metres), and several other outstanding two-year-olds. During 1984 to 1987 and 1988 to 1990 he was the Leading sire in Australia, Leading Broodmare Sire in Australia and in 1986/7 the Leading Sire of New Zealand.[4]

Sir Tristram was humanely euthanized on 21 May 1997 after he broke his shoulder and he was buried standing up – 'A priest conducted a 40-minute service for the horse they called "Paddy"'.[5]

In 2008, Sir Tristram was inducted in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.[6]

Progeny

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Sir Tristram's 45 Group 1 winners:

Horse Race
Admiral Lincoln 1984 Australian Cup
Brew 2000 Melbourne Cup
Cure 1986 New Zealand 1000 Guineas
Dalmacia 1982 Epsom Handicap
1983 Rawson Stakes
Dr Grace 1990 Chipping Norton Stakes
1990 Australian Derby
1991 The BMW Stakes
1991 Underwood Stakes
Dupain 1996 Brisbane Cup
Empire Rose 1988 Mackinnon Stakes
1988 Melbourne Cup
Fair Sir 1987 The Australasian
Glastonbury 1994 The Metropolitan
Grosvenor 1982 Caulfield Guineas
1982 Sires Produce Stakes
1982 Victoria Derby
Gurner's Lane 1982 Caulfield Cup
1982 Melbourne Cup
Irish Chance 1999 Auckland Cup
Isolda 1995 Champagne Stakes
Kaapstad 1987 Sires Produce Stakes
Limitless 1987 Brisbane Cup
Lurestina 1992 Auckland Classic
Mahaya 1993 AJC Oaks
Mapperley Heights 1984 South Australian Derby
Marauding 1987 Golden Slipper
Military Plume 1986 Rothwells Stakes
1987 Australasian Guineas
National Gallery 1984 Western Australian Derby
Noble Heights 1981 New Zealand 1000 Guineas
Noble Peer 1985 Australian Cup
Only A Lady 1997 Flight Stakes
Our Tristalight 1993 Australasian Oaks
1993 South Australian Oaks
Popsy 1993 New Zealand Derby
1993 Championship Stakes
Pride of Rosewood 1983 Gamely Stakes
Queen's Road 1982 Brisbane Cup
Riverina Charm 1988 VATC One Thousand Guineas
1989 Canterbury Guineas
1989 Rosehill Guineas
1990 Air New Zealand Stakes
Royal Heights 1986 New Zealand Oaks
Sir Vigilant 1985 New Zealand St. Leger
Sovereign Red 1980 Caulfield Guineas
1980 Victoria Derby
1980 Western Mail Classic
1981 Rothmans 100,000
1980 WATC Australian Derby
1981 Underwood Stakes
Starline 1987 New Zealand Oaks
Tasman 1980 South Australian Derby
Trichelle 1985 Marlboro Cup
Trissaring 1987 TV NZ-WFA
Trissaro 1983 Tancred Stakes
1983 Underwood Stakes
1984 Sydney Cup
Tristalove 1993 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes
1994 Australasian Oaks
Tristanagh 1989 VRC Oaks
1989 VATC One Thousand Guineas
Tristarc 1985 Underwood Stakes
1985 Caulfield Stakes
1985 Caulfield Cup
1985 AJC Derby
1986 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Tristina 1985 Queensland Derby
Tristram Rose 1985 Queensland Oaks
Tristram's Belle 1985 VRC Oaks
Tristram's Edition 1985 Castlemaine Stakes
Zabeel 1990 Australasian Guineas

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Sir Tristram (Ire), bay stallion, 1971
Sire
Sir Ivor (USA)
1965
Sir Gaylord (USA)
1959
Turn-To (USA)
1951
Royal Charger (GB)
Source Sucree (Fr)
Somethingroyal (USA)
1952
Princequillo (Ire)
Imperatrice (USA)
Attica (USA)
1953
Mr.Trouble (USA)
1947
Mahmoud (Fr)
Motto (USA)
Athenia (USA)
1943
Pharamond (GB)
Salaminia (USA)
Dam
Isolt (USA)
1961
Round Table (USA)
1954
Princequillo (Ire)
1940
Prince Rose (GB)
Cosquilla (GB)
Knight's Daughter (GB)
1941
Sir Cosmo (Ire)
Feola (GB)
All My Eye (GB)
1954
My Babu (Fr)
1945
Djebel (Fr)
Perfume (GB)
All Moonshine (GB)
1941
Bobsleigh (GB)
Selene (GB) (Family: 6-e)[7]

References

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  1. ^ Lichter, Barry (25 May 1997). "Patrick's ride of lifetime". Sunday Star Times. p. 12.
  2. ^ NZ Blood-horse Ltd, Register of Thoroughbred Stallions of New Zealand, Vol. IX, May 1976
  3. ^ Cambridge Stud Stallions 2010
  4. ^ Peters, Anne. "Leading Sires of Australia". Thoroughbred Heritage. Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  5. ^ SMH – Two Gallipolis: legend and facts Retrieved on 30 May 2009
  6. ^ Cambridge Stud Retrieved on 30 May 2009
  7. ^ Morris, Simon; Tesio Power 2000 – Stallions of the World, Syntax Software
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