We ran out of room last month when writing about the sons of Spearhead. Spearfelt was his most famous son and deserves his own story. Not only did he become an outstanding sire, winning the Australian Champion Sires’ Title in 1942/43, but he was a top-flight racehorse in his own right. Arguably his influence has been instrumental in shaping the breed, especially during the 60’s and 70’s. While history regales the influence of Spearfelt, his name barely seems to rate a mention in the modern era and hopefully we can go a little way to remedying this oversight.
Spearfelt had an interesting history. Goulbourn Valley breeder, Mr JV Smith sent a number of his mares to sale in Victoria in March 1922. One of these, Lady Champion, by Challenger, had a colt at foot by Spearhead. Mr Reg Inglis purchased the mare and foal on behalf of Mr Alfred Thomson of Widden Stud in NSW for the sum of 150 guineas. The mare and foal were put on a steamer for the trip to Sydney, but an accident on board saw the mare killed. Fortunately, the colt was uninjured, and he was raised as an orphan by the staff at William Inglis and Son’s at Randwick before being sent to Widden. The colt returned to the sale yard in Sydney the following April as reportedly “a trifle small and low set” and did not attract much interest. Trainer Vin O’Neill and his racing partner Doug Grant purchased him cheaply for 120 guineas, and the colt was to reward them many times over.
Spearfelt starting his racing career on 6 October 1923 in the time-honoured Maribyrnong Trial, finishing sixth behind a future star in Fujisan in a field of 22 runners. He then finished second behind the great Heroic in the Gwyn
