The Stallions and Bloodline

The Early Development Years

In the 1830’s horses were a vital part of the colony’s development. Thomas Haydon set out to breed good riding horses as he spent most days in the saddle. In 1840 Thomas purchased Young Dover by Dover (imp) who became one of the first successful sires at Bloomfield.

He was repeatedly ridden the 152 km to Maitland, the nearest bank, and on occasions competed in the race meeting there, usually involving three races of 3,200 km each, before being ridden home the following day. In 1843 he won the Maitland Cup.

Haydon Tester

The black stallion, epitomized the best of the early colonial stallions, Haydon Tester by The Tester(imp) established himself as one of the leading early sires. Bridle spurts where popular in those days and Tester was unbeaten at the quarter mile.

He sired 440 foals between 1888 and 1904, having a big impact on the Stud. Many were sold as remounts for the Indian Cavalry. Others and were taken with the Australian Light Horse to the Middle East in World War 1, including Midnight who represented Australia versus the British Cavalry in Cairo, Polo and Hughie were ridden throughout the entire campaign, a rare feat. These took part in the famous Charge of Beersheba.

Stallion Influences

Since Haydon Tester, over 100 selected stallions have been used in the stud. Haydon The Dane was bred in 1905 by Bernard Haydon from his top mare Countess by Planet (imp). She was remembered for her stamina and ability brumby running out on the plains and amongst the mountainous country in the Hunter. She was also the foundation mare for the Jewel Family. Haydon The Dane’s son Haydon Dart, foaled in 1913, was then used, being out of the Haydon Tester mare Jam Tart. His full-sister was the outstanding mare Haydon Thora winner of many campdrafts in the 1920’s.

In 1923 the very well bred horse Jingo-Joss was purchased being by En-Garde (imp) a son of St Simon. His daughter Haydon Topaz drafted in Sydney in 1937.

Haydon Starlight

In 1937 Fred Haydon purchased Rocket, who was by Rocklight (grandsire of Medlow), by Glenrock (sire of Cecil’s dam) who was by the influential early sire Eclipse.

Rocket’s stock proved outstanding and a big influence on the stud. One of his most notable son’s was Haydon Starlight out of Haydon Trinket by Haydon The Dane out of Haydon Bangle by Haydon Tester. Hazelwood Romance comes from a Bloomfield Family and Rocket sired her fourth dam.

Foaled in 1926 Haydon Starlight showed exceptional cattle sense, good temperament and was very tractable. His bloodline has been very influential on the whole breed throughout the country.

Bobbed Steel

Bobbed Steel was purchased from Archie Treweeke in 1938. A beautifully conformed black stallion, winner of stallion championships in the ring, he was out the Sydney Champion hack mare Gooia. He stamped his stock and proved a very successful sire at Bloomfield. In 1933 Bullseye was purchased at the Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney by Fred Haydon. He proved a winner on the track and was a good type of stock horse.

Gibbergunyah

The renowned polo sire Gibbergunyah foaled in 1922 was by Lingle out of the Bloomfield mare Glass Bubbles who also produced Venetian Glass. She was given to Pearl Haydon as a wedding present when she married JH Doyle who had properties at Talwood in Queensland and Invermiem at Scone. Gibbergunyah was purchased by the Finley Family from Thornthwaite and he became regarded as the best polo sire of his time.

In 1938 some of his stock were taken to England by the Ashton brothers. In 1939 18 played in the Dudley Cup in Sydney and 24 in the Northern Challenge at Quirindi.

Gibbergunyah sired July ridden by Jack Palmer to win the Sydney RAS Campdraft, Vivid won 23 campdrafts, Swallow one of the top Finlay polo horses founded the number 14 Thornthwaite family producing Aerial, Bambina and Bungunyah, Brown Girl produced Jedda and Serene dam of The Gun.

Haydon Horse Stud purchased his son Bungunyah from the Finley Brothers in 1937. Further Gibbergunyah influence was added in the 1960’s with The Lizard and Redigo. More was introduced through The Gun’s son Musket in the 1980’s. Serene, The Gun’s mother was out of the Gibbergunyah mare Brown Girl.

The Bruce Horses

The prominence of the Bruce horses saw the introduction of the bloodline through Bruce Greer in 1944 and Bright Bruce in 1957. Bobby Bruce was also added later through Musket, Breezette’s full brother. F B Haydon held a high opinion of Bruce himself, trying to acquire him when he finished racing.

The Cecil Influence

The Cecil line was further developed through the use of Radar by Radium from a Medlow mare. Also, Chan by Radium who was again out of the Medlow mare Witzy, was used by F B Haydon. Percy 11 and later Austock Beranghi added more of the old Cecil and Saladin lines.

