Court Martial (horse)
Encyclopedia
Court Martial was a Thoroughbred
racehorse
bred and raced by Lord Astor
best known for defeating two exceptional colts in Dante and Royal Charger
for the Classic 2,000 Guineas Stakes and as a two-time Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland.
He was a chestnut horse sired by the leading sire Fair Trial who also sired Petition (won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Eclipse Stakes
). Court Martial’s dam Instantaneous by Hurry On
was the dam of several other named foals, but none were stakes winners. John Hislop describes Court Martial as ′′A beautiful horse of superb quality, truly made, sound and possessed of excellent limbs, but with shelly feet a trait which he has handed on ... Though having a measure of stamina, speed was Court Martial's forte, which is reflected in his stock. An outstanding and wonderfully consistent stallion . . . his mares have done comparably well at stud. Most of his stock likes soft ground.′′
and was third in the Epsom Derby
where he finished only two lengths and a head away third to Dante (the subsequent Derby winner) and Midas in a field of twenty-seven runners, in the sensational time of 2 min. 26.6 sec.
Notable progeny includes:
About twenty-five of Court Martial's sons have been imported to Australia and New Zealand since 1954 and have sired the collective winners of almost $8 million in prizemoney.
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...
bred and raced by Lord Astor
Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor
Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor was an American-born British politician and newspaper proprietor.-Early life:...
best known for defeating two exceptional colts in Dante and Royal Charger
Royal Charger
Royal Charger was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was successful in racing but even more so as a sire. He was the son of the very important sire Nearco.-Racing career:As a three-year-old, Royal Charger finished third in the 2000 Guineas...
for the Classic 2,000 Guineas Stakes and as a two-time Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland.
He was a chestnut horse sired by the leading sire Fair Trial who also sired Petition (won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and 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...
). Court Martial’s dam Instantaneous by Hurry On
Hurry On
Hurry On was an outstanding, undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire that revived the Matchem sire line. For a trainer who conditioned as many top winners as the Englishman Fred Darling, the observation that Hurry On was the best horse he ever trained is high praise indeed.-Breeding:He...
was the dam of several other named foals, but none were stakes winners. John Hislop describes Court Martial as ′′A beautiful horse of superb quality, truly made, sound and possessed of excellent limbs, but with shelly feet a trait which he has handed on ... Though having a measure of stamina, speed was Court Martial's forte, which is reflected in his stock. An outstanding and wonderfully consistent stallion . . . his mares have done comparably well at stud. Most of his stock likes soft ground.′′
Racing record
Court Martial was undefeated in his two starts as a two-year-old. At three he won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Champion StakesChampion 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...
and was third 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...
where he finished only two lengths and a head away third to Dante (the subsequent Derby winner) and Midas in a field of twenty-seven runners, in the sensational time of 2 min. 26.6 sec.
Stud record
Court Martial was a prolific sire of winners being the leading sire twice and he was six times leading sire of two-year-olds.Notable progeny includes:
- Above Suspicion (IRE), won St. James's Palace StakesSt. James's Palace StakesThe St. James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
- Affreux (FR), won GB Dickens Plate and Bestwood Park Plate, sire of winners of over $1,200,000 in Australia
- Court Sentence, won St James's Palace Stakes; sire in Australia
- Grass Court (Cork and Orrery Stakes)
- High Treason (IRE) – won Nunthor pe Stakes
- King's Bench (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...
, Coventry StakesCoventry StakesThe 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....
etc. - Major Portion (IRE) won Queen Elizabeth II StakesQueen Elizabeth II StakesThe Queen Elizabeth II 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 it is now scheduled to take place each year in October. As of 2011, it is run on Champions Day as the final race...
, Sussex StakesSussex StakesThe Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
etc. - Marsolve won July CupJuly CupThe 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....
- Pheidippides won Gimcrack StakesGimcrack StakesThe Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- Ratification won Coventry Stakes
- Rosalba won Coronation StakesCoronation StakesThe Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - Timandra (FR) won French One Thousand Guineas
- WilkesWilkes (horse)Wilkes was an French Thoroughbred racehorse who became a leading sire in Australia. He had two victories, over 1,500 metres in the Prix Sans Souci at Maisons-Laffitte and the 2,000 metres Prix Edgard de la Charm at Saint-Cloud, for 1,446,200 francs in stakes.-Breeding:He was by the successful...
(FR) won Prix Sans Souci and Prix Edgard de la Charm; leading sire in Australia.
About twenty-five of Court Martial's sons have been imported to Australia and New Zealand since 1954 and have sired the collective winners of almost $8 million in prizemoney.