The scrawny horse from the South became a cult hero on both sides of the Tasman

The O'Leary brothers made the well-informed decision to retire their durable 10-year-old stayer, Who Shot TheBarman in 2018 without any reservations. Michael, Shaun, Dan, and Humphrey successfully concluded one of the most gratifying, exhilarating, and financially rewarding journeys that anyone could aspire to achieve in thoroughbred racing. It is not uncommon for exceptional racehorses to possess compelling backstories, and Who Shot TheBarman is no exception.

Michael and Shaun made the acquisition of Who Shot TheBarman as an unseen weanling from the southern region. Their intention was to find a potential jumper, and the horse met their criteria due to its stout breeding and lineage to the renowned sire, Yaminin Vital. Michael conducted a phone conversation with Wayne Stewart of White Robe Lodge, situated in Mosgiel, south of Dunedin, to finalise the purchase. Michael's specific requirements were clearly communicated: the weanling must be sired by Yaminin Vital and be the third offspring of a specific dam, that broodmare being, Ears Carol. Stewart indicated that he had a suitable foal that met the requirements, and a transaction was completed for $8,000.

Upon the initial arrival of the weanling at Michael's dairy farm, it presented as a rather thin and unimpressive animal, lacking any obvious indications of exceptional potential. Nevertheless, as the horse matured and underwent rigorous training, it slowly demonstrated genuine potential for success in flat racing. Consequently, the two brothers extended ownership shares to their siblings, marking the first time in over a decade that all four individuals were collectively involved in thoroughbred racing. Their previous venture, Fontera, achieved notable recognition as a steeplechase competitor. The horse won a host of jumps races in New Zealand and a major race in Japan. However, this next one would be their best by far. The horse's name was inspired by an anecdote involving the late Aunty Judy who, during social gatherings, would emphatically raise her empty gin and tonic glass and loudly exclaim "Who shot the Barman?"

In March of 2014 after winning his way through the grades, Who Shot TheBarman claimed back-to-back coveted trophies as a 5yo when he won the $500,000 Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie, following on from a victory in the $100,000 Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) three weeks earlier. All his New Zealand runs were under the care of Awapuni trainer, Mark Oulaghan. That got the brothers thinking he may be good enough to tackle the best across the Tasman and transferred the horse to Ex-pat, Chris Waller's stables in Sydney that same year. In the realm of Australian Group racing, few, if any, gallopers demonstrated the exceptional resilience and fortitude of Who Shot TheBarman. His remarkable ability to withstand the rigors of this highly competitive, elite racing circuit is attributed to his robust breeding and tough southern origins.

During his retirement after the Zipping Classic, a week after his final Melbourne Cup in 2018, Who Shot TheBarman had participated in 22 high-level, black-type races at the elite level in Australia. His record is exceptional, having competed in six Sydney Cups, four Melbourne Cups, four BMW's, three Moonee Valley Cups, three Zipping Classic's, and two Caulfield Cups. Who Shot TheBarman accumulated over $A4.5 million in earnings for the O'Leary clan, and even during a two-year period without a win, he still managed to secure $A800,000 from placement earnings. Who Shot Thebarman went into the paddock as a happy, healthy and sound 10 year-old and will be remembered in New Zealand and Australia as one of our best stayers in the past decade, tough, resilient and durable.

Just for the record, Who Shot TheBarman ran 3rd in the 2014 Melbourne Cup to The Protectionist. Won Gr.2 William Hill at Sandown, 2nd in the Gr.1 BMW at Roshill behind Preferment, 4th in the Sydney Cup behind Gallante, 2nd behind Hartnell in the BMW at Rosehill, 2nd in the Moonee Valley Cup behind Grand Marshall, 5th in the 2016 Melbourne Cup behind Almandin, 3rd behind Winx over 1600m at Randwick, 2nd behind Polorisation in the 2017 Sydney Cup, won the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Cup, ran 3rd behind Almandin in the Gr.1 BMW at Rosehill, won the Sydney Cup in 2018 and a 4th behind Ventura Storm in his last Moonee Valley Cup was the most notable results. Six of his eleven wins were in New Zealand and Who Shot TheBarman posted his first Australian win at Flemington in October 2014 over 2000m, and followed up with a win there over 2520m.

RACE RECORD - 57: 11-7-4

EARNINGS - $4,587,446

Gr.1 Auckland Cup

Gr.2 Avondale Cup

Gr.2 Moonee Valley Cup

Gr.1 Sydney Cup