Felicitation

Last updated
Felicitation
Sire Colorado
Grandsire Phalaris
DamFelicita
DamsireCantilever
Sex Stallion
Foaled1930
CountryUnited Kingdom
Colour Bay
Breeder Aga Khan III
OwnerAga Khan III
Trainer Frank Butters
Record23: 8-3-4
Earnings£14,575 [1]
Major wins
Middle Park Stakes (1932)
Churchill Stakes (1934)
Ascot Gold Cup (1934)
John Porter Stakes (1934)
Jockey Club Cup (1934)
Yorkshire Cup (1935)

Felicitation (foaled 1930) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist stayer, owned and bred by the Aga Khan he was best known for his emphatic victory over a very strong international field in the 1934 Ascot Gold Cup. He was one of the best two-year-olds of his generation in England in 1932 when he was awarded the Middle Park Stakes on the disqualification of Manitoba. He failed to win in eight starts as a three-year-old but ran well to finish second in to Hyperion in the St Leger. In the summer of 1934 he established himself as one of the best horses in Europe by winning the Ascot Gold Cup, John Porter Stakes and Jockey Club Cup as well as finishing third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was injured when winning the Yorkshire Cup as a five-year-old and was retired from racing. He stood as a breeding stallion in England and Brazil with moderate results.

Contents

Background

Felicitation was a bay horse with a white star bred in the United Kingdom by his owner the Aga Khan. He was probably the best horse sired in a brief stud career by Colorado who won the 2000 Guineas in 1926 and the Eclipse Stakes in 1927. His dam Felicita was closely related to The Derby winner Papyrus. [2] The colt was sent into training with the Aga Khan's veteran trainer Frank Butters at his stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Racing career

1932: two-year-old season

After being beaten in his first three races, including a second place at Goodwood, [3] Felicitation recorded his first success in the Autumn Foal Plate at Newbury Racecourse. He was then moved up in class and started at odds of 3/1 [4] for the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in October and finished second to Manitoba. After the race however, Felictation's connections lodged a protest against the winner for causing interference ("crossing") and Manitoba was disqualified by the racecourse stewards. [5] Felicitation was well-fancied for the Dewhurst Stakes later that month but finished fourth of the six runners behind Hyperion. [6]

1933: three-year-old season

Felicitation took time to find his best form in 1933 and was well beaten in his early races. He finished unplaced in the Free Handicap at Newmarket in April, [7] seventh in the 2000 Guineas [8] and fourth when favourite for the Newmarket Stakes in May. [9] On 31 May, ridden by Charlie Elliott, he ran in The Derby but made no impact and finished sixteenth in a race won by Hyperion. [10] He went on to finish fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes in June and fourth in the Royal Plate at Newbury Racecourse. [8]

Felicitation began to improve in the autumn of 1933. In the St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse he was no match for Hyperion, who led from the start and won easily, but he finished strongly to take second place, three lengths behind the winner. [11] On his final appearance of the season he finished second again in the Jockey Club Stakes over fourteen furlongs at Newmarket. [12]

1934: four-year-old season

On his debut as a four-year-old, Felicitation finished third behind Hyperion and Angelico in the March Stakes at Newmarket on 3 May. [8] In an attempt to improve the colt's attitude he was tried with blinkers in training: the experiment was successful and he wore the headgear in hi subsequent races. [13] On 20 June at Royal Ascot the colt recorded his first win for more than twenty months when he led from the start and drew of his opponents in the straight to win the two-mile Churchill Stakes by ten lengths from Solar Boy with Angelico in third. [14] On the following day he started at odds of 9/2 [4] for the Ascot Gold Cup, in which his opponents included Hyperion, Thor (Prix du Jockey Club), the Italian colt Crapom (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) and the American challenger Mate. Ridden by Gordon Richards Felicitation took the lead from the start, dominated the race, and won "in a common canter" [15] by eight lengths from Thor with Hyperion in third. In August, Felicitation took his third consecutive win when he took the Eglington Plate at Ayr Racecourse. [3]

In September, Felicitation started odds-on favourite for the John Porter Stakes at Newbury and won from Cecil. [3] In October he was sent to France to contest the fifteenth running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400 metres on heavy ground at Longchamp Racecourse. He took an early lead and maintained his advantage into the straight before being overtaken and finishing third of the thirteen runners behind Brantôme and Assuerus. [16] On his final appearance of the season he won the Jockey Club Cup over two and a quarter miles at Newmarket by ten lengths from Armour Bright [17] at odds of 1/4. [4]

