Post by David Aldred

A champion racehorse that can sire champion racehorses and stallions is indeed a rare gem. Matrice, a 1951 son of Masthead and La Patrice was pure gold. A champion sprinter-miler winning 27 of 45 starts, Matrice became the most influential stallion ever to stand in South Australia. He stood 12 seasons there and in 1973/74 was the first locally-bred horse since Spearfelt, 31 years earlier, to win the Sires’ premiership. Matrice sired 254 winners with his progeny of the 1960’s/70's earning $2.25M. The list of champs included Taj Rossi, Pago Pago, Manihi & Toltrice. Taj Rossi (ex Dark Queen) was a star 3YO winning the 1973 Ascot Vale S, Cox Plate, Victoria Derby & Sandown Gns. Retiring to stud a year later Taj Rossi spent 2 years in the US before returning to Australia. His local stakes winners inc. Taj Eclipse (VRC Oaks) & Merimbula Bay (Doncaster H.). Pago Pago (ex Pompilia), won 9 races straight as a 2YO inc. the 1963 Golden Slipper. Pago Pago stood at stud in America before returning to stand in Western Australia. Manihi was a speed machine winning the Newmarket H. in 1968. Manihi won 11 of 18 races before retiring to stud. He sired 225 winners earning $3.4M inc. champion Manikato. Toltrice (ex Tolado) provided John Hawkes with his first G1 win-the1972 VRC Oaks. Photo: Matrice