SIR TRISTRAM's STORY: THE PROMISE

The remarkable story of the world's most famous stud stallion SIR TRISTRAM and his partnership with the New Zealand studmaster Patrick Hogan. The story of how an unpromising horse with a nasty personality became the greatest thoroughbred stud stallion in New Zealand racing history. SIR TRISTRAM (1971-1997) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who stood at stud in New Zealand, where he sired an extraordinary 45 Group 1 winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners.

On pedigree SIR TRISTRAM was royalty; he was by the outstanding racehorse Champion English Three-Year-Old SIR IVOR by SIR GAYLORD), from the ROYAL CHARGER sire-line, out of the ROUND TABLE mare ISOLT. His dam carried the impeccable bloodlines of PRINCEQUILLO, MY BABU, FEOLA, LAVENDULA, plus ISOLT’s third dam, SELENE, was the dam of the great HYPERION.

The colt's race record was less spectacular (winning two times in France from 19 races), although his owner, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Raymond Guest, regarded his French-trained colt highly enough to set him for the still-unachieved Kentucky-Epsom Derby double. Trained by Clive Brittain and raced in Ireland, England and France, owner Raymond Guest sent SIR TRISTRAM to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to compete in the 1974 Kentucky Derby. Under jockey Bill Hartack, the colt finished eleventh.

Following his racing career, he was purchased by Sir Patrick Hogan of Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, and entered stud in 1976 at the modest stud fee of $1,200. By the time of his death in August 1997, his fee had risen to $200,000. “PADDY”, as he was affectionately known, had a reputation as a difficult horse to handle, although this is not a trait which seems to have been inherited by his progeny. In fact, he was so difficult that his handler was forced to wear protective gear, which remains on display at Cambridge Stud. SIR TRISTRAM is the sire of over 140 stakes winners, including the Melbourne Cup winners GURNER’S LANE (1982), EMPIRE ROSE (1988), and BREW (2000). He is also the broodmare sire of over 200 stakes winners, including the Melbourne Cup winners SAINTLY and ETHEREAL, and has earned himself a reputation as a sire of sires. His sire sons include ZABEEL (who continues to stand at Cambridge Stud at a fee of $95,000), MARAUDING, DR. GRADE and GROSVENOR.

Although he was known as a sire of stayers, SIR TRISTRAM’s progeny and further descendants have excelled over a wide range of distances. As well as siring winners of the Melbourne Cup (the world's richest handicap - over 3,200 metres), SIR TRISTRAM sired MARAUDING, who won a Golden Slipper (the world's richest two-year-old race - over 1,200 metres), and several other outstanding two-year-olds.

On the 21st of May in 1997, a few months into his 26th year, SIR TRISTRAM broke his shoulder in his paddock and could not be saved. The sadness of that day has been tempered by the continued blossoming of SIR TRISTRAM’s dynasty and the personal memories of a time with a stallion recognized around the world as one of the best.

SIR TRISTRAM was buried in the manner of great horses in ancient times – standing up, a fitting tribute for a horse who has contributed so much to the breed, to the sport of thoroughbred racing and the business of breeding thoroughbred horses in this special part of the world. A priest conducted a 40-minute service for the horse they called, "PADDY"'.

Interviews and archive footage are used to tell the story of SIR TRISTRAM and Patrick Hogan. The personalities, stories and history of an extraordinary horse and his dedicated owner are told through filming at Cambridge Stud, with Patrick Hogan, stablemaster and handlers, syndicate shareholders and owners and trainers of SIR TRISTRAM’s offspring, and archival film from Ireland, France and England.

In 2008, SIR TRISTRAM was inducted in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.


(45 Minutes)