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1913
26 November 1913
A Famous Stud.
IN the early days Lee and Tindale were partners in Bylong and Widden properties, and a part of the Bylong land went into the ownership of Mr. William Tindale, a famous bull-breeder. About a thousand acres of Tindale land was purchased by the late James Thompson, of Oakleigh, Widden; and his energetic sons quickly improved it and made it an ideal breeding stud. Since then Mr. James Thompson has died, and the stud went to his three sons, Herbert, Cyril, and Harold, who have since added Torrie Lodge, about a thousand acres, purchased from their uncle William, who has moved up into the Scone district. Torrie Lodge is divided only from the Tindale property by a fence. This Tindale property has been named Wingarra (Bronzewing Pigeon), a name suggested by Mr. H. L. White, of Belltrees. On it the Thompsons have erected a splendid homestead, built with local stone, and fine stone stables. About half a mile away is Torrie Lodge, a splendid stone structure. If they could put it down on an acre block at Randwick, they would get as much for it as a residence as they gave for the thousand acres. James Thompson, be it remembered, began as a breeder in the next valley, Widden. His place, known as Oakleigh, is a few miles up the creek from Widden proper. It was long owned by John and William Thompson and his son Alfred. Widden is the home of Maltster, and for many years Oakleigh was the home of our old friend Lochiel1
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26 November 1913
An Ideal Spot.
IT is about 28 miles from Rylstone to Wingarra, and 13 miles out from the upland town. We started down the mountain for the lower regions, and when we reached the bottom of the great descent we put on the billy and had breakfast under the shadow of an immense perpendicular cliff, over a thousand feet to the top. Following the road it is four miles to the bottom of this mountain. Then we dipped into a little valley guarded on either side by these straight, perpendicular cliffs. A little way along we came across a comfortable homestead flanked by a splendid haystack, Which had been gathered from the narrow strips of arable land at the foot of the hills. It is owned by an Australian, too. Those very stupid and senseless people who describe the average Australian as a person who spends 75 per cent. of his time leaning against a post and the rest bellowing at a football match should hire somebody to take them round and see what an Australian can do with a bit of land. At any rate, several of these small Australian holders down the valley can be backed as farmers against any Japanese, Chinese, or German for industry. Some miles down the valley opens out, and we passed beautiful crops of oats and lucerne, and saw fat cattle feeding sumptuously on the dried trefoil left by a bountiful crop of herbage. As we turned into the Wingarra gate we got a glimpse of Bylong opening out expansively and rich in fodder on the right; but there was no time to go on and explore this historical valley. There was quite a deal to do around the Thompson holdings. They already have about 100 foals to show, and a pack of about 50 dry mares. To go through these mare for mare and foal for foal is not a particularly light task to complete in three or four hours, and then get back to Woodlawn, some 30 miles away, and interview Grafton and his mates.
Descendant of Flying Fox.
THE stallions have the best of quarters and the best of treatment. The first brought out was Cooltrim, whom I hardly recognised. The life of a Benedict has surely agreed with him. He has built into a broad, deep-bodied, muscular horse, and is as quiet as a tame cat; in fact, none of the Thompson stallions are allowed to run to seed and contract bad habits. Certainly, Ayr Laddie got a bit cranky towards the end, and had to be humoured a good deal, but his lapse he doubtless owed to ill-health. Cooltrim's foals, which are generally stamped in the same mould, are mostly bays with a touch of white in the face and white about the feet, and in my opinion throw unmistakably to Flying Fox's end of the sire's pedigree. Cooltrim is by Flying Fox from Gallinarira, by Gallinule from Pierina, a granddaughter of Galopin; therefore he has no fewer than three crosses of Galopin in his veins. He is also a descendant of Sonsie Queen, a famous mare by Musket and dam of Eiridspord, who was by Isonomy, the sire of Gallinule. Consequently Cooltrim has all the blood of Eiridspord, with a triple cross of Galopin. Eiridspord got many good horses, including Hymettus, a dual Caulfield Cup winner. Cooltrim lives on most amicable terms with Royal Artillery, who throws more to the Musket than did his illustrious brother, True Blue, a light-flanked horse, but a good one. The late Mr. G. G. Stead once told me that Royal Artillery was as fine a racehorse as he ever owned, and he certainly had some good ones through his hands. His stock are as yet practically on their trial here, but he got a few good ones in New Zealand, among them Royal Scotch and Artillerie. Everything that has had a fair trial here has shaped well, but he has not yet sired a classic winner on this side, and nowadays it would appear that horses are only judged by their classic winners, and not upon general worth2
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1916
28 December 1916
A GREAT STUD.
