Doricles

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Doricles
St Leger
(1901)

Doricles (1898–1916) was a British

40/1 upset victory in the St Leger Stakes
. He failed to win again and was retired to become a breeding stallion in France.

Background

Doricles was a "beautiful"[3] brown horse bred in the United Kingdom. During his racing career he was owned by his breeder Leopold de Rothschild[4] and trained by Alfred Hayhoe at the Palace House stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Doricles was one of the first crop of foals sired by Florizel II, a high class racehorse and a brother to the Derby winners Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee. Doricles' dam Rosalie also produced St Rosalia, an influential broodmare whose descendants have included Kelso, Alysheba, Farma Way, Bel Bolide and Quiet Reflection.[5]

Racing career

1900: two-year-old season

Doricles made his debut in the 48th Triennial Stakes at

10/1. In a "fine race" Doricles dead-heated for first place with Veles with Handicapper among the unplaced finishers.[7]

1901: three-year-old season

Doricles' owner Leopold de Rothschild

On 1 May 1901 Doricles made his three-year-old debut in the

1000 Guineas winner Aida in third, after what was described as "one of the finest struggles ever seen".[9] In the Epsom Derby over 1+1⁄2 miles on 5 June Doricles came home seventh of the twenty-five runners behind Volodyovski.[10] On 23 July at Liverpool the colt started 5/2 favourite for the eleven furlong Saint George Stakes, but was beaten a length into second place by Fortunatus.[11] At Brighton Racecourse on 7 August Doricles recorded his first success for over a year when he won the ten furlong Brighton Cup "easily" from four opponents.[12] A week before running in the St Leger the colt won again, taking the Champion Breeders' Biennial Foal Stakes at Derby Racecourse by half a length at odds of 4/7.[13]

On 11 September Doricles, ridden by Kempton Cannon, started a 40/1 outsider in a thirteen-runner field for the 126th running of the St Leger Stakes over 14+1⁄2 furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse. Volodyovski started the 5/6 favourite while the other runners included Fortunatus, Veronese (Prince of Wales's Stakes), Jacobite (Grand Prix de Deauville), Aida and the Irish-bred Revenue. After settling behind leaders for most of the way, Doricles moved into contention in the straight, gained the advantage approaching the final furlong, and fought off the challenge of Volodyovski to win by a neck. Revenue was three lengths back in third place ahead of Pietmaritzburg. Lester Reiff, the rider of the runner-up, lodged an objection to the winner on the grounds of "bumping", but the racecourse stewards upheld the result.[14] The colt's victory was a first classic success for Cannon and the winning time 3.08.4 was a new record for the race.[15]

The Kempton Park Stakes in October attracted a very strong field and saw Doricles finish fourth behind the four-year-old gelding Epsom Lad.[16] Later that month the colt ran in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and finished third of the three runners behind Osboch and Pietmaritzburg.[17]

Doricles ended the year with earnings of £6,955, making him the fifth most successful racehorse of the season.[2]

1902: four-year-old season

Doricles remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to recover his best form.[18] In early spring he was beaten by St Maclou in a Biennial Stakes at Newmarket,[19] and then ran unplaced behind First Principal in the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom.[20]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Doricles an "average" winner of the St Leger.[21]

Stud record

Doricles was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion in France at the stud of the

Duc de Gramont.[22] The most notable of his offspring was Consols, who sired the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Massine. He died at the stud of Mr. Prat in 1916.[23]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Doricles (GB), brown stallion, 1898[1]
Sire
Florizel II (GB)
1891 		St. Simon (GB)
1881 		Galopin Vedette
Flying Duchess
St Angela King Tom
Adeline
Perdita (GB)
1881 		Hampton Lord Clifden
Lady Langden
Hermione Young Melbourne
La Belle Helene
Dam
Rosalie (GB)
1884 		Rosicrucian (GB)
1865　 		Beadsman Weatherbit
Mendicant
Madame Eglentine Cowl
Diversion
Pitteri (GB)
1868 		The Prime Minister Melbourne
Pantalonade
Lurley Orlando
Snowdrop (Family 20)[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Doricles pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ^ a b "Sporting". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 9 January 1902. p. 8 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  3. ^ "Dates of Coming Events". Auckland Star. 14 September 1901. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
  4. New Zealand Herald
    . 13 September 1901. p. 5 – via Papers Past.
  5. ^ a b "Daffodil's Dam - Family 20". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  6. ^ "Racing at Headquarters". Otago Witness. 23 August 1900. p. 39 – via Papers Past.
  7. ^ "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 23 August 1900. p. 43 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 19 June 1901. p. 51 – via Papers Past.
  9. ^ "Newmarket Second Spring Meeting". The Star (Christchurch). 17 May 1901. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
  10. ^ "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 24 July 1901. p. 55 – via Papers Past.
  11. ^ "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 11 September 1901. p. 48 – via Papers Past.
  12. ^ "English St. Leger". Otago Witness. 18 September 1901. p. 46 – via Papers Past.
  13. ^ "Racing in England. Derby Meeting". Otago Witness. 23 October 1901. p. 49 – via Papers Past.
  14. ^ "Bacing in Englakd". Otago Witness. 30 October 1901. p. 53 – via Papers Past.
  15. Evening Star (Dunedin)
    . 30 October 1901. p. 7 – via Papers Past.
  16. ^ "Sport of All Kinds". Evening Star (Dunedin). 4 December 1901. p. 7 – via Papers Past.
  17. New Zealand Herald
    . 14 December 1901. p. 6 – via Papers Past.
  18. ^ "The Racing World". Auckland Star. 21 February 1903. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
  19. ^ "Sporting". New Zealand Herald. 24 May 1902. p. 6 – via Papers Past.
  20. The Australasian
    . 31 May 1902. p. 21 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  21. ISBN 1-901570-15-0
    .
  22. ^ "Sporting". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 3 December 1902. p. 3 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  23. ^ "Etalons Anglais". Register des Chevaux de Pur Sang. 17: 20. 1918.
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