Australian (GB)
1858 – October 15, 1879
West Australian (GB) x Emilia (GB), by Young Emilius (GB)
Family 11
1858 – October 15, 1879
West Australian (GB) x Emilia (GB), by Young Emilius (GB)
Family 11
Australian was a modestly successful racehorse who was far better as a sire. Although he was never able to outdo the great Lexington as a stallion, he achieved a considerable reputation in his own right and established an American branch of the male line tracing back to the Godolphin Arabian. Australian's lineage is still represented today through the descendants of In Reality, most notably his great-grandson Tiznow.
Race record
9 starts, 2 wins
1860:
1861:
As an individual
A lengthy chestnut horse, Australian stood 15.3 hands and had good, clean legs.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits Australian with 26 stakes winners. As might be expected given that both Australian and the older Lexington were stallions at Woodburn Stud, Australian had notable success with runners sired on daughters of Lexington.
Sire rankings
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Attila (USA), Baden-Baden (USA), Fellowcraft (USA), Helmbold (USA), Joe Daniels (USA), Maggie B. B. (USA), Spendthrift (USA), Springbok (USA), Zoo-Zoo (USA)
Connections
Foaled in England, Australian was bred by W. E. Duncombe. He was imported to the United States along with his dam by A. Keene Richards, who was an admirer of the colt's sire West Australian. Richards sold Australian to Robert Alexander of Woodburn Stud prior to the colt's 4-year-old season (which consisted of one start), and Australian stood at Woodburn Stud in Kentucky for all but one season of his stud career until illness forced his pensioning in 1877. (Along with Lexington, he stood the 1865 season in Illinois, where Alexander had sent his horses to protect them from raiders from both sides of the American Civil War.) Australian died in 1879.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1853 English Triple Crown winner West Australian, Australian is inbred 4x3 to 1815 Derby Stakes sire Whisker, 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Sorcerer, and 5x5 to the mare Evelina. He is a half brother to Cordelia (by Red Deer), dam of the good English sire Thunderbolt (by Stockwell), and to Ulrica (by Lexington), dam of 1881 American champion 2-year-old filly Memento (by Virgil) and 1886 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Ali (by Virgil). His dam Emilia was produced from the Whisker mare Persian, whose dam Variety was sired by 1811 St. Leger Stakes winner and 1819 English champion sire Soothsayer.
Fun facts
Last updated: November 2, 2020
Race record
9 starts, 2 wins
1860:
- Won Doswell Stakes (USA, one-mile heats, New Orleans)
1861:
- Won Produce Stakes #2 (USA, two-mile stakes, Lexington)
- 2nd Association Stakes (USA, one-mile heats, Lexington)
- 2nd Citizen Stakes (USA, two-mile heats, Lexington)
- 2nd Produce Stakes #1 (USA, one-mile heats, Lexington)
- 3rd Galt House Stakes (USA, two-mile heats, Louisville)
As an individual
A lengthy chestnut horse, Australian stood 15.3 hands and had good, clean legs.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits Australian with 26 stakes winners. As might be expected given that both Australian and the older Lexington were stallions at Woodburn Stud, Australian had notable success with runners sired on daughters of Lexington.
Sire rankings
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1871-1875 and 1877; 3rd in 1870; 4th in 1868 and 1876.
Notable progeny
Attila (USA), Baden-Baden (USA), Fellowcraft (USA), Helmbold (USA), Joe Daniels (USA), Maggie B. B. (USA), Spendthrift (USA), Springbok (USA), Zoo-Zoo (USA)
Connections
Foaled in England, Australian was bred by W. E. Duncombe. He was imported to the United States along with his dam by A. Keene Richards, who was an admirer of the colt's sire West Australian. Richards sold Australian to Robert Alexander of Woodburn Stud prior to the colt's 4-year-old season (which consisted of one start), and Australian stood at Woodburn Stud in Kentucky for all but one season of his stud career until illness forced his pensioning in 1877. (Along with Lexington, he stood the 1865 season in Illinois, where Alexander had sent his horses to protect them from raiders from both sides of the American Civil War.) Australian died in 1879.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1853 English Triple Crown winner West Australian, Australian is inbred 4x3 to 1815 Derby Stakes sire Whisker, 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Sorcerer, and 5x5 to the mare Evelina. He is a half brother to Cordelia (by Red Deer), dam of the good English sire Thunderbolt (by Stockwell), and to Ulrica (by Lexington), dam of 1881 American champion 2-year-old filly Memento (by Virgil) and 1886 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Ali (by Virgil). His dam Emilia was produced from the Whisker mare Persian, whose dam Variety was sired by 1811 St. Leger Stakes winner and 1819 English champion sire Soothsayer.
Fun facts
- Australian was originally named “Millington” after the village in Yorkshire, England, where his breeder lived. His name was changed following his 3-year-old season.
- Australian's sale to Robert Alexander may have been for political reasons. His former owner, A. Keene Richards, was a Southern sympathizer at the outbreak of the American Civil War, and as a Scottish national, Alexander had a limited immunity to the political turmoil, perhaps enabling him to protect his friend Richards' interest in the colt.
- Australian was one of three stallions collectively known as “The Three Heroes of Woodburn.” The others were 16-time American champion sire Lexington and the great four-mile runner Planet. Australian was the last to die and the only one to leave a male line persisting into the 21st century.
Last updated: November 2, 2020