Attila (horse)

Attila
Attila, by John Ferneley
Sire	Colwick
Grandsire	Filho da Puta
Dam	Progress
Damsire	Langar
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1839
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay or brown
Breeder	Colonel Hancox
Owner	George Anson
Trainer	John Scott
Record	13:8-1-1
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1842) Port Stakes (1843)

Attila (1839–1846) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from August 1841 to June 1844 he ran thirteen times and won eight races. He began his career with a run of six successive wins, culminating in the 1843 Derby. His later form was disappointing and he never won another competitive race: his two subsequent "victories" were the result of walkovers in races in which he was unopposed. He had little chance to prove himself as a stallion as he died at the age of seven from injuries sustained in an accident on board a ship in the English Channel.

Attila was a small, but strongly built colt of a rich bay or brown colour with a white blaze. He was described as good-tempered horse with a "peculiar, Arab-looking head" but "excellent loins" and "very fine quarters". Attila was bred Colonel Hancox who owned him as a yearling before the colt was acquired by Colonel George Anson, who accepted him in payment of a debt of £220. Anson sent Attila into training with John Scott who trained forty classic winners at his base at Whitewall stables, Malton, North Yorkshire.

Attila's sire, Colwick, a descendant of Sir Peter Teazle was a successful but unexceptional racehorse who had stood at a fee of 10 guineas at Bonehill Farm near Fazeley in Staffordshire, as well as covering mares for Lord Exeter at Burleigh, although his fee doubled after Attila's successes. He was known for siring both racehorses and hunters. Attila's dam, Progress, was a sister to Miss Cobden, who produced the Grand National winner Freetrader. According to "Sylvanus", writing in Bentley's Miscellany, Attila had a distinctive habit of racing with his head "remarkably low".

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