The first and second Melbourne Cup (1861-2) was won by Braidwood’s Archer. Archer was born in 1856, sired by William Tell out of Maid of Oaks, both horses owned by Thomas Royds of Ballalaba, before his untimely early death aged 27 in 1852.
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Royd’s widow, Elizabeth nee Roberts, remarried two years later to Rowland Hassall, with Hassall taking over the ownership of the Royd’s horses. The breeding program was managed by Elizabeth’s brother, Tom Roberts, under the Hassall/Roberts partnership.
Archer was leased to Etienne De Mestre, son of a Sydney businessman and a school friend of Tom Roberts, at Terara, near Nowra.
The often-told story that Archer walked to Melbourne for the first Melbourne Cup held on November 7, 1861 is a myth. It is well documented that he travelled by ship with two stable companions. Archer was an unusually big horse standing at 16.3 hands with excellent features. He had an unusual rolling gait when galloping with his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
The first Melbourne Cup was an eventful affair. Three of the 17 starters fell during the race, two of them died, two of the jockeys sustained broken bones and one horse bolted off the course, but the race continued. At the final turn the favourite, Mormon, made his run but Archer caught and passed him, defeating Mormon by six lengths. It was a triumph for NSW, refueling interstate rivalry and adding to the excitement of the cup. De Mestre received 710 gold sovereigns and a trophy, a hand-beaten gold watch. There was no cup as such.
The next year Archer was the favourite when he won his second Melbourne Cup. This time the champion won by a record eight lengths, a margin that would not be equaled until Rain Lover’s win in 1968. For more than a century only two horses won the Melbourne Cup twice: Archer (1862, 1862) and Peter Pan (1932, 1934).
Archer may have been able to equal Maykybe Diva’s three Melbourne Cups (2003-4-5) except that the Victorian Racing Club scratched the dual winner for 1863 race, claiming that De Mestre’s telegraphed acceptance did not arrive in time. This was owing to a public holiday in Victoria when their office was closed.
In 1864, Archer was retired to stud at Tom Robert’s Exeter Farm, Braidwood, where he died aged 16, on December 22, 1872. De Mestre forgave the Melbourne racing establishment and returned to the scene of his previous triumphs as owner and trainer of Hassall and Roberts-bred Tim Wiffler to win the 1867 Melbourne Cup. Other Braidwood horses to win the Melbourne Cup were Warrior 1869, Calamia 1878, Bravo 1889 and Just a Dash 1981.