The death of Blevic, one of the most reliable sires to stand in South Australia this century, has removed another link to two deceased former leaders in Australian breeding and racing, Robert Sangster (Swettenham Stud) and Colin Hayes (Lindsay Park).
They bred and raced Blevic and stood his sire Scenic, a son of the Sangster bred and raced European supersire Sadler’s Wells, for a time at the Collingrove Stud at Nagambie in Victoria. It is now Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud.
Blevic was a very good racehorse who won eight races, including the Victoria Derby, VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, MVRC Alister Clark Stakes and Bill Stutt Stakes, and third placed in the AJC Australian Derby, Sires’ Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes, VATC Caulfield Guineas and MVRC Manikato Stakes.
He was from Blooms, a Biscay winner of one race and earner of $3,480 from the classically bred importation Queen’s Garden, a non-winning daughter of Mill Reef and Meadow Pipit, a Worden mare from Rising Wings, a half-sister to 1962 English Derby winner Larkspur.
Blooms only had three reported foals, Blevic, his brother Cymric (5 wins, 3 in Sydney, Listed third) and a Bluebird half-sister Biscay Bird (one win and $4,570). Biscay Bird produced two three-quarter relations by Scenic to Blevic in Universal Prince (won 8 races, including the four Group 1s, the AJC Derby, Spring Champion Stakes, STC Canterbury Guineas, Rawson Stakes) and Universal Queen (5 wins, SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes, Yallambee Classic, VRC The Vanity, STC Sweet Embrace Stakes).
Put to work in 1996, Blevic spent his entire sire career at the Kambula Stud, one conducted by Brian Toole at Kadina, South Australia for half a century, now with his son David. So far Blevic has provided 331 winners (24 SWs, 17 SPs) of over 1000 races and $21million.
South Australia’s leading first season sire 1999-2000, their top sire twice and leading juvenile sire three times, Blevic has included among his progeny Blevvo (14 wins WA, Group1 Fruit ‘n’ Veg Stakes, 4 Listed), Shewan (5 wins, VRC Herbert Power-Gr.3), Exalted Ego (11 wins, SAJC Lord Reims-Gr.3; second Adelaide Guineas, fourth Adelaide Cup), Sablec (6 wins SAJC D.C.Mackay, third once and fourth twice Group 1 in SAJC Goodwood Handicap), Under The Bridge (5 wins, SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes; third Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas), Moudre (7 wins, VRC Queen Elizabeth, second Geelong Cup) and Sassbee (8 wins, 3 Listed; second in the Goodwood and third at Moonee Valley in the Manikato).
The racing class and breeding of Blevic and his ability to supply tough sound runners suggests his daughters are valuable as breeders. They have already produced good winners, including Phelan Ready (by More Than Ready, won Golden Slipper, Magic Millions 2YO Classic), Alcopop (Jeune, MRC Herbert Power, second Caulfield Stakes) and Strawberry Field (Encosta de Lago, VRC Maybe Mahal Stakes, third AJC Emancipation Stakes, VRC Rose of Kingston Stakes).