VISIT TO WINGARRA.
I have often heard old hands describe in interesting fashion, good season feed in the Bylong and Widden Valleys in the early light stocking days, but if these favoured localities ever showed a more bountiful spread than at present, it must have been difficult to get through it (writes 'Milroy' in the "Mail"). Mr Alfred Thompson was born at Widden, and doubtless knows every stone and hole on it, but in the long rich grass on parts of the run whither he drove me it was impossible to see, and we flopped into holes and over stones with the sulky till I lost count, but can recall five very narrow shaves of turning over altogether. It is the same at Bylong which I visited first, having left the train at Rylstone, where Mr. Herbert Thompson met me with a racing motor as big as a battleship, which left the 30 miles between that little limestone town and Wingarra behind with express train rapidity. Here Mr. Cyril Thompson is in full charge. When I was last there the late Lieutenant Harold Thompson shared the labour of management with him. The manner of Harold's death in France was related to me. It appears he was shot through the stomach and was successfully operated upon; a great surgeon regarded his recovery as certain, but a couple of days later he took a bad turn and died. Harold Thompson had great faith in Aryan, whom he purchased on behalf of the firm for this stud, in South Australia, and the good opinion he expressed to me more than once looks like coming good for Aryan's stock, both at Wingarra and Oakleigh, are top class to look at. If he fills the place left vacant by Ayr Laddie, whom he was bought to succeed, the owners will, indeed, be fortunate Aryan is a half-brother to St. Alywne, and is by Ayr Laddie's sire, Ayrshire, consequently he is a full brother to Airs and Graces, a famous English Oaks winner, who gained high stud renown in France by producing Jardy, a, phenomenal racehorse, and now a sire of great value in the Argentine. Aryan served in South Australia under cramped conditions, and his chances were few, but he has sired a goodly number of winners.
The biggest surprise that I experienced at Wingarra was the extraordinary development of Cooltrim, whom Mr. Herbert Thompson secured when he was about four years old. Cooltrim is now in his ninth year, and is as big as a Clydesdale, and is a tremendous horse with his mares. He is remarkably short on the leg for a horse of his size, and for a son of a Gallinule mare. His crest is wonderful, and can be described in the same terms as the late Bruce Lowe used in the description of Musket. Cooltrim, of course, is by the great Flying Fox, and is a great-great-grandson of Sonsie Queen, the dam of Eridspord, another big one, Royal Artillery is an entirely different type, a type, in fact, which the late Mr. De Mestre described as "purely Marchioness," his famous ancestress who was imported to Australia by Mr. Hurtle Fisher. Aryan is a true Ayrshire, with a square rump, and the forward pitch plainly evident, but not so marked as it was in Ayr Laddie. The king of the stud, Charlemagne II., is a magnificent horse, one of the Han Brion sort, over whom one could linger all day. He is domiciled at Torrie Lodge, which is now a part of Wingarra, and a couple of miles from Cyril Thompson's residence. As readers of these pages know, Charlemagne II was a great success in New Zealand as a sire, and at the sale of Mr. J. B. Reid's stud, the three Thompson boys gave 2300 guineas for him. He came to Australia at the same time as his daughter Carlita, who was then a foal. Carlita, I may add, holds the Australian record for winnings among mares, having, by her recent performances, passed the figure held for so long by Wakeful. An addition to the Wingarra stud is Halbred, who was selected in England for Tom Payten by H. Wootton. Halbred is a beautiful bay horse, with magnificent loins and quarters, and he is well pitched all round. He is a very well-bred fellow by William the Third (2) out of Britannia (2), and is related on the dam's side to Carbine and Simmer, Britannia being by Melton from Britta, by Paradox from Eva, by Breadalbane from Imperatrix, by Orlando from, Eulogy, the third dam of Carbine, and three-parts sister to the third dam of Simmer.
