Dante (horse)

Dante
Sire Nearco
Grandsire Pharos
Dam Rosy Legend
Damsire Dark Legend
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1942
Country Great Britain
Colour Brown
Breeder Sir Eric Ohlson
Owner Sir Eric Ohlson
Trainer Matthew Peacock
Record 9: 8-1-0
Earnings ₤11,990[1]
Major wins

Coventry Stakes (1944)
Middle Park Stakes (1944)

British Classic Race wins:
Epsom Derby (1945)
Honours
Dante Stakes at York Racecourse
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

Dante (1942–1956) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was the last horse trained in northern England to win the English Derby.

Contents

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Background

Dante was sired by Nearco, the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1947 and 1949, and one of the most important sires of the 20th century. A full brother to Sayajirao, [1] he was out of the mare Rosy Legend who was a granddaughter of the influential sire, Dark Ronald.[2]

Bred and raced by Sir Eric Ohlson, Dante was foaled and raised at Manor House Stud in Middleham in North Yorkshire and conditioned for racing by Matthew Peacock.

Racing career

At age two, the colt went undefeated in six starts, notably winning the Coventry and Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.

At age three, after winning a prep race at the Stockton racetrack, Dante ran second by a neck in the 2,000 Guineas behind winner Court Martial and ahead of third-place finisher and another son of Nearco, Royal Charger. In England's most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby, Dante turned the tables. Run that year at Newmarket Racecourse due to World War II, he defeated Court Martial who finished third behind runner-up Midas. Afflicted by a degenerative disease that ultimately left him blind, Dante never raced again.

Stud record

Retired to Theakston Stud[3] in Theakston, North Yorkshire, Dante proved a successful sire whose offspring included:

Dante died in 1956 at Theakston Stud. The Dante Stakes at York Racecourse is named in his honour.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), Thoroughbred Breeding of the World, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
  2. ^ http://www.pedigreequery.com/dante Dante's pedigree and partial racing stats]
  3. ^ http://www.yorkshire-racing.co.uk/theakston.htm Dante at Theakston Stud