Cover image courtesy of Trish Dunell
On Friday afternoon NZ Racing Desk reported that respected bloodstock agent Stuart Hale passed away, aged 74.
A highly regarded character amongst the New Zealand and Australian racing fraternity, Hale was based in Cambridge, New Zealand and reportedly passed after a battle with illness.
Hale wore multiple hats in a varied and successful career, from buying bloodstock to breeding his own. He notably sourced the G1 Bayer Classic winner Russian Pearl (NZ) (Soviet Star {USA}) for NZ$37,500 as a yearling for the Hong Kong-based owner Gary Kam, with Hale retaining a small interest.
Russian Pearl was trained by Bruce and Stephen Marsh in New Zealand before joining the Tony Cruz stable in Hong Kong, where he found further success, running second to Hong Kong superstar Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), in the Listed Hong Kong Derby and would claim in the G1 Stewards Cup. Vengeance Of Rain was known as Subscribe (NZ) in Australasia.
Russian Pearl (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Hale would establish a successful long-term relationship with Cruz, purchasing several horses with the ‘Regency’ prefix while continuing his long-standing friendship with Bruce Marsh, who later trained in Singapore.
Marsh quickly paid respect to his late friend Hale, who he described as one of the great characters of racing.
“I had a great relationship with Stuey; he has been a dear friend for a long time. He has been one of the real characters of racing,” Marsh said.
“He was great for racing and good for the bloodstock business, and he will be sadly missed.
“He (Stuart Hale) was great for racing and good for the bloodstock business, and he will be sadly missed.” - Bruce Marsh
“In reflection, Stuey buying Russian Pearl helped me go to Singapore. Gary Kam, the owner of Russian Pearl, shouted Stuey and I, plus our wives (both named Kay) to the Hong Kong Derby.
“We called into Singapore on the way home, where Laurie Laxon had mentioned there was a vacancy for a trainer. I was allocated boxes in Singapore straight away, which obviously turned out to be a great thing for my career, and it might not have happened if it wasn’t for Stuey and Russian Pearl.
“I knew Stuey from his days in the Wairarapa but Russian Pearl certainly brought us very close. He has been one of the most colourful people in the bloodstock business. He brought in some very good owners and we had a lot of good times together.”
Hale also raced Group 2 winner, and Group 1-placed Rios (NZ) in partnership with Hong Kong businessman Andy Chan. The son of Hussonet (USA), who later retired to stud at Waikato Stud, where he was a handy stallion, was trained by Hale’s good friend Murray Baker and his son Bjorn.
Rios (NZ)
Hale would leave an impression on the Baker family.
“Stuart was one of the great characters of racing,” Bjorn Baker told TDN AusNZ.
“Nobody could entertain a function quite like Stew (Stuart); he was a jack of all trades. In regards to my father, Murray, Stuart was involved in a lot of the good horses, he helped select Bonneval and Rios.
“Stuart was probably one of the major reasons Murray moved to Cambridge in the late 1990s. They had a great relationship and will be very much missed.”
“Stuart was one of the great characters of racing... Stuart was probably one of the major reasons Murray (Baker) moved to Cambridge in the late 1990s. They had a great relationship and will be very much missed.” - Bjorn Baker
Tasting success as a breeder, Hale would achieve what most can only dream of, having bred Kensei (NZ), a chestnut entire by Blarney Kiss (USA), who would salute in the 1987 G1 Melbourne Cup with Larry Olsen in the saddle.
Trained by Les Bridge, Kensei would also claim the G3 Grafton Cup and the G3 Tatt’s QLD Tattersall’s Cup.
In addition to breeding a winner of the race that stops the nation, Hale would also breed Triumphal Queen (NZ) (Triumphal March {USA}), who would win the 1989 G1 Queensland Oaks.
A great entertainer, Hale would also host a comprehensive yearling inspection tour leading up to the National Yearling Sales at Karaka, which proved hugely popular with buyers and vendors alike.
A keen golfer, the flags at the Cambridge Golf Club were flying at half-mast on Friday in honour and memory of Hale.
