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Recently it was
announced that the race formerly known as the Euclase Stakes would from
2021 be renamed in honour of champion racehorse Tobin Bronze.
While Euclase (a brother to Rubiton) was an outstanding racehorse
winning stakes races in 3 states incl the Group 1 Goodwood the naming of
a race after 'The Bronze Bullet' in Australia is well overdue and this
is his story.
Tobin Bronze was sired by English stallion Arctic Explorer. Arctic
Explorer (by Arctic Prince) was bred by LTCOL Giles Loder and was foaled
on Feb 6 1954.
As a
2yo he had 4 starts for 2 placings but improved as a 3yo winning his
first four starts of the season. First up he won the Hastings Stakes at
Newmarket in April before then winning the Fen Ditton Stakes 2 weeks
later. His third race win was in the well regarded King Edward VII
Stakes over 1 ½ miles at Ascot by 3 lengths. Competing at the top level
he then won the Eclipse Stk on July 13th before being 5th in
the Great Voltigeur Stk at York and 9th to Ballymoss in the
St Leger. Returning as a 4yo he won the Coronation Stk 10f at Sandown
and was placed in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and 3rd at his
second run in the Eclipse Stakes behind Ballymoss. His record was 13
starts for 5 wins 1 second and 3 thirds and  35,
762 in stakes. It was the era when many Australian studmasters
were looking to import new stock for their studs and making some very
succesful choices in the new European stallions. Arctic Explorer was
imported to be the foundation stallion at the new Stockwell Stud in
Victoria and arrived in 1958 after being purchased for a reported 50,000
pounds. Arctic Explorer arrived with great fanfare and was one of the
highest priced stallions to be imported into Australia being the first
Eclipse Stakes winner to stand at stud here. He served 27 mares
resulting in 18 foals (1 died) in his first season and of those 4 went
to the Victorian yearling sales with filly Arctic Rose being the
topseller and another filly Rose Tudor (his first winner) the second
highest priced. Arctic Explorer served 49 mares in his second
season for 37 live foals (2 died) and 55 mares for 41 foals in his third
season and 55 mares for 38 foals in his fourth (1961). He remained
at Stockwell Stud until he was purchased by Jedbrugh Stud in New Zealand
after Tobin Bronze's victory in the 1965 VRC Derby.
Arctic Explorer's stakeswinners were:
Australian bred -
Arctic Star (Foaled 1959 - AJC & VRC
Oaks and Edward Manifold Stk), Arctic Beau (1961- Tas Derby), Journey
(1961 - VRC Ottawa Stk), Thredbo (1961- VRC Ascot Vale 2yo stk),
Bobalex (1962- Mornington Cup, Bendigo Cup, Ballarat Cup, Bagot Hcp),
Tobin Bronze 1962 , Arctic Coast (1963-Aust Cup, Duke of Norfolk
Stk, OJ Smith Challenge Stk, Adelaide Town Plate), Hialeah (1963 -
Sandown Guineas, Geelong Oaks Trial), Arctic Symbol (1965-Turnbull Stk,
Sydney Cup, Caul Stk),
New Zealand bred - Igloo (1967-Bris Cup, Chipping Norton Stk, Turnbull
Stk, Caul Stk, Coongy Hcp, Autumn Stk), Wiremu (1967 - WRC Hcp, Avondale
Cup), Marinoto (1968 - ARC Railway Hcp, Cuddle Stk x2, Lady Norrie Stk),
Frozen Section (1969 - Ballarat Cup, Underwood Stk), Tom’s Mate (1970 -
CB Fisher Plate, Sandown Cup)
Arctic Explorer
Amarco, who was bred by Mr EA Underwood, descended from a long line of
successful broodmares dating back to Melbourne Cup winner Sister Olive
through her daughter Mount of Olives bred at Richmond Park Stud in
Adelaide before the stock was moved to establish Kismet Park Stud in
Victoria. Amarco was by English import Masthead from the Ronsard
stakeswinning mare Ronolive and was a half sister to multiple
stakeswinner Surang (Merson Cooper Stk, Mimosa Stakes and VRC SIres
Produce) and SA Grand National winner Zethos. Amarco won the VRC
Oaks and was second in the Wakeful Stakes in a career spanning 21 race
starts. She retired to stud as a 4yo and her first foal in 1959 was a
black colt named Lamarack by Landau who won 14 races from 57 starts.
