Windsor Lad
| Windsor Lad | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Sire | Blandford |
| Grandsire | Swynford |
| Dam | Resplendent |
| Damsire | By George! |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1931 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Dan Sullivan |
| Owner |
Maharajah of Rajpipla Martin Benson |
| Trainer | Marcus Marsh |
| Record | 13: 10-0-1 |
| Earnings | £36,257 |
| Major wins | |
|
Chester Vase (1934) Epsom Derby (1934) St Leger (1934) Coronation Cup (1935) Eclipse Stakes (1935) |
|
Windsor Lad was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old in 1934 he won both the Epsom Derby and the St Leger in record time. In 1935 he won the Coronation Cup and the Eclipse Stakes before his career was ended by injury.
Windsor Lad was sired by the three-time Champion sire Blandford out of the 1926 Epsom Oaks runner-up Resplendent. He was described as "a good, hard bay, level of back, with a well-placed shoulder and broad hips" who possessed a "resolute and calm" temperament.
As a yearling he was sent to the sales by his Irish breeder, Dan Sullivan, where he was sold for 1,300gns to the Indian Maharaja of Rajpipla. Windsor Lad was sent into training with Marcus Marsh at Newmarket, Suffolk and accompanied his trainer when he relocated to Lambourn after the 1933 season. Windsor Lad was ridden in most of his races by Charles "Charlie" Smirke, a controversial figure who was returning after being "warned off" (banned) for five years after he was suspected of "stopping" a horse.
Windsor Lad won two races as a juvenile including the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket in October, but was slow to mature and was not among the leaders of his generation.
In 1934, Windsor Lad emerged as a Derby candidate by winning two trial races, the Chester Vase on 8 May and the Newmarket Stakes. In the Epsom Derby he started at 15/2 joint second favourite, in a field of nineteen, with the undefeated 2000 Guineas winner Colombo starting favourite. The race was run of fast ground in front of a crowd estimated at between 300,000 and 500,000. Ridden by Charlie Smirke, Windsor Lad was second turning into the straight before taking the lead a furlong out. He was strongly challenged by Easton and Colombo but ran on strongly to win by a length and a neck. The winning time of 2:34.0 equalled the race record set by Hyperion the previous year. The Maharaja celebrated with a lavish party at the Savoy Hotel which featured a performing elephant arrayed in his purple and cream racing colours.
...
Wikipedia