There are about 4500 acres in Wingarra and Torrie Lodge, which is more than enough for the 200 mares running on the place, and many bullocks are fattened and marketed during the year. The Thompsons have put some of it under lucerne, which is so great a success that, in all probability, they will have very flat piece on the place sown with that splendid fodder before they are through. A bit away east from Wingarra over a high ridge is a part of Bylong Creek, which local enthusiasts insist is quite as productive for lucerne as the Lower Hunter. There is a large number of visiting mares on the place just now to the stallions, and there is a big average of foals among both stud-owned mares and visitors. There was only one left to foal when 1 was there. That fine Grafton mare, Lady Rylstone, a Champagne Stakes and Oaks winner, has no foal to rear, having lost it. She has palled in with Majesty, a strapping fine mare, whom the late James Thompson - father of the present proprietors - purchased at the break-up of the late W. R. Wilson's St. Albans stud. She is a sister to Majestic; therefore a three-parts sisters to Mountain King and Co. Majesty has the best foal in her paddock, an exceptional, fine brown colt by Aryan. In this enclosure is Quietest, a fine Grafton mare out of a near relation to the dam of Radnor; consequently she belongs to the same family as Wakeful. She runs pals with her sister, Lethargy, who has a lovely square-quartered bay colt by Charlemagne II., and nearby is Devotion, a Widden mare, with a good colt by Varco. Another visitor, Sweet Adeline, has a very racing like Charlemagne colt, and Consistence, a favourite mare in the stud, and a neat little lady, owns a colt by Royal Artillery, who very much favours her sire.
One of the best foals I saw in another paddock was a colt by Charlemagne II. out of a splendid mare, Silver, dam of that flying machine Silver Lad. Silver is by Grafton from Silverhair, whose dam was a sister to Goldsborough; therefore, she is a rare bred one. Grayton Lassie, by Grafton from Little Gladys, by Lochiel, has an udder like a cow, and her strength of milk is reflected by her magnificent black Cooltrim colt, and Debutante, a fine, mare by Malster, is rearing a charming Charlemagne colt. Levana, a half-sister to Jolly Beggar, is doing well by a grand white faced colt by Fortafix: and Flavour has a lively filly by Royal Artillery worth dwelling, over. Flavour was one of the first sired by Flavus, and was rather good on the turf. Heartfell's dam, Lightheart, is notable for the perfection of her stock, and her reputation still holds good with a lovely Ayran filly; who is a three-parts sister to Heartfell. That good mare, Either, a fine daughter of Grafton and a sister to Quietest, owns a model Charlemagne filly; and Venoma (13) by Royal Artillery from Venonique, by Grafton from the before mentioned Silverhair, is doing well by a corking good Aryan filly. Lady Ayr, a sister to Jolly Beggar, is rearing a smart-looking, clean-cut, racing-like Charlemagne colt, and a good bred one, inasmuch as his sire is by St. Simon (11) from Perfect Dream (8), and his dam, Lady Ayr (8), is by Ayr Laddie (3), son of Ayrshire (8); then comes Musket (3), through Trenton, the sire, of Lady Granville, who is the granddam of Dewey, and was by Chandos (1), by Lady Chester (imp.).
Carlita's half-sister, Kilmeadon, who did well on the Sydney turf, is here on a visit, and looks well. Brightly (5), a sister to Britain, has a good colt by Aryan (5), and big-boned, lengthy, Lin acre colt. Teasing, a Lochiel mare, and one of Lady Granville's descendants, is rearing a commanding, long-reaching, racing sort - a Cooltrim colt; and Affinity, another Lochiel, and a member of the Adeline family, can show an exceptional colt by Aryan. Ayrshire Maid, one of Harold Thompson's own property, had a good Cool trim filly. Passing into another paddock, we came across Sylvanite's dam Gold Dust, enjoying the noon shade of a thickly foliaged tree. This famous mare is in her 22nd year, but she looks a long way under that, and is palpably in foal, to English time, to Charlemagne II. Florence Blanche, by Grafton, is the mother of a grand colt by Halbred, whom the youngster very much favours; and Endear, a fine Malster mare, belonging to Mr. A. E. Thompson, of Widden, has a lovely colt by Charlemagne, and the same can be said of Finality's colt by that horse.
