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29-597: He was a tall, heavily topped chestnut gelding by the VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Manihi from Markato by Natural Bid (USA). Markato was the dam of eight named foals, but Manikato was her only stakes-winner. Costing only A$ 3,500, Manikato had a double cross of Fair Trial in the fourth generation (4m x 4f) and was a descendant of Nearco through his dam. He was originally trained by Bon Hoysted who died soon after Manikato's 1978 Golden Slipper victory. His brother Bob Hoysted took over his training subsequently. As

58-565: A 3yo in the Doncaster Handicap carrying 57.5 kg. This was 3.5 kg over the weight carrying record for a three-year-old in the Doncaster held by Tontonan, himself a great champion of the Australian turf. Manikato was again challenged for the lead throughout the race and dead heated for third place. A new Australian record was set for the 1,600 metres race. In early July 1979 Manikato

87-602: A course record time. IAt his next start in the Australian Cup over 2000 metres he was taken on in front by three horses during the running and was only caught in the shadows of the post by Dulcify who was unbeaten at Flemington until his tragic injury in the 1979 Melbourne Cup, Manikato next started in the George Ryder Stakes where he dropped back 500 metres in distance and won by six lengths, again in record time with Joyita finishing second. A week later Manikato started as

116-550: A neck. After being spelled Manikato won the first of his five victories in the William Reid Stakes on 29 January 1979. The C F Orr Stakes at Sandown was Manikato’s next start and another victory. His win the Futurity Stakes was the first of four wins that he had in this race. In 1978 the race was run over 1800 metres and in his first attempt at a distance beyond a mile, Manikato won untouched and easing up by 4 lengths in

145-619: A spell Manikato returned to again win the William Reid Stakes. Four weeks later on 24 February 1982 Manikato contested his fourth consecutive Futurity Stakes but finished second this time. In the Canterbury Stakes at Sydney two weeks later Manikato defeated Opera Prince and Ubetido. He then finished third in the All Aged Stakes before being spelled for 18 weeks. During 1982/3 season Manikato had 11 starts for five wins including

174-542: A two-year-old, Manikato won the Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper Stakes double. Manikato won eight races and was second three times out of twelve starts. He finished second three times, including one to champion stayer, Dulcify, in the Australian Cup over 2,000 metres. Manikato commenced the season with a win in the Ascot Vale Stakes in record time. Three weeks later he started against older horses in

203-574: Is buried within sight of some of his greatest wins in "Manikato's Garden" at Moonee Valley Racecourse . The Group 1 Manikato Stakes , named in his honour is contested annually at the Moonee Valley Racecourse . The Manikato Restaurant in the grandstand at Caulfield Racecourse is also named in his honour. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2002. Nearco Nearco (January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957)

232-629: Is the sire of numerous Japanese champions including Deep Impact , and is the grandsire of the top-rated horse of 2014 Just A Way . Nearctic is principally known as the sire of Northern Dancer , who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before becoming one of the dominant sires of the late 20th century. Northern Dancer sired numerable sons who themselves went on to become outstanding sires, principally Nijinsky , Lyphard , Nureyev , Storm Bird , Danzig and Sadler's Wells . The Northern Dancer sire line accounts for hundreds of major winners from around

261-585: The Marlboro Cup over 1,400 metres after he struck himself and was galloped on during the running of the race. He won William Reid Stakes and Futurity Stakes. In Sydney Manikato won the G1 George Ryder Stakes . Two weeks later he started in the AJC Galaxy Stakes with 60.5 kg and finished in 8th position. After the race he was found to have suffered a bleeding attack. In 1981 Manikato won

290-481: The Freeway Stakes, Futurity Stakes, A J Moir Stakes , William Reid Stakes and Memsie Stakes . He had 47 starts for 29 wins, 9 seconds and 4 thirds, including five successive William Reid Stakes and four Futurity Stakes winning 11 Group 1 races in all for $ 1,154,210. After retiring from racing in 1983, Manikato was plagued by a virus which he could not shake off. He was humanely euthanized on 13 February 1984. He

