Dr Tom Sidey excelled at his pursuits

Dr Tom Sidey, who has died at his home in Arrowtown (Central Otago), was a distinguished obstetrician and gynaecologist, who bred and raced thoroughbreds with success. Tom Sidey was born in 1934, a member of a noted Dunedin family. His grandfather Sir Thomas Sidey, a Member of Parliament, introduced a Bill which paved the way for daylight saving in New Zealand. He introduced the Bill in 1909 and persisted each year until he got it passed in 1927.  Tom's father was Stuart Sidey.

Tom Sidey was educated at John McGlashan College and graduated Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Otago. He studied further in Auckland, London and Texas, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He became a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Dunedin Hospital and lecturer at the University of Otago Medical School. He founded In Vitro Fertilisation Otago in 1988.

He bred and raced well performed Burton and other winning thoroughbreds with his wife, Diana from the White Robe Lodge stable. Burton won the Timaru Cup and Canterbury Gold Cup in 2002-03 season when trained by Brian and Shane Anderton and ridden by Paul Richards. The Personal Escort - Minshu gelding won the listed Anniversay Handicap at Trentham in 2002 and James Hazlett Stakes at Wingatui a year earlier. The Timaru Cup was the 1000th training win for Brian Anderton. Bloodstone and Monte Carlo were other good winners raced by the Sideys and trained by Brian Anderton. Monte Carlo (Random Chance -Personality Flight) won the 1996 South Island Breeders' Stakes at Riccarton when ridden by stable apprentice Gavin Shaw. Bloodstone (Noble Bijou - Minnihaha) won the 1989 Riverton Cup by four and a quarter lengths in the hands of Debbie Anderton (now Kennedy). Bloodstone also won over hurdle and steeple fences. He was the first foal of Minnihaha, who was bred by the Sideys from a mating of War Hawk and Bemai, a twin foal, who was bought by Tom's late mother, Beryl at the 1966 National yearling sale at Trentham. The other twin by Bourbon Prince - Incomparable bought the same day by Mrs Sidey for the same figure, 375 guineas was Joymai, the dam of Bymai.

"Tom was a very diligent breeder who looked after his horses on a property at North Taieri,'' said Brian Anderton.

Dr Sidey was a former president of the Otago Racing Club and served on the executive of the NZ Racing Conference (now NZ Thoroughbred Racing). He was a life member of the club.

Dr Sidey's father, Stuart, a lawyer, served overseas in the Second World War (1939-45). He was Mayor of Dunedin from 1959 to 1965 and a chancellor of the University of Otago. He bred and raced Kumai, a great winter performer who was trained by Hector Anderton (father of Brian) and ridden by Brian in 22 of his 34 wins. Brian trained Bymai to win the 1980 New Zealand Grand National Hurdles and 1984 NZ Grand National Steeplechase for Stuart Sidey.

References: The Cyclopedia of Otago and Southland; The Department of Internal Affairs.