Which is the best foal in any stud is a subject that invariably creates much argument among the residents, from the boss down to the cook; but it is fairly well agreed at Wingarra that the best youngster on the place is a bay colt by Charlemagne II. from Carna (8), by Ayr Laddie (3) from More Graft, by Grafton (3), a grand daughter of Roodee (8), a brother to Chester. This colt is a corker, and would have gladdened the heart of his sole owner, Lieutenant Harold Thompson. Satura, a well-bred daughter of Grafton, has a splendid chestnut colt by Halbred, and has palled in with our old friend Roseen, a Malster mare from Princess Ena, by Grafton, belonging to Mr. T. V. Dangar. Roseen is on a visit to Charlemagne II. Mr. Cyril Thompson does not know for certain whether Risky's foal belongs to her. She foaled alright, and Roseen produced a youngster just about the same time. A dead foal was found in the paddock, and a foal that looked suspiciously like the other mare's was suckling Risky, who may have stolen it, as mares occasionally do. In this paddock we saw two fine colt foals, one by Cooltrim out of Intended, and the other by Royal Artillery from Arly, and Cagou' dam. Tartar, showed us a splendid, big, bay colt by Charlemagne II. Mr. Jessen's Ayr Laddie mare, Highland Fling, has produced a very fine colt to Cooltrim, and that smart performer, Lady Denham, by Malster out of Lady Rylstone, by Grafton, has a good Linnere colt and Dimension, by Positano from Symmetry, has a grand filly by Cooltrim, and perhaps, the best by that horse on the place is an attractive dark chestnut filly out of Firebrand, the grand-dam of Cagou3
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1958
10 October 1958
1971
19 May 1971
WINGARRA STUD GETS TOP FOREIGN STALLION
The Mudgee and district has acquired one of the best bred horses ever to leave Europe with the arrival of the five-year-old “Mexicano” at the “Wingarra”stud at Bylong.
He comes from a family which has been providing middle - distance international horses which have won some of the most esteemed races in Europe, in the last decade, as well as providing sought after stallions.
“Mexicano” was bred by the late M. E. Wildenstein in France and is by Tankero from Manera.
“Mexicano”did win, but his turf career was a very short one because of an injury he received in his first race over a mile as a two-year-old,when he was placed second.
The injury to his near fore leg came against him when he took part in the classic “Prix Hocquart” over 1½ miles in May, 1969.
He was installed a short-priced favourite for this race but at the final turn when he appeared to be going well, things began to go wrong and he pulled up lame.
By the time he recovered, the 1969 season was practically over, but he won a 11 furlong race at Longchamps in October.
His dam Manera won seven races in Italy at 3 and 4 years produced two other winners, including Salvo.
Salvo raced in the top class in England and won the Newmarket Craven Stakes and Newbury Autumn Cup as a three-year-old.
It was as a four-year-old that he excelled himself, when he won the Yorkshire Cup, Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot and the Prix of Baden - Baden in Germany.
He was also second in the Pix de L’Arc de Triomphe, and King George II and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
His grand dam won 16 races in Italy while his great grand dam, Maggiolina won at 2 and 3 years and is the dam of six winners of 90 races in Italy and France.
These include the champion colt Molvedo who won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Grand Prix de Deauville, Gran Primio del Jockey Club, and Gran Criterium amongst other races.
The arrival of “Mexicano” to New South Wales shoild be a great asset in providing an outlet for breeders who want to breed middle - distance horses good enough to win the Australian classic and cup races, which are more often than not won by New Zealand bred horses.
From the breeding and the performances of his relatives there is little doubt that his progeny will stay and train on as three and four year olds5
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2011
2014
5 Septmeber 2014
A haven with broad appeal
THERE'S a lot to smile about when considering the Bylong Valley property "Wingarra".
Aside from productive grazing country, portions of pasture cropping land, a 419 megalitre irrigation licence and good improvements, there's also a sandstone homestead dating from 1865.
That homestead is reflective of the property's history, which includes ownership by the Thompson and Buffier families who respectively ran the property as a Hereford stud and then a Thoroughbred property.
Today the property operates as a breeding and finishing operation.
