He raced against the best of the era, and beat them, yet he is the forgotten Tasmanian

Sydeston (foaled 8 September 1985) was one of the best racehorses to come out of Tasmania in the history of Australian racing, and easily one of the best to do so in the modern era. After winning a number of races in his home state, the plain brown gelding was transferred to Bob Hoysted in the middle of 1989. Over the next 18

months, his wins would include the Caulfield, Moonee Valley, and Sandown Cups, under handicap conditions and the BMW International, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and the Caulfield Stakes at weight-for-age. Sydeston was adept in all conditions, and regularly raced with Vo Rogue, Super Impose, Better Loosen Up, The Phantom, Kingston Rule and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Sydeston showed promising form as a two and three-year-old, winning the Tasmanian St Leger and a second in the Tasmanian Derby. Sydeston was a versatile horse who could sprint or stay. He was obviously tough but it was an inauspicious beginning for a horse who would take David Yaxley on a racing fairytale. Bred and raced by Yaxley, the gelding won seven races in Tasmania in the care of the late Len Dixon. He was by one of Tasmania's leading sires St Briavels by the broodmare, Convatrice. Yaxley had ventured to a yearling sale in Sydney in 1979 and bought a filly by prominent sire Convamore. There were plenty of winners in her pedigree but as a racehorse, Convatrice wasn't very good. She produced another four foals, three of whom won, but none were in the same league as Sydeston

At four he campaigned on the mainland under the guidance of new trainer Bob Hoysted. Following victories in the 1989 Moonee Valley and Sandown Cups, Sydeston travelled to Sydney for the 1990 autumn carnival. After running second behind Better Loosen Up in the STC Segenhoe (now Ranvet) Stakes, he registered decisive weight-for-age wins in the STC BMW, defeating Horlicks, and the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Only eight months prior Sydeston was a promising welter-class galloper in Melbourne, but had little trouble in beating international fields at weight-for-age.

At five Sydeston was successful in the VATC Liston Stakes and then beat Super Impose in the VATC Caulfield Stakes. In the 1990 Caulfield Cup he started 11/2 favourite and won in his typical effortless style. Then followed a close second behind Better Loosen Up in the W.S. Cox Plate, a race in which he ran third in 1991. His form declined thereafter, and he was retired in 1992. The final tally showed 19 wins and 17 placings from 65 starts, with earnings of $3.1 million. The greatest horse to come from Tasmania since Malua a century before and comparable to Mystic Journey.

RACE RECORD - 65: 19-7-10

EARNINGS - $3,105,545

Moonee Valley Cup (1989)

Sandown Cup (1989)

Mercedes Classic (1990)

Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1990)

J.J Liston Stakes (1990)

Caulfield Stakes (1990)

Caulfield Cup (1990)

St George Stakes (1991)