An underrated galloper of the 1960's, Ben Lomond took on the very best and became a true champion of the era

Jack Lindsay, a respected breeder with a distinguished background as stable manager for Wright, Stephenson’s at Trentham and Stud Manager at Alton Lodge, founded Balcarres Stud in the early 1950s. It was at Balcarres Stud that he notably stood the sire TEST CASE, who was the progenitor of the classic New Zealand galloper, BEN LOMOND, a brown horse foaled in 1964. His dam was the renowned broodmare JENNIFER'S JOY (foaled 1954), herself a progeny of SUMMERTIME (GB) x VOLIVOX (Foxbridge).

BEN LOMOND's owner, Ernie Montgomery from Rotorua, had previously enjoyed success with CHUNG CHONG purchased out of the 1943 National Yearling Sale for only 80 guineas - but not by him. Five minutes before he won his first start on the opening day of the 1945 Great Northern Carnival, the colt was on-sold for 900 guineas to Montgomery. During the 1946-47 racing season, Chung Chong, as a five-year-old horse achieved notable success, including a victory in the 1946 Avondale Cup with Grenville Hughes as the jockey. Additionally, he secured wins in two Alison Cups and a Cornwell Handicap at Ellerslie.

BEN LOMOND competed in nine races as a two-year-old colt, securing victories at Ellerslie, Te Rapa, and Paeroa under the guidance of Cambridge-based trainer Jack Winder. The astute handler was best known as the early trainer of the great New Zealand champion of the 1950's, RISING FAST. Rejected by two trainers, Winder agreed to take the colt, with Rising Fast winning five times as a three-year-old. After the horse was disqualified in the Te Awamutu Cup, owner Leicester Springs took Rising Fast to Australia to be trained by Ivan Tucker, then Fred Hoysted and New Zealander's never saw him race again. The rest is history.

In his second start as a three-year-old, BEN LOMOND achieved success at Ellerslie, followed by a victory in the 1967 Avondale Guineas the subsequent week. Two weeks thereafter, he secured a win in the Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa. He then secured his fourth consecutive victory, winning the Gr.1 ARC Great Northern Derby on Boxing Day by a six-length margin and establishing a new race record time of 2:29, which is arguably his most exceptional individual career performance. The winning streak concluded with a narrow second-place finish in the ARC King’s Plate, trailing UNPAINTED.

At Trentham, he showcased his superiority over all competitors with a remarkable six-length triumph in the 1968 Gr.2 Wellington Derby toying with his opponents. On the concluding day of the Trentham event, he clinched the Gr.2 Trentham Stakes. This was succeeded by runner-up placements in both the Gr.2 BOP Stars Travel Stakes and the Gr.2 ARC Great Northern St Leger.

At four years of age, Ben Lomond achieved victory in four of his initial five starts, commencing with an Open handicap at Tauranga. He subsequently secured a narrow win against the esteemed mare STAR BELLE in the Foxbridge Plate. In the Thames Valley Stakes at Te Aroha, he triumphed over another champion, MAYO GOLD. Furthermore, at Ellerslie, he demonstrated his exceptional class by defeating TATUA in the Gr.2 ARC Clifford Plate.

A spring campaign in Melbourne faced an initial setback when the Reserve Bank declined to provide the owner with adequate overseas funds for the Tasman crossing. His Melbourne campaign, however, still went ahead unhindered and culminated in a third-place finish in the VATC Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes, followed by a start in the Gr.1 WS Cox Plate where he secured second place behind the exceptional galloper DARYL’S JOY, with the favourite FILEUR finishing third. A commendable third-place performance in the Gr.1 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes behind ROMAN CONSUL ensued, with Bart Cummings BIG PHILOU finishing in second position.

His final race was the 1969 Melbourne Cup, where Ben Lomond secured a gallant third-place finish, trailing another notable champion, RAIN LOVER who won in consecutive years (1968-69) holding out ALSOP on the line. It was a brave effort by Ben Lomond, who strode up powerfully and sprinted home hard but couldn't match the staying prowess of Rain Lover.

Ben Lomond participated in what is arguably one of the most controversial Cup races in history, largely due to the unexpected late withdrawal of the highly favored Big Philou just 39 minutes prior to the event. Subsequent investigations revealed that Big Philou had been intentionally administered a laxative to impede his potential achievement of the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double. The consequences were significant, and the New Zealand horse is rarely mentioned.

The champion New Zealand thoroughbred was famously ridden by several prominent jockeys throughout his historic racing career. Hall of Fame jockey Grenville Hughes secured victories with the horse in the 1967 Waikato Guineas and the Great Northern Derby as his regular rider. Australian Jim Johnson and David Peake also piloted the bay gelding during his successful future Australian campaigns. Considering BEN LOMOND's distinguished career and exceptional performance record, he is undoubtedly recognised as one of the era's most outstanding performers, particularly given his competitive achievements against the top thoroughbreds in both New Zealand and Australia.

RACE RECORD - 28: 13-5-3

RACE EARNINGS - Approximately $100,000

Avondale Guineas

Waikato Guineas

ARC Great Northern Derby

Wellington Derby

Trentham Stakes

Foxbridge Plate

Thames Valley Stakes

ARC Clifford Plate

3rd Caulfield Stakes

2nd W.S Cox Plate

3rd LKS McKinnon Stakes

3rd 1969 Melbourne Cup