Pretender (horse)

Pretender
Pretender, by an unknown artist, circa 1869
Sire	Adventurer
Grandsire	Newminster
Dam	Ferina
Damsire	Venison
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1866
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay or Brown
Breeder	William Sadler
Owner	John Johnstone Robert Jardine
Trainer	Thomas Dawson
Record	15: 5-2-3 (incomplete)
Major wins
2000 Guineas (1869) Epsom Derby (1869)

Pretender (1866–1878) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After showing promise as a two-year-old in 1868 he improved to become a top class performer in the early part of the following year. He won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Epsom Derby. Pretender was the last horse trained in the North of England to win the Derby. He failed to complete the Triple Crown when he was beaten in the St Leger at Doncaster. Pretender’s form subsequently deteriorated and he failed to record any significant wins despite staying in training for two more seasons. He made no impression as a stallion.

Pretender was a bay or brown horse standing 16 hands high bred by William Sadler of Doncaster and sold for 400 guineas as a yearling to the trainer Thomas Dawson, acting on behalf of John Johnstone. Johnstone remained the colt's official owner throughout his career but owned him jointly with Sir Robert Jardine. Pretender was sent into training with Dawson at his stables at Tupgill Park near Middleham, North Yorkshire.

Pretender was from the first crop of foals sired by Adventurer, who won eight races and went on to become a successful stallion, taking the title of Champion sire in 1874. His dam, Ferina, who had previously produced the 2000 Guineas runner-up St. Hubert, was twenty-two years old when Pretender was foaled. After Pretender's birth she was barren and was shot in April 1869, shortly before Pretender's Classic successes.

As a two-year-old Pretender ran four times and won twice. The more important of his wins came in the North of England Biennial Stakes at York, a race previously won by Blair Athol. He finished third in the Lambton Plate at . In October, he was sent south for the Middle Park Plate at Newmarket, one of the season's most prestigious races for two-year-olds. He finished third in the £1,000 race behind Pero Gomez and the future 1000 Guineas winner Scottish Queen.