Matt Maliki didn’t set out to own a stallion when Palmers Super Idea more or less fell into his lap. He wasn’t even actively looking for a new horse at the time. But it took one ride for him to know that this horse was something special, and when it became possible to buy him, Matt wasn’t going to let him go.
He was bred by Mark Palmer, by Binnia Impressive Destiny and from the great mare Palmers Superb, who won the 2007 Paradise Lagoons Open Campdraft. Two years later that mare passed away while foaling. That foal was Palmers Super Idea.
He was sold as a 2yo to Robert Dodwell and Morgan Webb. Super spent time on the road droving, before Robert’s daughter rode him in a few Junior Stockmans Challenges. Chrissy French then took him campdrafting.
Matt received a phone call from Robert in 2020, asking him to campaign Super in Stockmans Challenges. At the time Matt had a good horse and wasn’t looking for another. He had enough commitments, being both a licenced builder and farrier, and travelling from Victoria to the Northern Territory every winter shoeing horses. Between work, his own horses and his stock dogs he has a lot going on. Matt told Robert he was unable to take on another horse.
Just 3 days before his next event Matt’s challenge horse went lame. He called Robert back to see if he could still campaign Super. That gave Matt exactly three days to prepare. He was set to just go with what he had and make the most of it.
On the drive, Matt stopped at Wangaratta to ride Super around the cross-country course. “I thought I better see what he was like”.
Super cleared 1 metre jumps with ease, and Matt immediately realised the horse had a lot of presence and plenty of talent.
“I instantly felt confident on him. He rated my seat, and we just gelled really well.” They came 10th in that challenge out of around 70 entries.
While Matt was keen to continue campaigning the horse, there were circumstances beyond his control and Super waited patiently in the paddock. Eventually Matt was able to buy him, and it was worth the wait!
Matt and Super went on to compete in both Stockmans Challenges and Campdrafts across states with a lot of success. Among all his wins and places, Matt says a highlight was at The Man From Snowy River Challenge where just seconds before the buzzer Super fell in the mud in the Brumby Catch. Even though this ruled them out of a score much less a place, Super stood out and Matt was overwhelmed with the praise he received. “Everyone could see how good he is. It meant a lot to me.”
Matt says that Super is just an exceptional horse. There is nothing not to like about him. He is incredibly relaxed, willing, and easy to do everything with.
From cantering off on a loose rein, to calmly accepting all sorts of obstacles on challenge courses, Supers calm and accepting mind is a true asset. He is also an exceptional athlete with a real talent for jumping. Matt said his mother was also known to be a great jumper. He is so good that Matt takes him for regular showjumping lessons when in Victoria.
Super also has a natural ability to read a cow. While he is known to be great in the camp, Matt says it his ability to get to the right spot on a cow and rate it, that makes him a strong campdrafter. He usually has him on a loose rein and can still check back easily when he needs to. Super isn’t the kind of horse to dominate or try and take over. While he has natural cow sense, he is also soft and attuned to his rider.
In a challenge, his mindset is a great asset. In the brumby catch, Matt can have the reins draped across Supers neck while his hands are on the brumby. Super is always responsive and dialled in.
Super floats with mares, and Matt leads mares from him regularly.
Super’s unorthodox start meant that he wasn’t bred to many mares early on. The progeny he does have on the ground as at 2024 speak for themselves. The oldest of his progeny has been winning campdrafts in the Northern Territory with Rhys Angland.
Matt has young progeny who he says are all very relaxed, and easy to be around. “They feel just like him, especially tracking cattle around. They have no dirt in them”.
While Matt’s ambition was never to stand a stallion, he recognises that it would be a disservice to Super not to give him the opportunity to breed on. Horses like Super don’t come along every day.
“I do it because I know he is a great horse, and it would be cool to see more of them getting around. I love riding him. That’s all there is to it”.
