Grey Sovereign

Grey Sovereign
Sire	Nasrullah
Grandsire	Nearco
Dam	Kong
Damsire	Baytown
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1948
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Grey
Breeder	William Hill
Owner	J K Measures
Trainer	George Beeby
Record	22-8-2-1
Major wins
Richmond Stakes (1950)

Grey Sovereign (1948–1976) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a racehorse he was a successful sprinter but not a champion, recording his biggest success when he won the Richmond Stakes as a two-year-old in 1950. His career was compromised by his difficult and unpredictable temperament. After his retirement from racing he became a successful and influential breeding stallion.

Grey Sovereign was a grey horse bred by the bookmaker William Hill. He was sired by Nasrullah who was the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1951 and went on went on to become the Leading sire in North America on five occasions. Grey Sovereign's dam, Kong, was a sprinter whose victories included the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Kong also produced Grey Sovereign's three-quarter brother Nimbus (sired by Nasrullah's sire Nearco) who won the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby in 1949.

As a yearling Grey Sovereign was offered for sale. George Colling, who had trained Nimbus, was interested in the colt but was deterred from buying him by his fractious behaviour in the sales ring. He was bought for 6,700 guineas by J K Measures and sent into training with George Beeby.

As a racehorse, Grey Sovereign was described as "brilliant but hot-tempered". He recorded his most important success as a two-year-old when he won the Richmond Stakes over six furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse. In the same year he finished third to Belle of All and Royal Serenade in the National Breeders' Produce Stakes after having been left behind at the start, and was the beaten favourite in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the following year he finished second to Hard Sauce in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.

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