Parthia (horse)
| Parthia | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Persian Gulf |
| Grandsire | Bahram |
| Dam | Lightning |
| Damsire | Hyperion |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1956 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Sir Humphrey de Trafford |
| Owner | Sir Humphrey de Trafford |
| Trainer | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort |
| Record | 12: 6-2-1 |
| Earnings | £43,786 (win prize money) |
| Major wins | |
|
Dee Stakes (1958) Lingfield Derby Trial (1958) Epsom Derby (1959) Jockey Club Cup (1960) Paradise Stakes (1960) |
|
Parthia (1956–1982) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from October 1958 to July 1960 he ran twelve times, winning six races, four of which are now Group races. His most notable success came in the 1959 Epsom Derby. He went on to have a successful stud career in Great Britain and Japan.
Parthia was a bay horse bred in England by his owner Sir Humphrey de Trafford. He was trained throughout his career by the veteran Captain (later Sir) Cecil Boyd-Rochfort at his Freemason Lodge Stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
Parthia’s sire Persian Gulf won the Coronation Cup in 1944 and went on to be a successful sire. Apart from Parthia, his most notable offspring was the 1000 Guineas winner Zabara. His dam, Lightning won one race and was a half sister of Alcide. Alcide, who ran for the same owner and trainer as Parthia, had been the ante-post favourite for the 1958 Derby but was withdrawn from the race after being “got at” (deliberately injured) in his stable.
Parthia was slow to mature and did not appear on the racecourse until the October of his two-year-old season. He finished sixth on his debut in a race at Hurst Park, but then showed considerable improvement to run third in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
At three, Parthia was targeted at the Derby from early in the season and was entered in recognised trial races for the Epsom Classic. He began by winning the White Rose Stakes at Hurst Park in April and was then sent to Chester where he won the Dee Stakes in May. His preparation for the Derby was completed by a victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial. Although he had won his first three starts he had not been particularly impressive, running in a "lazy" fashion and doing just enough to win in each case.
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