Carbine
Carbine was the greatest horse to race in Australia in the 19th century. He raced 43 times for 33 wins and was unplaced only once. When his success as a sire is included, many rate Carbine as the greatest thoroughbred ever foaled in Australasia.
Carbine was bred in New Zealand in 1885 and won all his five starts as a two year-old. He arrived in Australia the following year and won nine of his 13 starts as a three year old, including the first of his two Sydney Cups. Carbine also ran second in the 1889 Melbourne Cup. At the Randwick Autumn Carnival of 1890, this remarkable horse won five top-class races in eight days over distances ranging from 1 mile to 3 miles (1600m to 4800m).
In Melbourne for the 1890 Melbourne Cup, Carbine recorded what is perhaps the greatest performance in Australian racing history. Carrying a record 10 stone 5 pounds (65.7 kgs) in a record field of 39 starters, Carbine won the Cup by two and a half lengths and set a new record time for the race. The weight Carbine carried had not been carried before or been carried since.
On retirement ‘Old Jack’, as he was known, stood four seasons at stud in Australia before being sold to the Duke of Portland in 1895. Already a proven sire, Carbine’s success continued in England when he sired English Derby winner Spearmint.
Carbine is the ancestor of some of the world’s most influential thoroughbreds including the world champion Nearco, and the great Australian sire Star Kingdom, as well as our most celebrated horse Phar Lap.
Carbine died in 1914.