| Sterling | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sterling by Harry Hall | |
| Sire | Oxford |
| Grandsire | Birdcatcher |
| Dam | Whisper |
| Damsire | Flatcatcher |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1868 (1868) |
| Died | 26 March 1891 (aged 22–23) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Graham brothers |
| Owner | Miss Graham |
Sterling (1868 – 26 March 1891) was a British racehorse and sire. While not particularly successful in terms of major wins, he was very highly regarded, being rated by his jockey Harry Custance as the equal of Thormanby.[1]
Background
Sterling was a bay horse bred and owned by the Graham family who owned the Yardley Stud near Birmingham.[2] His dam, Whisper, was bred by Mr. R. Taylor and produced ten foals between 1866 and her death in 1882.[3] Sterling was her third foal and one of six sired by Oxford. Whisper's other good racers included Playfair.[4]
Racing career
Sterling won five races including the Liverpool Autumn Cup at Aintree Racecourse. He also finished second to Bothwell in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on 25 April 1871.[5] In the autumn of 1871, the owner of the Belmont Stakes winner Harry Bassett's owner issued a challenge to the owner of Sterling for a one and a half mile match race at level weights, to be run in the United States. Sterling's owner responded by offering to put up £12,000 to the American's £8,000, but only if the match took place in England. The race never materialised.[6]
Stud career
Sterling was much more successful as a breeding stallion than he had been as a racehorse. [1]
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins/Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | Isonomy | Stallion | Ascot Gold Cup (1879, 1880) |
| 1881 | Harvester | Stallion | Epsom Derby |
| 1882 | Paradox | Stallion | 2000 Guineas Stakes |
| 1884 | Enterprise | Stallion | 2000 Guineas Stakes |
| 1886 | Enthusiast | Stallion | 2000 Guineas Stakes |
Sterling died on 26 March 1891 at 23.[7]
Sire line tree
Descendants of Sterling (click to show) |
|---|
|
Pedigree
| Sire Oxford (GB) 1857 |
Birdcatcher 1833 |
Sir Hercules | Whalebone* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peri | |||
| Guiccioli | Bob Booty | ||
| Flight | |||
| Honey Dear 1844 |
Plenipotentiary | Emilius | |
| Harriet | |||
| My Dear | Bay Middleton | ||
| Miss Letty | |||
| Dam Whisper (GB) 1857 |
Flatcatcher 1845 |
Touchstone | Camel* |
| Banter | |||
| Decoy | Filho da Puta | ||
| Finesse | |||
| Silence 1848 |
Melbourne | Humphrey Clinker | |
| Cervantes mare | |||
| Secret | Horsea | ||
| Solace (Family: 12-a)[64] |
* Sterling is inbred 4S x 5D to the stallion Whalebone, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation (via Camel) on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
- Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- "Sterling". Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- Weatherby (1885). "Whisper". The General Stud Book. 15: 502. hdl:2027/coo.31924066667183.
- Weatherby (1881). "Whisper". The General Stud Book. 14: 487. hdl:2027/coo.31924066667175.
- "THE SUEZ MAIL". Otago Witness. 17 June 1871. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
- "untitled". Grey River Argus. 1872-01-25. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
- Weatherby (1893). "Obituary of stallions". The General Stud Book. 17: 923. hdl:2027/coo.31924066667209.
- Darley Arabian Sire Line: Birdcatcher
- Sire Line: Birdcatcher
- Sire Line: Sterling
- Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line, Birdcatcher Branch
- Portrait: Sterling
- Studbook: Early S
- Portrait: Isonomy
- Portrait: Gallinule
- Portrait: Wild Fowler
- J.J. Maher: The Flat Racers: Llangibby
- Portrait: Slieve Gallion
- Portrait: White Eagle
- Portrat: Let Fly
- Portrait: Night Hawk
- Portrait: Fortunio
- Portrait: Satiety
- Portrait: Common
- Biography: Common
- Hall of Fame: Hermis
- American Classic Pedigree: Hermis
- Kinley Mack Won
- Portrait: Isinglass
- Biography: Isinglass
- Portrait: Star Shoot
- American Classic Pedigree: Star Shoot
- Portrait: Uncle
- American Classic Pedigree: Uncle
- Portrait: Audacious
- Portrait: Sir Barton
- Hall of Fame: Sir Barton
- American Classic Pedigree: Sir Barton
- Sir Barton
- A Forgotten Champion: Sir Barton’s Legendary Rise to Stardom
- Portrait: Grey Lag
- Hall of Fame: Grey Lag
- American Classic Pedigree: Grey Lag
- Portrait: John O'Gaunt
- Portrait: Swynford
- American Classic Pedigree: Swynford
- Portrait: Kennymore
- Portrait: Black Gauntlet
- Deutsches Derby
- Portrait: Louvois
- Portrait: St Louis
- Portrait: Ravensbury
- Studbook: Early B
- American Classic Pedigree: Stiletto
- American Classic Pedigree: Americo
- Portrait: Energy
- Portrait: Gouverneur
- Portrait: Flieder
- Portrait: Harvester
- Portrait: Paradox
- Image: Drogheda
- American Classic Pedigree: Typhoon II
- "Sterling pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
- "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Whiteshirt Mare - Family 12-a". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-04-14.