Captain Cuttle

Captain Cuttle
Captain Cuttle in a photograph by Frank Griggs.
Sire	Hurry On
Grandsire	Marcovil
Dam	Bellavista
Damsire	Cyllene
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1919
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Lord Woolavington
Owner	Lord Woolavington
Trainer	Fred Darling
Record	6: 4-1-1
Earnings	£
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1922) St. James's Palace Stakes (1922)

Captain Cuttle was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He ran only six times in a career which was restricted by chronic injury problems. He was the outstanding British colt of his generation, winning the Epsom Derby and the St. James's Palace Stakes in 1922. He retired after winning his only race as a four-year-old in 1923.

Captain Cuttle, an exceptionally good-looking chestnut horse with a broad white blaze and three white socks, was bred by his owner Lord Woolavington. He was from the first crop of foals sired by the unbeaten champion, Hurry On, making him a representative of the Godolphin Arabian sire line. Apart from Captain Cuttle, Hurry On sired the winners of seven Classics including the Derby winners Coronach and Call Boy. His most influential son was the Ascot Gold Cup winner Precipitation, who sired four classic winners.

Captain Cuttle was named after the character in Dickens' novel Dombey and Son. Like his sire, Captain Cuttle was trained throughout his career by Fred Darling at Beckhampton in Wiltshire, and was ridden in his most important races by the leading British jockey of the era Steve Donoghue. The colt was particularly devoted to his trainer, following him "like a pet dog."

Captain Cuttle was a slow-maturing colt and was not highly-tried at two. He made only one appearance on the racecourse, finishing second in a minor race at Doncaster. Captain Cuttle's heavy physique and immaturity put a strain on his forelegs, leading Darling to treat him very carefully, riding the colt himself in most of his exercise work.