Felicitation ended the year with earnings of £9,255 making him the third most financially successful horse of the season in Britain behind the three-year-old Windsor Lad and the two-year-old Bahram. [18]

The Aga Khan had intended that Felicitation would be retired to stud at the end of 1934. He was scheduled to begin his career as a breeding stallion at the Egerton Stud at a fee of 250 guineas. [19] Before the end of the year, however, these plans were revised and it was announced that the horse would stay in training. The Aga Khan reportedly felt that Felicitation had not shown his best form at Longchamp and planned to match him against Brantôme and Windsor Lad in the 1935 Ascot Gold Cup. [20]

1935: five-year-old season

Felicitation returned as a five-year-old in 1935 with the Gold Cup as his objective. Te prospect of a showdown between Felicitation, Brantôme and Windsor Lad created great interest, with bookmakers publishing ante-post odds from the race as early as February. [21] Felicitation began his fourth season by finishing third to Tai-Yang and Tiberius in the Chippenham Stakes over one and a half miles at Newmarket in early May. [22] He recorded his final major success later that month when he won the Yorkshire Cup over two miles at York Racecourse. [23] He sustained an injury in the race and did not race contest the Gold Cup, which was won by Tiberius. His retirement from racing was announced shortly afterwards. [3]

Assessment

In the 1932 Free Handicap, a rating of the best two-year-olds to race in Britain, Felicitation was assigned a weight of 123 pounds making him the eighth best juvenile of the season and the fourth best two-year-old colt. The three top rated horses Myrobella, Betty and Brown Betty were all fillies whilst the others rated ahead of Felicitation were Manitoba, Hyperion, Jim Thomas and Supervisor (another filly). [24]

In their book A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Felicitation the one hundred and twentieth best racehorse of twentieth century, the fifty-second best horse of the century to have been trained in Britain and Ireland, and the second best horse foaled in 1930 behind Hyperion. [25]

Stud record

Felicitation began his career as a breeding stallion at the Highclere Stud at a fee of 198 guineas. He stood in England for several years before being sold and exported to Brazil in 1945. The best of his British offspring was Morogoro (foaled in 1938), who won the Craven Stakes and finished second in both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1941. [1] His last foals were born in 1949.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Felicitation (GB), bay stallion, 1930 [26]
Sire
Colorado (GB)
1923		 Phalaris (GB)
1913		 Polymelus Cyllene
Maid Marian
Bromus Sainfoin
Cheery
Canyon (GB)
1913		Chaucer St Simon
Canterbury Pilgrim
Glasalt Isinglass
Broad Corrie
Dam
Felicita (GB)
1923		Cantilever (GB)
1910		Bridge of Canny Love Wisely
Santa Brigida
LightheadZealot
Whitelock
Best Wishes (GB)
1913		 Neil Gow Marco
Chelandry
SimonathSt Simon
Philomath (Family:16-f) [2]

Related Research Articles

Windsor Lad

Windsor Lad (1931–1943) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old in 1934, he won both The Derby and the St Leger in record time. In 1935, he won the Coronation Cup and the Eclipse Stakes before his career was ended by injury.

Hycilla was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare, who raced during World War II and was best known for winning the classic Oaks Stakes in 1944. Unraced as a juvenile, she finished second on her three-year-old debut before winning the Oaks, which was run that year at Newmarket Racecourse. She was beaten when favourite for the St Leger but ended her year with a win in the Champion Stakes. In the following year she failed to win but ran well in defeat when third in a strongly-contested Coronation Cup. She was retired to become a broodmare in the United States but made little impact, producing four minor stakes winners.

Easton was a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning two minor races in France he made an immediate impact on his British debut when finishing second to Colombo in the 2000 Guineas. He was then bought by Lord Woolavington and transferred permanently to England. He finished second to Windsor Lad in a very strong renewal of The Derby and third in the Grand Prix de Paris before winning the Grand International d'Ostend in Belgium and the Select Stakes at Newmarket. In the following year he won highly-competitive races at Lingfield and Newmarket before being beaten in a rematch with Windsor Lad for the Coronation Cup. He was retired from racing after winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. He made little impact as a breeding stallion in Europe but sired some good winners in the United States.

