Fifinella (horse)

Fifinella
Fifinella, 1916
Sire	Polymelus
Grandsire	Cyllene
Dam	Silver Fowl
Damsire	Wildfowler
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1913
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Sir Edward Hulton
Owner	Sir Edward Hulton
Trainer	Dick Dawson
Record	7: 4-2-1
Earnings	£5,937
Major wins
Cheveley Park Stakes (1915) New Derby (1916) New Oaks (1916)
Awards
Unofficial British Champion Two-Year-Old (1915)
Last updated on 23 October 2011

Fifinella (1913–1931) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a career that lasted from 1915 until 1916 she ran seven times and won four races. She was the highest-rated British two-year-old of either sex in 1915 and went on to greater success the following season. As a three-year-old in 1916 she won the Derby and Oaks both of which were run that year at Newmarket. She was the sixth and most recent filly to win the Derby.

Background

Fifinella a chestnut filly with a narrow white blaze and two white socks, was bred by her owner, the publisher Edward Hulton.^[1] She was sired by Polymelus out of the mare, Silver Fowl. Polymelus was a highly successful racehorse who won the Champion Stakes and the Cambridgeshire in 1906 before going on to be a five time Champion Sire and, through his son Phalaris, the male-line ancestor of most modern thoroughbreds. Silver Fowl was a highly successful broodmare who produced ten other winners including Silver Tag (Cambridgeshire),^[2] Silvern (Coronation Cup) and Tai-Yang (Jockey Club Stakes).^[3]

Fifinella was sent into training at Newmarket, Suffolk, with Richard C. Dawson who at that time was Hulton's private trainer.^[4] She was not an easy or pleasant filly to train, being described by Dawson as "catty and peevish".^[5]

1915: two-year-old season

As a two-year-old Fifinella, ridden by Steve Donoghue, won two of her three races, all of which were run at Newmarket. She began her career with an easy^[6] win in the Fulbourne Stakes (beating the King's colt Marconi).^[7] In the Bibury Club Stakes she was beaten a head by Telephone Girl, to whom she was conceding ten pounds. As Telephone Girl had given weight and a beating to the leading colt Argos, Fifinella's form looked very strong.^[8] On her final start of the year she won the Cheveley Park Stakes by eight lengths. In the Free Handicap, a ranking of the best British two-year-olds, Fifinella was rated the best juvenile of 1915.^[9]

1916: three-year-old season

As a three-year-old, Fifinella was ridden by Joe Childs. On her debut she was made odds-on favourite for the 1000 Guineas over one mile at Newmarket on 5 May. She was unco-operative before the race and Childs struck her hard with his whip. The filly responded badly and did not show her best form in the race, being beaten three quarters of a length by Canyon.^[10]

When the original entries for the 1916 Derby were made, Fifinella had not been entered.^[11] The outbreak of war in 1914 however, led to the race, and all the entries, being cancelled and then re-opened when it was agreed to run a substitute race at Newmarket. Fifinella was therefore eligible for the race which was run on 29 May. Fifinella started at odds of 11/2 against nine colts in front of a smaller crowd than usual.^[12] She produced a strong late run along the rails to win by a neck from Kwang-Su, with Nassovian a head further back in third.^[13] The Derby win by the "flying filly"^[14] was the third in eight years by a female, following Signorinetta (1908) and Tagalie (1912).

Two days later, over the same course and distance, Fifinella started 8/13 favourite in a field of seven for the "New Oaks". She won "in a canter" by five lengths from Salamandra, with Market Girl third. The impressive winning time of 2:35.0 was 1.6 faster than that she had recorded when winning the Derby.^[15]

Hopes for a September meeting between Fifinella and the year's best colt Hurry On in a Newmarket substitute "St Leger" were not fulfilled as the filly went "amiss" and was unable to run.^[16] Later in Autumn she finished third of three runners behind Phalaris in a race at Newmarket.

Stud record

Fifinella was retired to her owners stud, where she remained until 1928 when she was sold for 12,000 guineas to Lord Woolavington. She was a successful broodmare, despite her tendency to pass on her difficult temperament,^[5] producing six winners. The best of her offspring was the colt Press Gang who won the Middle Park and the Princess of Wales's Stakes. Fifinella died in late April 1931 after giving birth to a filly by Hurry On.^[17] One of her modern direct descendants was the multiple Grade I National Hunt winner Oscar Whisky.

