Weavers' Hall

Last updated

Weavers' Hall
Sire Busted
Grandsire Crepello
DamMarians
DamsireMacherio
SexStallion
Foaled1970 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
BreederMcGrath Trust Co
OwnerSeamus McGrath
TrainerSeamus McGrath
Record10: 2-3-1
Major wins
Irish Derby (1973)
Awards
Timeform rating 122 (1973)

Weavers' Hall (foaled 1970) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire bast known for his upset win in the 1973 Irish Derby. Bred, owned and trained by Seamus McGrath he won one minor race from four starts in 1972. In 1973 he finished second three times in spring before winning the Irish Derby at odds of 33/1. He then finished fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes before his racing career was ended by injury.

Contents

Background

Weavers' Hall was a "big, strong" [2] bay horse with no white markings bred in Ireland by the McGrath Trust Company, a breeding organisation run by his owner and trainer Seamus McGrath. [3] His sire Busted was the British Horse of the Year in 1967 [4] and sired many other good middle-distance performers including Bustino and Mtoto. [5]

Weavers' Hall was the second foal of his dam Marians who finished fourth in the Irish Oaks. She was a daughter of Damians, an influential and long-lived British broodmare whose other descendants have included Oasis Dream, Beat Hollow, More So, Zenda, Candy Glen (Premio Parioli), Wemyss Bight (Irish Oaks) and Ballydam (sire of Bally Ache) [6]

Racing career

1972: two-year-old season

Weavers' Hall began his track career racing over six furlongs, finishing unplaced on his debut and running third in his next two races. He was then moved up in distance and won a maiden race over seven furlongs. [2]

1973: three-year-old season

Weavers' Hall began his second season by finishing second to Starboard Buoy over seven furlongs. He was then moved up in class and distance for the Nijinsky Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse in which he was matched against older horses. He finished fifth behind Ballymore who recorded an upset victory over the 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto. In the Lumville Stakes over one mile at the Curragh Racecourse in May he finished third behind the dead heaters Status Seeker and Boone's Cabin but was promoted to second when Boone's Cabin was disqualified. In the Players-Wills Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown he finished second, beaten two lengths by the Vincent O'Brien-trained Hail The Pirates. [2]

On 30 June, Weavers' Hall, ridden by George McGrath (no relation to the owner/trainer), contested the Irish Derby over one and a half miles at the Curragh and started a 33/1 outsider in a fifteen-runner field. [7] Hail The Pirates started the 11/4 favourite whilst the other runners included Freefoot, Ksar and Ragapan (respectively third, fourth and fifth in the Epsom Derby) as well as Buoy, Natsun (Dee Stakes) and Laurentian Hills (Churchill Stakes). Park Lawn (also trained by McGrath) took the lead from the start and set an exceptionally strong pace from Buoy, Weavers' Hall and Laurentian Hills. Approaching the final turn Hail The Pirates began to make ground as Laurentian Hills and Park Lawn faded. Buoy took the lead in the straight but Weavers' Hall quickly gained the advantage and stayed on very strongly to win by two and a half lengths from Ragapan, with Buoy taking third ahead of Hail The Pirates and Ksar. After the race George McGrath said "we did not think he would do so well on fast ground, but once we hit the front I knew it would take a good horse to beat us". [8]

On his only subsequent start Weavers' Hall was sent to Ascot Racecourse for Britains most prestigious weight-for-age race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over one and a half miles. He was among the leaders from the start and stayed on well in the straight to finish fourth of the twelve runners behind Dahlia, Rheingold and Our Mirage. [2]

In the autumn of 1973, Weavers' Hall was scheduled to run in the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp Racecourse in September. When being transported in a horse-box to the Curragh for a training session he sustained a severed artery and was retired from racing. [2]

Assessment

In the 1972 Irish Free Handicap, a ranking of the leading Irish two-year-olds, Weavers' Hall was assigned a weight of 110 pounds, thirty pounds behind the top-rated Thatch. [9] In 1973 the independent Timeform organisation gave him a rating of 122, fourteen pounds behind Thatch, who was their top-rated three-year-old colt. [2]

Stud record

Weavers' Hall began his stud career at the Brownstown Stud, County Kildare at a fee of 2,000 guineas. [2] The best of his offspring was probably El Badr who won the Prix du Cadran in 1979. [10]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Weavers' Hall (IRE) bay stallion 1970 [1]
Sire
Busted (GB)
1963
Crepello (GB)
1954
Donatello Bleheim
Delleana
Crepuscule Mieuxce
Red Sunset
Sans le Sou (IRE)
1957
Vimy Wild Risk
Mimi
Martial Loan Court Martial
Loan
Dam
Marians (GB)
1963
Macherio (ITY)
1941
Ortello Teddy
Hollebeck
Mannozza Manna
Moireen Rhue
Damians (IRE)
1942
PanoramaSir Cosmo
Happy Climax
ThirteenBulger
Credenda (Family 19) [6]

