The Work

Carbine was a superb racehorse, who lived 29 years, from 1885 to 1914.

From 43 starts in a five-year racing career, Carbine achieved:

• 33 wins,
• 6 seconds,
• 3 third placings.
• Unplaced in only one race.

Carbine was born in 1885 at Sylvia Park Stud in Auckland, New Zealand, sired by Musket, out of Mersey (mother).

He began racing as a two-year old in New Zealand in 1887-88 but was shipped to Australia in 1888.

Major Australian Wins:

Melbourne Cup (1890)

• Caring a handicap weight of 10st 5lbs (66kilos)
• Against a record field of 39 horses
• Carbine set a new race record of 3.28 ¼ minutes

After the race, crows cut souvenirs from his mane and tail.

Sydney Cup (won twice)

Victoria Racing Club Champion Stakes (won twice)

Victoria Racing Club All-Aged Stakes (won three times)

Victoria Racing Club Melbourne Stakes

Australia Jockey Club All-Ages Stakes

Australia Jockey Club Cumberland Stakes (won three times)

Australia Jockey Club Plate (won three times)

Prize Money

£29,626 pounds, $7.5 million in today’s dollars (a 20-year record)

Trainers

Dan O’Brien (in New Zealand)

Walter Hickenbotham

Owners

Dan O’Brien (in New Zealand)

Donald Wallace (in Australia)

Duke of Portland (in England)

Sale Price

Carbine’s value increased significantly as he won more races

• Brought for £620 guineas at two-years of age by Dan O’Brien in 1885 (New Zealand)
• Sold in Australia for £3000 guineas as a three-year old to Donald Wallace (Australia, 1888)
• Bought for an unconfirmed £13,000 by the Due of Portland (England) in 1895.

Carbine then travelled to England and died in 1914 aged 29 years.