Assessment

In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Fifinella the eighth best British-trained filly of the 20th Century.^[18]

Popular culture

Author Roald Dahl, born the year of Fifinella's great racing successes, used her name for his female characters in his 1943 book, The Gremlins. The character's image, designed by Walt Disney, became the mascot of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, who called themselves the "Order of Fifinella".^[19]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Fifinella (GB), chestnut mare, 1913
Sire Polymelus (GB) 1902	Cyllene (horse) 1895	Bona Vista	Bend Or
		Bona Vista	Vista
		Arcadia	Isonomy*
		Arcadia	Distant Shore
	Maid Marian 1886	Hampton	Lord Clifden
		Hampton	Lady Langden
		Quiver	Toxophilite
		Quiver	Young Melbourne mare
Dam Silver Fowl (GB) 1904	Wildfowler 1895	Gallinule	Isonomy*
		Gallinule	Moorhen
		Tragedy	Ben Battle
		Tragedy	The White Witch
	L’Argent 1983	Jacobite	Rosicrucian
		Jacobite	Twine the Plaiden
		Aura	Umpire
		Aura	Somnambula (Family: 3-i)

Fifinella was inbred 4x4 to Isonomy. This means that the stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.

References

↑ "Sir Edward Hulton". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "NOTES AND COMMENTS". Evening Post. 1916-06-17. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
↑ "Richard Dawson". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
1 2 Liz Martiniak Thoroughbred Heritage (1924-03-24). "Polymelus". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "RACING IN ENGLAND". Evening Post. 1916-05-31. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "NOTES AND COMMENTS". Evening Post. 1916-06-30. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "THE SPORTING WORLD". Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle. 1915-12-21. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "THE SPORTING WORLD". Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle. 1916-01-18. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "THE SPORTING WORLD". Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle. 1916-07-25. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "SPORTING". Hawera & Normanby Star. 1916-06-07. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "THE NEW DERBY". Evening Post. 1916-06-01. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "THE TURF". Ashburton Guardian. 1916-06-01. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "THE SPORTING WORLD". Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle. 1916-06-20. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "NEWS AND NOTES". NZ Truth. 1916-09-16. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "THE SPORTING WORLD". Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle. 1916-11-28. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ "HERE AND THERE". Evening Post. 1931-06-30. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press,. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
↑ Gene Nora Jessen (2002). The Powder Puff Derby of 1929. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-16.

