Al Capone is a son of Hazelwood Conman and Possum Sue, a Seligman Spin mare out of a Docs Argyle mother, bred by Peter and Debbie Gesler. He is proudly owned by Drew and Sally Stevenson of Benalla Stud, a performance horse stud that began in Hughenden, QLD and now thrives in the rolling hills of Gundy, NSW. The Stevensons have long been dedicated to breeding, training, and campaigning horses with both pedigree and performance, and Al Capone is a centrepiece of that vision.
The mating that produced Al Capone combined two of the most respected campdraft horses in Australia. Hazelwood Conman is infamously known as an exceptional outside horse with a flawless instinct to chase and rate cattle, a reputation he carries to this day, while Possum Sue is celebrated for her incredible cut-out strength in the yard and her equal ability to hold her line on cattle outside. Together, these two powerhouses created a horse with the rare balance of feel, instinct, and athleticism that Al Capone now displays.
It was the year of 2020 when Sally and Drew purchased Al Capone during the trying times of Covid, which resulted in the missed opportunity of showing this exceptional stallion in his classic year of the Stockmans Challenge. Prior to the sale, Al Capone had already been started and prepared by John Templeton, who continued to play a guiding role in his early career. Under Templeton, Al Capone began his show life in 2021, stepping straight into the spotlight at the ARBC where he finished Reserve Champion at his very first outing. That season he went on to claim multiple prestigious victories across both drafts and challenges, including 2nd in the Classic Challenge at the ARBC in April, 1st in both the Maiden and Novice drafts at Teebar in June, and claiming first place in the Ron Wall Memorial Derby Challenge at Cloncurry, as well as the Derby Challenge at Rocky Rush in August.
From 2022 onwards, Al Capone returned home to Benalla Stud, with Drew taking over the reins. Drew described him as the perfect blend of his dam and sire, showing the same sharpness and strength as Possum Sue in the yard while carrying the natural chase and cow sense of Conman outside. Sally also rode him in a handful of Ladies drafts during this time, noting his consistent performance and natural ability.
In 2023 and 2024, Sally campaigned Al Capone with continued success in major events, including a win in the Ladies Draft at Curlewis in April 2023 and a 4th place in the Ladies Draft at the Warwick Gold Cup in November 2023. In 2025, he has returned primarily to Drew’s hands for competition, though their daughter has also enjoyed success on him, including a 2nd in a Rookie’s Challenge at Killara. His versatility and calm temperament make him a reliable performer for the entire family.
Looking to the future, Al Capone’s legacy will be carried through the breeding focus at Benalla Stud. Over the years, Sally and Drew have carefully acquired mares with elite pedigrees, some of which already had proven performance histories, while others they personally trained and campaigned to success themselves, establishing their status as exceptional mares and ideal matches for their home stallion. These mares have been chosen with the long-term vision of producing foals that combine excellent genetics with genuine competitiveness, and Al Capone is now the cornerstone of that stud. Already, the Stevensons have retained several foals by him, all fillies destined to be trained, shown, and kept within Benalla Stud for their performance careers.
From his impeccable breeding to his proven record in both challenging and campdrafting, and now his influence as a sire, Al Capone represents everything Drew and Sally have worked to build at Benalla Stud. His story continues to unfold, and while he has already achieved much, it is clear that his greatest impact still lies ahead.
