Doncaster (original) (raw)
Doncaster
Sire Line
Sandiway, by Doncaster
Doncaster ch c 1870 (Stockwell - Marigold, by Teddington). Sire LineStockwell.Family 5-e.
Doncaster was bred at Sledmere by Sir Tatton Sykes (1826-1913), 5th bt, from the mare Marigold (ch f 1860), a daughter of the Derby winning Teddington (ch c 1848Orlando). Running for Mr Hargreaves she had been a smart enough filly to win the Chesterfield Stakes in 1863, finish third for the One Thousand Guineas Stakes, won by Lord Stamford's Lady Augusta (ch f 1860 Stockwell), and finish second for the Oaks Stakes, won by Lord Falmouth'sQueen Bertha (b f 1870 Kingston). In 1864 she'd won the Stewards Cup. In the stud however Marigold produced nothing else close to the likes of Doncaster.
Sir Tatton's father, also Sir Tatton Sykes (1772-1863), 4th bt, had established the family stud at Sledmere, Yorkshire, and in his younger days was a gentleman rider of some repute. His last winning mount, whom he had ridden in 1829 at the age of fifty-seven, was named All Heart and No Peel. It has been suggested that Doncaster, first called All Heart and No Peel, was named after this horse.
He was purchased as a yearling for 950 guineas by Scottish industrialist James Merry (1805-1877) on the advice of his trainer Robert Peck (1845-1899). He was said to have been rechristened Doncaster after the place. Merry had other classics success with the Two Thousand Guineas winners Lord of the Isles (b c 1852 Touchstone) and Macgregor (b c 1867 Macaroni), the Derby winner Thormanby (ch c 1857 Windhound) and the Oaks and St Leger winner Marie Stuart (ch f 1870 Scottish Chief).
Doncaster was described as a "well proportioned, nicely balanced horse, not too big, and with the finest quality of any of Stockwell's sons" although he stood "a little back at the knee". He stood around fifteen hands three inches and was thought to appear larger due to his "fine substance and "bold carriage".
A "severe kick on the stifle" was said to have prevented any thought of getting Doncaster ready for a two year old campaign. However, he was brought out as a three year old and won the Derby for Mr Merry as well as finishing second for the St Leger to his stable companion, the excellent filly Marie Stuart (ch f 1870 Scottish Chief). Mr Peck said he really hadn't gotten into his best form until he was five years old, and that year he won the Ascot Gold Cup and the Alexandra Plate.
Merry dispersed his stud in 1875 at which time Doncaster was purchased by his trainer, Robert Peck, reportedly for the sum of 10,000 guineas. Mr Peck sold him on almost at once to Hugh Lupus (1825-1899), 1st Duke of Westminster, for the sum of 14,000 guineas. The Duke had first considered Knight of the Garter (br c 1864 The Prime Minister) and Gladiateur (b c 1862 Monarque), but neither possessed the requisite excellence for which the Duke was said to be searching.
Installed at Eaton, Doncaster got the illustriousBend Or (ch c 1877), without doubt his most important son, in his first crop. Muncaster (ch c 1877) also arrived that year and he proved to be a useful sort. Other sons included the St James's Palace Stakes winner Cambusmore (b c 1881), the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Sir Reuben (ch c 1881), the Gimcrack Stakes winner Derwentwater (ch c 1885), and Rossington (ch c 1881) who became a stallion of some merit in America.
According to the reminiscences of Richard Chapman, the stud groom at Eaton, it had not occurred to the Duke to part with Doncaster. However, the visiting Empress of Austria saw him and said she would like to purchase him. Since Bend Or had by then established himself as a worthy successor, Doncaster was duly sold to the Austrian government in 1884 and sent to the Kisber State Stud in Hungary in 1885.
Among his many winners in Austria-Hungary were the Nemzeti dij winner Prado (ch c 1887), the Austria-Preis winner Benczur (ch c 1888), the Alaji dij winner Culloden (ch c 1890), the Magyar St Leger winner Duncan (b c 1890), and the Jubilaums Preis winner Virad (ch c 1890).
Doncaster died in January of 1892.