Fifinella's pedigree and partial racing stats

Epsom Derby winners

1780 Diomed 1781 Young Eclipse 1782 Assassin 1783 Saltram 1784 Serjeant 1785 Aimwell 1786 Noble 1787 Sir Peter Teazle 1788 Sir Thomas 1789 Skyscraper 1790 Rhadamanthus 1791 Eager 1792 John Bull 1793 Waxy 1794 Daedalus 1795 Spread Eagle 1796 Didelot 1797 colt by Fidget 1798 Sir Harry 1799 Archduke 1800 Champion 1801 Eleanor ♥ 1802 Tyrant 1803 Ditto 1804 Hannibal 1805 Cardinal Beaufort 1806 Paris 1807 Election 1808 Pan 1809 Pope 1810 Whalebone 1811 Phantom 1812 Octavius 1813 Smolensko 1814 Blucher 1815 Whisker 1816 Prince Leopold 1817 Azor 1818 Sam 1819 Tiresias 1820 Sailor 1821 Gustavus 1822 Moses 1823 Emilius 1824 Cedric 1825 Middleton 1826 Lap-dog 1827 Mameluke 1828 Cadland 1829 Frederick 1830 Priam 1831 Spaniel 1832 St. Giles 1833 Dangerous 1834 Plenipotentiary 1835 Mundig 1836 Bay Middleton 1837 Phosphorus 1838 Amato 1839 Bloomsbury 1840 Little Wonder 1841 Coronation 1842 Attila 1843 Cotherstone 1844 Orlando 1845 The Merry Monarch 1846 Pyrrhus The First 1847 Cossack 1848 Surplice 1849 The Flying Dutchman 1850 Voltigeur 1851 Teddington 1852 Daniel O'Rourke 1853 West Australian ₩ 1854 Andover 1855 Wild Dayrell 1856 Ellington 1857 Blink Bonny ♥ 1858 Beadsman 1859 Musjid 1860 Thormanby 1861 Kettledrum 1862 Caractacus 1863 Macaroni 1864 Blair Athol 1865 Gladiateur ₩ 1866 Lord Lyon ₩ 1867 Hermit 1868 Blue Gown 1869 Pretender 1870 Kingcraft 1871 Favonius 1872 Cremorne 1873 Doncaster 1874 George Frederick 1875 Galopin 1876 Kisber 1877 Silvio 1878 Sefton 1879 Sir Bevys 1880 Bend Or 1881 Iroquois 1882 Shotover ♥ 1883 St. Blaise 1884 St. Gatien Harvester 1885 Melton 1886 Ormonde ₩ 1887 Merry Hampton 1888 Ayrshire 1889 Donovan 1890 Sainfoin 1891 Common ₩ 1892 Sir Hugo 1893 Isinglass ₩ 1894 Ladas 1895 Sir Visto 1896 Persimmon 1897 Galtee More ₩ 1898 Jeddah 1899 Flying Fox ₩ 1900 Diamond Jubilee ₩ 1901 Volodyovski 1902 Ard Patrick 1903 Rock Sand ₩ 1904 St. Amant 1905 Cicero 1906 Spearmint 1907 Orby 1908 Signorinetta ♥ 1909 Minoru 1910 Lemberg 1911 Sunstar 1912 Tagalie ♥ 1913 Aboyeur 1914 Durbar 1915 Pommern ₩ 1916 Fifinella ♥ 1917 Gay Crusader ₩ 1918 Gainsborough ₩ 1919 Grand Parade 1920 Spion Kop 1921 Humorist 1922 Captain Cuttle 1923 Papyrus 1924 Sansovino 1925 Manna 1926 Coronach 1927 Call Boy 1928 Felstead 1929 Trigo 1930 Blenheim 1931 Cameronian 1932 April the Fifth 1933 Hyperion 1934 Windsor Lad 1935 Bahram ₩ 1936 Mahmoud 1937 Mid-day Sun 1938 Bois Roussel 1939 Blue Peter 1940 Pont l'Eveque 1941 Owen Tudor 1942 Watling Street 1943 Straight Deal 1944 Ocean Swell 1945 Dante 1946 Airborne 1947 Pearl Diver 1948 My Love 1949 Nimbus 1950 Galcador 1951 Arctic Prince 1952 Tulyar 1953 Pinza 1954 Never Say Die 1955 Phil Drake 1956 Lavandin 1957 Crepello 1958 Hard Ridden 1959 Parthia 1960 St Paddy 1961 Psidium 1962 Larkspur 1963 Relko 1964 Santa Claus 1965 Sea Bird 1966 Charlottown 1967 Royal Palace 1968 Sir Ivor 1969 Blakeney 1970 Nijinsky ₩ 1971 Mill Reef 1972 Roberto 1973 Morston 1974 Snow Knight 1975 Grundy 1976 Empery 1977 The Minstrel 1978 Shirley Heights 1979 Troy 1980 Henbit 1981 Shergar 1982 Golden Fleece 1983 Teenoso 1984 Secreto 1985 Slip Anchor 1986 Shahrastani 1987 Reference Point 1988 Kahyasi 1989 Nashwan 1990 Quest for Fame 1991 Generous 1992 Dr Devious 1993 Commander in Chief 1994 Erhaab 1995 Lammtarra 1996 Shaamit 1997 Benny the Dip 1998 High-Rise 1999 Oath 2000 Sinndar 2001 Galileo 2002 High Chaparral 2003 Kris Kin 2004 North Light 2005 Motivator 2006 Sir Percy 2007 Authorized 2008 New Approach 2009 Sea the Stars 2010 Workforce 2011 Pour Moi 2012 Camelot 2013 Ruler of the World 2014 Australia 2015 Golden Horn 2016 Harzand

