Blue Spec

Blue Spec was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who established a new record in winning the Melbourne Cup in 1905. He was a brown stallion bred by Augustus Hooke, jnr. and foaled in 1899 at his Tia River Station, Tia, near Walcha, New South Wales.[1]

Blue Spec
SireTrue Blue (NZ)
DamSpecula
DamsireSplendor (GB)
SexStallion
Foaled1899
CountryAustralia
ColourBrown
BreederAugustus Hooke jnr.
OwnerP.A. Connolly
TrainerWalter Hickenbotham
Major wins
Perth Cup (1904)
Melbourne Cup (1905)
Kalgoorlie Cup (1904)
Perth Stakes (1907)
Moonee Valley Cup (1905)
Honours
West Australian Racing Industry Hall of Fame
Last updated on 4 September 2010

Pedigree

His sire, True Blue (NZ) was a good racehorse, winning the Carrington Stakes and the Waverley Handicap carrying 9 st 9 lb (61.3 kg) as a four-year-old. True Blue was purchased by Augustus Hooke in 1893[2] and sired 13 stakeswinners that won 19 principal races. Blue Spec's dam, Specula, was by Splendor (GB) who was a useful sire. Kennaquhair (won Sydney Cup and AJC Metropolitan Handicap etc.) and Eric were from the same family and closely related to Blue Spec.[3]

Racing record

Blue Spec was sold in Sydney during 1903 for 155 guineas to P.A. Connolly of Western Australia. He was then taken to Western Australia where he won the Kalgoorlie Cup and Perth Cup, the two most important races in that state. Blue Spec had carried Connolly's red and white colours to the start of an amazing five consecutive and two later wins in the Perth Cup, with different horses, for his owner.[4]

Finish of the 1905 Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup was the next target and Blue Spec was taken to trainer, Walter Hickenbotham's stables in Victoria in 1904 with this in mind. From this base he won the 1905 Moonee Valley Cup and then the 1905 Melbourne Cup in the record time of 3:27½. Blue Spec's victory in the Melbourne Cup was the trainer's fourth success in this important race.[5]

Stud record

At stud Blue Spec sired two stakes winners, Blue Rain (WATC Easter Handicap) and Semi Blue (WATC Osborne Stakes) as well as other winners.[6]

Blue Spec was inducted into the West Australian Racing Industry Hall of Fame.[7]

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References
  1. Binney, Keith R., Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) and the Serpents Legacy, Volcanic Productions, Sydney, 2005, ISBN 0-646-44865-X
  2. Southern New England, Tourist Brochure, 1911
  3. Digby, John; Thoroughbred Families and Sires of Australian and New Zealand, AJC & VRC, 2002
  4. Barrie, Douglas M., The Australian Bloodhorse, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1956
  5. Cavanough, Maurice, The Melbourne Cup, Jack Pollard P/L, North Sydney, 1976
  6. ASB: Blue Spec (AUS) Retrieved 2009-10-15
  7. West Australian Racing Industry Hall of Fame Retrieved 2010-9-4
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