St. Amant (horse)
Encyclopedia
St Amant was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1903 to 1906 he ran twenty-one times and won six races. As a three-year-old in 1901 he won both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby
but failed to win the English Triple Crown when he was well beaten in the St Leger
by the filly Pretty Polly. He was kept in training for two more seasons but won only one more race before being retired.
at his Southcourt Stud at Leighton Buzzard
in Bedfordshire
. His sire St Frusquin was an outstanding racehorse who won the 2000 Guineas and the Eclipse Stakes
in 1896. As a stallion he was Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland on two occasions and sired the Classic winners Rosedrop (1910 Epsom Oaks
), Flair (1906 1000 Guineas) and Quintessence (1903 1000 Guineas). St Amant’s dam, Lady Loverule never appeared in a race but was descended from the 1867 Oaks winner Hippia.
St Amant was trained for most his career by Alfred Hayhoe at Palace House, Newmarket, Suffolk.
who beat him easily on the two occasions they met. He was successful at Royal Ascot on his debut in June, where he won the Coventry Stakes
and followed up in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Goodwood
in July, beating Henry The First by half a length after "a grand race". He was then sent to Doncaster
for the Champagne Stakes in which he finished third to Pretty Polly. He won a Rous Memorial Stakes at Newmarket in October, but later that month faced Pretty Polly again at the same course in the Middle Park Plate
, regarded as the year's most important two-year-old race. He proved the best of the colts but finished three lengths behind the filly.
At the end of the year, St Amant had done enough to establish himself as a contender for the following year's Derby, a race in which Pretty Polly had not been entered. The bookmakers offered him at 5/1 for the Epsom
and he went into the winter as joint-favourite with Henry The First.
On his three-year-old debut, St Amant started odds on favourite for a Biennial Stakes at Newmarket in which he was beaten byy His Majesty. He showed an unpleasant side to his character by attempting to bite the rider of the winner during the race, and was fitted with blinkers
from then on. He was nevertheless made 11/4 favourite for the 2000 Guineas on 27 April. After tracking Henry The First in the early stages, he took the lead two furlongs out, pulled well clear and won easily, beating John O’Gaunt by four lengths. His winning time was more than a second faster that that set by Pretty Polly in the 1000 Guineas at the same meeting. St Amant’s temperament problems resurfaced in the Newmarket Stakes
over ten furlongs on 12 May, in which he “declined to exert himself" and finished third behind Henry The First and John O'Gaunt. The performance led some to question the colt's attitude and "courage", with one observer describing him as a "thorough rogue" and his odds for the Derby drifted out from 9/4 favourite to 5/1.
At Epsom
St Amant was ridden as at Newmarket by Kempton Cannon, in an unusually small field of eight runners. The French-trained colt Gouvernant started 7/4 favourite in front of a crowd which included the King and the Prince of Wales. The race was run in a violent thunderstorm, which appeared to adversely affect some of the runners including Gouvernant and Henry The First but St Amant broke quickly, opened up a clear lead, and was never headed. He won "in a canter" by three lengths from John O’Gaunt, with St Denis six lengths further back in third, being greeted by "deafening cheers" from the crowd. The enthusiastic reception was largely due to the popularity of St Amant's owner, "Leo" Rothschild who was well-known for his charitable work. As part of the celebrations Rothschild distributed coal, groceries and money to the widows of Newmarket, and gave half a crown to every schoolchild in the neighborhood.
On 7 September, St Amant attempted to become the second successive Triple Crown winner in the St Leger. Pretty Polly was pursuing her own version of the Triple Crown, having won both of the fillies’ classics and the first meeting between the pair since their two-year-old season was highly anticipated. St Amant was was sent to the front after two furlongs in an attempt to repeat the tactics employed at Epsom, but soon after half way he "began to sulk" and dropped back. The filly won the race easily at 2/5 with St Amant tailed off last of the six runners. He ran in a further six races before the end of the season, at least five of them at Newmarket, but failed to win. He finished a poor seventh of the nine runners behind Rock Sand
in the Jockey Club Stakes
, third to Lochryan in the Great Foal Stakes, third to Henry The First in the Gatwick Stakes, second to Sansovino in the Surrey Stakes and third to Bachelor’s Button in the Champion Stakes
. During this period he was described as "a vicious, ill-tempered brute" who had to be fitted with a muzzle during exercise.
