Trophonius (horse)

Trophonius
Trophonius
Sire	2000 Guineas (1811); Newmarket Stakes (1811)

Trophonius (foaled 1808) was a British

2000 Guineas in 1811. Trophonius won his first three races at Newmarket Racecourse in the spring of 1811, including the Guineas and the Newmarket Stakes on the following afternoon, but ran disappointingly when favourite for The Derby. He never recovered his best form and was beaten in his remaining seven races. Shortly after his retirement he was sold and exported to stand as a breeding stallion in Russia

.

Background

Trophonius was a

St. Leger winner Soothsayer and the Oaks winners Morel, Maid of Orleans and Sorcery.^[1] Trophonius was the second of only three foals produced by his dam,^[2] an unnamed daughter of Dungannon bred by Dennis O'Kelly.^[3]

Trophonius's racing career overlapped with that of a horse of the same name owned by the Earl of Darlington: the Guineas winner was sometimes known as Black Trophonius to distinguish him from his bay namesake.^[4] He was owned throughout his racing career by Robert Andrew.

Racing career

1811: three-year-old season

Trophonius began his racing career on 17 April 1811 at the Craven meeting at

Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. He started the 3/1 favourite but finished unplaced behind Phantom

.

Trophonius did not race again for almost five months. He was entered in two races at Newmarket's First October meeting but was withdrawn from both events, with Robert Andrew paying a forfeit on both occasions. At the Houghton meeting on 28 October, Trophonius ran in two matches on the same day. He was beaten by Mr Shakespear's filly Sprite over five

furlongss and by the Duke of Grafton's Web over the two-mile Ditch-In course.^[10]

1812: four-year-old season

Trophonius remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to win in five races beginning with an unplaced effort behind Rainbow in a sweepstakes at Newmarket on 1 May. He did not race again until the autumn when he was beaten in two match races by Mr Shakespear's colt Hydaspes at the First and Second October meetings.[11] Trophonius was entered in three races at the Houghton meeting, which began on 26 October. He was withdrawn from the Garden Stakes, finished third to Woful in a handicap race over the Abington Mile and was beaten by Lord Jersey's three-year-old Orson in a five furlong match.^[12]

Stud career

Trophonius was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion but made no impact in Britain. He was later sold and exported to Russia.^[2]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Trophonius (GB), black stallion, 1808^[13]
Sire Sorcerer (GB) 1796	Trumpator 1782	Conductor*	Matchem*
		Conductor*	Snap Mare*
		Brunette	Squirrel*
		Brunette	Dove
	Young Giantess 1790	Diomed	Florizel
		Diomed	Sister to Juno
		Giantess	Matchem*
		Giantess	Molly Longlegs
Dam Dungannon mare(GB) 1800	Dungannon 1780	Eclipse	Marske
		Eclipse	Spilletta
		Aspasia	Herod
		Aspasia	Doris
	Flirtilla 1783	Conductor*	Matchem*
		Conductor*	Snap mare*
		Flirt	Squirrel*
		Flirt	Helen (Family 9-d)^[3]

* Trophonius is inbred 3S × 3D to the stallion Conductor, meaning that he appears third generation on the sire side of his pedigree and third generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

* Trophonius is inbred 4S × 4S x 4D to the stallion Matchem, meaning that he appears twice fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and once fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

* Trophonius is inbred 4S × 4D to the stallion Squirrel, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

* Trophonius is inbred 4S × 4D to the mare Snap mare, meaning that she appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

References

^ "Sorcerer". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
^ ^a ^b The General stud book. Vol. 2. C, J, E and JP Weatherby. 1869. p. 80. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ ^a ^b "Throughbred Bloodlines - Mab - Family 9-d". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Edward and James Weatherby (1814). Racing calendar. 1813. C H Reynell. p. 367. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 6. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Sporting magazine (1811). J Wheble. 1811. p. 348. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
^ Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 18. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Sporting magazine (1811). J Wheble. 1811. p. 349. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 20. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 194. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Edward and James Weatherby (1813). Racing calendar. 1812. C H Reynell. p. 142. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ Edward and James Weatherby (1813). Racing calendar. 1812. C H Reynell. p. 170. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
^ "Trophonius pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[1] "Sorcerer". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-12-24.

[hathitrust1-2] The General stud book. Vol. 2. C, J, E and JP Weatherby. 1869. p. 80. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[bloodlines1-3] "Throughbred Bloodlines - Mab - Family 9-d". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[4] Edward and James Weatherby (1814). Racing calendar. 1813. C H Reynell. p. 367. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[5] Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 6. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[6] Sporting magazine (1811). J Wheble. 1811. p. 348. Retrieved 2022-01-31.

[7] Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 18. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[8] Sporting magazine (1811). J Wheble. 1811. p. 349. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[9] Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 20. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[10] Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1811. C H Reynell. p. 194. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[11] Edward and James Weatherby (1813). Racing calendar. 1812. C H Reynell. p. 142. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[12] Edward and James Weatherby (1813). Racing calendar. 1812. C H Reynell. p. 170. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

[13] "Trophonius pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

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