She missed in 1960 then produced the chestnut filly Raw Metal (by Arctic
Explorer) who was unplaced in 3 starts but went on to produce VRC Derby
winner Galena Boy and stakeswinner Cast Iron at stud. At this time
Amarco was sold as part of the dispersal of the estate of EA Underwood
and was sold to W Brown who had Paramount Stud (later known as Narrung
Stud) in Penola SA. Amarco was sold in foal and with her 1961 foal
at foot for 4500 guineas. Tobin Bronze was foaled in the spring of
1962 and she was then sent to resident stallion Paramount to produce the
chestnut colt Lead Bronze won won two races including the Spring Stakes
and was second in the PARC SA Sires Produce Stakes. She produced
brown filly Moneta (one win from 13 starts) in 1964 and Delta
Bronze (unplaced 2 starts) in 1965 to Balcrest Stud's Coronation Boy
before missing in both 1966 and 1967. Sent to New Zealand Amarco
produced chestnut filly Persian Bronze (won SA Oaks and 2nd Wakeful
Stakes) to Agricola in 1968. She then slipped twins to Agricola in
1969 and then foaled Trojan Bronze (winner of 6 races & second in SA St
Leger) to Arctic Explorer in 1970. She missed to Arctic Explorer
in 1971 and was returned to Narrung Stud where she went to resident
stallion Mariner producing bay filly Tarti (unplaced 1 start later went
to stud) in 1972. Missed to Mariner in 1973 and when sent
back to New Zealand missed to Arctic Explorer in 1974 then produced
brown filly Jewel Bronze (second SA Oaks later to stud) to him in 1975.
She missed again to Boysie Boy in both 1976 and 1977 before one last
foal Queen Amarco by Authentic Heir in 1978. Queen Amarco (aka
Amarco Hunter) was unraced but at stud she produced Cosmic Kingdom
(winner of STC Canterbury Cup) and Flying Luskin (6 stakeswins including
Wellington Cup and Trentham Stakes) as her first two foals and later
produced filly Verdigris who in turn produced South African Guineas
winner The Delegator. Amarco missed to Habeas Corpus and Lord
Dudley between 1979 and 1982 and was not served in 1983 before noted as
dying in early January 1984 at 29 years of age at Narrung Stud.
Amarco
Amarco and Foal (Trojan Bronze)
Walter
Brown decided to keep the chestnut colt who would race as Tobin Bronze
and sent him to be trained by Grahame Heagney in Adelaide (Grahame
reportedly had earlier declared him as the best foal he’d ever seen).
Tobin Bronze started his career in the early season 2yo race in Adelaide
the Fulham Park Plate at Victoria Park in August 1964. He missed
the start but ran on nicely on the straight course to finish 4th.
Second up three weeks later he ran second to Charmant in the Glenbrae
Hcp at Cheltenham and was spelled. Returning in the Peter Pan Hcp
over 5 furlongs at Cheltenham he easily defeated Diolen then two weeks
later lined up in the SA Bloodhorse Breeders Stakes at Morphettville
over 6 furlongs where he defeated Diolen again. Starting live up
to the early promise Tobin Bronze was then aimed at the feature races
in Melbourne where he easily won the Trenton Stakes over 6 furlongs at
Caulfield from Peace Council. Starting equal favourite in the VRC
Sires Produce at Flemington he ran a disappointing 7th behind Citius but
in searching for answers it was considered that pre race nerves had
unsettled the young horse in front of the feature race crowd.
Blinkers were applied and they did the trick as he performed up to his
best at his next start defeating Te Parae in the Gibson - Carmichael Stakes over 8
furlongs at Flemington.
