Kiwi racing fans love good racehorses, but 3-time Wellington Cup winner Castletown was extra special

The grand stayer CASTLETOWN became a New Zealand racing legend in 1994 and after 30 years he is still worth celebrating as one of the finest racehorses to ever grace the turf. Bred by Barney McCahill, he was trained by Paddy Busuttin and ended up his distinguished career as one of the most popular and memorable stayers in his homeland. He was one of New Zealand’s finest and best-loved racehorses of modern times.

His longevity with 103 starts reflected an ultra sound galloper and the performances showed just how tough he was to get up and push some of the best staying horses in Australasia for the era. CASTLETOWN won 13 races over 3200m (two miles) and was just an iron horse - so tough and so genuine. Obviously his most memorable win was his third Wellington Cup in 1994 as an 8-year-old, because by then he was an older horse and past his peak, but he was just such a warrior over the two miles.

A two-time winner as a two-year-old and claiming victory in only his second start at Timaru, CASTLETOWN was placed in the Gr.1 2000 Guineas (1600m) at three before going on to claim the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie and sheer bolted in from the 150m witb Bruce Compton in the saddle. While he didn't win again at three, he was a high class three-year-old, winning the 1989 Derby by 2.25 lengths and recording two wins and 13 placings from 19 starts at three; twice placed in Group 1 weight-for-age races in New Zealand, finishing 3rd to HORLICKS and THE PHANTOM in the DB Draught Classic before finishing fourth in the Canterbury Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and AJC Australian Derby. He also finished a fine third in the Queensland Guineas and Queensland Derby with Noel Harris aboard, coming home hard and chasing home another classic Hall of Fame galloper, ROUGH HABIT, in the latter Eagle Farm feature.

Castletown and Harris would prove to be a dynamic team. At four, he won the first of his three Gr.1 Wellington Cups (3200m), preceding that win with his first of three straight wins in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2400m) ahead of SHUZOHRA. As a champion stayer, Castletown is the only New Zealand Derby winner in the modern era to go on to win both the Wellington and Auckland Cups. He won his first Wellington Cup in 1991 after reuniting with Harris following a suspension. But it was a tough effort after bounding to the front before SHUZOHRA mounted a giant challenge on the inside but failed to catch the big stayer as they reached the post.

The spring capped a great season with the award for New Zealand stayer of the year and victory in the Kelt Capital Stakes where he beat Cox Plate winner, SURFER’S PARADISE. 1992 heralded a brilliant year for Castletown, with the Auckland Cup going on the trophy shelf before aiming for a defense of his Wellington Cup title at Trentham. At his peak of his power, Castletown put field away by six lengths over the two miles in what was one of the most dominant 3200m wins ever witnessed. It was most certainly his most impressive career performance carrying a lofty 58kg.

CASTLETOWN's victory in the prestigious 1992 Auckland Cup was particularly noteworthy, as he had to overcome a tearaway leader to secure a spectacular win. Furthermore, his performance in the Caulfield Stakes was remarkable given the challenging bottomless track conditions, where he managed to recover from being 20 lengths behind second-to-last with 1000 metres remaining. Noel Harris said he was going so badly he was almost going to pull him up, but he ended up coming down the outside from an impossible position and winning the race. Some of his best runs were in the big Cups in Australia. He was third in the 1992 VRC Melbourne Cup carrying 57kg behind the legendary grey SUBZERO and fellow champion Kiwi VEANDERCROSS, giving both three kilos. Castletown was also a narrow second in the 1991 Sydney Cup giving JUST A DANCER four kilos, but managed to reverse the result in the AJC St Leger a week later.

The 1994 Wellington Cup saw one of the largest attendance in years in the Hutt Valley, with Kiwi model Rachel Hunter and her Scottish rock star husband Rod Stewart on hand to witness history alongside 20,000 fans. CASTLETOWN would produce a heroic effort carrying 58kg to cement his legacy. The powerful stayer took control at the 250m and there was no stopping him as commentator Tony Lee bellowed out the famous line - “the dream bursts into reality - the champions done it” as he closed in on the line unchallenged. Busuttin would call it the pinnacle of his career and it was difficult to dispute that. It was also Castletown's final win. He would return to Sydney for two runs before heading north to Queensland but failed to recapture that old magic. The long campaigns seemingly had taken there toll.

By ONE POUND STERLING out of the Levmoss mare MONA CURRAGH, Castletown was bred by Barney McCahill, who raced him with Paddy Busuttin and Kevin Morris. Noel Harris rode Castletown for the vast majority of his career. Harris rode Castletown for the first time in the horse's final start as a three-year-old. Castletown had another 80 starts, spread over five seasons, and Harris was the rider in 72 of those races. Castletown was a much admired NZ stayer that fans loved to support, with big crowds turning out for his three Wellington Cup wins.

The heroic New Zealand stayer was laid to rest after passing way at 31 but had been retired to the Cambridge property of Mark and Carlene Jones and shared a paddock with Auckland and Wellington Cups-placed EBONY HONOR. However, the NZ Racing Hall of Fame inductee was better known for his feats at 3200m, with his three Wellington Cup wins and an Auckland Cup triumph backed up by placings in the Melbourne Cup, Sydney Cup (twice) and NZ Cup. The partnership with Noel Harris produced 11 wins and 15 placings, including all his 3200m wins. There were some less productive times late in the horse’s career but Harris stuck with Castletown for better and for worse.

RACE RECORD - 103: 16–9–11
EARNINGS  - $2,467,761

New Zealand Derby (1989)
Wellington Cup (1991, 1992, 1994)
Auckland Cup (1992)
Kelt Capital Stakes (1991)
Caulfield Stakes (1992)
Trentham Stakes (1991, 1992, 1993)

Notable races included:
3rd 1988 New Zealand 2000 Guineas
1st 1989 New Zealand Derby 
2nd 1990 Air NZ Stakes 
3rd 1990 DB Draught Classic
4th 1990 Canterbury Guineas
4th 1990 Rosehill Guineas
4th 1990 AJC Derby
3rd 1990 Queensland Guineas
3rd 1990 Queensland Derby behind Rough Habit
2nd 1990 Avondale Cup
1st 1990 Queen Elizabeth Handicap (Ellerslie)

4th 1991 Auckland Cup won by Star Harvest
1st 1991 Trentham Stakes 
1st 1991 Wellington Cup 
3rd 1991 The BMW
2nd 1991 Sydney Cup 
1st 1991 AJC St Leger Stakes 
2nd 1991 Kelt Capital behind Surfers Paradise
1st 1992 Auckland Cup 
1st 1992 Trentham Stakes
1st 1992 Wellington
3rd 1992 Sydney Cup behind Our Eagle Eye
1st 1992 Caulfield Stakes (2000m)
3rd 1992 Melbourne Cup  Subzero, Veandercross 2nd    

1st 1993 Trentham Stakes
3rd 1993 Kelt Capital behind Calm Harbour, Solvit.
3rd 1993 New Zealand Cup 
1st 1994 Wellington Cup 

New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2014)