Memories would be recalled at the Scone’s two day racing carnival, with the first race on the second day sponsored by Kia Ora Stud.

Kia Ora was almost a house hold name within the bloodstock breeding industry, established in 1912 by Percy Miller, a prominent wholesale Sydney butcher at Glebe.

Like so many of the noted breeders of that era, he selected the Hunter Valley, the property backed onto the Pages River at Scone, where several of the successful stud farms are still located.

Miller selected Clive Inglis as his confidant, and Peter Riddle as stud manager, it was a very successful arrangement, provided Percy didn’t interfere, he only had to look after the money side of the business.

Several sires were tried at Kia Ora with little success until Magpie appeared on the scene, he was by Dark Ronald, he raced here winning at weight for age before going to stud where he sired Windbag and Amounis, he was leading national sire in 1928-29.

He was also a great brood mare sire that was to lay the foundation for Midstream, by Blandford, and Delville Wood, by Bois Roussel.

Midstream appeared in three top sire’s twice before he won the title overall, he won the title three times and was in the top three nine times.

Delville Wood won the title five times outright and was in the top three six times.

In a comparatively short time Kia Ora rose to be the leading stud in Australia, it has created records which stand today in every sphere of thoroughbred breeding.

For over 30 years yearlings bred at Kia Ora had dominated the sales scene, and have won every classic race on the calendar at some stage.

On the death of Percy Miller, the final dispersal sale was held on the property in May 1959, 101 lots were offered of mares with excellent pedigrees, the stallions included Delville Wood, an outstanding sire foaled 1942, Double Bore by Borealis, Judicate by Hyperion, and Brimstone by Dante.