Little Wonder (horse)

Little Wonder
Little Wonder
Sire	Muley
Grandsire	Orville
Dam	Lacerta
Damsire	Zodiac
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1837
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Brown
Breeder	Alexander Nowell
Owner	David Robertson
Trainer	John Forth
Record	8:1-2-3
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1840)

Little Wonder (1837–1843) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from September 1839 to September 1842 he ran eight times and won only one race. That race, however, was the 1840 Epsom Derby which he won as a 50/1 outsider. Little Wonder was one of the smallest Thoroughbreds to win a major race, standing less than 15 hands high. During his career, there were rumours that he was a "ringer", foaled in 1836 but the allegations were never substantiated. He was retired after being injured in a race in 1842 and reportedly died a year later.

Little Wonder, a "beautifully brilliant bay" horse who stood 14.3½ hands high was bred by Alexander Nowell at Underley Hall near Kirkby Lonsdale in Westmoreland where his sire Muley was based. Muley was a son of the Derby-winning mare Eleanor and won two races as a five-year-old at Newmarket in 1815. His early stud career was disappointing and he had been covering half-bred mares for some time before being bought by Nowell and relocated to Underley where he had considerable success. In addition to Little Wonder, he sired the Classic winners Margrave (St Leger) and Vespa (Epsom Oaks).

Little Wonder was sent as a yearling to the Doncaster sales where he was bought for 45 guineas by David Robertson. He was sent into training with John Forth, who gave the colt his name, at Michelgrove near Angmering in Sussex.

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