Returning from a spell at Narrung Stud it took a couple of sprint races
before Tobin Bronze was ready to show his true form but then he blitzed
the field in the Cumberland Handicap at Moonee Valley where he strode
past the post winning by 8 lengths. He then went to the Moonee
Valley Stakes where he was the clear favourite and jumped well
but settled behind Work of
Art before Summer Haze moved up on the outside with Star Affair going
around them. As Work of Art tired he got caught behind that horse and
drifted back through the field to third last and trying to find a way
clear with 400m to go. He finally got clear and flew home but it was
too late to catch the winner Star Affair who won in race record time
defeating Diocletian by ¾ len with a neck to Tobin Bronze third.
In the Caulfield Guineas he was expected to turn the tables on Star
Affair. Tobin Bronze was in the leading group throughout and the two
colts put on a great battle to the line but Star Affair was too
brilliant in the final stages. It was then to an easier option in
the Geelong Derby Trial while Star Affair won the Cox Plate and
they headed back for another duel in the VRC Derby. Tobin Bronze
started 5/2 on fav in the Geelong Derby Trial and hit the front at the top of the long 500m
straight. It was set up for something to run him down and Gala Crest
and Bonny Lomond tried hard but in the end he was just too good for the
opposition equalling the track record. Star Affair and AJC Derby
winner Prince Grant were the favourites for the VRC Derby but it was
Tobin Bronze despite a check at the 600m putting on an amazing display
to power home winning by 2 lengths from Midlander and Diocletian &
stamping himself as an upcoming star. It was then to the Melbourne Cup
and he put on a good show leading into the straight but he was run down
finishing 8th to Light Fingers. After a break he ran
first up at Morphettville in early January with a close finishing third
over 6 furlongs to Misty Kaa and Royal Leigh passing the post 3/4 of a
length from the winner. Then it was back to Melbourne where he defeated
a field of 18 in winning the Chisholm Hcp at Sandown. A start in the
race had been up in the air but after a stunning workout at Caulfield on
the Thursday before it was all good to line up in the race. Tobin
bronze was installed as evens favourite for the Blamey Stk where he
defeated Midlander by 4 lengths with Craftsman third. As equal
favourite in the St George Stakes with Light Fingers he got pocketed in
the run and had to pull back to find a way around the field. Once clear
flew down the outside just failing to catch Light Fingers by a neck with
a head back to Terrific in third. He then went
out as 6-4on favourite for the VRC St Leger but didn’t stay the distance
being defeated by Prince Grant. Tried again as a stayer in the Duke of
Norfolk stakes he went past the post in 6th place returning
to scale distressed after the 2 mile run.
Despite not getting the 2
miles during his 3yo season Tobin Bronze was aimed at the Cups double as
a spring 4yo and started his prepartion with a first up third
over a sprint distance at Victoria Park where Best
Blend & Tara Breeze went straight to the front and gave nothing else a
chance but Tobin Bronze was running on well at the end 4 lengths behind
Best Blend with Galilee back in 6th place. This was the
first of 8 clashes between Tobin Bronze and Galilee. In the JJ Liston
Stakes at Sandown he had a two horse war down the straight with Bowl
King where Tobin Bronze proved too good defeating Bowl King by a head.
Tobin Bronze then went to the Craiglee Stakes where he won untouched by
4 lengths from Khalif with Citius third. Followed by the Underwood
Stakes to gain revenge on Light Fingers winning by 5 lengths as the
headlines started to pick up on the new star. Living up to the new
sensation banner he then made it four in a row in the Turnbull Stakes
where as the 7-2 on favourite he crushed the start New Zealander
Terrific taking the lead around the home turn and racing well clear in
the home straight to win as he liked.
