Beldale Ball Explained

Horsename:Beldale Ball
Sire:Nashua
Grandsire:Nasrullah
Dam:San Cat
Damsire:Barbizon
Sex:Stallion
Foaled:1976
Death Date:2004
Colour:Bay
Owner:Swettenham Stud
Trainer:Colin Hayes
Race:Melbourne Cup (1980)

Beldale Ball (1976−2004) was a brown Thoroughbred racehorse stallion by Nashua out of the mare San Cat (by Barbizon).

Trained by Colin Hayes and owned by the Swettenham Stud Syndicate (Robert Sangster) his best win came in the 1980 VRC Melbourne Cup.[1]

Having an undistinguished racetrack career in England as a three-year-old he was sent to Australia and Colin Hayes to train.

Ridden by John Letts and carrying the featherweight of just 49.5 kg he took the lead at the half way mark of the race and was never headed.

His victory was the first Melbourne Cup win for trainer Colin Hayes.

Namesake

Australian rail operator CFCL Australia named locomotive CF4405 after the horse.[2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/john-letts-my-course-of-dreams/story-e6frecj3-1226180473002Johm Letts:My course of dreams
  2. Motive Power Roundup Motive Power issue 79 January 2012 page 20