Nagambie - Black Caviar Trail
The Black Caviar Trail explores 25 destinations of significance, stretching from Flemington Race Course to Nagambie, the birth place of Black Caviar.
During the early hours of the morning on 18 August 2006 in Nagambie, a black leggy foal was born, and would become one of the world's greatest race horses. This champion is none other than racehorse Black Caviar, Nagambie's proudest equine industry icon. She grew up on the Goulburn River property and then went to Swettenham Stud in December 2007 for a 10-week yearling preparation where she was then sold for $210,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
She holds the record for the most Group One wins, taking out 25 wins from 25 straight starts, including 15 Group One wins and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Strathbogie Shire is known as the 'Horse capital of Victoria' and is gaining greater prominence in thoroughbred circles, as a premium location for breeding and raising thoroughbreds.
The Black Caviar Trail aims to connect regional Victoria's equine industry with a self-guided trail that tells the stories that have shaped the thoroughbred industry. The touring route takes in 25 designated sites of significance, commencing at the Victoria Racing Club Flemington Racecourse and terminating at Chatswood Stud near Seymour. The journey will take participants from Flemington to Oaklands Junction, through Kilmore, Seymour, Northwood, Nagambie and Avenel.
The trail allows for flexibility as participants are able to customise their tour by picking and choosing which of the sites they may wish to focus on, and which ones they may prefer to leave out. The drive takes visitors through the picturesque countryside of regional Victoria, travelling past state of the art training and breeding facilities. The tour also includes some of the region's most prominent wineries, cafes, restaurants, a river cruise and, of course, a visit to the iconic statue of Black Caviar, situated on the Lake Nagambie foreshore.
FLEMINGTON RACE COURSE (Flemington)
Home of the Melbourne Cup since 1861, Flemington is a National Heritage listed site, and boasts the largest public rose garden in the Southern Hemisphere. The Flemington Heritage Centre is a multimedia experience including artefacts from the Club's archival collection that brings to life the history, drama, fashion and excitement of racing at Flemington.
Flemington Heritage Centre is open weekdays by appointment. Tours run for approximately 1 hour. Details: 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington 1300 727 575, customerservice@vrc.net.au
LIVING LEGENDS (Greenvale)
Living Legends provides an opportunity to get up close to and pat a retired champion racehorse at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic thoroughbred properties: Woodlands Homestead and Park. Retired racing champions at Living Legends include 4 Melbourne Cup winners (Might and Power, Rogan Josh, Brew and Efficient), Cox Plate hero Fields of Omagh and sprinting champion Apache Cat.
Hong Kong's superstar Silent Witness is another resident, it was Black Caviar who broke Silent Witness run of 18 straight victories. There are self guided and guided tour options to visit the horses at Living Legends. Heritage gardens surrounding the homestead and over 1,000 acres of Australian bush park land with an abundance of kangaroos and native bird life provide additional attractions for visitors to Living Legends.
Devonshire Teas with homestead baked scones served in the Black Caviar Dining room are also another treat. All this 6 minutes from Melbourne Airport.
WILLIAM INGLIS SALES COMPLEX (Oaklands Junction)
The Oaklands complex is approximately 30km north of the Melbourne CBD on 100 acres of land on which the company has refurbished, upgraded and built eight stable blocks accommodating over 800 horses, as well having a world-class indoor sales auditorium.
SUN STUD (Kerrie)
Sun Stud (formerly Eliza Park International), first established in Victoria's Macedon Ranges in 1998 is one of the most progressive thoroughbred operations in Australia with highly respected farms in both Victoria and Queensland, boasting leading stallions and first class facilities.
KILMORE RACING CLUB (Mitchellstown)
Located 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, the Kilmore Racing Club is one of Victoria's oldest racing clubs and has been part of the local community since 1861. Kilmore boasts both thoroughbred and harness racing, and provides training facilities for both codes.
MUSTAD SADDLEWORLD KILMORE (Kilmore)
Mustad Saddleworld Kilmore is a destination store for horse owners and hoofcare professionals, offering all the big name equestrian-related brands in saddlery products and clothing, as well as full representation of the Mustad hoofcare product range.
WOODSIDE PARK STUD (Seymour)
Woodside Park Stud is Victoria's most diverse thoroughbred operation with three state of the art farms offering a range of services including breeding, yearling preparation, breaking-in and pre-training.
GODOLPHIN DARLEY STUD (Seymour)
Every modern thoroughbred traces its beginnings to Arabia and the original Arabian stallions that came from East to West - one of which gives Godolphin its name. Today Team Godolphin span across four continents, from our home in Dubai to Europe, Australia and America.
YARRAN THOROUGHBREDS (Seymour)
Yarran Thoroughbreds is a 600 acre property located on the prestigious Northwood Road in Northwood, Victoria which encompasses magnificent river flat grazing paddocks as well as large undulating pastures, all safely fenced for horses.