319-632: The Marlboro Cup which he also won. In the Caulfield Guineas Manikato defeated Karaman by about two lengths after a protest against him was dismissed, but his jockey Gary Willetts was suspended. He then started in the Craven A Stakes (now known as the Salinger Stakes) but had a slight rise in temperature on the day of the race. Manikato was defeated in this race by Always Welcome by the margin of

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348-639: The Marlboro Cup with 60.5 kg finishing second to Soldier of Fortune to whom he conceded 8 kg. On 29 September 1981 Manikato started in the Queen Elizabeth Cup run in honour of the Queen’s attendance at the Caulfield meeting. Manikato won from Lawman with Sovereign Red in third place and equalled the course record of 1:35.7. His next start was in the Chirnside Stakes where he finished second. After

377-498: The Modern Thoroughbred , Peter Willett wrote that Tesio tried to sell Nearco at two, believing that the colt would not have enough stamina to last the classic distances. Tesio later wrote in his stud book, "Not a true stayer, though he won up to 3,000 meters... He won these longer races by his superb class and brilliant speed." In 1938, Nearco again won all seven starts and was named Italian champion three-year-old and Horse of

406-434: The William Reid Stakes, Futurity Stakes and Orr Stakes again. In the autumn Manikato had to overcome serious adversity again when he damaged his suspensory tendons . After every race, Bon wrapped the horse's legs with plastic shopping bags filled with ice, to reduce inflammation. After a spell Manikato resumed racing at Sandown with a win on 1 September 1981 in a handicap in carrying 63.5 kg. Two weeks later he lined up in

435-543: The Year. His races were as follows: Nearco retired undefeated after 14 races. With the political turmoil and the possibility of war caused by Benito Mussolini aligning Italy with Nazi Germany , Federico Tesio sold Nearco in 1938 to Martin H. Benson of Beech House Stud in Newmarket , England , for £60,000 (a world record for a sire in those days; equivalent to £4,839,000 in 2023). The potential importance of Nearco's progeny

464-422: The distaff side, Mr. Prospector's dam Gold Digger is a great-granddaughter of Nearco through Nasrullah and Nashua, Sweet Tooth a great-granddaughter through Nasrullah and On-and-On, and Fairy Bridge a great-great-great-granddaughter through Royal Charger, Turn-To, Hail to Reason, and Bold Reason(and her dam also has a maternal line to Nearco). Fairway and Pharos were full brothers by leading sire Phalaris out of

493-411: The first nine horses to earn over $ 10,000,000 in stakes wins. These horses are Deep Impact , Makybe Diva , Narita Brian , Sunline , Symboli Kris S , T M Opera O , Viva Pataca , and Vodka . According to France Galop , from 1985 through to 2010, every Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner can trace a bloodline back to Nearco, through his son Nasrullah and / or his grandson Northern Dancer. Including

522-669: The great broodmare Scapa Flow. Fairway was the more successful racehorse, whose wins included the St Leger and Eclipse Stakes, and also initially was the more successful sire, leading the sire list in Great Britain four times. Pharos was a solid racehorse, winning multiple stakes races and finishing second in the Derby. Pharos also proved himself as a sire, leading the British sire list in 1931. Tesio originally wished to breed his mare Nogara to Fairway, but

551-822: The influence of the daughters from his sire line, it is increasingly rare to find a Thoroughbred without some trace of Nearco in its pedigree. For example, while 2023 Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure comes from the rival Mr. Prospector sire line, in the fifth generation of National Treasure's pedigree Mr. Prospector's sire Raise a Native appears twice, while Secretariat (great-grandson of Nearco through Nasrullah and Bold Ruler) and Sir Ivor (great-great-grandson through Royal Charger, Turn-To, and Sir Gaylord) both appear twice and Northern Dancer (grandson through Nearctic) appears three times. Nijinsky (a son of Northern Dancer), Red God (a son of Nasrullah), Bold Bidder (a son of Bold Ruler), and Rich Gift (great-grandson of Nearco through Nasrullah and Princely Gift) each appear once. On

580-578: The patriarch of several of the most dominant sire lines in Thoroughbred history. Nearco was bred in Italy by Federico Tesio , who also bred several other champions including the undefeated Ribot . His dam was the excellent racemare Nogara, who had won the Italian 1000 and 2000 guineas and was Italian champion filly at ages two and three. In 1934, Tesio wished to breed Nogara to the leading English sire Fairway , but