At the end of the season St Amant was sent to be exercised over hurdles at the stables of Tom Cannon Jr at Chattis Hill
in Hampshire, in an attempt to "restore his courage".
and Princess of Wales's Stakes
. During the season, Rothschild received and declined an offer for St Amant from the Russian government. He finally appeared at Newmarket on October 5 in the Jockey Club Stakes
over fourteen furlongs. He started a complete outsider for the race, which with £10,000 in prize money was one of the most valuable of the season, but returned to his best to win by three quarters of a length from Polymelus
. St Amant's "resurrection" was partly attributed to a cat which had become his constant companion and apparently soothed his temperament. At the end of the year he was returned to Hayhoe.
. He also finished third in the Princess of Wales's Stakes
at Newmarket on 5 July.
In 1904, St Amant won prize money of £11,750, placing him third on the list of highest earners behind Rock Sand and Pretty Polly. In the 1905 list, St Amant's sole win in the Jockey Club Stakes was enough to put him equal fourth on the list behind Cherry Lass, Val d'Or and Cicero
.
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 that lasted from 1903 to 1906 he ran twenty-one times and won six races. As a three-year-old in 1901 he won both the 2000 Guineas and 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...
but failed to win the English Triple Crown when he was well beaten in 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...
by the filly Pretty Polly. He was kept in training for two more seasons but won only one more race before being retired.
Background
St Amant was bred by his owner, Leopold de RothschildLeopold de Rothschild
Leopold de Rothschild CVO was a British banker, thoroughbred race horse breeder, and a member of the prominent Rothschild family.-Education and career:...
at his Southcourt Stud at Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard
-Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road...
in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. His sire St Frusquin was an outstanding racehorse who won the 2000 Guineas and the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
in 1896. As a stallion he was Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland on two occasions and sired the Classic winners Rosedrop (1910 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....
), Flair (1906 1000 Guineas) and Quintessence (1903 1000 Guineas). St Amant’s dam, Lady Loverule never appeared in a race but was descended from the 1867 Oaks winner Hippia.
St Amant was trained for most his career by Alfred Hayhoe at Palace House, Newmarket, Suffolk.
1903: two-year-old season
St Amant was one of the best two-year-old colts of his generation, but was no match for the filly Pretty PollyPretty Polly
Pretty Polly , was an outstanding English bred Thoroughbred racehorse and an outstanding broodmare. She won fifteen consecutive races and was only the fifth filly to win the British Fillies Triple Crown since its inception in 1814....
who beat him easily on the two occasions they met. He was successful at Royal Ascot on his debut in June, where he won the Coventry Stakes
Coventry Stakes
The Coventry Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
and followed up in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
in July, beating Henry The First by half a length after "a grand race". He was then sent to 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 :...
for the Champagne Stakes in which he finished third to Pretty Polly. He won a Rous Memorial Stakes at Newmarket in October, but later that month faced Pretty Polly again at the same course in the Middle Park Plate
Middle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
, regarded as the year's most important two-year-old race. He proved the best of the colts but finished three lengths behind the filly.
At the end of the year, St Amant had done enough to establish himself as a contender for the following year's Derby, a race in which Pretty Polly had not been entered. The bookmakers offered him at 5/1 for the Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
and he went into the winter as joint-favourite with Henry The First.
1904: three-year-old season
Blinders
Blinders, also known as blinkers or winkers, are a piece of horse tack that prevent the horse seeing to the rear and, in some cases, to the side. They usually are made of leather or plastic cups that are placed on either side of the eyes, either attached to a bridle or to an independent hood...
from then on. He was nevertheless made 11/4 favourite for the 2000 Guineas on 27 April. After tracking Henry The First in the early stages, he took the lead two furlongs out, pulled well clear and won easily, beating John O’Gaunt by four lengths. His winning time was more than a second faster that that set by Pretty Polly in the 1000 Guineas at the same meeting. St Amant’s temperament problems resurfaced in the Newmarket Stakes
Newmarket Stakes
The Newmarket Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.At present, the event...
over ten furlongs on 12 May, in which he “declined to exert himself" and finished third behind Henry The First and John O'Gaunt. The performance led some to question the colt's attitude and "courage", with one observer describing him as a "thorough rogue" and his odds for the Derby drifted out from 9/4 favourite to 5/1.
At Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
St Amant was ridden as at Newmarket by Kempton Cannon, in an unusually small field of eight runners. The French-trained colt Gouvernant started 7/4 favourite in front of a crowd which included the King and the Prince of Wales. The race was run in a violent thunderstorm, which appeared to adversely affect some of the runners including Gouvernant and Henry The First but St Amant broke quickly, opened up a clear lead, and was never headed. He won "in a canter" by three lengths from John O’Gaunt, with St Denis six lengths further back in third, being greeted by "deafening cheers" from the crowd. The enthusiastic reception was largely due to the popularity of St Amant's owner, "Leo" Rothschild who was well-known for his charitable work. As part of the celebrations Rothschild distributed coal, groceries and money to the widows of Newmarket, and gave half a crown to every schoolchild in the neighborhood.
On 7 September, St Amant attempted to become the second successive Triple Crown winner in the St Leger. Pretty Polly was pursuing her own version of the Triple Crown, having won both of the fillies’ classics and the first meeting between the pair since their two-year-old season was highly anticipated. St Amant was was sent to the front after two furlongs in an attempt to repeat the tactics employed at Epsom, but soon after half way he "began to sulk" and dropped back. The filly won the race easily at 2/5 with St Amant tailed off last of the six runners. He ran in a further six races before the end of the season, at least five of them at Newmarket, but failed to win. He finished a poor seventh of the nine runners behind Rock Sand
Rock Sand
Rock Sand was a brown Thoroughbred race horse who was a very good young galloper, winning six of his seven starts. Always showing great courage he won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Epsom Derby which earned him the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.He was a beautifully conformed...
in the Jockey Club Stakes
Jockey Club Stakes
The Jockey Club Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Newmarket, and the final part of the race is on the Rowley Mile...
, third to Lochryan in the Great Foal Stakes, third to Henry The First in the Gatwick Stakes, second to Sansovino in the Surrey Stakes and third to Bachelor’s Button in the Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
. During this period he was described as "a vicious, ill-tempered brute" who had to be fitted with a muzzle during exercise.
At the end of the season St Amant was sent to be exercised over hurdles at the stables of Tom Cannon Jr at Chattis Hill
Chattis Hill
Chattis Hill is a small village in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. The village lies approximately 2 miles west from Stockbridge, which both lie on the A30 road....
in Hampshire, in an attempt to "restore his courage".
1905: four-year-old season
As a four-year-old, St Amant remained in the care of Tom Cannon Jr (the brother of Kempton Cannon). He was entered, but failed to appear in races such as the Lincolnshire Handicap, Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
and Princess of Wales's Stakes
Princess of Wales's Stakes
The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:The event is named in...
. During the season, Rothschild received and declined an offer for St Amant from the Russian government. He finally appeared at Newmarket on October 5 in the Jockey Club Stakes
Jockey Club Stakes
The Jockey Club Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Newmarket, and the final part of the race is on the Rowley Mile...
over fourteen furlongs. He started a complete outsider for the race, which with £10,000 in prize money was one of the most valuable of the season, but returned to his best to win by three quarters of a length from Polymelus
Polymelus
Polymelus was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for five years . Among his most famous descendants are Secretariat and Northern Dancer. However, it was through his son Phalaris that he will forever be remembered...
. St Amant's "resurrection" was partly attributed to a cat which had become his constant companion and apparently soothed his temperament. At the end of the year he was returned to Hayhoe.
1906: five-year-old season
St Amant returned as a five-year-old but failed to win in four starts. His best effort in four races came when he finished third to Pretty Polly in the Coronation CupCoronation 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....
. He also finished third in the Princess of Wales's Stakes
Princess of Wales's Stakes
The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:The event is named in...
at Newmarket on 5 July.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated St Amant as an “inferior” Derby winner.In 1904, St Amant won prize money of £11,750, placing him third on the list of highest earners behind Rock Sand and Pretty Polly. In the 1905 list, St Amant's sole win in the Jockey Club Stakes was enough to put him equal fourth on the list behind Cherry Lass, Val d'Or and Cicero
Cicero (horse)
Cicero was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the best English two-year-old of 1904, winning all five of his races. In 1905 Cicero became one of the shortest priced successful favourites in the history of the Derby, winning at 4/11 to remain undefeated...
.