SWETTENHAM STUD (Mitchellstown)
Swettenham Stud is an internationally renowned full service stud farm that has been at the forefront of international thoroughbred racing and breeding for over 30 years having bred or raced over 200 Group 1 winners across 23 countries.
MITCHELTON WINERY (Mitchellstown)
Mitchelton Winery's history can be traced over the decades with the continually unfolding narrative of its exceptional wines. The geological formation of the unique vineyard location has been forged through the pervasive influence of the Goulburn River's shifting flow over millions of years. The river surrounds the vineyard on three sides, shaping the unique environment and climate of Mitchelton Estate and creating individual vineyards within a vineyard.
HILLSIDE THOROUGHBREDS (Nagambie)
The selection of Hillside breeding stock is based on type, pedigree and performance. This criteria along with a balanced nutritional diet should see us produce well-reared, sound horses with the best chance of racetrack success.
TAHBILK WINERY (Tabilk)
Established in 1860, Tahbilk is one of Australia's most beautiful and historic wineries.
DORRINGTON FARM (Nagambie)
The horse property that neighbours Tahbilk Winery is one of Victoria's oldest thoroughbred establishments and has a close link with yesterday's great race. Dual Melbourne Cup winner Rain Lover was born on the farm, which at the time stood his sire Latin Lover. Past owners took the connection with the horse industry one step further when they constructed a replica of the famous Flemington rose arbour on the property.
BASINGHALL FARM (Bailieston)
Basinghall is a specialist broodmare facility which encompasses 600 acres of undulating river flats on the banks of the Nagambie Lake system with healthy and sustainable equine pasture, abundant high reliability water for irrigation and first class fencing and facilities.
NOORILIM ESTATE (Wahring)
Noorilim is one of the most lavish and best-preserved country mansions ever constructed in Australia. Designed by James Gall and built in 1879 for Mr William Irving Winter-Irving MLC, it features Minton tiles, marble fireplaces, 10 bedrooms, 7 staircases and extensive underground living compartments and cellar.
GOULBURN EXPLORER (Mitchellstown)
Explore the Goulburn River on the newly built Riverboat Cruiser, the Goulburn Explorer. The Goulburn Explorer River Cruiser links two of Victoria's iconic wineries - Mitchelton and Tahbilk. Travelling towards the beautiful Nagambie township, it also offers a fantastic opportunity to see one of Victoria's most scenic inland waterways, the Goulburn River. Sit on the decks of this state of the art cruiser as she coasts along the waterways of one of Victoria's most famous and beautiful rivers.
BLACK CAVIAR STATUE (Nagambie)
On 24 October 2013, history was created when Nagambie became home to the life size bronze statue of the world famous mare Black Caviar. Black Caviar was born on 18 August 2006 at Gilgai Farm in Nagambie, Victoria. She grew up on the Goulburn River property and then went to Swettenham Stud in December 2007 for a 10-week yearling preparation where she was then sold on behalf of Rick Jamieson to the current owners to be trained by Peter Moody.
The champion mare then went on to become the fastest horse in the world, undefeated in every race. On 17 April 2013 it was announced that Black Caviar retired from racing. Sculptor Mitch Mitchell created the work in his Richmond studio from a photo of Luke Nolen riding the wonder horse home in the Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley in October 2011.
HOLLYLODGE THOROUGHBREDS (Avenel)
Offers a full service for the breeder from walking on your mare, foaling down, weaning, sales prep or organizing breaking in for your yearlings plus racehorse spelling and permanent year round agistment.
BANK STREET WOOD FIRED PIZZA & GARDENS (Avenel)
The old Bank building has been transformed it into a gourmet Pizza restaurant.
FOWLES WINES (Avenel)
Fowles Wine is family owned and the first Victorian winery to win the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge trophy for Australia's Best Shiraz. The vineyards and winery are located in the dramatic granite landscape of the Strathbogie Ranges wine region.
BOURNE RACING STABLES (Seymour)
Bourne Racing stables in located in Seymour of Central Victoria and is in the unique position of being the only trainer with direct access to the excellent training facilities at the Seymour racecourse.
SEYMOUR RACING CLUB (Seymour)
The Seymour Racing Club in 2016 became a premier racing destination with a $6 million racecourse upgrade.
CHATSWOOD STUD (Seymour)
Chatswood is a world-class thoroughbred horse stud in a world-class location, only 1 hour north of Melbourne. It is perfect horse country, comprising 1000 acres of prime pastures on the fertile banks of the Goulburn River.
WINE X SAM (Seymour)
The winery and cellar door are located in the heart of Seymour and have been specially designed to allow visitors a firsthand experience of a working winery. Visitors can choose to be immersed in the winemaking action or can simply decide to relax with some wine, cheese and a coffee in the cellar door or on the outdoor deck.
Location
287 High Street, Nagambie 3608 Map
Web Links
→ www.gonagambie.com.au/visit/go-drive/black-caviar-trail