Young Valais

In 1951 Young Valais was purchased from Segenhoe Stud. His influence has been overwhelming with his name cropping up in the pedigrees of numerous successful horses. A brilliant performer on the track he was a grandson of Blandford the sire of four Derby winners. Blandford also sired Midstream the sire of Sundown. His mother Princess Cadena was a daughter of Valais, premier sire for five years and the sire of Heroic one of Australia’s greatest racehorses and sires.

Young Valais was the sire of the top polo mares Haydon Gem, Champion Polo Pony RAS in 1967, Haydon Bambi, Champion at Northern Challenge Cup, Haydon Gypsey dam of Haydon Gypsey II Australian Cutting Horse Champion and Wansey Style successful mare for the Gavin Family.

He had many sire sons including Bambi and Gypsey full brother sire Just Fred a very successful campdrafter and sire of Hazelwood Romance’s dam Cardonis Breeze, Yandooya Sovereign, Bright Valais, Reveille, Dalkeith Woraki, Sensation the sire of Best Dressed and the dam of Silver Minstrel and Stroller, and the dams of Little Abbey, Gypsey II, Buttons, Abbalee, Music, etc. He also features in the pedigree of Star Black Minstril.

Sundown

Sundown was conceived when a Radium bred daughter Jane was mated “when the sun had gone down”, to the leading Australian thoroughbred sire of the time Midstream, at Kio Ora Stud, Scone.

The influence of Sundown has been extensive especially in polo and polocrosse circles. The stud has used his bloodline through his daughter, the Bloomfield mare Sunshower (refer Sunshower family) dam of Haydon Sunbeam, Haydon Sun Gun and Haydon Easy Sun. Also through Carndhu Bandora’s Gift whose dam Bandora was by Sundown.

His sire was Gifted who also added the Rivolli blood. The stud also introduced more Midstream blood through Drawn. Interestingly, Midstream sire Blandford features in Young Valais pedigree.

With 110 registered progeny Sundown’s influence is notable with horses like Edenhope Lilly the dam of Endehope Sam, Springfield Majestic, Huntley Sunstream, Bandora, etc.

Haydon Never Doubt

One of the recent influential thoroughbred sires has been Never-in-Doubt. He was the last surviving son in the world by Nearco when he died. The stud was very fortunate to purchase his son Never Doubt as a two year old colt from Jack Johnston at Scone in 1975. At his only showing he won his class as a yearling. His mother Mystic Rose was a beautiful galloway type thoroughbred mare by Supreme Courage. The Haydon’s were very fortunate to be one of the very few to use a Never-in Doubt son and the influence today is profound. Never-in-Doubt genetics were further introduced through the sires Ellerston Churchill who was out of Champion polo mare Nabinabah Kylie by Never-in-Doubt who was out of Breezette’s sister Breeze and Patton who was out of outstanding polo mare Mirrawala by Never-in-Doubt.

Haydon Never Doubt has over 80 registered progeny including Haydon Emerald, dam of Haydon Angel Jewel and her full-sister Haydon Pearl, Haydon Nightlight dam of Haydon Nightwatch, Moonlight and Dawnlight, Haydon Night Lady dam of Haydon Celestial, the Haydon prefix horses Ballet, Bandanna, Bright Night, Crown Jewel, Daylight, Gypsey Moth, Sable, Without Doubt, etc.

His influence can only extend further in the future as the type, temperament and ability become more widely recognized. He has established himself as a particularly influential broodmare sire.

Rodeo Rush

The Djebel sire line has produced many good performance horses and Rodeo Rush is by his son, the French import Rush. Star Black Minstril, Terlings Deo Juvante and Targui are other established Djebel sire lines.

Rodeo Rush was the classic thoroughbred stock horse type and he won 27 races including 6 wins straight in Newcastle. He was used in the stud as an aged horse in the early 1980’s and his stock have performed right at the top in polo and polocrosse. He has 82 registered progeny including such horses as Kimridge Lady Di, Haydon Olivia, Edenhope Jennica, Edenhope Betsy Anne, Edenhope Selica, Haydon Jasmine, Haydon Rush, Haydon Raylina, Haydon Impala, Haydon Bambileen, sire Haydon Hush, Tara Hall Ace, etc.

The Breezette Factor

The all conquering performances of Breezette so expertly ridden by Bobby Palmer showed the true versatility of the predominately thoroughbred stock horse.

She is an example that the top polo horse can excel at campdrafting. She won polo awards before changing over to campdrafting.

Breezette carried no Radium blood combining the lines through her sire The Gun of Panzer and Gibbergunyah with Bobby Bruce through her dam Comma. Her full brother Musket already the proven sire of many good horses at Belltrees was purchased in 1987 and crossed well with the Bloomfield mares.

