Archer is the horse who is synonymous with the original Melbourne Cup. The stallion won the first two runnings of the event and is surrounded by legend, not all of them true. The most enduring legend is that of Archer walking from NSW to Victoria to contest the first Cup. While it sounds a good story it is at best an exaggeration. But before we get to the legend of Archer let us start at the beginning.

Archer was a son of imported sire William Tell by Touchstone from Maid of the Oaks by Vagabond. Both sire and dam had been owned by Thomas Molyneux "Tom" Royds of Ballalaba, NSW. Royds formed a breeding partnership with his uncle-in-law Andrew Badgery and the horses were kept on the Badgery managed Exeter Farm in Jembaicumbene. Royds purchased the mare Maid Of The Oaks at the dispersal of Charles Smith’s Clifton Stud in 1845. Royds also imported the stallion William Tell in 1847 and another stallion called Sailor By The Sea. Tom Royds died in an accident at the age of 27 in 1852. His widow, Betsy Royds married Rowland Hassall of Durham Hall who obtained all of her possessions upon marriage as were the laws of the time. Hassall then began selling off the Royd’s bloodstock despite Tom’s will having passed some of these on to his sons, Edmund Molyneux Royds and William Edward Royds. By then, Betsy’s brother, Tom Roberts had inherited Exeter Farm and Betsy persuaded her new husband to keep at least some of the horses including William Tell and six mares including Maid Of The Oaks. In order to protect his nephews’ interests, Tom agreed to look after the horses at Exeter. The progeny including Archer were recorded by the stud book as having been bred by the partnership of