It was now onto the
Caulfield Cup with 8.13 (56kg). A trial over a mile the Thursday prior
with Lead Bronze saw confidence build into the Caulfield Cup. He was
sent out as the 5-4on favourite (only Tulloch had started at a shorter
price). As the barriers opened Tobin Bronze jumped in the air losing
ground and was immediately hunted up to find a position going out of the
straight. Meeting interference soon after the horse got fired up and
refused to settle and started pulling. Left with the only option Jim
Johnson had to allow the horse to stride up to sit behind the leaders
Clipjoint & Duo. Unfortunately the NZ mare Clipjoint didn’t stay and
dropped out well before the turn leaving Tobin Bronze in front with 800m
to run and a sitting duck for the backmarkers to run down. He turned
for home 2 lengths in front but he started to tire and In the end the
field caught the chestnut in the final stages with Galilee going on to
win while Tobin Bronze ran 6th. There was concern on Tuesday before the
Cox Plate when Tobin Bronze pulled up slightly lame after trackwork but
it was later revealed the off fore had been ‘pricked’ slightly the day
before when being shod. Back to his brilliant best in the Cox Plate the
opposition couldn’t get near him as he won impressively from Winfreux
and Light Fingers. The Mackinnon Stakes a week later followed where he
again won as he liked as the short priced fav from Prince Grant and
Galilee after taking lead at the 400m and racing away to win well. He
was then 18th in the Melbourne Cup after leading down the
straight the first time before dropping into 4th on the rail
by the 2000m however again he refused to settle and pulled hard so it
was obviously by the 800m he was starting to tire. At his fifth run
within three weeks Galilee defeated him in the CB Fisher Plate at the
end of the carnival where Tobin Bronze led into the home straight but
soon Galilee went past winning by 2 ½ lengths with a further 3 lengths
to Future third. Tobin Bronze was them spelled for the autumn.
A trial at Moonee Valley was organised for Tobin Bronze and stablemate
Don Juan before resuming in the William Reid Stakes. Although not
suited he was only beaten a head for third to Marmion and Storm Queen.
Less than two weeks later Tobin Bronze resumed his rivalry with Galilee
and he led throughout to win Orr Stk by 3 lengths beating Galilee and
Future over 7 furlongs. The Blamey Stakes was marketed as a match race
between Tobin Bronze and Galilee with the longer distance of 10 furlongs
more suited to the Melbourne Cup winner but Tobin Bronze took the race
in his stride easily defeating Galilee and Khalif.
In
late February there were offers seriously considered to sell Tobin
Bronze to English bloodstock agency interests. Reports indicated the
figure around $300,000 as American offers of $250,000 had been knocked
back in late 66. However the option to purchase was not taken up and it
was announced the option had lapsed as of the end of the month.
At his third start in three
weeks in the St George Stakes he then cruised to victory from Future and
Pharson. The fortnight lead up to the autumn feature the Queen’s Plate
over 10 furlongs started and It was regarded as another virtual match
race between Galilee and Tobin Bronze. Blue Special made the pace to
the home turn with Prince Grant moving up on his outside and Tobin
Bronze back on the rail with Galilee outside him. As the leader tired
Tobin Bronze tried to make a run on the inside after being pocketed. As
Galilee made a forward move to get to the lead Tobin Bronze was still
trying to get clear giving the Cummings trained champion the chance to
sprint clear. Tobin Bronze got out to give chase but it was too late
with Galilee winning by a half length. Athough a star at weight
for age Tobin Bronze was sometimes referred to as a glass jawed champion
due to his lack to date of success in handicaps so plans were made to
aim for either the Australian Cup or the Doncaster in Sydney.
Ultimately it was decided that Tobin Bronze would head to Sydney for a
short two race campaign over the Easter carnival with his main target
the Doncaster Handicap. Four days before the race Tobin Bronze was
defeated in a track gallop by Citius and his price drifted from 9/4
favourite out to 7/1 (later starting at 11/2). Then a day later he
was found to be suffering from colic and as he could not be treated with
the normal oil they tried stout which ultimately remedied the issue.
