Winifreda (horse)

Winifreda (1897 – 1912) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After winning the Richmond Stakes on her only start as a juvenile she took the 1000 Guineas on her three-year-old debut. She disappointed when favourite for the Epsom Oaks but returned to form to win the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Her career was then interrupted by health problems and she was well beaten in two subsequent races. She made no impact as a broodmare.

Winifreda
Winifreda in 1900.
SireSt Simon
GrandsireGalopin
DamMelody
DamsireTynedale
SexMare
Foaled1897[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
BreederDaniel Cooper
OwnerLeonard Brassey
TrainerTom Jennings Jr.
Record6: 3-0-0
Major wins
Richmond Stakes (1899)
1000 Guineas (1900)
Coronation Stakes (1900)

Background

Winifreda was a "great, rangey" bay mare with "rare shoulders and depth"[2] bred in England by Sir Daniel Cooper. As a two-year-old in June 1899 she was bought for 3,000 guineas[3] by Leonard Brassey, a senior figure in the Jockey Club. During her racing career she was trained by Tom Jennings Jr at Phantom House stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.[4]

She was sired by St. Simon, an undefeated racehorse who was considered one of the best British runners of the 19th Century. In an outstanding stud career he won nine sires’ championships, having sired ten Classic winners.[5] Her dam Melody was a top-class racemare who won the Woodcote Stakes and the Prince of Wales's Stakes. As a broodmare she also produced St Cecilia, the female-line ancestor of the Melbourne Cup winners Backwood, Piping Lane and Tawrrific.[6]

Racing career

1899: two-year-old season

Winifreda made her first and only appearance of 1899 in the Richmond Stakes over six furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse in July, in which she was ridden by Walter Bradford and started 7/4[7] joint-favourite in a four-runner field. After settling in third place she "shot out" and won by two lengths from Edith Crag and the colt Granite.[8]

1900: three-year-old season

On 4 May Winifreda started the 11/2 third choice in the betting in a ten-runner field for the 87th running of the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse. Ridden by Sam Loates she settled behind the leaders in the centre of the wide course before moving into the lead inside the last quarter mile. She won in "commanding"[2] fashion by three-quarters of a length from Inuisitive, with two lengths back to the favourite Vain Duchess in third and La Roche in fourth.[9]

In the Epsom Oaks on 1 June, Winifreda started 3/1 joint-favourite alongside Lady Schomberg but looked deeply unimpressive before the start, with one correspondent stating that she had lost a great deal of weight since the Guineas and was exhibiting "signs of wear" to her right foreleg.[10] She made little impact in the race and finished seventh behind La Roche.[11] On 13 June the filly was dropped back in distance for the Coronation Stakes over one mile at Royal Ascot in which she carried top weight of 129 pounds. After being restrained by her rider Thomas Weldon in the early stages she produced a strong finish and dead-heated for first place with Sainte Nitouche following a "sharp battle" in the final strides.[12] She subsequently broke a blood vessel in training and was off the course for four months, missing an intended run in the St Leger.[13]

Winifreda returned to the track on 18 October for the valuable Sandown Foal Plate over ten furlongs. With Loates in the saddle she came home fourth of the seven runners behind Admiral Dewey, a colt to whom she was conceding eleven pounds in weight.[14] She ended her season by finishing unplaced in the Derby Cup at Derby Racecourse over one and a half miles in November.[15]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Winifreda an "average" winner of the 1000 Guineas.[16]

Breeding record

Winifreda was retired from racing to become a broodmare for her owner's stud. She appears to have proved difficult to get in foal with her only reported offspring being Silver Greyhound, a bay filly, foaled in 1907, and sired by King's Messenger. She was euthanized in 1912.[17]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Winifreda (GB), bay mare, 1897[1]
Sire
St. Simon (GB)
1881		 Galopin
1872		 Vedette Voltigeur
Mrs Ridgeway
Flying Duchess The Flying Dutchman
Merope
St. Angela
1865		 King Tom Harkaway
Pocahontas
Adeline Ion
Little Fairy
Dam
Melody (GB)
1888		 Tynedale
1864		 Warlock Birdcatcher (IRE)
Elphine
Queen of Tyne Tomboy
Whisker mare
Glee
1873		 Adventurer Newminster
Palma
Sweet Sound Rataplan
Hybla (Family:3-j)[6]
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References
  1. "Winifreda pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "The One Thousand". Otago Witness. 28 June 1900. p. 40 – via Papers Past.
  3. "The Turf in England". New Zealand Herald. 7 May 1900. p. 5 – via Papers Past.
  4. Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 978-0-354-08536-6.
  5. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85112-902-0.
  6. "Sister to Skysweeper - Family 3-j". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  7. Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
  8. "Goodwood. Tuesday, July 25". Otago Witness. 7 September 1899. p. 38 – via Papers Past.
  9. "Newmarket". Otago Witness. 28 June 1900. p. 42 – via Papers Past.
  10. "The Oaks". Otago Witness. 2 August 1900. p. 39 – via Papers Past.
  11. "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 2 August 1900. p. 42 – via Papers Past.
  12. "Racing in England. Ascot. Wednesday, June 13". Otago Witness. 9 August 1900. p. 42 – via Papers Past.
  13. "The Turf". Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). The Capricornian. 1 September 1900. p. 30 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  14. "Racing in England". Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 - 1929). Otago Witness. 28 November 1900. p. 42 – via Papers Past.
  15. "English Sporting News". South Australian Register (Adelaide, Sa : 1839 - 1900). South Australian Register. 28 December 1900. p. 3 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  16. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 978-1-901570-15-1.
  17. Staff (1913). "Winifreda". The General Stud Book. 22: 935. hdl:2027/coo.31924066667290.
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