Another lovely print taken from an original oil painting by renowned equine artist Alister Simpson A.A.E.A.
This is Durbridge captured on canvas shortly after his win in the 1991 AJC Derby. Alister provided a great likeness of the stallion, and his jockey Greg Hall.
South Australian bred Durbridge stood only 15.3 hands and boasted a lovely coppery chestnut coat. His sire was Durham Ranger (USA) who was a son of Todman’s full brother Noholme.
Durbridge was the seventh foal of Arcona, a metropolitan winning mare who was a daughter of Summer Fair, himself an AJC Derby winner. Summer Fair won his Derby on protest after being involved in the infamous “leg pull” incident of 1961.
Durbridge registered more race starts than most of his contemporaries. He faced the starter 72 times for 21 wins, 8 seconds, 7 thirds for $3,368,958.
He boasted a distinguished record at the top level, winning 6 Gr 1’s, 8 Gr 2’s and one Gr 3 event.
Durbridge’s Gr 1 triumphs came in the 1991 AJC Derby, 1993 C.F.Orr Stakes, 1994 Australian Cup, 1994 Queen Elizabeth Randwick Stakes, 1994 Doomben Cup, and the 1994 George Main Stakes.
Simon Marshall had the best riding record on Durbridge with 9 wins. Greg Hall posted 4 wins on the coppery chestnut.
For the first two and a half years of his racing career, Durbridge was expertly prepared by former trotting trainer Brian Murphy who won 9 races with the son of Durham Ranger. Brian was the trainer when Durbridge won the Sandown Guineas, Alister Clark Stakes, Tulloch Stakes, AJC Derby and Craiglee Stakes. Lee Freedman took over the reins early in 1993.
Durbridge sired a sizeable number of winners, but sadly failed to produce one anywhere near his own great ability. The popular horse was 25 when he died on a Victorian property owned by Hollylodge Thoroughbreds in 2012.
His memory is perpetuated by the running of the Durbridge Stakes in Adelaide every October.