But it remained Tobin Bronze had issues in the lead up, taking on a
field of 21, carrying topweight of 9.5 (59.5kg) and having his first
start the Sydney direction something which had brought others undone on
raceday. It was considered to put the
blinkers back on Tobin Bronze for the Doncaster as he was known to jump
well and go forward when wearing them and to help looking about as he
had been doing at Randwick in trackwork. However trainer Graeme Heagney
was refused permission to use them in the race. After jumping well he
settled in 5th behind the leading pair Time and Tide and Nebo
Road then Cendrillion and Cabochon. With the leaders travelling at
breakneck speed 3yo Cabochon moved up on the rails behind them with
Tobin Bronze further back. Past the 800m Tobin Bronze dropped back to 7th
and held that spot until turning for home where he moved out wide to
start his run still a distance from the leaders. Well into the straight
Cabochon rushed up to take the lead moving up on the inside of the
tiring Nebo Road and by the 200m was 6 lengths ahead of Tobin Bronze who
was giving chase. With 100m to go for a moment Tobin Bronze looked to
struggle but then picked up under hard riding to catch the lightweight
on the post to win by a half head. Two days later he won the All Aged
Stakes defeating Gay Gauntlet as expected. Soon after it was proposed
that Galilee and Tobin Bronze have a match race in Sydney but after
Galilee pulled up with an injury after winning the Sydney Cup the match
race was called off. Tobin Bronze and Galilee met 8 times with the
tally on four each with Tobin Bronze superior over shorter distances and
Galilee in the longer races. Tobin Bronze then spelled in Adelaide. At
the same time it was noted that Tobin Bronze would go to the US to
racing in the Washington International if invited and soon after it was
announced that Tobin Bronze had been invited to the race but would need
to be quarantined on return to Australia for 6 months.
In early August it was reported that Tobin Bronze,
Light Fingers, Red Handed, Ziema and Bunratty Castle would take part in
a special trial at the Victoria Park races between races and he was
entered for the Liston Stakes in mid August but trainer Graeme Heagney
noted he would be scratched if the track was too wet. Torrential rain
arrived on race morning and Tobin Bronze was a late scratching. Plans
followed to head to the Memsie Stakes with a slight doubt on starting
him first up over 9 furlongs. After a track trial with Terrific and
Bunratty Castle where Tobin Bronze was last of the three his return was
delayed again with plans to head to the Craiglee Stakes. Another
disappointing gallop the Thursday before the Craiglee saw a vet check to
follow before a decision to again scratch was made
with a
blood sample confirming there was a issue with his liver.
There were doubts over if he’d head to the Cups in the spring after the
belated start to his campaign and ultimately Tobin Bronze didn’t resume
until the end of September leaving less than 4 weeks to prepare for the
Caulfield Cup.
Finally
looking like he had recovered Tobin Bronze went to the Nulla Nulla Hcp
over 6 furlongs at Moonee Valley. Carrying 9.13 (63kg) he sat in
second in the run and then hit full speed striding away from the home
turn to win from the lightweights Corbyn Lad and Brandy Cruiser.
Two weeks later he won the Toorak Hcp as he liked with 9.12 (62.5kg)
defeating Red Handed by 2 ½ lengths. Reports of a new offer and
likely sale came through mid October and Tobin Bronze was sold just 2
days before the Caulfield Cup to his new US based owners for a reported
$400,000. Heading into the Caulfield Cup on one of the lightest
preparation with only 2 runs over 6 furlongs (1200m) and a mile (1600m)
to prepare for the gruelling race he was also drawn wide, had a huge
weight of 9.10 (61.5kg) and the weight of the public supporting their
idol. With a slow pace early there was a lot of iinterference early but
Tobin Bronze was able to keep clear and settled far better than 12
months earlier despite being a little wide for the first part of the
race. Past the half mile he was just behind the leading group and out
of trouble going well as Limit lead the field from Roman Consul. Coming
around the home turn Tobin Bronze showed the brilliance was back and
with 400m to go he sailed past the leader Limit and went for home.
Garcon tried to give chase and challenge but Tobin Bronze fought him off
and kicked clear but then he had to fight hard to hold off the late
challenge of Red Handed to win. William Breliant & Irving Litz flew to
Australia to complete the sale just before the Caulfield Cup and it was
noted by onlookers that his new owners were as excited as the racing
public by his win. William Breliant's plans were to race Tobin
Bronze in the US before having the stallion as the foundation stallion
at his stud. The build up
to the Cox Plate was amazing and with Tobin Bronze carrying the no 1
saddlecloth the crowd started cheering from when he appeared on the
track until the race started. A huge crowd of 38,000 was in attendance
to farewell the champion. New owner William Breliant couldn’t believe
the reception and said he had never seen anything like it.
Tobin Bronze led Terrific on the home turn and just strode away in the
run to the line with Terrific second and a gap back to Craftsman third.
