Bred in New Zealand in 1936 and initially raced there, High Caste was a horse of remarkable stamina and durability.

Biography

TRAINER: Mr J.T. Jamieson (AUS)

OWNERS: Henry Eugene (Harry) Tancred

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 72 starts: 35 wins, 19 seconds, 7 thirds/£35,547

Major Wins 

• Ascot Vale Stakes
• VRC Sires Produce Stakes
• Champagne Stakes
• Rosehill Guineas
• CB Fisher Plate
• Caulfield Stakes
• Linlithgow Stakes
• VATC St George Stakes
• C F Orr Stakes
• RRC Hill Stakes

About

Bred in New Zealand in 1936 and initially raced there, High Caste was a horse of remarkable stamina and durability.

After winning four of his first five races in New Zealand, High Caste was sold to Sydney meat tycoon, Harry Tancred and did the rest of his racing in Australia. He won the 1939 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington at his first start for Tancred, followed by wins in the VRC Ascot Vale Stakes and the AJC Champagne Stakes.

As a three-year-old High Caste had an imposing record of 11 wins and seven placings from 21 starts – including wins in the Hobartville Stakes, the Rosehill Guineas, Craven Plate, Caulfield Guineas and Caulfield Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes and C.B. Fisher Plate, and the C.F. Orr Stakes. At four he won the Epsom Handicap, VATC Caulfield Stakes and Futurity Stakes, and the VRC C.B. Fisher Plate, Linlithgow Stakes and C.M. Lloyd Stakes. At five he won a further eight races including a third C.B. Fisher Plate and third Linlithgow Stakes, and the AJC Challenge Stakes.

When he retired High Caste had raced 71 times for 35 wins and 26 placings. His regular rider, Ted Bartle, said of him: “Every time I asked him for that little extra, which makes the difference between a good horse and a real champion, High Caste produced it”.

High Caste was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.

Image source: Australian Racing Museum Collection