Ferry (horse)

Ferry (1915 – after 1930) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a three-year-old in 1918 she recorded a major upset when winning the 1000 Guineas at odds of 50/1. She was later awarded second place in the Oaks Stakes but failed when matched against male opposition. She made little impact as a broodmare and ended her days in Poland.

Ferry
SireSwynford
GrandsireJohn O’Gaunt
DamGondolette
DamsireLoved One
SexMare
Foaled1915[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
Breeder17th Earl of Derby
Owner17th Earl of Derby
TrainerGeorge Lambton
Record4: 1-1-0
Major wins
1000 Guineas (1918)

Background

Ferry was a bay mare bred and owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby. She was trained throughout his career by Lord Derby’s private trainer George Lambton at the Stanley House stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.[2]

Ferry's sire Swynford was an outstanding racehorse who won the St Leger in 1910 and the Eclipse Stakes in the following year. He was even better as a breeding stallion with his other offspring including Blandford, Saucy Sue, Challenger and Tranquil. Ferry’s dam Gondolette has been described as “one of the most famous mares in the Stud Book”.[3] She was the dam of Ferry’s full brother Sansovino (Epsom Derby) and the direct, female-line ancestor of such notable thoroughbreds as Hyperion, Sickle, Pharamond, Big Game and Snow Knight.[4][5]

Ferry's racing career took place during World War I. Many racecourses were closed for the duration of the conflict and all five of the traditional British Classic Races were run at Newmarket.

Racing career

1918: three-year-old season

On 1 May the 106th running of the 1000 Guineas over one mile at Newmarket Racecourse attracted an unusually small field of eight runners. The Middle Park Stakes winner Benevente started favourite ahead of My Dear whereas Ferry, ridden by Brownie Carslake, started a 50/1 outsider. Benevente led before giving way to My Dear but Ferry took the lead in the closing stages and won "easily" by two lengths.[6]

The filly was stepped up in distance for the ten furlong Newmarket Stakes later that month but ran unplaced behind the colt Somme Kiss.[7] Ferry was then moved up again in distance for the New Oaks Stakes, run over one and a half miles at Newmarket on 6 June. She came home in a dead-heat for third with Silver Bullet behind Stony Ford and My Dear, but was promoted to joint-second after Stony Ford was disqualified for causing interference.[8]

Newmarket in September saw the running of the September Stakes, a wartime substitute for the St Leger. Ferry started a 25/1 outsider and came home last of the five runners behind Gainsborough.[9]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Roseway an "inferior" winner of the 1000 Guineas.[10]

Breeding record

Ferry was retired from racing to become a broodmare for Lord Derby's stud. She was later bought by Lord Beaverbrook and then sold for export to Poland in 1930.[3] She produced at least three named foals:

  • Mayflower, a bay filly, foaled in 1922, sired by Gay Crusader. Had some influence as a broodmare in Argentina.[5]
  • Obol, brown filly, 1924, by Phalaris
  • Buctouche, bay filly, 1926, by Friar Marcus

Pedigree
Pedigree of Ferry (GB), bay mare, 1915[1]
Sire
Swynford (GB)
1907		 John O’Gaunt
1901		 Isinglass Isonomy
Dead Lock
La Fleche St. Simon
Quiver
Canterbury Pilgrim
1893		 Tristan Hermit
Thrift
Pilgrimage The Palmer
Lady Audley
Dam
Gondolette (GB)
1902		 Loved One
1883　		 See Saw Buccaneer
Margery Daw
Pilgrimage The Palmer
Lady Audley
Dongola
1883　		 Doncaster Stockwell
Marigold
Douranee Rosicrucian
Fenella (Family 6-e)[5]
  • Ferry is inbred 3 x 3 to Pilgrimage. This means that Ferry is inbred 4 x 4 to both The Palmer and Lady Audley.
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References
  1. "Ferry pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Hon George Lambton". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  3. Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
  4. Liz Martiniak. "Gondolette". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
  5. "Fenella - Family 6-e". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  6. "Racing and Trotting". The Sun (Christchurch). 4 July 1918. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
  7. "The World of Sport". Adelaide Express. 25 July 1918. p. 4 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  8. "Notes and Comments". Evening Post (New Zealand). 10 August 1918. p. 16 – via Papers Past.
  9. "Sporting Notes". The Australasian. 30 November 1918. p. 17 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  10. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
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