Stewards told jockey Jim
Johnson if he should win the Cox Plate as expected to take the horse all
the way to the end of the straight and bring him past the crowd so they
could all see him before returning to scale. Started as 6-1 on
favourite in the 1967 Cox Plate and the reaction of the crowd even
astounded his trainer as fans packed around the raceday stall asking for
hair from his mane or tail. The following race even had to be put back
35 minutes due to the adulation of the departing champion.
It cost $30,000 to organise
a flight to fly Tobin Bronze to the US and it was planned to depart on
Nov 2 only 5 days after the Cox Plate with the journey expected to take
16 hours. The Laurel raceclub agree to part pay for the flight to get
the horse to the US for the race. On arrival in LA he had to be kept in
a stall on a transport truck for several days before clearing
quarantine. Going from the warm spring weather in Australia to the cold
winter weather in the United States wasn't ideal and he had his first
workout on the track on Tuesday 7th November. Grahame Heagney
accompanied the horse to the US and Jim Johnson was booked to ride
arriving during the week. Interest in the race in Australia was so high
that a direct broadcast was organised despite the race being run early
on a Sunday morning Australian time. Four days later in the race
itself Tobin Bronze was behind the leaders and as Fort Marcy and
Damascus made their forward move Tobin Bronze clipped the heels of
tiring leader Speed Symboli and dropped back to sixth. On straightening
he was still 6 lengths behind the local US pair and chased hard but was
still 2 ½ lengths behind the lead as he started to tire 50m from the
line. He was sent out second fav behind the odd on US runner Damascus
who was beaten a nose by Fort Marcy with Tobin Bronze third.
After the race his new connections had an offer to sell for $1 million
but knocked it back and Tobin Bronze went into training with acclaimed
US trainer Charles Whittingham.
In his first race for the
new stable in January at Santa Anita Tobin Bronze was defeated a
neck by Zip Pocket in the May Stock Farm Purse after leading and getting
run down in the final stages. Three weeks later
he won the View of
Hope race at Santa Anita where he settled in fourth position then
improved to third approaching the home turn before being allowed to
charge home in the straight. Tobin Bronze won by 2 ½ lengths from
Khalborough with Aurelius II third. He was then assigned topweight
of 8.6 in the San Antonio Hcp in late February where he lined up on a
dirt track for the first time. The eventual winner Rising Market
led throughout as Tobin Bronze settled well back and although he made
ground he couldnt improve past the other runners beaten 4 1/2 lengths
into 7th past the post. His next start was again on the dirt
course at Santa Anita in the Azucar Purse over 9 furlongs. Tobin
Bronze followed the leader Proud Land to the turn where when asked for
his effort strode into the race on the outside and fought hard to win by
a half length with Duncan Junction third. Tobin Bronze remains one
of the few Australian champions to venture overseas and win on the dirt
in the United States. A week later his third and final start on
the dirt surface in the Santa Anita Handicap followed over 1 1/4 miles.
Unfortunately the extremely wet conditions didnt suit Tobin Bronze and
he struggled being well back throughout finishing in 9th place 11
lengths behind the longshot Mr Right. After that run it was
decided to restrict him to grass tracks as although he did win one of
the three races he wasnt stretching out well on the surface. Back
on turf for the San Luis Rey Handicap in late March over 1 1/2 miles he
went to the front and was looking like he was back to top form but
victory was snatched away in the last bound where he was beaten a nose
by Biggs with Ole Bob Bowers a neck away third. A fornight later
he went to the San Juan Capistrano Handicap over 14 furlongs where Tobin
Bronze settled well back in tenth place of the 12 horse field and
although he impoved along the back straight he ultimately faded to
finish 9th behind the winner Niarkos. He finished his first US
preparation with the Century Handicap over 1 1/4 miles at Hollywood Park
where he was in the leading group throughout the race but again faded in
the run for home to finish fifth behind Model Fool.
A spell followed during which time
his US owners invited Grahame Heagney to assist Tobin Bronze's return to
the track. Returning to racing in August he was unplaced in an
Allowance at Atlantic City over 7 furlongs before returning to winning
form at the same track over 1 mile in defeating Night Cloud in an
Allowance. Tobin Bronze was then aimed at the feature races again
heading to the United Nations Handicap at Atlantic City in September.
