Santa Claus (horse)
| Santa Claus | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Chamossaire |
| Grandsire | Precipitation |
| Dam | Aunt Clara |
| Damsire | Arctic Prince |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1961 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Dr F Smorfitt |
| Owner | John Ismay |
| Trainer | Mick Rogers |
| Record | 7: 4-2-0 |
| Earnings | £153,646 |
| Major wins | |
|
National Stakes (1963) Irish 2,000 Guineas (1964) Epsom Derby (1964) Irish Derby (1964) |
|
| Last updated on January 24, 2007 | |
Santa Claus (1961–1970) was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He is most notable for his achievements as a three-year-old in 1964 when he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby. His performances earned him the title of British Horse of the Year.
Santa Claus was a dark-coated bay horse standing a little over 16.1 hands high, bred in Warwickshire by Dr F Smorfitt. he was sired by the St Leger winner Chamoissaire out of Aunt Sarah, a mare who failed to win in her three racecourse appearances.
Santa Claus was first sent to the sales as a weanling in December 1961 at Newmarket, where he was sold for 800 guineas. A year later he was returned to the sales and was bought for 1,200 guineas by the Irish division of the British Bloodstock Agency acting on behalf of John Ismay and Mrs Darby Rogers. The colt was sent into training with Mrs Rogers' son, Mick Rogers, at the Curragh.
Santa Claus made little impression on his debut, finishing unplaced in the six furlong Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in August. A month later however, he ran in Ireland's most prestigious two-year-old race, the National Stakes, also at the Curragh. He produced a highly impressive performance to win by eight lengths, establishing him as a leading contender for the following year's Irish and British Classics.
In 1964 Santa Claus won the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He started even money favourite he won easily by three lengths. At Epsom he started favourite at odds of 15/8 for the Derby, in which he was ridden by the fifty-year-old Australian jockey Scobie Breasley. Santa Claus was reported to have arrived at the course under tight security as there were fears of a plot to interfere with the heavily-backed colt to prevent him from winning. A crowd estimated at over 200,000, including the Queen and other members of the British royal family, was in attendance to view the most valuable race ever run in Britain. Breasley held the colt up in the early stages before producing him with a run down the centre of the course in the straight. Santa Claus took the lead inside the final furlong and won by a length from the future St Leger winner Indiana. After the race Breasley called the colt "a dream to ride, a beaut."
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