Related Research Articles

Roberto (horse) American-bred, Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Roberto was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from 1971 until July 1973, he ran fourteen times and won seven races. He was the best Irish two-year-old of 1971, when his victories included the National Stakes. As a three-year-old, he won the Derby before recording a famous victory over Brigadier Gerard in the inaugural running of the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. This is regarded by many experts to have been one of the greatest ever performances on a European racecourse. He won the Coronation Cup as a four-year-old before being retired to stud. Roberto had fragile knees and required a left-handed track to perform to his best; he never won going right-handed. He was described by Lester Piggott as " a champion when things were in his favour". Roberto also proved to be a highly successful and influential stallion.

Assert (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

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 won four Group One races: the French Derby, 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.

Kings Lake was an American bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Despite not contesting any major races, he was rated one of the best two-year-old colts in Ireland in 1980 when he won two of his three starts. His three-year-old season was dominated by a rivalry with the British-trained colt To-Agori-Mou: Kings Lake won two of their four meetings, including the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes. Later that season he moved up in distance to win the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. He was retired to stud at the end of the season and had moderate success as a sire.

Dickens Hill was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. The colt showed promising form as a two-year-old in 1978, winning the Anglesey Stakes and being narrowly beaten by the English-trained Tap On Wood in the National Stakes. In the following year he emerged as the best Irish racehorse of his generation, winning the Ballymoss Stakes and the Irish 2000 Guineas in Ireland in spring and the weight-for-age Eclipse Stakes in Britain in July. He also finished runner-up to the outstanding English-trained colt Troy in both The Derby and the Irish Derby. At the end of his three-year-old season he was sold and exported to the United States where he made little impact as a racehorse and proved to be a disappointment as a breeding stallion.

Oats (1973–1990) was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed promise as a two-year-old before establishing himself as one of the best British colts of his generation in the following year when he won the Blue Riband Trial Stakes and finished third in The Derby. As a four-year-old he won the Jockey Club Stakes and the Ormonde Stakes before his career was ended by injury. After his retirement he became a very successful sire of National Hunt horses.

Saritamer was a Kentucky-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he was rated the third-best two-year-old in Ireland after winning the Anglesey Stakes and the Beresford Stakes. In the following year he became a specialised sprinter, excelling over six furlongs and winning the Greenlands Stakes, Cork and Orrery Stakes, July Cup and Diadem Stakes. He was named best sprinter of 1974 by Timeform. He later sired the middle-distance champion Time Charter, but was otherwise a complete failure at stud.

Buoy was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Unraced as a two-year-old, he proved himself one of the best middle-distance colts of his generation in 1973 when he won the Predominate Stakes and the Great Voltigeur Stakes and finished placed in both the Irish Derby and the St Leger. He was even better as a four-year-old, winning the Yorkshire Cup before beating the outstanding French filly Dahlia in the Coronation Cup and taking the Princess of Wales's Stakes. His career was ended by injury in August 1974 and he was exported to stand as a breeding stallion where he had limited success as a sire of winners.

Malacate was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed some promise as a two-year-old in 1975, before emerging as one of the leading colts of his generation in Europe in the following year. His performances in 1976 included wins in the Prix La Force, Irish Derby and the first running of the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes, in addition to running well in races such as the Prix du Jockey Club, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Champion Stakes. After failing in his first season at stud he returned to racing in 1977 and won the Prix Foy. He was then retired for a second time and had some success as a sire or winners in Japan.

Sarah Siddons was a French-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She was a well-bred mare, being descended from a half-sister of the outstanding Irish racehorse Ragusa. As a two-year-old in 1975 she showed promise when winning her only race of the season. In the following year she was rated the best three-year-old filly trained in the British Isles in a division which was otherwise dominated by French-trained horses. She recorded Group One wins in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as finishing second to Lagunette in both the Irish Oaks and the Prix Vermeille. She failed to win as a four-year-old, but became a very successful broodmare.

Northern Treasure was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1975 he won twice, finished second six times and third once from nine races, showing consistent form but appearing to be some way short of top class. In the following spring he was beaten in his first four races before recording an upset win in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He continued his improvement when moved up in distance, winning the Blandford Stakes and finishing third in both the Irish Derby and the Champion Stakes. After his retirement from racing he was exported to stand as a breeding stallion in Australia.

