The incredible young filly won three major black type events over six days of the VRC Melbourne Cup carnival

Briseis foaled in 1873, was a brown Australian bred Thoroughbred filly that is regarded as one of the greatest Colonial racemares ever foaled in Australia. She was a brown filly sired by Tim Whiffler (GB) out of Musidora by The Premier (GB). Musidora won the VRC Sires Produce Stakes, the VRC Queens Plate and other races. She was the dam of six winners including, Miss Jessie, 1868 (VRC Victoria Derby) and Sea Spray, 1870 (VRC St Leger Stakes and South Australian St Leger Stakes). Briseis belonged to an old Colonial Family, C5, that was not accepted into the General Stud Book, but it is included in the Australian Stud Book. Briseis was bred, owned and trained by James Wilson at his St Albans stud near Geelong in Victoria.

The best racehorse of his generation, Tim Whiffler was the unlikely product of poor racehorses - an almost useless stallion, and an unraced mare. He did not, according to the standards of the day, even look like the most perfect Cup horse he became. Isolated in Worcester, with an owner who preferred hunting to racing, he scored few good runs. He was sold to Australia, where he won the 1867 Melbourne Cup ridden by jockey John Driscoll and became the successful sire of Melbourne Cup and Derby winners, leaving an indelible mark on Australian bloodstock through his daughters.

The story of Briseis, the first female winner of the Melbourne Cup, is a remarkable one. Not only did she win the demanding two-miler at the tender age of three, she won it during a stellar week that saw her race on four days of the 1876 Melbourne Cup Carnival. As a two-year-old Briseis had three minor placings from five starts. She was allotted 5 stone 7 lbs. (35 kg) and started 4/1 equal favourite in the AJC Doncaster Handicap at Randwick, beating the other equal favourite, Wrangler, by “a short length”. Owing to the light weight she was allotted she was ridden to victory in the race by the 12-year-old Peter St Albans. Officially 13 at the time, St Albans was more likely just 11. At her next two starts she won a flying handicap and the weight-for-age AJC All-Aged Stakes.

As a three-year-old at the VRC spring carnival of 1876, Briseis raced on all four days. She won the VRC Derby on the Saturday, (by three lengths and taking 1 and three quarter seconds off the race record); the Melbourne Cup (again ridden by Peter St Albans, who was still 12 years old, to win by two lengths in record time from a record 33 starters), on the Tuesday. Peter St Albans replaced Tom Hales who could not make the weight of 6st 4lb (40 kg). Again Briseis made light of the opposition, winning the Cup comfortably from Sibyl and Timothy. She became the first filly to win the Melbourne Cup - two have won since, Auraria and Sister Olive.

She then won the VRC Oaks on the Thursday creating a record that is never likely to be equalled - a unique treble. Briseis then finished second to Pride of the Hills in the VRC Mares' Produce Stakes on the Saturday. Brises had won three major races within 6 days; an incredible feat by any horse, but thoroughbreds were often pushed to their limits within the Colonial era. It’s an unfathomable program for modern-day gallopers, but one that the freakish Briseis was up to in 1876. Her major wins were an AJC Doncaster Handicap; AJC All Aged Stakes; VRC Derby; Melbourne Cup; and VRC Oaks all as a two and three-year-old.

She then raced four times in the autumn of 1877 before being sent to stud in 1879. Briseis was to be served by King of the Ring, and while hobbled she reared up and fell over backwards, fracturing her skull. Her death was a severe loss to the Australian bloodstock industry. While not widely recalled, Briseis' feats rank alongside any of the oft-heralded greats of the Australian turf.

The Briseis Tin Mine which was named after her became one of the richest mines in the southern hemisphere during the late 1890s. There is a race carrying her name at the Melbourne Cup carnival each year. The Briseis Gold Cup at Geelong is also named in her honour. The Geelong Racing Club has named the state of art Briseis Function Centre after her.

RACE RECORD - 18:6-2-2

EARNINGS - £5,000 (Estimate)

AJC All-Aged Stakes

AJC Doncaster Handicap

AJC All Aged Stakes

VRC Derby

Melbourne Cup

VRC Oaks