Polemarch (horse)
Polemarch | |
---|---|
Sire | St Leger (1921) |
Polemarch (1918 – after 1937) was a British
Background
Polemarch was a "leggy"
He was sired by The Tetrarch an unbeaten horse who was regarded as one of the fastest two-year-old ever seen in Britain and Ireland, but whose career was ended by injury before he could race at three. The Tetrarch showed very little interest in his stud duties: his attitude towards sex was described as being "monastic in the extreme".[4] Although he sired few foals his progeny included several major winners. Polemarch's dam Pomace, was a full-sister to the Middle Park Stakes winner Corcyra.[5]
The colt's name, which was an ancient Greek military title, caused some confusion: although the correct pronunciation was polly-mark, bookmakers and the racing public called him pole-march.[6]
Racing career
1920: two-year-old season
Polemarch ran five times as a two-year-old in 1920. He finished unplaced on his debut at Newmarket in July and first came to attention when finishing second in the Wynyard Plate at
On his final appearance of the season on 15 October at
1921: three-year-old season
For the 1921 season, Polemarch was transferred to the training stable of Tom Green but his early form was disappointing. He finished down the field behind
On 7 September Polemarch, ridden by
1922: four-year-old season
Polemarch remained in training as a four-year-old but made little impact having apparently "acquired an acute distaste for racing".
Assessment and honours
In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Polemarch a "poor" winner of the St Leger.[22]
Stud record
On 1 August 1922 it was announced that Polemarch had been sold to stand as a breeding stallion[23] and he was shipped to Buenos Aires in the following month. During the voyage he became "exceedingly savage", biting several crew members and passengers and causing "general havoc" aboard the ship.[24]
Polemarch had considerable success in Argentina and sired the winners of six Argentinian classics:
- La Cloche (bay filly 1924). Won Gran Premio Seleccion (Argentine Oaks)[25]
- Hechicero (chestnut colt, 1925). Won Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Argentinian 2,000 Guineas)[26]
- Salmuera (chestnut filly, 1926). Won Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (Argentinian 1,000 Guineas),[27] Gran Premio Seleccion[25]
- Fe Ciego (chestnut filly, 1929). Won Gran Premio Seleccion[25]
- Vino Puro (chestnut colt, 1934). Won Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos[26]
Pedigree
Sire The Tetrarch (IRE) 1911 |
Roi Herode (FR) 1904 |
Le Samaritain | Le Sancy |
---|---|---|---|
Clementina (GB) | |||
Roxelane | War Dance | ||
Rose of York (GB) | |||
Vahren (GB) 1897 |
Bona Vista | Bend Or | |
Vista | |||
Castania | Hagioscope | ||
Rose Garden | |||
Dam Pomace (GB) 1913 |
Polymelus (GB) 1902 |
Cyllene | Bona Vista |
Arcadia | |||
Maid Marian | Hampton | ||
Quiver | |||
Pearmain (GB) 1905 |
Persimmon | St Simon
| |
Perdita | |||
Nenemoosha | Hagioscope | ||
Wenonah (Family 6-f)[5] |
- Polemarch was inbred 3 × 4 to Bona Vista, meaning that this stallion appears in both the third and fourth generations of his pedigree.
References
- ^ a b "Polemarch pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ a b "Turf Jottings from Everywhere". The Referee. 26 July 1922. p. 4 – via Trove.
- ^ "Turf Jottings". The Referee. 2 November 1920. p. 4 – via Trove.
- ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- ^ a b "Testatrix – Family 6-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
- The Australasian. 30 October 1920. p. 19 – via Trove.
- The Australasian. 2 October 1920. p. 21 – via Trove.
- ^ "Racing and Trotting". The Star. 29 October 1920. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
- ^ a b "Sports and Pastimes". Waikato Times. 21 September 1921. p. 9 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 19 October 1920. p. 41 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Turf Notes". Auckland Star. 29 October 1921. p. 18 – via Papers Past.
- The Australasian. 17 September 1921. p. 18 – via Trove.
- The Australasian. 8 October 1921. p. 24 – via Trove.
- ^ a b "Polemarch's St Leger". The Referee. 19 October 1921. p. 3 – via Trove.
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald. 3 October 1921. p. 7 – via Trove.
- ^ a b "Extract of Sport". Sydney Sportsman. 19 October 1921. p. 2 – via Trove.
- ^ "Sporting". The New Zealand Herald. 9 September 1921. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
- ^ a b "Sporting". The Press. 2 August 1922. p. 12 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Not Back to Form". The Referee. 28 June 1922. p. 1 – via Trove.
- ^ "Sporting Notes from Home". The Australasian. 29 July 1922. p. 20 – via Trove.
- ^ "Sporting". The Press. 28 August 1922. p. 10 – via Papers Past.
- ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
- ^ "Sporting". The New Zealand Herald. 2 August 1922. p. 5 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Sporting". The Press. 21 November 1922. p. 9 – via Papers Past.
- ^ a b c "Gran Premio Seleccion Winners". www.tbheritage.com.
- ^ a b "Gran Premo Polla de Potrillos". www.tbheritage.com.
- ^ "Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas Winners". www.tbheritage.com.