Lovely Rosa was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her win in the 1936 Epsom Oaks. As a juvenile in 1945 she showed some promise when finishing second in the Queen Mary Stakes and winning a race at Newbury but then showed little worthwhile form until her 33/1 upset victory in the Oaks. She never won again and was retired at the end of 1936. She had some success as a broodmare, most notably being the grand-dam of Wilwyn.

Udaipur was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Her racing career consisted of eight races between April and October 1932. Having finished second on her debut and seventh in the 1000 Guineas she was still a maiden when she recorded her biggest win in the Epsom Oaks in June. She went on to win the Coronation Stakes, Richemont Stakes and Newmarket Oaks as well as finishing fourth in a strong edition of the St Leger. As a broodmare she produced several good winners and was the female-line ancestor of Wild Again.

Chatelaine (1930–1937) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After failing to win in her first seven races she was still a maiden when she recorded a 25/1 upset victory in the Epsom Oaks. She went on to win the Scarbrough Stakes and dead-heated for the Champion Stakes as well as finishing second in the Jockey Club Stakes and finishing third in the Coronation Cup. She was retired to become a broodmare but died in 1937 after producing only two foals, neither of which survived.

Pennycomequick was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed promise as a two-year-old in 1928 when she won her only race by a wide margin. In the following year she won two races including a very impressive victory in the Epsom Oaks. She failed when made favourite for the St Leger and was retired from racing after sustaining a serious leg injury in autumn. She became a very successful broodmare, producing several major winners.

Toboggan was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed very promising form as a juvenile in 1928 when she won three of her four races including the Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year she finished third in the 1000 Guineas and went on to win the Epsom Oaks, Coronation Stakes and Jockey Club Stakes. She had some success as a broodmare producing the top-class winner Bobsleigh and Hydroplane, the dam of Citation.

Brownhylda was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a two-year-old when she won three times and finished twice on two occasions. In the following year he won the Epsom Oaks and the Park Hill Stakes as well as finishing second in the Yorkshire Oaks. Her form declined thereafter and she failed to win again before being retired at the end of the following year. She produced only four known foals, but these did include the St Leger winner Firdaussi.

Boswell was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed promise when winning his final start as a two-year-old and was considered a contender for the following year's classic races. In 1936 he was slow to find his best form and ran unplaced in both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby before recording an upset victory in the St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse in September. As a four-year-old he again upset the odds to take the Eclipse Stakes at 20/1 but failed to win again and was retired from racing at the end of the following year. He later stood as a breeding stallion in the United States, where he had some success as a sire of winners.

Firdaussi was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed very good form as a two-year-old in 1931 when he won three of his five races including the Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year his progress was interrupted by illness in spring but he won his last four races, taking the Gordon Stakes before recording his biggest win in the St Leger and then defeating top-class older horses in the Jockey Club Stakes. He ran consistently as a four-year-old in 1933 but won only one minor race. Apart from his victories, Firdaussi was placed in the Eclipse Stakes (twice), Greenham Stakes, Lingfield Derby Trial and Great Jubilee Handicap. After his retirement from racing Firdaussi stood as a breeding stallion in Britain, France and Ireland, but had limited success as a sire of winners.

Singapore was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Unraced as a two-year-old, he was beaten in his first three starts in 1930 before winning a race at Sandown Park. He continued his progress and recorded his biggest win in September when he took the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. As a four-year-old he appeared to be a very unlucky loser when narrowly beaten in the Ascot Gold Cup and was an easy winner of the Doncaster Cup in autumn. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in England and Brazil.

Book Law was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. The best female racehorse of her generation in Britain, she was noted for her courage and consistency and in her prime she was described as a "fighting machine".

Salmon-Trout was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed very promising form as a two-year-old in 1923 when he won both of his races,namely the Prendergast Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year he won four of his ten races including the Princess of Wales's Stakes and the St Leger as well as being placed in the Newmarket Stakes and the Champion Stakes. In 1925 he finished second in the Ascot Gold Cup. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in England and South Africa and had some success as a sire of winners.

Tranquil (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Tranquil was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a two-year-old when she won one race and finished second in the Gimcrack Stakes. In the following season she was one of the best horses in Britain, scoring classic victories in the 1000 Guineas and St Leger Stakes as well as winning four other races including the Jockey Club Cup and Newmarket Oaks. he won once in 1924 before her racing career was ended by injury. She made no impact as a broodmare.

