Breyer models of famous Thoroughbreds

Loving Thoroughbreds as I do, I am fascinated by the Breyer model horses of some of the most famous racehorses of the modern era and last century.

Horses of the calibre of Man O War, Phar Lap, War Admiral, Seabiscuit, Cigar, Zenyatta, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Afleet Alex, Ruffian, Affirmed, Smarty Jones, Rachel Alexandra and others have been immortalised in plastic by Breyer.  Sure, some of the molds leave a bit to be desired design wise and some of these horses perhaps should have had their own molds made but nevertheless they are all beautiful and highly collectable in their own way.  

Personally I love the Lonesome Glory mold (pictured below) which has been used to depict a number of gallopers and steeplechasers including Zenyatta, Seattle Slew, Afleet Alex and Phar Lap (limited Australian only edition).  This is a magnificent mold that is very very typey in appearance; it just screams Thoroughbred.

Lonesome Glory

Zenyatta on the Lonesome Glory mold

Afleet Alex on the Lonesome Glory mold

Seattle Slew on the Lonesome Glory mold

Another lovely mold is the Smarty Jones mold which has also been used for Secretariat.  Secretariat does have his own mold but I don't think it is anywhere near as nice as the Smarty Jones version of him.

Smarty Jones - Smarty Jones mold

Secretariat on the Smarty Jones mold.

Secretariat (Secretariat mold)

Some horses have been reproduced on two different molds.  Phar Lap for instance had his own original Phar Lap mold (first picture) but a limited edition using the Lonesome Glory mold (second picture) was released in Australia to coincide with the release of the film 'Phar Lap'.

Original Phar Lap on the Phar Lap mold

Special Australian only release of Phar Lap on the Lonesome Glory mold

 

Man O War Traditional mold

Man O War Classic mold

Man O War was also produced in 2 different molds.  He had his own early traditional series model and was later redone in the Classic series.