Bush Fire blood

Another thoroughbred sire line to adapt well to stock horse pursuits was the Relic sire Buisson Ardent. His imported son Bush Fire sired many good horses in Queensland including Fire Patrol and St Fiastra the sire of Wynastra.

When mated with one of the best producing mares in the stud book Amber Princess the result was Realm of Fire, twice ASH Campdraft horse of the year and successful sire. His full brother Holmwood Bush Glow, after a very successful performance career, came to Bloomfield in 1991 and was sold in 1997 aged sixteen years old.

His dam Amber Princess went onto produced another twelve champions.

Haydon Drawn

The search for sires is always on-going and in 1995 the stud was fortunate through Jamie Inglis to be able to purchase the former Australian Champion Three Year Old, Drawn. He was a greatly admired horse being the perfect thoroughbred stock horse type, solid brown and only 15.1HH with a great temperament. His stock had proved  a bit small for racing and he represented a real coup for the stock horse world. When he was inspected by Ken Brown he remarked “a beautiful old fashioned stock horse”. Rarely do such sires come along in your lifetime with his stock having that exceptional ability that the higher level they perform at, the better they got. The stud has retained many of his daughters as well as one of his best son’s Haydon Nightwatch.

He was good horse to ride with the added bonus of being one of the best horses on the track of his generation. He was awarded Australian Champion Three Year Old in 1986 and to quote: “Rarely has the Australian turf seen such a courageous horse. Drawn was recognised for his class, courage and toughness. He started in 23 stakes races either winning or being placed in 13.” He was a sire with outstanding ability, quality, conformation, progeny and temperament, being easy to ride with only a halter on. By Star Shower from Penny Draw, combining the bloodlines of Midstream (sire of Sundown), Pipe of Peace, Alycidon, Wilkes and Star Kingdom.

He is the sire of many successful horses including; Brisbane Cup winner Smart Alec, the sires Nightwatch, Drawaway in Western Australia & The Kimberley’s, the playing stallion Redraw and The Don; Haydon Angel Jewel, Hall of Fame mare played by the world’s best player Adolfo Cambiaso to win every major polo tournament in the world, Celestial Champion Horse 2007 Scone League, Haydon Blush played the Ellerston final in 2005 before playing in England, Haydon Madonna Champion Horse 2010 Scone League, Haydon Moonlight Champion Novice Polo Pony in 2000, now playing overseas, and runner-up Haydon Evette, Champion Polo Pony and all round gelding Haydon Dark Draw, Haydon Scud played in England for many years, including the final 2010 Gold Cup, Haydon Rosecup BPP played playing in WA, Haydon Olivia II played at Ellerston by 8 goaler Alejandra Mussio before he took her to England, Haydon Festina Champion Polocrosse horse 2007 Queensland titles, Haydon Signature played by Australian polocrosse player Cameron Sheppard, top polocrosse horses Haydon Tiffany, Haydon Flashlight, Haydon Drawlina at 4 Nationals, Haydon Peony and Overdrawn, Haydon Fiesta, Haydon Bacardi and Haydon Casino-winners of many ribbons in the show ring, Haydon Lisette top priced filly at National Yearling Sale and second top priced filly Haydon Bouquet and numerous other horses and top broodmares including Haydon Tourmaline, Haydon Angel Jewel’s full sister retained as a broodmare and dam of top polo mares Haydon Victoriana who played the Argentine Open, Haydon Sky Jewel, Haydon Pandora and Haydon Crystalline all played at Ellerston, Haydon Oracle a sire in the UK, sire Haydon Spartacus and top polocrosse horse Haydon Dunkirk.

Haydon Dancer

Haydon Dancer was top priced lot at the stud’s 1991 on property sale being by Musket out of Haydon Ballerina. He started his performance career winning the three old Wigdee Futurity. He went on to win led and working classes, including Dalby in 1995, campdrafts and many high point awards.

He was acquired by Judy Rankin in 1997 and in a short time had won 8 Supremes, 24 Champions and 38 firsts in ridden, led and hacking classes. In his first dressage competition he received the highest score of the day and he had also been serving mares during the week. In 1997 he was awarded the prestigious Nat Buchanan Trophy.

His semen was used overseas and many of his stock have performed well around the country, including Sydney Royal Show winner Midland Pedro.

In 2003 he was used by the stud for several seasons and with Haydon Mirage and Haydon Rumba being retained as broodmares at the stud.

Murrabong Victory

Victoria, the mother of Murrabong Victory was a remarkable polo mare winning at the highest level in Australia and New Zealand. Victory’s sire Ben Lexcen was bred by the MacGinley Family.

