Meld (horse)
Encyclopedia
When Meld completed the British Fillies Triple Crown
by defeating Nucleus in the 1955 St. Leger
, she was only the fourth filly to do so in the 20th century. She was undefeated as a three-year-old (3YO) and was head of the 3YO Handicap.
, her dam Daily Double who won four races and was the dam of five winners was by Fair Trial. The second dam of Meld was Doubleton by Bahram
, making her a half-sister to Precipitation
. Meld was line-bred to Blandford
in the fourth generation (4x4).
, before taking on the colts for the first time that year in St. Leger Stakes
at Doncaster
. She won by just under a length, and then had to survive an objection from Lester Piggott
, who had ridden Nucleus. Her win enabled Cecil Boyd-Rochfort
to become the first trainer in England
to have won more than £1 million for his patrons. Meld's winnings of ₤43,051 was an all-time record for fillies in England for at least several years after her retirement.
s after winning racehorses, British Rail
ways "Deltic" Diesel locomotive no. D9003 (later no. 55 003) was named Meld after this horse on 7 July 1961, and remained in service until 31 December 1980.
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
by defeating Nucleus in the 1955 St. Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
, she was only the fourth filly to do so in the 20th century. She was undefeated as a three-year-old (3YO) and was head of the 3YO Handicap.
Pedigree
Meld was well bred, being by the top-class stayer and successful sire, AlycidonAlycidon
Alycidon was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was foaled in 1945 and died in 1963. He was a top-class British stayer who became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1955, despite having low fertility and a relatively short career at stud.-Breeding:...
, her dam Daily Double who won four races and was the dam of five winners was by Fair Trial. The second dam of Meld was Doubleton by Bahram
Bahram (horse)
Bahram was an Irish-bred English-trained racehorse who was undefeated in his racing career winning the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Epsom Derby which earned him the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.-Breeding:...
, making her a half-sister to Precipitation
Precipitation (horse)
Precipitation was an influential British bred Thoroughbred stallion who is found in the pedigrees of many racehorses and sport horses today. He alone is responsible for maintaining the Matchem sireline, through Sheshoon, except for the American Fair Play branch.-Pedigree:He was by Hurry On and out...
. Meld was line-bred to Blandford
Blandford (horse)
Blandford was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the three-time Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland who sired eleven British Classic Race winners including four which won the Epsom Derby. He was the Leading sire in France and also in England in the same year.He was bred by the...
in the fourth generation (4x4).
Racing record
Meld dominated her rivals in the 1,000 Guineas and the Epsom OaksEpsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
, before taking on the colts for the first time that year in St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
. She won by just under a length, and then had to survive an objection from Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott
Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....
, who had ridden Nucleus. Her win enabled Cecil Boyd-Rochfort
Cecil Boyd-Rochfort
Sir Cecil Charles Boyd-Rochfort CVO was a British thoroughbred racehorse trainer who was British flat racing Champion Trainer five times....
to become the first trainer in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to have won more than £1 million for his patrons. Meld's winnings of ₤43,051 was an all-time record for fillies in England for at least several years after her retirement.
Stud record
Meld produced six winners including:- CharlottownCharlottownCharlottown was a Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1966 Epsom Derby.-External links:* pedigree at pedigreequery.com...
(seven wins, including Epsom DerbyEpsom DerbyThe Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
for £116,863, and sire in England and Australia. He carried the colours of Lady Zia Wernher. - Intaglio, a winner and was the second dam of Easy Regent (Critérium de Saint-CloudCritérium de Saint-CloudThe Critérium de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
etc.) - Lysander II, a successful sire in Australia
- Mellay, unraced, a Leading Sire in New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1973 and 1977 - Scarletville, winner, sire.
Honours
Following the LNER tradition of naming locomotiveLocomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s after winning racehorses, British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways "Deltic" Diesel locomotive no. D9003 (later no. 55 003) was named Meld after this horse on 7 July 1961, and remained in service until 31 December 1980.
See also
- List of undefeated Thoroughbred racehorses
- Triple Crown of Thoroughbred RacingTriple Crown of Thoroughbred RacingThe Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...