Legend - ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly

Epsom Oaks winners

1779 Bridget 1780 Tetotum 1781 Faith 1782 Ceres 1783 Maid of the Oaks 1784 Stella 1785 Trifle 1786 Yellow Filly 1787 Annette 1788 Nightshade 1789 Tag 1790 Hippolyta 1791 Portia 1792 Volante 1793 Caelia 1794 Hermione 1795 Platina 1796 Parisot 1797 Nike 1798 Bellissima 1799 Bellina 1800 Ephemera 1801 Eleanor † 1802 Scotia 1803 Theophania 1804 Pelisse 1805 Meteora 1806 Bronze 1807 Briseis 1808 Morel 1809 Maid of Orleans 1810 Oriana 1811 Sorcery 1812 Manuella 1813 Music 1814 Medora 1815 Minuet 1816 Landscape 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Shoveler 1820 Caroline 1821 Augusta 1822 Pastille ‡ 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Wings 1826 Lilias 1827 Gulnare 1828 Turquoise 1829 Green Mantle 1830 Variation 1831 Oxygen 1832 Galata 1833 Vespa 1834 Pussy 1835 Queen of Trumps 1836 Cyprian 1837 Miss Letty 1838 Industry 1839 Deception 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Ghuznee 1842 Our Nell 1843 Poison 1844 The Princess 1845 Refraction 1846 Mendicant 1847 Miami 1848 Cymba 1849 Lady Evelyn 1850 Rhedycina 1851 Iris 1852 Songstress 1853 Catherine Hayes 1854 Mincemeat 1855 Marchioness 1856 Mincepie 1857 Blink Bonny † 1858 Governess 1859 Summerside 1860 Butterfly 1861 Brown Duchess 1862 Feu de Joie 1863 Queen Bertha 1864 Fille de l'Air 1865 Regalia 1866 Tormentor 1867 Hippia 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Brigantine 1870 Gamos 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Marie Stuart 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia (dh) 1876 Enguerrande (dh) 1877 Placida 1878 Jannette 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Jenny Howlet 1881 Thebais 1882 Geheimniss 1883 Bonny Jean 1884 Busybody 1885 Lonely 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Seabreeze 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre 1890 Memoir 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Mrs Butterwick 1894 Amiable 1895 La Sagesse 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim 1897 Limasol 1898 Airs and Graces 1899 Musa 1900 La Roche 1901 Cap and Bells II 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Our Lassie 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Keystone II 1907 Glass Doll 1908 Signorinetta † 1909 Perola 1910 Rosedrop 1911 Cherimoya 1912 Mirska 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Snow Marten 1916 Fifinella † 1917 Sunny Jane 1918 My Dear 1919 Bayunda 1920 Charlebelle 1921 Love in Idleness 1922 Pogrom 1923 Brownhylda 1924 Straitlace 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Short Story 1927 Beam 1928 Toboggan 1929 Pennycomequick 1930 Rose of England 1931 Brulette 1932 Udaipur 1933 Chatelaine 1934 Light Brocade 1935 Quashed 1936 Lovely Rosa 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Commotion 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Why Hurry 1944 Hycilla 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Steady Aim 1947 Imprudence 1948 Masaka 1949 Musidora 1950 Asmena 1951 Neasham Belle 1952 Frieze 1953 Ambiguity 1954 Sun Cap 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Sicarelle 1957 Carrozza 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Monade 1963 Noblesse 1964 Homeward Bound 1965 Long Look 1966 Valoris 1967 Pia 1968 La Lagune 1969 Sleeping Partner 1970 Lupe 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Ginevra 1973 Mysterious 1974 Polygamy 1975 Juliette Marny 1976 Pawneese 1977 Dunfermline 1978 Fair Salinia 1979 Scintillate 1980 Bireme 1981 Blue Wind 1982 Time Charter 1983 Sun Princess 1984 Circus Plume 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Unite 1988 Diminuendo 1989 Snow Bride 1990 Salsabil 1991 Jet Ski Lady 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity 1994 Balanchine 1995 Moonshell 1996 Lady Carla 1997 Reams of Verse 1998 Shahtoush 1999 Ramruma 2000 Love Divine 2001 Imagine 2002 Kazzia 2003 Casual Look 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Eswarah 2006 Alexandrova 2007 Light Shift 2008 Look Here 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Dancing Rain 2012 Was 2013 Talent 2014 Taghrooda 2015 Qualify 2016 Minding

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners

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