horse Cobnut by twenty lengths to win a £300 Sweepstakes, but missed a race against the filly Virago in the Goodwood Cup. Assessment In May 1886 The Sporting Times carried out a poll of one hundred racing experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th century. West Australian was ranked in the top ten by sixty-three of the contributors, placing him second to Gladiateur who received sixty-five votes. In a related poll, the electors were asked to choose the single greatest horse they had ever seen. In this poll, West Australian finished third behind Gladiateur and Isonomy. John Scott regarded him either the best horse he had trained or as the second best after Touchstone while Frank Butler believed him to be the best horse he had ridden. Stud record West Australian was retired to stud for breeding purposes and stood at Kirkby, near Tadcaster, for a fee of 30 guineas, beside Stockwell. Here he sired The Oaks winner, Summerside and the 2,000 Thousand Guineas winner, The Wizard. In 1860 West Australian was sold for 4,000 guineas to Charles Auguste Louis Joseph, duc de Morny and sent to Haras de Viroflay in France. After Morny died in 1862, West Australian was moved to the French National Stud at Haras du Pin. His best progeny included: West Australian died on 2 May 1870 at Haras du Pin in France. A small stone memorial commemorating his victories was erected on the grounds of Bowes' Streatlam Castle. Pedigree See also List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses References 1850 racehorse births 1870 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Epsom Derby winners Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing winners Thoroughbred family 7-a Godolphin Arabian sire line 2000 Guineas winners St Leger winners