Pearl Diver
Encyclopedia
Pearl Diver was a French Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from 1946 and 1948 he ran thirteen times and won four races. His most notable achievement came in 1947, when he became the first French-trained horse to win the Epsom Derby
since Durbar
in 1914.
stable of Percy Carter, an Englishman who had been based in France for many years. Pearl Diver grew to be a big, powerful bay standing 16.2 hands
high. Carter was responsible for the colt for all but a brief period in 1947, when he was stabled with Claude Halsey at Newmarket, Suffolk.
Pearl Diver’s sire, Vatellor was a high class racehorse who won eight races in France including the race now called the Prix Jean Prat
. He later became a successful stallion being Champion sire in France in 1956 and getting such notable performers as My Love
, Nikellora (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
) and Vattel (Grand Prix de Paris
). Pearl Cap
had produced no notable horses before she gave birth to Pearl Diver in 1944. She had, however, been an outstanding racemare, with her victories including the 1931 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
.
and the Epsom Oaks
. Pearl Diver then finished third to L’Imperial in the Prix Jean Prat
over 2000m at Longchamp. In May he recorded his first significant victory when he was awarded the Prix Matchem
on the disqualification of Timor. His form suggested that he was a useful stayer (the Prix Matchem was run over 2700m), but below top class.
In order to acclimatise the colt to English conditions, Pearl Diver was transferred to Newmarket three weeks before the Derby. Claude Halsey took charge of the colt’s final preparation at his Somerville Lodge Stable, and briefly became his official trainer. Despite this technicality, Carter is usually listed by most sources as Pearl Diver’s trainer for his run in the Derby
Pearl Diver started at odds of 40/1 at Epsom on a cold, wet day in front of an estimated 400,000 spectators including the King and Queen. The build-up to the race was dominated by Tudor Minstrel
, the 4/7 favourite who came into the race unbeaten, having most recently won the 2000 Guineas by eight lengths. Ridden by Georges Bridgland, Pearl Diver raced prominently and tracked the leaders in the early stages as Gordon Richards
struggled to restrain Tudor Minstrel before being forced to allow the favourite to make the running. When Tudor Minstrel weakened entering the straight, Pearl Diver moved up to overtake him and dispute the lead with Sayajirao
. In the final quarter mile Pearl Diver went clear and pulled steadily away from the field to win by four lengths from Migoli
with Sayajirao third. Many of the crowd began to celebrate a Tudor Minstrel victory, reportedly mistaking the similar white colours carried by Pearl Diver's jockey, but the defeat of the favourite saved the British bookmakers from an estimated £5,000,000 payout Bridgland said that once he took the lead he "knew the Derby was mine...I was never seriously challenged," while Baron de Waldner emphasised the importance of the soft ground, saying that he "enjoyed every minute of the rain."
The victory of the French colt was variously described in the British press as "a crushing blow", a "humiliation" and "a national tragedy". Explanations for the failure of the British included the "pampering" of horses in training, a lack of stamina in pedigrees and the use of inferior oats
as feed during wartime
.
At Longchamp the end of the month, Pearl Diver attempted to become the first Derby winner since Spearmint in 1906 to win the Grand Prix de Paris
, but finished eighth behind the 34/1 winner Avenger. Pearl Diver was then off the racecourse for two and a half months before being sent back to England for the St Leger
. He was unsuited by the firm ground
and finished fourth of the eleven runners behind Sayajirao.
over 2150m at Longchamp in April. In June he returned to Epsom for the Coronation Cup
, but ran disappointingly and finished unplaced behind Goyama. He remained in England for his next start and showed better form to finish third to Sayajirao in the Hardwicke Stakes
at Royal Ascot.
In September Pearl Diver finished third to Yong Lo in the Prix du Prince d'Orange
at Longchamp. On his final start he was unplaced behind Migoli in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
.
. In 1957 he was sold and exported to Japan. He made little impact as a stallion in either country.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from 1946 and 1948 he ran thirteen times and won four races. His most notable achievement came in 1947, when he became the first French-trained horse to win the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The 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...
since Durbar
Durbar (horse)
Durbar was a French racehorse. Although not the best of his generation in France , he proved too good for the leading British colts in the 1914 Epsom Derby, which he won by three lengths. His pedigree was controversial, with the British authorities not recognising him as a Thoroughbred...
in 1914.
Background
Pearl Diver was bred in occupied France at Edward Esmond's Mortefontaine Stud in 1944. Esmond himself had fled the country for the United States in 1940 and the stud was being run by his son-in-law Baron Geoffroy de Waldner who faked the stud records to conceal the new foal's illustrious pedigree from the German authorities, giving him the pseudonym "Monsieur de Boscz". On Esmond's death in 1945, the yearling colt was inherited by de Waldner. As a two-year-old, Pearl Diver was sent into training at the ChantillyChantilly, Oise
Chantilly is a small city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune in the department of Oise.It is in the metropolitan area of Paris 38.4 km...
stable of Percy Carter, an Englishman who had been based in France for many years. Pearl Diver grew to be a big, powerful bay standing 16.2 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
high. Carter was responsible for the colt for all but a brief period in 1947, when he was stabled with Claude Halsey at Newmarket, Suffolk.
Pearl Diver’s sire, Vatellor was a high class racehorse who won eight races in France including the race now called the Prix Jean Prat
Prix Jean Prat
The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:...
. He later became a successful stallion being Champion sire in France in 1956 and getting such notable performers as My Love
My Love (horse)
My Love was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1947 to 1948 he ran eight times and won three races. In the summer of 1948 he became the third French-trained horse to win the Epsom Derby and the fifth horse to win both the Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris...