Pampapaul was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he was one of the best colts of his generation in Ireland, winning the National Stakes and being placed in both the Railway Stakes and the Royal Lodge Stakes. In the following spring he recorded his biggest success with an upset victory over The Minstrel and Nebbiolo in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but failed to reproduce the form and was well-beaten in his last three races. He made a very promising start as a breeding stallion but died in 1979 after only two seasons at stud.

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.

Wassl was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he showed great promise when winning on his debut but missed the rest of the season through injury. In the following spring he won the Greenham Stakes and then rebounded from a poor run in the 2000 Guineas to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He failed to win again in 1983 but was placed in the Sussex Stakes, Prix du Moulin and Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. He dead-heated for first place in the Lockinge Stakes on his first run of 1984 but was well beaten in his four other races as a four-year-old. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in Ireland and Japan and had limited success as a sire of winners.

Furry Glen was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was one of the best Irish two-year-old of 1973 when he won the Marble Hill Stakes and the Mullion Stakes as well as finishing third in the Coventry Stakes. In the following year, he was narrowly beaten in the Vauxhall Trial Stakes before recording his biggest success in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He was beaten in his next three races when tried over longer distances before ending his career with a win in the Whitehall Stakes. After he retired from racing, he became a very successful sire of National Hunt horses.

Ballymore was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A talented although somewhat fragile horse, who was difficult to train, he made only five racecourse appearances but recorded two major victories. Unraced as a juvenile he made a notable racecourse debut by winning the Irish 2000 Guineas by three lengths in May 1972. He was beaten in a slowly-run edition of the Gallinule Stakes and then finished third in the Irish Derby before missing the rest of the season. He ran poorly on his first run as a four-year-old but then defeated Roberto at level weights in the Nijinsky Stakes in May. He never ran again and was retired from racing at the end of the year. He had some success as a breeding stallion in Ireland.

Conor Pass was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a durable and consistent campaigner who ran at least 29 times in his three-year track career. As a juvenile in 1972 he won two minor events and was placed in several good races including the Railway Stakes. In the following year he was tried over a wide variety of distances, winning handicaps over seven furlongs and one mile before recording his biggest win in the Irish St Leger over one and three-quarter miles. He remained in training as a four-year-old and won two races including a Group 2 contest at Leopardstown Racecourse. After his retirement from racing he became a breeding stallion in Poland and had some success as a sire of winners.

Mistigri was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist stayer who competed in at least five countries, he was campaigned for four seasons from 1973 to 1976 and won four of his 24 races. His two major successes came when he won the Irish St. Leger as a three-year-old and the Desmond Stakes a year later. He was placed in several other good races and looked unlucky to be disqualified after finishing second in the Ascot Gold Cup. After his retirement from racing he had some success as a sire of steeplechase horses.

Gregorian was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a very impressive winner of his only race as a two-year-old but ran third on his only appearance at three. He emerged as a top-class middle-distance performer in 1980, winning the Westbury Stakes and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in England before recording his biggest win in the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes, which was then the only Group 1 in Ireland open to older horses. He also finished third in both the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in the United States.

Inkerman was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Trained in Ireland as a three-year-old, he won his first two races including the Gallinule Stakes and then finished unplaced when favourite for The Derby. Later that year he recorded his biggest win in Europe when he won the Group 1 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. After being sold for a world record sum he was transferred to the United States where he won the Sunset Handicap in 1980. He later stood as a breeding stallion but had very little success as a sire of winners.

Achieved was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won four of his nine races in a track career which lasted from July 1981 to September 1982. As a two-year-old he was undefeated in three starts including the Phoenix Stakes and the Champagne Stakes and was rated the best horse of his generation in Ireland. In the following year he won the Tetrarch Stakes and later finished third in both the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He was retired at the end of the year to become a breeding stallion but had no success as a sire of winners.

References

  1. 1 2 "Weavers' Hall pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Timeform staff (1974). Racehorses of 1973. Timeform.
  3. "Retired Irish Trainer Seamus McGrath Dead". The Blood-Horse. 6 July 2005.
  4. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN   0-85112-902-1.
  5. Timeform staff (1988). Racehorses of 1987. Timeform. ISBN   0-900599-46-4.
  6. 1 2 "Davill's Old Woodcock Mare - Family 19". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  7. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN   9781901570151.
  8. Associated Press staff (2 July 1973). "Weavers' Hall wins Irish Sweeps". Montreal Gazette.
  9. Timeform staff (1973). Racehorses of 1972. Timeform.
  10. Timeform staff (1980). Racehorses of 1979. Timeform. ISBN   0-900599-29-4.