14 September 1918
HISTORY OF SIR HERCULES.
Mr. William Lee forwards from Sydney some interesting particulars of Sir Hercules, the sire of Yattendon. In response to an inquiry, Mr. Lee wrote that he did not believe a portrait of Sir Hercules was in existence. The horse, he added, was not thought such a great deal of until after his death, when his greatness as a sire was realised. Mr. Lee's statement is as follows:-
Sir Hercules, a bay or brown horse, was bred by the late Mr. Charles Smith at Clifton, on the Hawkesbury, in the early forties. He was got by Cap-a-pie (imp.) from Paraguay (imp.). Both sire and dam were imported by Mr. Kater. After Mr. Smith's death, all his blood stock went up for sale, when Sir Hercules was bought by Mr. Icely, of Coombing Park, Carcoar. It is" said, that Mr. Icely had Sir Hercules put into training; but the horse not showing any pace, was retired to the stud. Mr. Icely brought out with him from England Manto - said to be the first thoroughbred mare imported to Australia. She had a daughter called Cornelia, who in turn had a daughter by Rous Emigrant (imp.), called Flora McIvor. From the latter Sir Hercules got Cossack and Zoe, two of the greatest racehorses of their day.
In 1852, Mr. Icely sold Sir Hercules, Flora McIvor, and others to Mr. Redwood, of New Zealand and the horses were shipped there in that year. Somewhere about 1858, the same horses, with others, bred by Mr. Redwood - I.O, amongst them - were shipped back to Sydney for sale. I.O., by Sir Hercules from Flora Mclvor, went to Tocal and from her descended Trenton, Sir Hercules was bought by Mr. Tindale, of Ramornie, Clarence River. "Jorrocks" states that Sir Hercules was blind while there; but he was not blind at Bathurst.) While at Ramornie, Sir Hercules sired the great Yattendon from Cassandra, who was by Tros from Alice Grey, full sister to Zohrab, lately discussed.
Mr. John Lee, of Bylong, bought Sir Hercules from Mr. Tindale, and the horse was led to Bylong from Sydney by Mr. George Lee. Sir Hercules' first stud season was 1861, not 1859. Mr. John Lee then sold him to Mr. Tom Tindale, a neighbour at Bylong, after only using him for one season. Strange to say, in that season, Sappho was sired, as was also Gulnare; both raced by Mr. Edward Lee. Mr. Tindale stood Sir Hercules near Bathurst, and there The Barb was sired. My father leased Sir Hercules for a season, after which Mr. Tindale took him back to Bylong Valley, where he served till his death, on December 14, 1864. No foals were registered after 1866, one of the last being The Fop, full brother to Coquette, the dam of Progress, who was a year older. While in Mr. Tom Tindale's possession, Barbelle and Barbarian were also sired, as well as The Barb; but the two formed at Bylong and the last-named at Bathurst. The remarkable thing is that, in spite of horses got by Sir Hercules performing so well, no one owner stuck to him. If Sir Hercules had got Yattendon, and no other horse of note, he would have been entitled to everlasting fame as a sire.
How much more would his memory be held in respect when we can add Cossack, Euroka, and Zoe, I.O. (ancestress of Trenton, Sappho, The Barb, Barbelle, Barbarian, and Coquette, the dam of Progress1
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