Pont l'Eveque (horse)
Pont l’Eveque | |
---|---|
Sire | Stallion |
Foaled | 25 May 1937 |
Country | Britain |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Henry E. Morriss |
Owner | Fred Darling |
Trainer | Fred Darling |
Record | 7: 3-2-1 |
Earnings | £ |
Major wins | |
New Derby (1940) |
Pont l’Eveque (1937– after 1957) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from 1939 until 1940 he ran seven times and won three races. His most important success came in 1940 when he won the “New Derby”, a wartime substitute for The Derby run at Newmarket. He had not been thought good enough to be included among the original Derby nominations, but was allowed to enter when the race was rearranged. He was retired to stud at the end of the season and exported to Argentina in 1942.
Background
Pont l’Eveque was a very late foal, born at the end of the breeding season on 25 May, making him probably the youngest horse to win the Derby. He had conceived in France but imported to England “in utero” by his breeder and first owner, the Shanghai-based bullion-broker Henry E. Morriss. He was a small bay horse who was never particularly striking or attractive, being described as looking “plain” and “mean”.[1] Pont l’Eveque’s sire was Barneveldt, a leading racehorse in France, who won the Grand Prix de Paris in 1931.[2] His dam, Ponteba produced no other runners of any consequence, but was a half sister of the 1935 Royal Hunt Cup winner Priok.
Partly because of his unprepossessing appearance and lack of size it was not considered worthwhile in entering him for the
Racing career
1939: two-year-old season
Pont l’Eveque showed little ability as a two-year-old, running twice without success. He was unplaced on his debut and then ran second in the Beaufort Handicap, a minor event at Newmarket. He was far inferior to his stable companion Tant Mieux, who was the highest-rated two-year-old of the season.
1940: three-year-old season
Horses are entered for the British Classic Races as yearlings. Today a horse may be “supplemented” for the race at a later date for a substantially increased entry fee, but no such arrangement existed in 1940. The outbreak of war however, meant that most racing was cancelled or re-arranged and when the decision was taken to run a substitute “Derby” at an alternative venue (
Pont l’Eveque’s three-year-old debut provided evidence of his progress as he was a very easy winner of a twenty-two runner
Arrangements for the New Derby were fluid, but after plans to run the race at Newbury were abandoned,
Pont l’Eveque was then off the course for four months before returning in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on 30 October. He was expected to win,[14] but failed to reproduce his summer form and finished third to Hippius. He missed an intended run in the substitute "Yorkshire St Leger" at Thirsk,[15] and was then retired to stud.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Pont l'Eveque an “inferior” Derby winner.[16]
Stud career
Wartime restrictions meant that there were limited opportunities for British stallions during the early 1940s,[17] and after only two seasons at stud, Pont l’Eveque was sold and exported to the Ojo de Agua stud in Argentina.[18] He was not a great success although he did sire one good horse in Cabure, who finished second in the 1946 Gran Premio Nacional. He was also the damsire of Atlas (Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini) and Contadera (Argentinian Oaks).[19] The date of his death is not recorded, but his last foals would appear to have been conceived in 1957 or 1958.[20]
Pedigree
Sire Barneveldt (FR) 1928 |
The Winter King 1918 |
Son-in-Law | Dark Ronald |
---|---|---|---|
Mother In Law | |||
Signorinetta | Chaleureux | ||
Signorina | |||
Black Domino 1917 |
Black Jester | Polymelus | |
Absurdity | |||
Osyrua | Desmond | ||
Lady Candahar | |||
Dam Ponteba (FR) 1930 |
Belfonds 1922 |
Isard | Le Samaritain |
Irish Idyll | |||
La Buire | Perth | ||
Lark | |||
Poet’s Star 1917 |
Chaucer | St. Simon | |
Canterbury Pilgrim | |||
Lady Cynosure | Cyllene | ||
Maid Marian(Family: 3f) |
References
- ^ ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- ^ "FRENCH-BRED DERBY WINNER". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1940-06-15. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ a b "RACING IN ENGLAND". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1940-05-23. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Frederick Darling". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Newspaper Article". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1940-06-14. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "SPORTING". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1940-06-13. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ a b "PONT L'EVEQUE'S WIN". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1940-07-18. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "HORSE PLAY". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Newspaper Article". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1940-06-08. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Newspaper Article". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1940-09-19. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Newspaper Article". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1940-06-13. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Samuel Wragg". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
- ^ "Newspaper Article". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1946-12-21. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Argentina Race Charts". www.tbheritage.com.
- ^ "Pont Leveque Offspring". Pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "English Derby Winner: Pont l'Eveque". Chef-de-race.com. Retrieved 2011-11-14.