Sarah Siddons (horse)

Sarah Siddons (6 May 1973 – 2000) was a French-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She was a well-bred mare, being descended from a half-sister of the outstanding Irish racehorse Ragusa. As a two-year-old in 1975 she showed promise when winning her only race of the season. In the following year she was rated the best three-year-old filly trained in the British Isles in a division which was otherwise dominated by French-trained horses. She recorded Group One wins in the Irish 1000 Guineas and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as finishing second to Lagunette in both the Irish Oaks and the Prix Vermeille. She failed to win as a four-year-old, but became a very successful broodmare.

Sarah Siddons
SireLe Levanstell
GrandsireLe Lavandou
DamMariel
DamsireRelko
SexMare
Foaled6 May 1973[1]
CountryFrance
ColourBay
BreederArdenode Stud
OwnerMeg Mullion
TrainerPaddy Prendergast
Record12: 3-3-1
Major wins
Irish 1000 Guineas (1976)
Yorkshire Oaks (1976)
Awards
Timeform rating 102p (1975), 122 (1976), 115 (1977)

Background

Sarah Siddons was a "strong, lengthy, attractive"[2] bay mare with a white star bred in France by her owner, Meg Mullion's Ardenode Stud.[3] Her sire was the Seamus McGrath-owned Le Levanstell, who won the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1961 before a successful stud career with his best offspring including Levmoss and Le Moss. Le Levanstell was a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line,[4] unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian.[5] Sarah Siddons was the first of only three foals produced by Mariel, a high-class mare who won the Pretty Polly Stakes, and was placed in the Irish 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and Irish Oaks. Mariel's dam Ela Marita won the Fred Darling Stakes and the Musidora Stakes and was a half-sister to Ragusa.[2] The filly, named after the great actress Sarah Siddons, was sent into training with the veteran Paddy Prendergast at his stables near the Curragh in Ireland.

Racing career

1975: two-year-old season

On her racecourse debut she started favourite in a seven furlong event for previously unraced horses at Phoenix Park Racecourse in October. She won by one and a half lengths from Conduct Unbecoming with a large gap back to the other fourteen runners.[6]

1976: three-year-old season

On her three-year-old debut Sarah Siddons finished second in the seven-furlong Athasi Stakes at the Curragh in April, beaten three quarters of a length by Serenica. On 14 May, the filly was moved up in class for the Irish 1000 Guineas over one mile at the same course. Ridden as in most of her early races by Christy Roche, she started the 9/2 third choice in a fourteen runner field with the British-trained Sunbird starting 11/4 favourite ahead of Serenica on 4/1. A quarter of a mile from the finish she appeared to be struggling but stayed on under pressure and as the field entered the final furlong she was disputing the lead alongside Clover Princess, Krassata and Lady Singer. Sarah Siddons took the advantage in the closing stages and won by a length from Clover Princess with Lady Singer a length further back in third.[2]

For her next race, Sarah Siddons was sent to France to contest the Prix de Diane over 2100 metres at Chantilly Racecourse on 13 June. Starting a 50/1 outsider in a very strong field she finished well to take fifth place behind Pawneese, Riverqueen, Lagunette and Antrona with Theia in sixth. Sarah Siddons returned to Ireland for the Irish Oaks over one and a half miles at the Curragh on 17 July and started 4/1 third favourite behind Acoma (a six-length winner of her only previous start) and Lagunette. She finished second of the eighteen runners, two lengths behind Lagunette and half a length in front of the Vincent O'Brien trained I've A Bee. On her first appearance in England, Sarah Siddons started 100/30 second favourite behind her fellow Irish challenger I've A Bee in a field of thirteen for the Yorkshire Oaks at York Racecourse in August. The other runners included Centrocon (Lancashire Oaks), African Dancer (Cheshire Oaks) and Roses for the Star (runner-up to Pawneese in The Oaks). She was towards the rear of the field entering the straight but was then switched to the outside and began to make steady progress. She was still only fifth a furlong out but continued her run to take the lead in the final strides and won by a head from African Dancer with Roses for the star in third.[2]

Although the filly had run well on good and firm ground Prendergast had insisted that the Sarah Siddons would be better suited by a soft surface, which she encountered for the first time in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp Racecourse on 19 September. With Lester Piggott taking over the ride from Roche, she started a 24/1 outsider in a field which included Pawneese, Riverqueen, Lagunette and Theia. She produced a strong late run to take the lead from Lagunette inside the last 200 metres and looked the likely winner, but Lagunette rallied to defeat the Irish filly by a nose. Timeform described Sarah Siddons' performance as "the race of her life".[2]

1977: four-year-old season

Sarah Siddons remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to win in five races. After finishing third over seven furlongs on her debut in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh, she finished last of the twelve runners behind Arctic Tern in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on 1 May. At York in August she produced her best performance of the year when finishing fourth behind Relkino, Artaius and Orange Bay in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. In October she was equipped with blinkers for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on 2 October. Ridden by Joe Mercer, she started a 59/1 outsider and finished last of the twenty-six runners behind Alleged.[7]

Assessment and awards

In 1975, the independent Timeform organisation gave her a rating of 102 p (the p indicating that she was likely to make significantly more than usual improvement), twenty-six pounds behind their top-rated juvenile filly Theia.[6]

In 1976, Timeform awarded her a rating of 122, making her nine pounds inferior to Pawneese, but described her as "undoubtedly the best three-year-old filly trained in either England or Ireland".[2]

Despite failing to win in 1977, Sarah Siddons was rated the best older female racehorse in Ireland. Timeform gave her a rating of 115.[7]

Breeding record

Sarah Siddons was a prolific and successful broodmare, producing fifteen foals (including at least eight winners) in sixteen years between 1979 and 1994. She died in 2000.[8] Her foals included:

Pedigree
Pedigree of Sarah Siddons (FR), bay mare 1973[1]
Sire
Le Levanstell (IRE)
1957		 Le Lavandou (FR)
1944		 Djebel Tourbillon
Loika
Lavande Rustom Pasha
Livadia
Stella's Sister (IRE)
1950		 Ballyogan Fair Trial
Serial
My Aid Knight of the Garter
Flying Aid
Dam
Mariel (GB)
1968		 Relko (GB)
1960		 Tanerko Tantieme
La Divine
Relance Relic
Polaire
Ela Marita (GB)
1961		 Red God Nasrullah
Spring Run
Fantan Ambiorix
Red Eye (Family: 9)
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References
  1. "Sarah Siddons pedigree". equineline.com. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  2. Timeform staff (1977). Racehorses of 1976. Timeform. pp. 644–646. ISBN 0-900599-22-7.
  3. Horse Racing (31 January 2008). "Ardenode Stud steeped in history". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  4. "Byerley Turk Line". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  5. "95% of thoroughbreds linked to one superstud". New Scientist. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  6. Timeform staff (1976). Racehorses of 1975. Timeform.
  7. Timeform staff (1978). Racehorses of 1977. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-25-1.
  8. "Mare Produce Records- Mariel". Equineline.com. The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  9. Martin Stephens (21 April 2012). "Sarah Siddons dynasty could have more cause for celebration". Racing Post.
  10. Timeform staff (1984). Racehorses of 1983. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-40-5.
  11. "Seymour Hicks - Stud Record". Racing Post.
  12. Timeform staff (1985). Racehorses of 1984. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-40-5.
  13. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
  14. "Metternich I - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  15. "Star Quest - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  16. "Cantanta - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  17. "Acting Brave - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  18. "Side Note - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  19. "Miss Kemble - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
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