| Pedigree |
| Doncaster Stockwell The Baron Birdcatcher Echidna Pocahontas Glencoe Marpessa Marigold Teddington Orlando Miss Twickenham Sister to Singapore Ratan Melbourne Mare |
| Race Record |
| In 1873 he finished among the field for the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes at Newmarket, won by Mr W S Crawfurd's Gang Forward (ch c 1870 Stockwell), with Mr H Savile's Kaiser (b c 1870 Skirmisher) finishing 2nd and Mr F Gretton's Suleiman (br c 1870 Knight of the Crescent) 3rd. Won the Derby Stakes at Epsom by a length and a half, beating Gang Forward and Kaiser. Finished 3rd for the Grand Prix de Paris, won by H Delamarre's Boiard (b c 1870 Vermouth) with Mr Lefevre's Flageolet (ch c 1870 Plutus) placing 2nd. Finished 2nd for the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster, won by Mr Merry's Marie Stuart (ch f 1870 Scottish Chief), beating Kaiser. Finished 4th for the Grand Duke Michael Stakes at Newmarket, won by Flageolet, with Lord Falmouth's Andred (ch c 1870 Blair Athol) finishing 2nd and Mr Bruton's Cobham (ch c 1870 Macaroni) 3rd. Was unplaced for the Newmarket Derby, won by Kaiser, with Boiard 2nd and Andred 3rd. |
| In 1874 he finished in a dead heat for 2nd with Flageolet for the Ascot Gold Cup, won by Boaird. Won the Goodwood Cup, beating Kaiser and Mr Lefevre's Miss Toto (ch f 1871 Lord Clifden). |
| In 1875 he won the Ascot Gold Cup by six lengths, beating Lord Ailesbury's Cesarewitch winner Aventuriere (b f 1871 Adventurer) and Count de Lagrange's Grand Prix de Deauville winner Nougat (b c 1872 Consul). Won the Alexandra Plate at Ascot by a length from Sir J D Astley's Middle Park Plate winner Scamp (b c 1871 The Rake) and Count de Lagrange's Feu d'Amour (b c 1871 Monarque). |
| Notable Offspring |
| Betrouw (AH) |
| b f 1899 (Doncaster - Broad Arrow, by Landmark). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 3-h. She was the dam of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club winner Retz (b c 1899 Le Hardy). |
| Clementina (GB) |
| ch f 1880 (Doncaster - Clemence, by Newminster). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 2-h. A 3rd place finisher for the Walmley Plate, she became the dam of the Grand Prix de Deauville winner Le Samaritain (gr c 1895 Le Sancy), he the sire of the Grand Prix de Vichy winner Roi Herode (gr c 1904), the latter the sire of the Champion Sire The Tetrarch (gr c 1911). |
| Dongola (GB) |
| b f 1883 (Doncaster - Douranee, by Rosicrucian). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 6-e. More than half of Family 6-e traces to Dongola. Among her many notable descendants are Champion Stakes winner Let Fly (b c 1912 White Eagle), Gran Premio Nacional winner Mamboreta (b c 1956 Gulf Stream), Derby winner Sansovino (b c 1921 Swynford), Prix Jacques le Marois winner Priamos (br c 1964 Birkhahn), St Leger winner Chamossaire (ch c 1942 Precipitation), Derby winner Snow Knight (ch c 1971 Firestreak), Two Thousand Guineas winner Big Game (b c 1939 Bahram), Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Linamix (gr c 1987 Mendez), and of course, the three half brothers, Middle Park Stakes winner Pharamond (br c 1925 Phalaris), the Newmarket Stakes winner Hunter's Moon (b c 1926 Hurry On) and the inimitable Derby and St Leger winner Hyperion (ch c 1930 Gainsborough). |
| Escarboucle (FR) |
| b f 1882 (Doncaster - Gem of Gems, by Strathconan). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 4-h. A winner of the Prix Royal Oak and the Prix Gladiateur, she was a half sister to Le Sancy (gr c 1884 Atlantic). She was later the dam of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Fra Angelico (b c 1889 Perplexe). |
| Farewell (GB) |
| ch f 1882 (Doncaster - Lily Agnes, by Macaroni). Sire LineStockwell. Family 16-h. A winner of Mottisfont Stakes and the One Thousand Guineas Stakes for the 1st Duke of Westminster, she also had 2nd place finishes for the Yorkshire Oaks, Ebor St Leger and the Ditch Mile. A half sister to Ormonde (b c 1883 Bend Or), she foaled the Sussex Stakes winner Regret (b c 1893 Sheen) and the Queen Anne Stakes winner Good Luck (ch c 1896 Royal Hampton). |
| Flying Footstep (GB) |
| ch f 1884 (Doncaster - Atalanta, by Galopin). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 8-h. Her most important descendant was the Premio Ambrosiano and Premio Chiusura winner Havresac (br c 1915 Rabelais), the great great grand sire of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner (twice) Ribot (b c 1952 Tenerani) who brought the St Simon Sire Line well into the second half of the twentieth century. Havresac also sired Nogara (b f 1928), the dam of Derby Italiano and Grand Prix de Paris winner Nearco (br c 1935 Pharos), one of the great stallions of the twentieth century in the Bend Or Sire Line descending from Eclipse (ch c 1764 Marske) and the Darley Arabian (b c 1700). |
| Kincs (AH) |