609-1032: The world, particularly in Europe. His modern descendants include Justify , Galileo , Ouija Board , Sea the Stars , Black Caviar , Frankel and Treve . Several of Nearco's male-line descendants were ranked among the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century by The Blood-Horse : #2 Secretariat , #9 Seattle Slew , #10 Spectacular Bid , #18 Cigar , #19 Bold Ruler , #24 Nashua , #31 Sunday Silence , #35 Ruffian , #43 Northern Dancer , #57 Riva Ridge , #58 Slew o' Gold , #69 Noor , #70 Shuvee , #72 Go For Wand , #76 Lady's Secret , #82 Miesque , #85 Lure , #86 Fort Marcy , #90 Davona Dale , #95 Bayakoa and #97 Foolish Pleasure . Other notable male-line descendants were Ballymoss , Arkle , Never Say Die , Royal Palace , Better Loosen Up , Sir Ivor , Invasor , Wise Dan , and Summer Breeze. Sireline descendants of Nearco include eight of

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638-568: The world. Nasrullah was the first son of Nearco to distinguish himself as a sire, first in England and then in America. Nasrullah's important sire sons include: Royal Charger's most important son was Turn-To , whose most important sire sons were Halo and Roberto . Halo was the sire of dual classic winner Sunday Silence , who then became the leading sire in Japan from 1995 through 2007. Sunday Silence

667-459: Was a "weedy" foal by Epsom Derby winner Spearmint. Purchased by Tesio at the Newmarket sales for just 75 guineas, Catnip went on to produce multiple stakes winners and stakes producers. Nearco was inbred 5 x 4 x 4 x 5 to St. Simon , meaning St. Simon appears twice in the fourth generation and twice again in the fifth generation of his pedigree. Schillaci Stakes The Schillaci Stakes

696-567: Was also the damsire of the French multiple Group One winner Charlottesville , and damsire of the Epsom Derby winners Arctic Prince (1948) and Tulyar (1952). Nearco died from cancer on 27 June 1957, and was buried at Beech House Stud. Nearco's legacy primarily comes from three of his sons, Nasrullah, Royal Charger and Nearctic, although several other sons also sired important winners. In all, more than 100 of Nearco's sons have stood at stud around

725-577: Was an Italian -bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 1000m (5 furlongs) to 3000m (1 mile 7 furlongs), including the Derby Italiano and Grand Prix de Paris. He was then sold for a record amount to Martin H. Benson and stood stud in England, where he became

754-429: Was forecast in the provision of a bomb shelter to ensure his survival should Newmarket be subject to an air raid. Nearco was one of the top 10 sires in England for 15 years. He was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1947 and, depending on the source, either 1948 or 1949 or both. From 482 named foals, he sired 273 winners (56.6%) and 87 stakes winners (18.0%). His major stakes winners include: Nearco

783-559: Was taken to Brisbane for the Rothmans 100,000 (now known by its original name of the Doomben 10,000). Carrying a 3yo weight record of 58 kg he equalled Baguette’s weight carrying record and became the first 3yo to win over $ 500,000 in prize money. Five weeks later Manikato started his 4yo season with the first of two wins in the Freeway Stakes . On 24 September 1981 he finished second in

812-439: Was unable to obtain a nomination so bred her to Pharos instead. Nearco's dam Nogara was only 15.1  hands (61 inches, 155 cm) but became a champion on the racetrack and then an outstanding broodmare. In addition to Nearco, she produced seven other winners, including Derby Italiano winner Niccolo dell'Arca, Oaks d'Italia winner Nervesa, and stakes winners Nakamuro, Naucide and Niccolo d'Arezzo. Nogara's dam Catnip

841-573: Was unable to obtain a nomination. Therefore, Tesio chose to breed Nogara to Fairway's full brother, Pharos . Nearco stood just over 16  hands (64 inches, 163 cm) and had nearly perfect conformation. He was known for his fiery temperament and explosive turn of foot, traits he passed on to many of his descendants. After retiring to stud, Nearco could only be handled by his groom Ernie Lee. In 1937, Nearco won all seven of his starts on his way to being named Italian champion two-year-old. His races were as follows: In his 1986 book Makers of

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