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A look back at the horse who Saturday’s Caulfield feature is named after

Caulfield will host Victoria's final Group race of the season this Saturday, which always revives memories of a horse who holds a special place in Australian racing history.

The Bletchingly Stakes, a 1200-metre Group 3 race worth $200,000, is named after a speedster who won a Group 1 race but is better known as the sire as one of Australian racing's all-time greats.

The legendary Kingston Town was a member of the first crop of the son of Biscay and the Relic mare Coogee who was retired to stud after just five starts, his headline win coming in the Group 1 The Galaxy.

He was retired to Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley, where he embarked on a stud career that carried him to three wins in the Australian Champion Sire award.

Those wins came in the three seasons that Kingston Town won the Cox Plate – 1979/80, 1980/81 and 1981/82 – but his success was by no means hitched to that Hall of Famer.

Kingston Town was one of two Australian Horse of the Year award winners sired by Bletchingly, the other being champion Sydney mare Emancipation.

He also produced two Golden Slipper winners, Star Watch and Canny Lad, multiple Group 1 winners Canny Lass, Coronation Day, Spirit Of Kingston and True Version along with elite-level winners Best Western, Boardwalk Angel, Kenny's Best Pal, Khaptingly, Lord Ballina, Lygon Arms and Wrap Around.

Bletchingly also proved himself a sire of sires with Canny Lad, Star Watch, Lord Ballina, Cossack Warrior and Best Western going on to produce Group 1 winners of their own.

Canny Lad is also the sire of Shantha's Choice, who is the dam of one of Australia's all-time great stallions, Redoute's Choice.

The Bletchingly Stakes was first run in 1994 with past winners including Group 1 winners Poetic King, You Remember, Sports, Rubitano, Super Elegant, Regal Roller, Apache Cat, Let Go Thommo, Shoot Out, Mid Summer Music, Smokin' Joey, Vega Magic and Scales Of Justice.