The wide range of features together with the varied enterprises that have been carried out contributes to current owner Lucy Horseman's belief her property "Wingarra" will stand out for several buyers.
Mrs Horseman said the property had a broad appeal, given breeding and finishing capabilities, as well as general lifestyle appeal.
She and her late husband Jack had purchased the 910 hectare (2248ac) property in 2006 when they were living in the Hunter Valley and were on the lookout for another block of land.
They chose "Wingarra" given the property's size and general location, and the wide scope of productive potential.
The property has been managed by her son Stirling Fearon.
They are selling for consolidation purposes and will be focusing on their other properties in Central Queensland.
'We are very attached to the property and we are proud of what we are offering," Mrs Horseman said.
That starts with the improvements, which Mr Fearon said included infrastructure and pastures.
'We've had a long pasture improvement program in place for the past eight years, as well as an extensive restoration and development of all buildings," Mr Fearon said.
'We also restored fencing, added laneways and made improvements to the irrigation."
About 80 per cent of the property's boundary fencing and 90pc of the internal fencing have been renewed.
Other improvements include a substantial set of steel cattle yards which were added in 2007, and which offer 400-head capacity.
Mr Fearon said more specifically the pasture improvement had involved two separate programs across different soil types - the first comprising summer varieties with tropical perennial grasses, and clovers, while the second program consisted of winter actives, fescue clover mixes and lucerne.
Soils on the property include black and red alluvials through to red basalt loams.
The property has typically grazed about 200 to 300 breeding females, mostly black baldys, as well as up to about 500 trade cattle.
More recently, the breeders have come down to about 180 females and the property has been running about 800 trade cattle, as well as a further 240 head on agistment.
In addition to the cattle, "Wingarra" also has a portion dedicated to crops with a focus on lucerne, barley and oats.
"Wingarra" is just four kilometres south of Bylong and 90km east of Mudgee.
Peter Druitt, Peter Druitt and Company Real Estate, Mudgee, is handling the sale of the property which has been listed for sale by auction on September 25.
In addition to the main four bedroom homestead, "Wingarra" also has a manager's house as well as two cottages.
Infrastructure includes hay and machinery sheds, sandstone stables, four silos, and two sets of cattle yards.
View this property on Domain Rural.
Contact Peter Druitt, 0428 634 3766 .
11 September 2014
THE Bylong Valley property "Wingarra" (as previewed in last week's section) is rich in agricultural productivity but as also can be witnessed in some of the farm buildings is its rich sandstone heritage.
Some of the buildings date from 1865, including the main homestead (pictured left), which current owner Lucy Horseman said had been partially renovated but which also had the scope for further improvement should a new owner desire.
Add to this the sandstone stable complex, also dating from 1865 and which has been completely restored, and comprises seven stables, day yard, tack room and loft.
It is supported by a newer complex of stables (this of Besser Block and steel frame construction) comprising 12 boxes and a large workshop area.
And while a newer building, the three bedroom manager's house has also been constructed in sandstone to continue the historic style.
Like the main homestead it features a new iron roof.
The manager's complex also comes with some more modern conveniences including an in-ground swimming pool7 .
2 October 2014
Wingarra sold
Wingarra' sold: The Bylong Valley property "Wingarra" sold under the hammer last Thursday through Peter Druitt, Peter Druitt and Company, Mudgee, for $4.175 million.
Mr Druitt said the 910-hectare (2248-acre) grazing and pasture cropping property was sold to a Sydney based buyer.
The property features a 419 megalitre irrigation licence, a sandstone homestead and stables, hay and machinery shedding, and two sets of cattle yards8 .
2017
20 April 2017
"Wingarra", the Bylong Valley grazing property of Garth Downey offered at auction without result in November, has since been sold by Peter Druitt and Company of Mudgee to a Wellington farming family for $4.5m. The 910ha property came with a 419ML groundwater licence9
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2018
10 January 2018
Neighbours rule as prices soar
Two to three years of solid returns for most NSW broadacre farmers have driven rural property values to new highs, and this time it's locals - not outsiders - doing the driving.
Wingarra, Bylong: 910ha improved grazing, irrigation, $4.5m (Peter Druitt and Co, Mudgee)10 ;