Windbag won a famous victory in winning the 1925 Cup, beating the popular Manfred in the process

Windbag, despite his seemingly unassuming name, holds a prestigious position in the annals of Australian racing history. The thoroughbred racehorse, a product of Australian breeding, achieved a remarkable feat in 1925 by securing victory in the prestigious Melbourne Cup at the age of four. Not only did he accomplish this triumph in record time, but also carried an exceptional weight of 58 kilograms, setting a new standard in the competition. He also won, among others, the AJC St Leger, the AJC Plate, the Cumberland Stakes and the Chelmsford Stakes that same year.

Windbag was out of the highly successful imported sire, Magpie (Dark Ronald) through the New Zealand dam, Charleville. He was bred by Percy Miller, owned by Robert Miller and trained by former leading jockey and Canterbury born, George Price. Price's reputation for skill, patience, and the management and preparation of his horses was assisted by the spectacular win of Windbag in the 1925 Melbourne Cup, followed by Murray King's victory in next year's Sydney Cup. Another of his training triumphs was with Mildura who won the Newmarket (1941) and dual successive Doncaster Handicaps (1940-41). He had the propensity for achieving the unexpected in racing. Two of his horses, Warplane and Ballymena beat the great Gloaming, and his most spectacular 'turnup' was the defeat of the champion Ajax by Spear Chief at odds of 40/1 in the Rawson Stakes in 1939, thus robbing Ajax of equalling a record nineteen consecutive wins.

As it turns out Windbag is buried in a carefully tended grave at Northwood Park, near Seymour, now part of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global Thoroughbred stallion operation Darley. After his retirement in 1927, Thoroughbred breeder AG (Alec) Hunter, who owned Northwood Park at the time, bought Windbag for his stud where he remained until the stallion’s death in 1944. During his time at stud Windbag sired 212 winners of 919 races. Mr Hunter erected a magnificent headstone in the champion’s honour and engraved it with the words “A tribute to a noble horse — he had all the attributes of greatness — honesty, courage, the will to win and an ideal temperament”.
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WINDBAG WINS THE CUP. FAVOURITE NARROWLY BEATEN. RECORD TIME.150,000 PEOPLE SEE RACE
Wed 4 November 1925

The public was "fairly on the job," said a man with a first-class ticket returning from the Cup in a second-class carriage, and smoking in a non-smoker. He was referring to one aspect only of the great event, but his truth had many sides to it. The Cup of 1925 was a great day for the public, in weather, in racing. On racecourse, odds were laid and taken on the minor events, not only in the new ring, but on the outer area of the old ring, where a few bookmakers banished to the greenwood tree were making the best of their exile.

Huge crowds filled the lawns and sort out the best positions to view the Cup. Starting the 7/4 favourite, was Manfred. After the start Manfred was still on the rails, sweeping along easily and confidently, with an escort of one. He remained there as the field swept past t he stand for the first time. A cloud of dust obscured the horses' as they turned out of the straight. Let experts say what they will of the others, but the public fail "on the job" saw only Manfred leading the field at the home turn. '"J'ney will never catch the coll," said the poor man who now wished he had been rich enough to take Manfred.

That was the moment when a bookmaker with real coinage might have made money. But there was none such. Manfred was in the straight, when Windbag challenged. Mum drew his whip on Wind and that horse responded well. Those in the Official reserve saw that challenge. Was it only fancy that Manfred was a little slow in his stride at that stage, or was he slow relatively only? Windbag was catching him by the inch. Heart saw nothing but the game struggle, mild men, mild women shouted their hopes and then fears as Windbag caught Manfred, outpaced him, and led to the finishing post. Manfred hung to Windbag for a few strides but the Ducy horse was too good for the favourite.
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Windbag won the cup by half a length from the 7/4 favourite Manfred, carrying 9 stone 2 pound at 5/1 and ridden by Jim Munro. The Melbourne Stakes winner Pilliewinkle was third a length further back from the second placegetter. In front of a crowd of 106,828 at Flemington Racecourse, Windbag set a new record time for the race of 3.22.75. This was also the first the Melbourne Cup was broadcast by the ABC radio.

After retiring from racing in 1927, Windbag commenced stallion duties where he sired 212 individual winners, including the Australian Racing Hall of Fame horse  Chatham. Like most stallions, we find many of Windbag’s enduring influences through his daughters. We also must remember that his was a time very different to now. Travel was much more difficult, and broodmares tended to be mated with stallions in the district. This was advantageous to Windbag who was based at Kia Ora Stud in the Hunter Valley, NSW. With many of his daughters based in the centre of our thoroughbred industry, it comes as no surprise that they were often mated to the best stallions of the time. At stud, the stallion was to produce a total of 18 stakes-winners including Beamish Boy. 

RACE RECORD - 36:18-8-2
EARNINGS - £35,939

AJC St Leger (1925)
AJC Cumberland Stakes (1925)
AJC Randwick Plate (1925)
AJC Plate (1925, 1926)
Chelmsford Stakes (1925)
Craven Plate (1925, 1926)
Melbourne Cup (1925)
AJC Spring Stakes (1925)
Chipping Norton Stakes (1926)
AJC Autumn Stakes (1926)
Warwick Stakes (1926)