Colorado (horse)
| Colorado | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Phalaris |
| Grandsire | Polymelus |
| Dam | Canyon |
| Damsire | Chaucer |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1923 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Colour | Dark Bay or Brown |
| Breeder | Lord Derby |
| Owner | Lord Derby |
| Trainer | George Lambton |
| Record | 16: 9-1-2 |
| Earnings | £30,358 |
| Major wins | |
|
Coventry Stakes (1925) 2000 Guineas (1926) Princess of Wales's Stakes (1927) Eclipse Stakes (1927) | |
| Last updated on January 10, 2008 | |
Colorado (1923–1929) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won the 2000 Guineas in 1926 and the Eclipse Stakes in 1927. He was also noted for his rivalry with the Derby winner Coronach whom he defeated on three of their four meetings.
Until the emergence of Fairway at the end of the decade, Colorado was regarded as the best racehorse sired by Phalaris, who became the most influential stallion of the 20th Century. His dam, Canyon, won the 1000 Guineas in 1916 and was a successful broodmare. In addition to Colorado she produced the Eclipse Stakes winner Caerleon.
He was a small, but powerfully built colt standing just over 15 hands, known to be a particular favourite of his owner, Lord Derby. He was trained at Lord Derby's Stanley House stable by George Lambton who found him a difficult horse to prepare because of his habit of "choking" in exercise gallops.
Colorado was a leading two-year-old in 1925, winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the Free Handicap, an official assessment of the year's two-year-olds, Colorado was assesses on 118lbs, eight pounds below the joint topweights Coronach and Legatee.
At three he won the Union Jack Stakes over a mile at Liverpool in March but worked poorly before the 2000 Guineas and started at 100/8 behind the strongly favoured Coronach. Colorado "dashed" into the lead in the final furlong and went clear to win by five lengths, giving Lord Derby his first win in the race.
He started favourite for the Derby but Coronach reversed the placings, winning by five lengths, with Colorado losing second place by a short head to Lancegaye. Weston, was certain that he would have at least been closer at Epsom if he had not been instructed to employ exaggerated waiting tactics. His cause was not helped when he had to swerve when a spectator's dog ran onto the course. In his next race Colorado started odds-on favourite for the Rous Memorial Stakes at Royal Ascot, but finished third of the four runners.
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