Larkspur | |
---|---|
Racing silks of Raymond R. Guest | |
Sire | Never Say Die |
Grandsire | Nasrullah |
Dam | Skylarking |
Damsire | Woodlark |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | January 1959 |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Chestnut |
Breeder | Philip Love |
Owner | Raymond R. Guest |
Trainer | Vincent O'Brien |
Record | 10: 3-1-1 |
Major wins | |
Epsom Derby (1962) |
Larkspur was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who won the Derby in 1962. He was the first of six Derby winners trained by Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle. [1] Larkspur achieved little of note either before or after his Epsom triumph.
Larkspur, a light chestnut horse with a white blaze, was bred in Ireland by Philip Love. His sire, the American-bred Derby winner Never Say Die, was a qualified success at stud, getting the double Classic winner Never Too Late and becoming Champion Sire in 1962, largely thanks to Larkspur's earnings. Apart from Larkspur, his dam Skylarking produced eight winners, the best being the 1965 Dante Stakes winner Ballymarais. Ballymarais ran in the 2000 Guineas and was nearest at finish at 33-1,and when the weights for the Dante were published he carried only 7.11 and was 1-4 on for the race, which he duly won, he was trained by Bill Gray, owned by Bill Stoker and ridden by Brian Connorton.
Larkspur was sent as a yearling to the Ballsbridge Sales where he was bought for 12,200gns by Vincent O'Brien on behalf of the American businessman Raymond R. Guest [2]
Larkspur made little impression on his debut, finishing unplaced in a maiden race at Leopardstown in the summer of 1961. After a break he returned to Leopardstown in September to record his first win, taking a maiden race by three lengths. He was strongly fancied for the National Stakes later in the month, in which he finished a close third behind Mystery.
On his final start of the year, Larkspur was sent to England for the Observer Gold Cup at Doncaster in October. He made little impression and finished unplaced behind Miralgo. [2]
Larkspur's unremarkable form continued into 1962 as he finished unplaced in the Madrid Handicap over seven furlongs at the Curragh on his reappearance. In May however, he was moved up in distance and earned his place in the Derby field by winning the Wills Gold Flake Stakes over one and a half miles at Leopardstown. The runner-up, Sicilian Prince, went on to win the Prix Royal Oak. Larkspur suffered a setback in his training shortly afterwards and his participation in the Derby was only confirmed a few days before the race. [3]
At Epsom, in front of a crowd estimated at 400,000, Larkspur was sent off a 22/1 outsider in a field of twenty-six, being perceived as O'Brien's second string. The race was marred by an incident just after half way, in which seven horses, including the favourite Hethersett either fell or were brought down; one horse was killed and four jockeys were detained in hospital as a result. [4] Larkspur's Australian jockey Neville Sellwood could not offer an explanation for the incident but said that "the horses fell right in front of me...I had a narrow escape". Larkspur took the lead two furlongs out and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to win by two lengths from the French-trained colts Arcor and Le Cantilien. [3]
Larkspur failed to reproduce his Derby-winning form in three subsequent races. At the end of June he finished fourth at the Curragh behind the French-trained Tambourine when 9/4 favourite for the Irish Derby. His rider, Scobie Breasley, offered no excuses, saying that Larkspur "could never get in a real blow". [5] He returned to the Curragh in autumn and started odds-on favourite for the Blandford Stakes, but was narrowly beaten by Sicilian Prince. He was sent to Doncaster for the St Leger, but could finish only sixth of the fifteen runners behind Hethersett. [2]
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Larkspur a "poor" Derby winner. [6]
The only lasting memorial to Larkspur's achievements is Larkspur Park near his training base in Cashel, County Tipperary which includes a "globally renowned" pitch and putt golf course. [7]
Larkspur stood as a stallion in Ireland for three seasons before being exported to Japan in 1967. He made little impact as a stallion in either country.
Sire Never Say Die (USA) 1951 | Nasrullah 1940 | Nearco | Pharos |
---|---|---|---|
Nogara | |||
Mumtaz Begum | Blenheim | ||
Mumtaz Mahal | |||
Singing Grass 1944 | War Admiral | Man o' War | |
Brushup | |||
Boreale | Vatout* | ||
Galaday | |||
Dam Skylarking (GB) 1950 | Precipitation 1933 | Hurry On | Marcovil |
Tout Suite | |||
Double Life | Bachelors Double | ||
Saint Joan | |||
Woodlark 1944 | Bois Roussel | Vatout | |
Plucky Liege | |||
Aurora | Hyperion | ||
Rose Red (Family: 1-w) |
Galileo is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. In a racing career which lasted from October 2000 until October 2001 he ran eight times and won six races. He is best known for winning The Derby, Irish Derby Stakes, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001 and for his rivalry with the Godolphin champion Fantastic Light. He was named the European Champion Three-Year-Old Colt of 2001.
Ballymoss (1954–1979) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career that lasted from 1956 until November 1958, he ran seventeen times and won eight races. In 1957, he became the first horse trained in Ireland to win the St Leger. The following season, he was Europe's leading middle-distance horse, winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Dr Devious was an Irish-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse. In a career which lasted from May 1991 until November 1992, he ran fifteen times and won six races. He is most notable as the winner of the Derby in 1992. Dr Devious's other most significant wins came in the Dewhurst Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes. He was the second horse, after Bold Arrangement in 1986, to run in both the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby.
Assert was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he was beaten by Golden Fleece on his debut but went on to win the Beresford Stakes. In the following year he was again beaten by Golden Fleece in a trial race but went on to win four Group One races: the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Derby, Benson & Hedges Gold Cup and Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. He was rated the best middle-distance horse in Europe in 1982 by Timeform. He was retired to stud at the end of his three-year-old season and became a successful sire of winners.
