Festoon (horse)
Festoon | |
---|---|
Sire | 1000 Guineas (1954) (1954)Coronation Stakes |
Festoon (1951–1973) was a British
. She was then retired to stud where she produced several winners.Background
Festoon was a chestnut mare with a prominent white
Festoon was trained throughout her brief career by Noel Cannon at the
Racing career
Festoon was slow to mature as a two-year-old and ran only once in 1953, winning a minor race over six furlongs.[5]
On her first appearance as a three-year-old, Festoon finished second to Key in the 1000 Guineas Trial at
Festoon was nevertheless moved up in distance again for the Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. Ridden by Joe Mercer, who took over the ride after Breasley was badly injured in a fall in a race at Alexandra Park,[10] she finished fifth to the French-trained filly Sun Cap, apparently failing to stay the distance. At Royal Ascot, Festoon returned to one mile to contest the Coronation Stakes. Ridden again by Mercer she started 11/8 favourite and won impressively[5] from Sybil's Niece. On her final appearance, Festoon was matched against colts in the one mile Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July. In a race run in atrocious weather she started 2/1 second favourite behind the Queen's colt Landau. Festoon challenged Landau for the lead in the straight but weakened in the closing stages and lost second place to Orthopaedic in the closing stages.[11]
Assessment and honours
In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Festoon an "average" winner of the 1000 Guineas.[12]
Breasley considered Festoon one of the best horses he had ridden up to that time, comparing her to the outstanding Australian mare Tranquil Star.[13]
Stud record
On the death of John Arthur Dewar in August 1954,[2] shortly after Festoon's last race, his bloodstock was dispersed at auction. At the Newmarket sales in December Festoon was bought by Anthony Askew for 36,000 guineas,[14] reported as a world record price for a broodmare. As a broodmare she produced five winners, two of which were close to top class: Pindaric[15] (sired by Pinza), won the Lingfield Derby Trial in 1962, while Atilla (sic),[16] by Alcide, was a successful international performer whose wins included the Gran Premio del Jockey Club and the Grosser Preis von Baden.[5] Festoon died in 1973 at the San Quentin stud.[17]
Pedigree
Sire Fair Trial |
Fairway | Phalaris | Polymelus |
---|---|---|---|
Bromus | |||
Scapa Flow | Chaucer | ||
Anchora | |||
Lady Juror | Son-In-Law | Dark Ronald | |
Mother In Law | |||
Lady Josephine | Sundridge | ||
Americus Girl | |||
Dam Monsoon |
Umidwar | Blandford
|
Swynford |
Blanche | |||
Uganda | Bridaine | ||
Hush | |||
Heavenly Wind | Tai-Yang | Solario | |
Soubriquet | |||
Godetia | Winalot | ||
Rose Red (Family: 1-w)[4] |
References
- ^ "Festoon image". sporthorse-data.com. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ a b ""Lucky" Dewar,racehorse owner and whisky chief, dead". Evening Times. 17 August 1954. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Person Profile : John Dewar". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ a b "Queen Bertha – Family 1-w". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- ^ "Festoon captures British classic". Leader-Post. 1 May 1954. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Jockeys' titles, Derby winners, injuries and libel trials in long career of the man from Wagga Wagga". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Festoon first at 9-2". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Falstaff may be second Pearl Diver". Evening Times. 22 May 1954. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Scobie Breasley – Obituaries". The Independent. 2006-12-22. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "The Queen's fourteenth winner". Evening Times. 28 July 1954. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
- ^ "Breasley has soft spot for Festoon". The Mercury (Hobart). 9 December 1954. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Record price for UK mare". The Age. 8 December 1954. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Pindaric pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ "Atilla pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ Weatherby (1977). "Festoon". General Stud Book. 38: 543.
- ^ "Festoon pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-25.