Tobin Bronze was always considered a South Australian horse. Legally, however, he was Victorian. Paramount Stud where he was foaled, straddled the Victorian/South Australian border, but was registered in Victoria, and hence his place of breeding is considered to be Victoria.

Biography

TRAINER: Graham Heagney

OWNERS: A.D.C. and W. Brown, W. Breliant and I. Litz

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 60 starts: 28 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds/$A 89,586; $US 63,145

Major Wins 

• Victoria Derby
• Caulfield Cup
• W.S. Cox Plate (twice)
• All-Aged Stakes
• Toorak Handicap
• L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes

About

With his striking good looks, and his brilliance which produced 24 wins on Australian tracks, Tobin Bronze was a public idol - known to his fans as "Toby" or the "Bronze Bullet". Sometimes considered to be mainly a weight-for-age horse, he also excelled under handicap conditions.

As a two and three-year-old, Tobin Bronze was a well above average performer, with his best win being in the 1965 Victoria Derby. As a four-year-old he showed his champion qualities wining in succession the Liston Stakes, Craiglee Stakes, Underwood Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, W.S. Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes. In 1966 he added two major handicap events to his record: the Doncaster Handicap carrying 9st 5lb (59.5 kg) and the Caulfield Cup with 9st 10lb (61.5kg).

His farewell appearance in Australia came in the 1967 W.S. Cox Plate which he won brilliantly to a huge ovation from a record crowd.

Sold to American interests, Tobin Bronze won four races in the United States, but never recaptured his best Australian form.

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

Image Source: Bradley Photographers