Abernant (horse)
Encyclopedia
Abernant was British
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who is "considered by many as the greatest British sprinter of the 20th century," according to Godolphin Racing.
winner Owen Tudor, by Hyperion
, a son of the English Triple Crown
winner, Gainsborough
. Abernant's dam, Rustam Mahal, was a non-winning daughter of Rustom Pasha and the very important broodmare Mumtaz Mahal
who in turn was sired by The Tetrarch
. Abernant was a half brother to Kurdistan (by Tehran) who was a successful sire in New Zealand
, siring among others, Baghdad Note, a winner of the Melbourne Cup
.
racing, winning five of his six starts. Ridden by jockey
Sir Gordon Richards
, he was unbeatable at distances of five to six furlongs. At age three he lost the eight furlong 2,000 Guineas by a matter of inches to Nimbus
but after being limited to sprints, he won four major races. At age four in 1950, he won the Lubbock Sprint Stakes and repeated as the easy winner of the July Cup
, the Nunthorpe Stakes
and the King George Stakes
. He ended his career that year with fourteen wins from the seventeen races he entered.
His Timeform
rating of 142 equals that of Ribot
as the fourth best ever awarded. In the years that followed his retirement, among the many accolades, The Independent
newspaper wrote that Abernant "was the best sprinter ever to grace a racecourse." http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article309618.ece
He died in 1970 at age twenty-four and is buried at Egerton Stud in Newmarket. In a recent interview with trainer Mark Tompkins, Julie Murless, the daughter of Abernant's trainer, recalled that the gentle horse loved children and as a child of five she would sit on his back.
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 is "considered by many as the greatest British sprinter of the 20th century," according to Godolphin Racing.
Pedigree
He was sired by the Epsom DerbyEpsom 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...
winner Owen Tudor, by Hyperion
Hyperion (horse)
Hyperion was a British bred Thoroughbred, a dual classic winner and an outstanding sire. Owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won £29,509 during his career - a considerable sum at the time. His victories included the Epsom Derby and St...
, a son of the English Triple Crown
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...
winner, Gainsborough
Gainsborough (horse)
Gainsborough was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1918 and became a superior sire.-Breeding:...
. Abernant's dam, Rustam Mahal, was a non-winning daughter of Rustom Pasha and the very important broodmare Mumtaz Mahal
Mumtaz Mahal (horse)
Mumtaz Mahal was a British Thoroughbred filly racehorse who the National Sporting Library's Thoroughbred Heritage website says was "one of the most important broodmares of the 20th Century"....
who in turn was sired by The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch was an undefeated Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire, who was voted Britain's Two-Year-Old of the 20th Century.-Breeding:...
. Abernant was a half brother to Kurdistan (by Tehran) who was a successful sire in New Zealand
New Zealand
New 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...
, siring among others, Baghdad Note, a winner of the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
.
Racing record
Abernant was a dominant two-year-old in EnglishEngland
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...
racing, winning five of his six starts. Ridden by jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Sir 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....
, he was unbeatable at distances of five to six furlongs. At age three he lost the eight furlong 2,000 Guineas by a matter of inches to Nimbus
Nimbus V
Nimbus was a British Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:One of several horses named Nimbus, he is designated as Nimbus "V" in accordance with his birth year. He was bred by William Hill who would go on to win the St. Leger Stakes in 1959 with Cantelo...
but after being limited to sprints, he won four major races. At age four in 1950, he won the Lubbock Sprint Stakes and repeated as the easy winner of the July Cup
July Cup
The July Cup is a Group 1 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 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, the Nunthorpe Stakes
Nunthorpe Stakes
The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and the King George Stakes
King George Stakes
The King George Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
. He ended his career that year with fourteen wins from the seventeen races he entered.
His Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rating of 142 equals that of Ribot
Ribot (horse)
Ribot was an Italian bay Thoroughbred racehorse, considered the strongest horse of all time.Undefeated in 16 races, he won over distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 1m 7f , in three different countries and in all types of track conditions...
as the fourth best ever awarded. In the years that followed his retirement, among the many accolades, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper wrote that Abernant "was the best sprinter ever to grace a racecourse." http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article309618.ece
Stud record
Abernant sired several stakeswinners that included:- Abermaid (1962 1,000 Guineas Stakes)
- Even Star (Irish 1,000 Guineas)
- Welsh Rake (1963 GB Queen Anne Stakes)
- Zahedan (1965 GB National Stakes)
He died in 1970 at age twenty-four and is buried at Egerton Stud in Newmarket. In a recent interview with trainer Mark Tompkins, Julie Murless, the daughter of Abernant's trainer, recalled that the gentle horse loved children and as a child of five she would sit on his back.