Diophon British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Diophon was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was probably the best two-year-old colt of his generation in England in 1923 when he won four of his five races including the July Stakes Lavant Stakes and Middle Park Stakes. In the following spring he gave his owner Aga Khan III the first of his many classic wins whe he took the 2000 Guineas. He failed to win again that year but returned to take three valuable prizes in 1925. After his retirement from racing he had some success as a breeding stallion.

Tide-way was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was rated one of the best British two-year-old fillies of 1935 when she won twice from four starts. She won the 1000 Guineas on her debut as a three-year-old but finished unplaced in the Epsom Oaks and never ran again. As a broodmare she produced the Eclipse Stakes winner Gulf Stream.

Campanula was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In 1933 she won two of her five races including the Windsor Castle Stakes and the Moulton Stakes and was rated the best juvenile filly in England. In the following spring she won the Column Produce Stakes and then recorded her biggest win in the 1000 Guineas. In her two subsequent races she finished fourth in the Epsom Oaks and second in the Champion Stakes. As a broodmare she exerted an enduring influence as a broodmare through her daughter Calluna.

Four Course was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in England when she won three of her four races, namely the July Stakes, Richmond Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes. In the following spring she won the 1000 Guineas and finished second in both the Epsom Oaks and the Falmouth Stakes. She was retired at the end of the year but died before she could make and mark as a broodmare.

Cinna was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed great promise as a juvenile in 1919 when she won a very competitive maiden race on her debut before finishing second in the New Stakes and the Bretby Stakes. As a three-year-old she won the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes and was narrowly beaten when favourite for the Epsom Oaks. She was retired from racing at the end of the year and went on to be a very successful broodmare. Three of her sons became leading sires in Australasia whilst several of her daughters became influential broodmares including the female-line ancestors of Sunday Silence and Indian Ridge.

References

  1. 1 2 Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN   0-354-08536-0.
  2. 1 2 "Queen Bee – Family 16-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "ENGLISH RACING". New Zealand Herald. 2 August 1935.
  4. 1 2 3 Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN   978-1-873626-15-3.
  5. ↑ "WON ON A PROTEST". Evening Post. 14 October 1932.
  6. ↑ "RACING AND TROTTING". The Press. Canterbury, New Zealand. 24 December 1932.
  7. ↑ "RACING AND TROTTING". The Press. Canterbury, New Zealand. 27 May 1933.
  8. 1 2 3 "FELICITATION'S RISE". Evening Post. New Zealand. 22 June 1934.
  9. ↑ "RACING AND TROTTING LATEST NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR". The Press. Canterbury, New Zealand. 10 July 1933.
  10. ↑ "RESULT OF DERBY". New Zealand Herald. 1 June 1933.
  11. ↑ "SPORT IN BRITAIN". Auckland Star. 11 November 1933.
  12. ↑ "ENGLISH TURF". Auckland Star. 29 September 1933.
  13. ↑ "TURF NEWS IN BRIEF". Evening Post. New Zealand. 8 August 1934.
  14. ↑ "ENGLISH RACING". The Press. Canterbury, New Zealand. 7 August 1934.
  15. ↑ "A Surprise Result". Evening Post. New Zealand. 22 June 1934.
  16. ↑ "Racing and Trotting: Horse of the Century". The Press. Canterbury, New Zealand. 20 November 1934.
  17. ↑ "ENGLISH TURF". Auckland Star. 3 November 1934.
  18. ↑ "RACING AND TROTTING". The Press. Canterbury, New Zealand. 15 January 1935.
  19. ↑ "HORORATA RACES". New Zealand Herald. 15 December 1934.
  20. ↑ "REVISION OF PLANS". Evening Post. New Zealand. 8 January 1935.
  21. ↑ "RACING AND TROTTING". The Press. Canterbury, New Zealand. 12 March 1935.
  22. ↑ "TURF HISTORY". New Zealand Herald. 19 June 1935.
  23. ↑ "R. PERRYMAN IN FORM". Evening Post. New Zealand. 2 July 1935.
  24. ↑ "ENGLISH YOUNGSTERS". Evening Post. New Zealand. 28 January 1933.
  25. ↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN   1-901570-15-0.
  26. ↑ "Felicitation pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.