Malua was originally named Bagot, after the first secretary of the VRC. He was later renamed Malua, a Fijian word meaning "wait awhile".

Biography

TRAINER: Ike Foulsham, J.O.Inglis

OWNERS: Hon. Thomas Reiby, J.O. Inglis

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 47 starts: 12 wins, 10 seconds, 3 thirds/£7,264

Major Wins 

• Newmarket Handicap
• Oakleigh Plate
• Adelaide Cup
• Melbourne Cup
• Australian Cup
• Geelong Cup
• Grand National Hurdle

About

With victories in major races ranging from five and a half furlongs to three and a quarter miles, Malua had a record of successes never equalled on the Australian turf.

Malua was bred in Tasmania and bought by a former Tasmanian Premier, the Hon. Thomas Reiby, as a horse "equal to winning the Melbourne Cup". After modest success in Tasmania and initially in Melbourne, the horse was sold at auction to J.O. Inglis, a prominent owner of the period who also rode many of his horses in their races; as was the custom at that time.

Malua blossomed as a four-year-old. In the autumn of 1884 he won the two major sprints, the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap, and then showed his staying ability by winning the Adelaide Cup and the Melbourne Cup. Two days after his Cup win, Malua ran a close second in the six furlong Flying Stakes, and on the final day of the meeting came second in the two mile Canterbury Stakes. Few horses before or since could match his extraordinary stamina and versatility. As a six-year-old in 1886, Malua won the Australian Cup over two and a quarter miles, but as a seven-year-old, without a win to his credit, it appeared that his career was over. However, with Inglis as trainer and jockey, Malua was entered for the Grand National Hurdle and ran out a clear winner. His last win came in the Geelong Cup in February, 1889, soon after which he was retired to stud where he had a successful career.

Malua was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.