Midfield in the run he was left flatflooted as the leaders turned for
home and although he made ground in the run to the line he gave away too
much of a start running fourth behing Dr Fager, Advocator and Fort
Mercy. The bad luck followed 10 days later when he was again
behind the leaders in the Sunrise Handicap with Sea Castle in front when
trying to make his run he had to be checked off heels again losing
ground. Tobin Bronze ran on strongly but couldnt catch the winner
Advocator with Sea Castle in second place. As the racing season
moved to Belmont Park Tobin Bronze lined up in the Long Island Handicap
over 11 furlongs where he hit the front in the straight but Flit Too
fought back too strongly to defeat Tobin Bronze by 3/4 length. Two
weeks later over the same course and distance Tobin Bronze won his
fourth race in the US in an Allowance defeating Ginger Fizz by two
lengths. One final attempt at a feature race saw Tobin Bronze
lining up in the Man O'War Stakes over 12 furlongs at Belmont Park but
after passing the post tenth of the 11 runners behind winner Czar
Alexander Tobin Bronze was retired to stud.
On retirement he joined the stud
roster at Gainesway Farm for 1969 season where he remained until the
1976 season. Tobin Bronze then moved to Three Rings Farm in
California for several seasons before finally moving to William
Breliant's stud Rancho De Esperanza where he remained for the rest of
his life. Even at 20 years of age he as still noted at the head of
the stallion roster of 4 and was eventually retired from stud duty at 23
in Jan 1986. Tobin Bronze died aged 32 on April 18 1994.
Tobin
Bronze stood 16 1 ¼ hh and measured 67 inches hip to mid wither and 66
inches from with to last joint of his tail. Girth was 73 1/2 inches
Tobin Bronze produced 23 foals in his
first crop and 25 in his second. These foals included Tobin's Love
who was a race winner and produced the stakeswinner Tobin's Rose at stud
and Trojan Bronze who had 21 starts for 8 wins and 3 placings including
victories in the Grey Handicap, Clarendon Stakes, Vandal Stakes, San
Luis Rey Stakes (Grade 1) and SAn Marcos Handicap (Grade 3) and was
Tobin Bronze's first stakeswinner. His third crop only had 15
foals but these included the filly David's Tobin who won 5 of her 25
starts and then went to stud to produce Dignitas (G2 Illinois Derby, G2
Michigan Mile, Rushaway Stakes and later a sire), stakeswinners
Explosive Girl and Turbo Launch and was the third dam of Horse of the
Year Point Given. Others in that third crop were Auguste winner of
the British Columbia Derby, Governor's Handicap and Sonoma Country
Stakes and the chestnut filly That Old Gal who won 2 races from 11
starts.
In his fourth crop Tobin Bronze sired Proud Tobin who was out of the
Noholme II mare Hometown News and with 5 wins from 9 starts was named
the Champion 2yo colt in Canada. Another member was Bronze Point
who won 9 from 23 starts including the Grade 3 Swannee River Handicap
and was the dam of Wood Memorial Stakes winner Air Forbes Won.
Others foals of his fourth crop included Beau Bronze who won 10 of 99
starts with 19 placings, Foxy Numbers 4 wins from 16 starts and produced
7 foals with 5 to race and 4 winners, Magnificent Don winner of the
Golden Link Handicap and Randall Mall Stakes and Flumsa winner of the
Santo Ysabel Stakes amongst her 5 wins from 18 starts.
The winners continued in later crops including Noble Bronze winner of
the Hollywood Juvenile Championship, California Derby and later went to
stud and stood alongside Tobin Bronze, L'Artiste winner of the Florida
Turf Handicap amongst 7 wins from 46 starts, Princess Toby 9 wins and 16
placings from 47 starts including the Osunitas Stakes and Clever Clover
Stakes, Sari's Tobin 21 starts for 5 wins and 7 placings including the
Bustles and Bows Stakes and Shining Bronze winner of Matchmaker Handicap
and Cosmah Stakes amongst 47 starts for 8 wins and 14 placings.
Overall at stud Tobin Bronze sired 31 stakeswinners and 123 individual
winners of over $6 million in stakes with the 48 foals from his first
two crops producing 29 individual winners
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