Malua was the most versatile Australian

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racehorse in history. Malua won over distances ranging from

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...

s to miles (1,100 – 5,200 metres).

Breeding

He was a son of St. Albans (GB) from Edella by Peter Wilkins (GB). Malua was bred by John Field of "Calstock" in

Deloraine, Tasmania Deloraine is a town on the Meander River, in the central north of Tasmania, Australia. It is 50 km west of Launceston and 52 km south of Devonport along the Bass Highway. It is part of the Meander Valley Council. Deloraine recorded ...

, and as a yearling was sold to

Thomas Reibey Thomas Reibey (24 September 1821 – 10 February 1912) was an Australian politician and Premier of Tasmania from 20 July 1876 until 9 August 1877. Reiby was born in Hadspen, Van Diemen's Land, (now Tasmania) the son of Thomas Haydock Reibey and ...

the former

Premier of Tasmania The premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the leader of the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly is invited by the governor of Ta ...

Racing record

As a two-year-old the colt raced in Tasmania, where his name was Bagot. He won on three different tracks, but was then sold on the mainland for 500 guineas to J.O. Inglis, who changed the colt's name to Malua.Cavanough, Maurice, "The Melbourne Cup", Jack Pollard P/L, North Sydney, 1976 In 1884, Malua won the

Newmarket Handicap The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Prize ...

() and Oakleigh Plate () carrying . Malua's jockey set a precedent when he took him to the outside (grandstand side) rail to win the Newmarket, a tactic not used before. The term "Malua's track" was coined to name that portion of the

Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is the world's richest handicap and the world's richest 3200-metre horse race. The racecou ...

. After a trip to

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, where he won the Spring Stakes, Malua returned to

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

for the 1884

Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under handicap conditions, although the Melbourne Racing Club is in the process of turning the race into weight for age (WFA) conditions. This is for all horses ...

, in which he carried . He was not placed but finished strongly and convinced his connections to run him in the Melbourne Cup. He won the Melbourne Stakes and became favourite for the big race. Carrying , Malua fought out the finish with Commotion (9 st 12 lb) to win by half a length. Two days later he won the six-furlong weight-for-age Flying Stakes on Oaks Day. Malua had a marvellous constitution and in 1886 carried 9st 9 lb to win the

Australian Cup The Australian Cup is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March du ...

. In 1888 he was switched to jumping, not so unusual in those days and he won the VRC Grand National Hurdle, ridden by his owner, J.O.Inglis. Malua continued racing combining it with his stud career until 1889. This was an extraordinary horse that was able to carry heavy weights and defeat the best racehorses in top sprint and staying races.

Stud record

Despite his vigorous career, Malua sired 9 stakeswinners with 13 stakeswins including Malvolio, (1891

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbou ...

), Mora (VRC Melbourne Stakes, SAJC

Adelaide Cup The Adelaide Cup is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 2 Thoroughbred handicap horse race for three-year-olds and older, run over 3,200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide, Australia on the second Monday in March. Total prize mone ...

and VRC October Stakes) and Ingliston (1900

Honours

Malua was inducted into the

Australian Racing Hall of Fame The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is part of the Australian Racing Museum which documents and honours the horseracing legends of Australia. The museum officially opened in 1981 and created the Hall of Fame in 2000. The numbers in brackets afte ...

in 2003. In the suburb of Ormond in Melbourne, there is a street named after the great horse (Malua Street). This little street also for a period of time housed the great Dame

Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic dramatic coloratura soprano (three octaves). She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century, ...

. A memorial to Malua was erected and opened in October 2009 in the Deloraine Museum, in the town where he was born.ABC – Hobart: Tassie's Champion Racer Malua
Retrieved 2010-4-25

References

External links

Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame

Malua's pedigree and stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malua (Horse) Australian Racing Hall of Fame horses Racehorses bred in Australia Racehorses trained in Australia Melbourne Cup winners Thoroughbred family 3-a 1879 racehorse births 1896 racehorse deaths