Both his sire and dam played at Ellerston. He had one hundred percentage top polo bloodlines lines and he passes this on to his progeny, as they all played and just too many to list, including Haydon Victoriana played the Argentine Open, BPP winner Haydon Luna, Haydon Velvet played overseas, Haydon Night Diva won the Nat Buchanan Trophy, Champion Open Ladies Horse Qld,  Haydon Dunkirk winner of polocrosse prizes, Haydon La Nina played at Ellerston many times, Haydon Eve BPP ASH at Wirragulla before playing at Ellerston, Haydon Elm played overseas, Haydon Barrabucci played at Ellerston, Haydon Cha Cha Jewel a very special mare, played Tests and a BPP winner, Haydon Esprit top playing mare and award winner, Haydon Finch played at Ellerston and won prizes, Haydon Special Jewel, a half sister to Angel Jewel retained as a broodmare, Haydon Vital BPP winner, Haydon Oracle a sire  exported to UK, etc.

Haydon Nightwatch

Haydon Nightwatch continued on the Haydon Drawn bloodline in the Stud. Being out of Haydon Nightlight he had the advantage of adding in the Haydon Never Doubt genetics as well, which has proven such an outstanding cross. A stylish, quality stallion with just so much ability.

His full sister Haydon Moonlight was a special mare. She was a classic type and so trainable that she excelled as a three old, winning Champion Novice at Scone in 2000 before playing overseas. His half sister Haydon Night Beam was the top priced filly at the ASH National Yearling Sale before going on to be very successful in futurities and in the show ring with Maxine Brooks.

Tragedy struck during a summer storm in December 2011 when Haydon Nightwatch was under an oak tree when it was hit by lightning. He had already established himself as a top sire by the age of ten with a long list of progeny including the playing horses Haydon Raindrop, Haydon Night Breeze, Haydon Pandora, Haydon Roseleaf, Haydon Secret Night, Haydon Magdalena, Haydon Kylie, etc. Haydon Apollo won awards at the Polocrosse Nationals and Haydon Tartan also excelled at polo and polocrosse. His sire son’s include Haydon Satellite in the USA, Haydon Orbital at Terry Blake’s Rosebrook Stud, Haydon Saturn at the Munro Family and Haydon Blackwatch at the Sutton Family.

Techrico

Suitable staying bloodlines are hard to find and when the Haydons first saw Techrico they thought he could make a contribution to the Stud, crossed over the old families. He had a great head with powerful quarters for a horse who stands 15.1HH. His mother Vaindarra was Champion Two Year filly and by one of the all time greats, Vain.

Zabeel horses have that fluid walk and movement which sets them apart. He is the sire of three Melbourne Cup winners, 41 Group One winners and the mighty Octagonal whose son Lonhro was Horse of the Year on the track and Champion Sire in 2011.

Techrico gives the Stud the opportunity to introduce that real staying blood which has done so well in polo in the past. He is a very good horse to handle and ride with a good temperament.

He produced the playing mares Haydon Plover who played Test Matches, Haydon Crystalline played at Ellerston, Haydon Illusion played by the Grimes Family, Haydon Shimmer; polocrosse horses Haydon Vanity Fair, Haydon Stanza, Haydon Dove, Haydon Zumba, Haydon Techtonic, Haydon Mayfair, Haydon Reo; Haydon Zorba won at the National Show, Haydon Question Mark won Champion Hacks, Haydon Nitro and Haydon HiTech did well in the show ring; Haydon War Horse the Midnight lookalike is in the Light Horse troop.

Ellerston Influence

Kerry Packer at Ellerston acquired and produced some of the best playing horses in the world. They have been very influential in top international polo and the stud was very fortunate to use the sires Ellerston Solar, Churchill and Ruski.

Ellerston Solar (Arg) is from Argentine Hall of Fame mare the legendary La Luna and by Optimum the sire of Open Guillermina the BPP in the Argentine Open in 2012, who is in fact is a three-quarter sister to Solar. He produced many outstanding horses including Cruiser the dam of Ruski.

Ellerston Churchill was from the top Never-in-Doubt mare Nabinabah Kylie whose granddaughter Twitter has been one of the best in the UK in 2019 and 2020.

Ellerston Ruski, foaled in 2014, has been rated by many as one of the better sire prospects to come out of Ellerston, as incredibly so many of their top mares are combined in his pedigree….Cruiser, Dinghy (half sister to Claret), Pinky, La Luna, Blue and Sheltie. To match this pedigree he has the quality, conformation and temperament to go with it. He was started in young horses chukkas and then bred from with his progeny showing all his good attributes.