Sunstar
Encyclopedia
Sunstar was a British
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and followed with a win in the Epsom Derby
and was a successful sire.
Bred and raced by Jack Joel
, under trainer Charles Morton, Sunstar won three times at age two and was third in the Champagne Stakes. In his three-year-old campaign, Sunstar began 1911 well down the list of top Epsom Derby
prospects. However, that changed at the Newmarket Racecourse
when the colt defeated Lord Derby's highly regarded colt Stedfast in winning the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the first of the English Triple Crown series. He then won a Derby prep race, the Newmarket Stakes
, but suffered an injury to a suspensory ligament
in a leg. Nonetheless, Sunstar was sent to Epsom Downs
and run in the Derby even though, according to his biography at the National Horseracing Museum
, his trainer predicted he would break down. Sunstar won the Derby but did break down, thereby missing a chance to run in the St. Leger Stakes
and complete a sweep for the English Triple Crown.
duty at Jack Joel's Childwick Bury Stud
near St. Albans, Hertfordshire
, Sunstar proved to be both a very influential sire
and broodmare sire. Among his progeny were:
Sunstar was the Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
in 1930. He was notably the damsire of:
Sunstar died on August 21, 1926 and was buried in the equine cemetery at Childwick Bury Stud.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Thoroughbred
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
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and followed with a win in 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...
and was a successful sire.
Bred and raced by Jack Joel
Jack Barnato Joel
Jack Barnato Joel was a South African mining magnate and a champion horse breeder.-Biography:He was born on 29 September 1862. He had two brothers, Solomon Barnato Joel and Woolf Joel.-References:...
, under trainer Charles Morton, Sunstar won three times at age two and was third in the Champagne Stakes. In his three-year-old campaign, Sunstar began 1911 well down the list of top 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...
prospects. However, that changed at the Newmarket Racecourse
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
when the colt defeated Lord Derby's highly regarded colt Stedfast in winning the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the first of the English Triple Crown series. He then won a Derby prep race, 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...
, but suffered an injury to a suspensory ligament
Suspensory ligament
Suspensory ligament describes any ligament that supports a body part, especially an organ. Types include:* In humans** Suspensory ligament of thyroid gland or Berry's ligament** Suspensory ligament of clitoris...
in a leg. Nonetheless, Sunstar was sent to Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is an area of chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey; in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the racecourse, the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 in oder that racehorses can be trained without interference. It is open to users such as ramblers,...
and run in the Derby even though, according to his biography at the National Horseracing Museum
National Horseracing Museum
The National Horseracing Museum of the United Kingdom is located at 99 High Street in Newmarket. Open to the public, it contains collections and records of people and horses involved in the sport of horse racing from its Royal origins to modern heroes...
, his trainer predicted he would break down. Sunstar won the Derby but did break down, thereby missing a chance to run in the 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...
and complete a sweep for the English Triple Crown.
At stud
Retired to studStud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
duty at Jack Joel's Childwick Bury Stud
Childwick Bury Stud
Childwick Bury Stud is a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.Originally built in 1888 by Sir John Blundell Maple as part of his Childwick Bury estate, he bred and raced Thoroughbreds and built Childwick Bury Stud into a very successful horse breeding operation...
near St. Albans, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, Sunstar proved to be both a very influential sire
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
and broodmare sire. Among his progeny were:
- Craig an Eran (b. 1918 ), won 2,000 Guineas Stakes
- Sunny Jane (b. 1914), won Epsom OaksEpsom OaksThe 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....
- Zodiac (b. 1921), won Irish Derby StakesIrish Derby StakesThe Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.It is Ireland's equivalent of the Epsom Derby,...
- Buchan (b. 1916) Leading sire in Great Britain & IrelandLeading sire in Great Britain & IrelandThe list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
(1927) - Galloper Light (b. 1916), won Grand Prix de ParisGrand Prix de ParisThe 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:...
; sire of Epsom Oaks winners, Beam and Light Brocade - Sunbonnet (b. 1914), won Kentucky OaksKentucky OaksThe Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
, Alabama StakesAlabama StakesThe Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...
, American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly - Alan Breck (b. 1918), Leading sire in ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
- North Star (b. 1914), won Middle Park StakesMiddle Park StakesThe 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...
, sire of Kentucky DerbyKentucky DerbyThe Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winner Bubbling OverBubbling Over (horse)Bubbling Over was an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Bred in Kentucky, he was sired by English stakes winner North Star out of the mare, Beaming Beauty, who in turn was sired by the great Belmont Stakes champion, Sweep.... - Roselyon (b. 1916), sire of King's PlateQueen's PlateThe Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
winners AymondAymondAymond was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1930 King's Plate.Bred by Whitby, Ontario's James Heffering, he was out of the mare, Ablaze, and sired by Roselyon, a son of the 1911 Epsom Derby winner and British Horseracing Hall of Fame inductee, Sunstar...
and Willie the KidWillie the KidWillie the Kid was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the eighty-first running of the King's Plate, Canada's most important race....
Sunstar was the Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:*...
in 1930. He was notably the damsire of:
- Sunstep (b. 1916), became a foundation mare for Claiborne FarmClaiborne FarmClaiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
- Ellangowan (b. 1920), won 2,000 Guineas Stakes
- Kopi (b. 1926), won Irish Derby Stakes
Sunstar died on August 21, 1926 and was buried in the equine cemetery at Childwick Bury Stud.