, Nikellora (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
) and Vattel (Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
). Pearl Cap
Pearl Cap
Pearl Cap was a French champion Thoroughbred racehorse who is considered one of her country's greatest racing fillies.Owned and bred by the Esmond family, she was raced under the name of Miss Diana Esmond...
had produced no notable horses before she gave birth to Pearl Diver in 1944. She had, however, been an outstanding racemare, with her victories including the 1931 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
.
1946: two-year-old season
Pearl Diver was not highly tried as a two-year-old, running twice. He showed some promise in winning the Prix Saint Patrick over 1400m.1947: three-year-old season
On his three-year-old debut Pearl Diver was beaten in a race at Le Tremblay by a filly called Imprudence. The form of the race looked better in retrospect as Imprudence went on to win the 1000 Guineas, the Poule d'Essai des PoulichesPoule d'Essai des Pouliches
The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
and the Epsom Oaks
Epsom 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....
. Pearl Diver then finished third to L’Imperial in the Prix Jean Prat
Prix Jean Prat
The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:...
over 2000m at Longchamp. In May he recorded his first significant victory when he was awarded the Prix Matchem
Prix Matchem
The Prix Matchem is a Listed flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May or June.-History:...
on the disqualification of Timor. His form suggested that he was a useful stayer (the Prix Matchem was run over 2700m), but below top class.
In order to acclimatise the colt to English conditions, Pearl Diver was transferred to Newmarket three weeks before the Derby. Claude Halsey took charge of the colt’s final preparation at his Somerville Lodge Stable, and briefly became his official trainer. Despite this technicality, Carter is usually listed by most sources as Pearl Diver’s trainer for his run in the Derby
Pearl Diver started at odds of 40/1 at Epsom on a cold, wet day in front of an estimated 400,000 spectators including the King and Queen. The build-up to the race was dominated by Tudor Minstrel
Tudor Minstrel
Tudor Minstrel was a British-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Owen Tudor, the 1941 Epsom Derby winner.Ridden by Gordon Richards, in 1947 Tudor Minstrel won the 1 mile long 2,000 Guineas by 8 lengths, the largest winning margin in the race since 1900...
, the 4/7 favourite who came into the race unbeaten, having most recently won the 2000 Guineas by eight lengths. Ridden by Georges Bridgland, Pearl Diver raced prominently and tracked the leaders in the early stages as Gordon Richards
Gordon Richards
Sir Gordon Richards was an English jockey, and is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey. He remains the only jockey to have been knighted....
struggled to restrain Tudor Minstrel before being forced to allow the favourite to make the running. When Tudor Minstrel weakened entering the straight, Pearl Diver moved up to overtake him and dispute the lead with Sayajirao
Sayajirao
Sayajirao was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. A full brother to 1945 Epsom Derby winner, Dante, he was out of the mare Rosy Legend and sired by the great Nearco who is described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important...
. In the final quarter mile Pearl Diver went clear and pulled steadily away from the field to win by four lengths from Migoli
Migoli
Migoli was a Thoroughbred racehorse bred and raced by the Aga Khan III. Trained in England by Frank Butters, Migoli's win in the 1948 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was the first for an English-trained horse since 1923 and there would not be another until 1971.-Background:Sired by the 1938 Epsom Derby...
with Sayajirao third. Many of the crowd began to celebrate a Tudor Minstrel victory, reportedly mistaking the similar white colours carried by Pearl Diver's jockey, but the defeat of the favourite saved the British bookmakers from an estimated £5,000,000 payout Bridgland said that once he took the lead he "knew the Derby was mine...I was never seriously challenged," while Baron de Waldner emphasised the importance of the soft ground, saying that he "enjoyed every minute of the rain."
The victory of the French colt was variously described in the British press as "a crushing blow", a "humiliation" and "a national tragedy". Explanations for the failure of the British included the "pampering" of horses in training, a lack of stamina in pedigrees and the use of inferior oats
OATS
OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology Software - is a source code repository or "forge" for assistive technology software. It was launched in 2006 with the goal to provide a one-stop “shop” for end users, clinicians and open-source developers to promote and develop open source assistive...
as feed during wartime
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
At Longchamp the end of the month, Pearl Diver attempted to become the first Derby winner since Spearmint in 1906 to win the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
, but finished eighth behind the 34/1 winner Avenger. Pearl Diver was then off the racecourse for two and a half months before being sent back to England for the 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...
. He was unsuited by the firm ground
and finished fourth of the eleven runners behind Sayajirao.
1948: four-year-old season
Pearl Diver stayed in training at four and produced some good performances without recapturing the best his three-year-old form. He began the year with a win, taking the Prix d'HarcourtPrix d'Harcourt
The Prix d'Harcourt is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.-History:...
over 2150m at Longchamp in April. In June he returned to Epsom for the Coronation Cup
Coronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. 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 June....
, but ran disappointingly and finished unplaced behind Goyama. He remained in England for his next start and showed better form to finish third to Sayajirao in the Hardwicke Stakes
Hardwicke Stakes
The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
at Royal Ascot.
In September Pearl Diver finished third to Yong Lo in the Prix du Prince d'Orange
Prix du Prince d'Orange
The Prix du Prince d'Orange is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:...
at Longchamp. On his final start he was unplaced behind Migoli in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Pearl Diver an “inferior” Derby winner, despite the fact that he had decisively beaten a stronger than average field at Epsom.Stud career
Pearl Diver began his stud career in England at the Limestone Stud in LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. In 1957 he was sold and exported to Japan. He made little impact as a stallion in either country.