The Filbert (horse)

The Filbert (foaled in 1980) was a New Zealand bred race-horse that was a top performer in New Zealand and internationally at Group 1 level.

Racing career

The Filbert was trained by Don Couchman and Paul Belsham at Hawera.

After winning three races in his early New Zealand racing career, The Filbert had a successful trip to Australia winning at Rosehill on 17 October 1984 and Flemington on 10 November 1984.

His best wins were:

• the 1985 New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie beating Silver Elm and Shifnal Prince (ridden by Garry Phillips), and
• the 1986 Waikato Cup over 2400m at Te Rapa, beating Bounty Hawk and Run For Cover (Grant Cooksley).

He also had a number of placings in big races such as:

1985/86 season

• third in the Caulfield Stakes behind Tristarc and Lacka Reason (Garry Phillips).
• fourth in the Caulfield Cup behind Tristarc and Our Sophia (Garry Phillips).
• fourth in the Cox Plate behind Rising Prince and Roman Artist (Garry Phillips).
• third in the Mackinnon Stakes behind Rising Prince and So Vague (Garry Phillips).
• third in the Japan Cup behind Symboli Rudolf and Rocky Tiger (Garry Phillips).

1986/87 season

• second in the Feehan Stakes behind Dazzling Duke (G Murphy).
• fourth in the Underwood Stakes behind Bonecrusher and At Talaq (H White).
• fourth in the Caulfield Stakes behind Bonecrusher and Black Knight (G Murphy).
• third in the Cox Plate behind Bonecrusher and Waverley Star (G Murphy). This race became known as the Race of the Century.

See also

• Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand

References

The Filbert Horse Pedigree