He had immediate success at the
first Campdraft and went on to win
the Junior Draft in Katherine in
1976 on a Quarter Horse gelding by
Commando called Rasputin.
The next year at age 13 Ben won his
first Open Campdraft, as well as the
Junior the same day at the Katherine
Show. This Campdraft was judged by
John Stanton. Ben won these drafts
on a Quarter Horse gelding called
Comanche that was the full brother
to Rasputin.
The mares that Ben acquired from
the mid 90’s were all Quarter Horse
mares. Silver Oak by Freckles Oak
was his first purchase from Terry
and Christine Hall. This mare went
on to win about 20 Open drafts, 15
Ladies, including the Warwick Silver
Cup and the Chinchilla Grandmother
Clock and won about 20 Junior
and Juvenile Drafts - ridden by his
three children, Courtney, Lynton
and Emily. He also acquired two
great mares from Mark Buttsworth,
Docs Recoil who was by Didgery Doo
Bars, and another mare Docs Miss
Elegance by Docs T Bar. Both of these
mares went on to win numerous
Open Drafts. Ben also later bought
a half sister to Silver Oak, a mare
called Pepper who was by Peppy Doc
Bar.
The mare Ben won the Pearl Of The
North on, Isa Jet was by Boom Jet.
His most memorable acquisition is
Cooldust. Ben purchased her from
Bruce and Julie McNaughton, as an
embryo, and even though she was
by the great Romeo, the reason he
wanted the foal was because of her
mum, Oaks Stardust. The first time
Ben saw Oaks Stardust, Bruce loaned
her to Terry Hall and came up on the
Northern Territory run in the late
90’s. She left a great impression and
he thought she was the best horse
he had ever seen. He knew he had to
hav