Camelot is a British-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the leading European two-year-olds of 2011 and won the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He was made the winter favourite for the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby. On his three-year-old debut, Camelot won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and followed up by winning the Derby at Epsom and the Irish Derby at the Curragh. His bid for the Triple Crown failed when he finished runner-up to Encke in the St Leger.
Brian Boru is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Britain but was trained in Ireland. In a career which lasted from June 2002 until December 2004, he ran eighteen times and won four races. Brian Boru was made favourite for The Derby after winning the Racing Post Trophy in 2002. In September 2003 he recorded his most important win when winning the St Leger at Doncaster.
Boucher, was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In Ireland he won the Beresford Stakes as a two-year-old in 1971 and went on to win the Nijinsky Stakes and the Desmond Stakes in 1972. In September 1972 he was sent to England where he won the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster. At the end of the season he was retired to stand as a stallion in Australia, where he had some success as a sire of winners.
Ribero was an American-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from September 1967 until May 1969 he ran twelve times and won three races. He is best known for his performances in 1968 when he won two of the most important European races for three-year-olds; the Irish Derby, and the St Leger.
Premonition (1950–1970) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from autumn 1952 until July 1954 he ran fourteen times and won eight races. He won the Classic St Leger as a three-year-old in 1953, a year in which he also won the Great Voltigeur Stakes and was controversially disqualified in the Irish Derby. He won the Yorkshire Cup as a four-year-old in 1954 before being retire to stud, where he made very little impact as a stallion.
Virginia Waters is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from September 2004 to October 2005 she ran twelve times and won three races. After winning once from four starts as a two-year-old, she won the Group Three Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes on her first appearance of 2005. She then recorded her most important success when winning the Classic 1000 Guineas two of her six races including an upset win in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Virginia Waters failed to win her remaining six races, her best results coming when she finished fourth in The Oaks and second in the Matron Stakes. At the end of her three-year-old season she was retired from racing to become a broodmare.
Imagine was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1000 Guineas and The Oaks in 2001. In a racing career which lasted from August 2000 to June 2001 the filly ran ten times and won four races. As a two-year-old, Imagine ran six times, winning the Group Three C. L. Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh and finishing second in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. The following spring, the filly was beaten in her first two races before winning the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. Imagine recorded her most valuable success on her final appearance, winning the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She never raced again, but proved to be a successful broodmare.
Shahtoush was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning The Oaks in 1998. In a racing career which lasted from August 1997 to September 1998 the filly ran eleven times and won three races. Shahtoush won only one minor race as a two-year-old, but showed top-class form when she finished third in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. In 1998 she finished second in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse and then returned to England to win the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She was beaten in her two remaining races, finishing unplaced in the Yorkshire Oaks and the Irish Champion Stakes.
Hethersett (1959–1966) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for falling when favourite for The Derby and then winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1962. After showing promise as a two-year-old he was the highest-rated British three-year-old of 1962 when he also won the Brighton Derby Trial and the Great Voltigeur Stakes. After his success in the Leger, when he gave his trainer Dick Hern his first classic win, Hethersett never won again and was retired in 1963. He had a brief but successful stud career before his death at the age of seven.
US Army Ranger is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In May 2016 he won the Chester Vase on his second racecourse appearance and finished second when favourite for the 2016 Epsom Derby.
Nikoli was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning his only race as a juvenile he won the McCairns Trial Stakes on his three-year-old debut and then recorded his biggest win in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He started favourite for the 1980 Epsom Derby but finished seventh and ran poorly on his only subsequent start. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in the United States and Uruguay but had little success as a sire of winners.
Gonzales was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Unraced as a two-year-old he established himself as a high-class stayer in the following year winning the Gallinule Stakes, Blandford Stakes, and Irish St Leger as well as starting favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club. He was then sent to the United States where he was campaigned for two years to little effect. He made little impact as a breeding stallion.
Casual Conquest was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a two-year-old in 2007 he made a significant impact on his first appearance at three when he was an impressive winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. He finished when favourite for The Derby and ran second in the Irish Derby on his only other start of 2008. As a four-year-old he added wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Royal Whip Stakes but then sustained a serious leg injury in the Irish Champion Stakes. He was gelded at the end of that year and never raced again.
Capri is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 he won three of his five races including the Canford Cliffs Stakes and the Beresford Stakes as well as finishing third in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud. In the following year he was beaten in his first two races and finished sixth in The Derby before emerging as one of the best colts of his generation in Europe with wins in the Irish Derby and the St Leger. He won the Alleged Stakes on his four-year-old debut but failed to win in eleven subsequent starts and was retired from racing at the end of 2019.
Anthony Van Dyck was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2019 Epsom Derby. He was a top-class two-year-old in 2018 when he won three of his seven races including the Tyros Stakes and the Futurity Stakes as well as finishing second in the National Stakes and third in the Dewhurst Stakes. He won the Derby Trial Stakes on his three-year-old debut before taking the Epsom Derby on 1 June. Later that year he was placed in the Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf. He remained in training as a four-year-old in 2020, winning the Prix Foy and running second in both the Coronation Cup and the Caulfield Cup. He was euthanised after breaking down in the 2020 Melbourne Cup on 3 November 2020.
Galileo Chrome is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He finished unplaced on his only start as a juvenile in 2019 but made rapid improvement in the following year, winning his first four races including the Yeats Stakes and the St Leger Stakes