Sir Tristram (7 April 1971 – 21 May 1997) 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.
Background Sir Tristram's sire was Sir Ivor (by Sir Gaylord) out of Isolt (by Round Table), and had 19 starts for two wins in France.NZ Blood-horse Ltd, Register of Thoroughbred Stallions of New Zealand, Vol. IX, May 1976
Racing career 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.
Stud record 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),Cambridge Stud Stallions 2010 Marauding, Dr Grace and Grosvenor.
Whilst he was known as a sire of stayers, Sir Tristram's progeny and further descendants have won races over a wide range of distances. As well as siring winners of the Melbourne Cup (a handicap over 3,200 metres), Sir Tristram sired Marauding, who won a Golden Slipper (a two-year-old race over 1,200 metres), and several other 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.
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"'.SMH – Two Gallipolis: legend and facts Retrieved on 30 May 2009
In 2008, Sir Tristram was inducted in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.Cambridge Stud Retrieved on 30 May 2009
Progeny Sir Tristram's 45 Group 1 winners:
HorseRaceAdmiral Lincoln1984 Australian CupBrew2000 Melbourne CupCure1986 New Zealand 1000 GuineasDalmacia1982 Epsom Handicap1983 Rawson StakesDr Grace1990 Chipping Norton Stakes1990 Australian Derby1991 The BMW Stakes1991 Underwood StakesDupain1996 Brisbane CupEmpire Rose1988 Mackinnon Stakes1988 Melbourne CupFair Sir1987 The AustralasianGlastonbury1994 The MetropolitanGrosvenor1982 Caulfield Guineas1982 Sires Produce Stakes1982 Victoria DerbyGurner's Lane1982 Caulfield Cup1982 Melbourne CupIrish Chance1999 Auckland CupIsolda1995 Champagne StakesKaapstad1987 Sires Produce StakesLimitless 1987 Brisbane CupLurestina1992 Auckland ClassicMahaya1993 AJC OaksMapperley Heights1984 South Australian DerbyMarauding1987 Golden SlipperMilitary Plume1986 Rothwells Stakes1987 Australasian GuineasNational Gallery1984 Western Australian DerbyNoble Heights1981 New Zealand 1000 GuineasNoble Peer1985 Australian CupOnly A Lady1997 Flight StakesOur Tristalight1993 Australasian Oaks1993 South Australian OaksPopsy1993 New Zealand Derby1993 Championship StakesPride of Rosewood1983 Gamely StakesQueen's Road1982 Brisbane CupRiverina Charm1988 VATC One Thousand Guineas1989 Canterbury Guineas1989 Rosehill Guineas1990 Air New Zealand StakesRoyal Heights1986 New Zealand OaksSir Vigilant1985 New Zealand St. LegerSovereign Red1980 Caulfield Guineas1980 Victoria Derby1980 Western Mail Classic1981 Rothmans 100,0001980 WATC Australian Derby1981 Underwood StakesStarline1987 New Zealand OaksTasman1980 South Australian DerbyTrichelle1985 Marlboro CupTrissaring1987 TV NZ-WFATrissaro1983 Tancred Stakes1983 Underwood Stakes1984 Sydney CupTristalove1993 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes1994 Australasian OaksTristanagh1989 VRC Oaks1989 VATC One Thousand GuineasTristarc 1985 Underwood Stakes1985 Caulfield Stakes1985 Caulfield Cup1985 AJC Derby1986 Queen Elizabeth StakesTristina1985 Queensland DerbyTristram Rose1985 Queensland OaksTristram's Belle1985 VRC OaksTristram's Edition1985 Castlemaine StakesZabeel1990 Australasian Guineas
Pedigree
References
External links Cambridge Stud