High Caste's record as a 3YO concluded with 21 starts for 11 high quality wins and 7 placings

High Caste, a thoroughbred horse from New Zealand, was born in 1936. His paternal lineage can be traced back to the British horse, his sire Bulandshar, while his maternal lineage through his dam, The Begum features a blend of New Zealand, German, and French bloodlines. Notably, High Caste carries a trace of the renowned New Zealand champion Carbine's bloodline through his sire's ancestry four generations prior. The breeding of High Caste produced a gifted horse of remarkable stamina and durability.

High Caste demonstrated exceptional early racing prowess during his two-year-old campaign in New Zealand, securing three victories from four starts in the 1938-39 season. This impressive performance garnered significant attention from potential buyers, leading to his acquisition for the substantial sum of 7,000 guineas by Mr. Harry Tancred. Subsequently, the horse was transported to Melbourne under Mr. Tancred's ownership. High Caste, as still a two-year-old racehorse, achieved remarkable success during his juvenile season. He secured victories in prestigious races that were later recognised as Group one quality by the Australian Racing Board. These triumphs included the Ascot Vale Stakes, the VRC Sires Produce Stakes, and the Champagne Stakes. Notably, High Caste competed in both Australia and New Zealand, participating in a total of 10 races. His impressive record of seven wins and two second-place finishes solidified his status as the preeminent two-year-old racehorse in both countries.

During the 1939-40 racing season, the three-year-old horse demonstrated exceptional ability. He secured a victory in the Hobartville Stakes, a Group 2 level race held at Rosehill over a distance of seven furlongs (1400m). The young colt achieved further success by winning the Rosehill Guineas, Craven Plate, Caulfield Guineas, and Caulfield Stakes. While he didn't achieve a placing in the 1939 Cox Plate, he came close to winning the Victoria Derby and concluded the season with a dead heat alongside Manrico in the Linlithgow Stakes.

High Caste performed below expectations in the W.S Cox Plate, failing to secure a position. However, he demonstrated resilience by swiftly returning to the track just two whole days later to participate in and win the C.B. Fisher Plate. During the autumn segment of the campaign, he achieved victory in Sydney before returning to Melbourne to claim the 1940 C.F. Orr Stakes and the St. George Stakes. Despite facing formidable competition from Ajax, he managed to secure second place in the All Aged Stakes. His record as a three-year-old concluded with 21 starts for 11 wins and 7 placings.

In the 1940-41 racing season, High Caste demonstrated further prowess by securing victories in two out of his initial three races, propelling him towards the prestigious AJC Epsom Handicap. His triumph in this esteemed race was accompanied by the establishment of a new race record, all while carrying the significant weight of 59 kilograms. He then achieved a commendable second-place finish in the Craven Plate before claiming victory once again in the Caulfield Stakes for the second consecutive year. In this latter triumph, he surpassed his rival, Ajax, by a narrow margin of three-quarters of a length and remarkably equalling the existing race record. Despite his impressive lead up form, he unfortunately could only achieve fourth place in the Caulfield Cup. Beaulivre, a more than capable horse, emerged as the victor on that particular day. High Caste achieved a second victory in the Linlithgow Stakes and C.B. Fisher Plate. After a period of recuperation, the horse resumed competition in the autumn of 1941, securing a triumph in the VATC Futurity Stakes while carrying the lofty weight of 66kg. Despite only managing a 4th place finish in the VRC Newmarket Handicap, High Caste demonstrated resilience by claiming victory in the 14-furlong Kings Plate (2800m) just five days later, marking the longest race of his career.

The performance of High Caste declined over time, and the reasons for this are not difficult to understand. Over the course of four racing seasons, including a few periods of intense competition, he participated in a total of 72 races. If we include the three notable instances in which he finished in a dead heat, he achieved 35 victories. In addition to his victories, High Caste also secured 19 second-place finishes and seven third-place finishes. He only failed to place in 11 of the races he competed in. Although he did not achieve notable success in prestigious races such as the Cox Plate or the Caulfield Cup, and the 16-furlong Melbourne Cup proved to be beyond his capabilities, High Caste consistently displayed exceptional performances in his preferred races, which were typically around a mile in distance. Throughout his career, from the beginning until near the end, he consistently ranked among the top contenders in these races.

He was purchased as a five-year-old by Lionel Israel to stand at his Segenhoe Stud at Scone, New South Wales. Later he stood at T.L. Flynn’s Oakleigh Stud, Kerrabee, New South Wales. High Caste's progeny commenced racing in the 1945-6 season. He did not sire a horse of his own ability, but still sired nine stakes-winners that had 13 stakes-wins between them, plus many other winners in all states.

RACE RECORD - 72: 35 (3 dh); 19-7

EARNINGS - £35,547

Ascot Vale Stakes (1939)

VRC Sires Produce Stakes (1939)

Champagne Stakes (1939)

Hobartville Stakes (1939)

Rosehill Guineas (1939)

Craven Plate (1939)

Caulfield Guineas (1939)

C.B.Fisher Plate (1939,1940,1941)

Caulfield Stakes (1939,1940)

Linlithgow Stakes (1939,1940,1941)

Epsom Handicap (1940)

Challenge Stakes (1940,1942)

St George Stakes (1940,1942)

C F Orr Stakes (1940)

Hill Stakes (1941)

VATC Futurity Stakes (1941)

Warwick Stakes (1941)