| ch f 1877 (Doncaster - Kincsem, by Cambuscan). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 4-o. She was the dam of the Magyar Kanca dij winner Napfeny (b f 1896 Dunure), who was in turn the dam of the great Miczi (b f 1910 Mindig), winner of the Magyar Kanca dij, the Nemzeti dij, the Millenniumi dij and the Oesterreiches Stutenpreis. |
| La Dauphine (FR) |
| gr f 1880 (Doncaster - Sly, by Strathconan). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 20. Foaled in France, she was the dam of the Grosser Preis von Baden winner Le Capricorne (ch c 1888 Atlantic) and the Grand Criterium (now Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere) winner Le Sagittaire (ch c 1892 Le Sancy). |
| La Morlaye (GB) |
| b f 1877 (Doncaster - Mare, by Macaroni). Sire LineStockwell. Family 20. The 3rd dam of the Middle Park and Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Friar Marcus (b c 1912 Cicero) and the 4th dam of the Preis der Diana winner Melanie (b f 1922 Traum). |
| Lotus (GB) |
| ch f 1878 (Doncaster - Lady Alice Hawthorn, by Newminster). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 4-i. Dam of the Manchester Cup winner Riversdale (b c 1883 Tynedale) and Imperial Produce Stakes winner Blavatsky (ch f 1888 Isonomy) as well as grand dam of the Royal Hunt Cup winner Quarrel (b c 1891 Discord). Also ancestress to a multitude of winners, including STC Golden Slipper Stakes winner Marauding (b c 1984 Sir Tristram), Middle Park Stakes winner Lycius (ch c 1988 Mr Prospector), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner Ile de Bourbon (br c 1975 Nijinsky) and the Derby winner Quest For Fame (b c 1987 Rainbow Quest). |
| Merry Dance (GB) |
| b f 1879 (Doncaster - Highland Fling, by Scottish Chief). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 14. A winner of the Alexandra Handicap, she was the grand dam of the Suburban Handicap winner Ballot (ch c 1904 Voter) and the Gazelle Stakes winner Stolen Moments (br f 1900 Kingston). Other descendants include The Porter (b c 1915 Sweep), Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Ossian (ch c 1906 Le Sagittaire), Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Esmeralda (b f 1939 Tourbillon) and her daughter Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Coronation (b f 1946 Djebel). More recent winners include Prix Jean Prat winner Locris (b c 1964 Venture) and Prix Lupin winner Groom Dancer (b c 1984 Blushing Groom). |
| Muncaster (GB) |
| ch c 1877 (Doncaster - Windermere, byMacaroni). Sire LineStockwell.Family 16-b. A winner of the Triennial Stakes and 2nd place finisher for the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, he was later a stallion of some repute, getting, among others, Saraband (ch c 1883) the damsire of the incomparable Pretty Polly (ch f 1901 Gallinule). |
| Noisette (GB) |
| b f 1880 (Doncaster - Hazledean, by Cathedral). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 11. Sent to Argentina, she there founded a small family of good winners, including Gran Premio Nacional winner Churrinche (ch c 1941 Congreve). |
| Pretty Dance (GB) |
| ch f 1878 (Doncaster - Highland Fling, by Scottish Chief). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 14. A full sister to Merry Dance, she was the grand dam of the July Cup winner Running Stream (ch f 1898 Domino) and great grand dam of Ultimus (ch c 1906 Commando) and Runnymede (ch c 1908 Voter). |
| Rose of Lancaster (GB) |
| ch f 1878 (Doncaster - Rouge Rose, by Thormanby). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 1-k. Grand dam of Doncaster Cup winner Robert le Diable (b c 1899 Ayrshire), and great grand dam of Preakness winner Old England (b c 1899 Goldfinch). |
| Sandiway (GB) |
| ch f 1881 (Doncaster - Clemence, by Newminster). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 2-h. A winner of the Acorn Stakes, the Mottisfont Stakes, the Troy Stakes, the Findon Stakes, the Nursery Stakes, the Prendergast Stakes, the Newmarket Troy Stakes, the Coronation Stakes, the Nassau Stakes, the Newmarket Oaks, and a 2nd place finisher for the St Leger Stakes and the Sussex Stakes, she is the ancestress of the American sires Spur (b c 1913 King James) and Sting (b c 1921 Spur), as well as the Deutsches Derby winner Marmor (br c 1915 Saphir) and the Belmont Stakes winner and sire Luke McLuke (b c 1911 Ultimus). |
| Sweet Songstress (GB) |
| b f 1879 (Doncaster - Melodious, by Peppermint). Sire Line Stockwell. Family 26. Sent to America she was the 2nd dam of the stallion The Commoner (ch c 1892 Hanover), the 3rd dam of the stallion Nasturtium (ch c 1899 Watercress), and the 3rd dam of the Derby and Irish Derby winner Orby (ch c 1904 Orme) and his sister, the One Thousand Guineas winner Rhodora (br f 1905 Orme). |
| Thora (GB) |
| ch f 1878 (Doncaster - Freia, by Hermit). Sire LineStockwell. Family 4-d. A winner of the Exeter Stakes and the Troy Stakes, she was later the great grand dam of of the Grand Prix de Paris winner Bruleur (b c 1910 Chouberski) and Grand Prix de Deauville winner Basse Pointe (b f 1907 Simonian). Recent descendants include Deutsches Derby winner All My Dreams (bbr c 1992 Assert). |