Santa Claus (horse)

Santa Claus (1961–1970) was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He is most notable for his achievements as a three-year-old in 1964 when he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby. His performances earned him the title of British Horse of the Year.

Background

Santa Claus was a dark-coated bay horse standing a little over 16.1 hands high, bred in Warwickshire by Dr F Smorfitt. he was sired by the St Leger winner Chamoissaire out of Aunt Sarah, a mare who failed to win in her three racecourse appearances.

Santa Claus was first sent to the sales as a weanling in December 1961 at Newmarket, where he was sold for 800 guineas. A year later he was returned to the sales and was bought for 1,200 guineas by the Irish division of the British Bloodstock Agency acting on behalf of John Ismay and Mrs Darby Rogers. The colt was sent into training with Mrs Rogers' son, Mick Rogers, at the Curragh.^[2]

Racing career

1963: two-year-old season

Santa Claus made little impression on his debut, finishing unplaced in the six furlong Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in August. A month later however, he ran in Ireland's most prestigious two-year-old race, the National Stakes, also at the Curragh. He produced a highly impressive performance to win by eight lengths, establishing him as a leading contender for the following year's Irish and British Classics.

1964: three-year-old season

In 1964 Santa Claus made his first appearance in the won the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He started even money favourite he won easily by three lengths. At Epsom he started favourite at odds of 15/8 for the Derby, in which he was ridden by the fifty-year-old Australian jockey Scobie Breasley. Santa Claus was reported to have arrived at the course under tight security as there were fears of a plot to interfere with the heavily-backed colt to prevent him from winning.^[3] A crowd estimated at over 200,000, including the Queen and other members of the British royal family, was in attendance to view the most valuable race ever run in Britain.^[4] Breasley held the colt up in the early stages before producing him with a run down the centre of the course in the straight. Santa Claus took the lead inside the final furlong and won by a length from the future St Leger winner Indiana. After the race Breasley called the colt "a dream to ride, a beaut."^[5]

A month later, Santa Claus started 4/7 favourite for the Irish Derby at the Curragh and won easily by four lengths from Lionhearted.^[6] At Ascot he was the shortest priced favourite in the history^[7] of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, starting at odds of 2/13 against three opponents. In one of British racing's biggest upsets^[8] he failed to catch the front-running French colt Nasram and was beaten two lengths,^[9] having been unsuited by the unusually firm ground.^[2]

More firm ground in the autumn led to Santa Claus missing the St Leger and going straight for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October. He finished second of the twenty-two runners, beaten three quarters of a length by the outsider Prince Royal.^[10]

Assessment and achievements

Santa Claus was named British Horse of the Year by the Bloodstock Breeders' Review, gaining 10 of the 20 votes. His highest Timeform rating was 133+^[11] Santa Claus's second place in the Arc took his total earnings to £153,646, enabling him to overtake Ballymoss as the biggest prize money winner in the history of British and Irish racing. He held the record until his total was surpassed by Ribocco in 1967.^[11]

In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Santa Claus as an “average” Derby winner and the fifteenth-best Irish racehorse of the 20th century.^[12]

Stud career

Santa Claus was retired in 1965 to stand at stud^[13] in Ireland after being sold at the end of his racing career for £400,000.^[14] He had some success as a stallion but had little opportunity to distinguish himself as he died of thrombosis in 1970.^[2] His best offspring included the Irish Classic winners Reindeer (Irish St. Leger) and Santa Tina (Irish Oaks).

Pedigree

Santa Claus can trace his descent to the Godolphin Arabian and became his last descendant to win the Derby (as of 2013).^[15]

References

External links

• Newsreel of 1964 Derby from British Pathé
• Newsreel of 1964 Irish Derby from British Pathé