Petite Etoile

Petite Etoile
Sire	Petition
Grandsire	Fair Trial
Dam	Star Of Iran
Damsire	Bois Roussel
Sex	Filly
Foaled	1956
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Grey
Breeder	Aga Khan III & Prince Aly Khan
Owner	Prince Aly Khan Aga Khan IV
Trainer	Noel Murless
Record	19: 14-5-0
Earnings	£72,626
Major wins
1000 Guineas (1959) Epsom Oaks (1959) Sussex Stakes (1959) Yorkshire Oaks (1959) Champion Stakes (1959) Victor Wild Stakes (1960) Coronation Cup (1960, 1961) Coronation Stakes (1961) Rous Memorial Stakes (1961)
Awards
British Horse of the Year (1959)
Honours
Timeform Top-rated three-year-old filly (1959) Timeform Top-rated Older Female (1960, 1961)

Petite Etoile (foaled 1956) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career which lasted from June 1958 until September 1961 she won fourteen of her nineteen races and finished second in the other five. After showing promising, but unexceptional form in 1958, she improved to be the British Horse of the Year in 1959, winning all six of her races including the Classic 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks. She remained in training for two further seasons, winning major races including consecutive runnings of the Coronation Cup.

Background

Petite Etoile, whose name was French for "Little Star",^[1] was a grey filly bred by HH Aga Khan III and his son Prince Aly Khan. She was sired by Petition, whose wins included the Eclipse Stakes. Petite Etoile's dam, Star of Iran, from whom she inherited her grey coat was a full sister to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Migoli. As a descendant of Mumtaz Mahal, Petite Etoile was a member of the same branch of Thoroughbred family 9-c which produced Shergar, Oh So Sharp and Risen Star.^[2] The filly was sent into training with Noel Murless at his Warren Place stables in Newmarket, Suffolk. During her racing career, Petite Etoile was a Dapple grey although, like most grey horses, her coat lightened with age.^[3]^[4]

Racing career

1958: two-year-old season

On her first race as a two-year-old Petite Etoile was beaten by eight lengths by a colt named Chris in a two-horse race at Manchester Racecourse. Chris went on to become a top class sprinter, winning the King's Stand Stakes in 1959. In July she won the Star Stakes at Sandown and finished second to Krakenwake in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. In August Petite Etoile won the Rose Stakes at Sandown very easily at odds of 1/6. At the end of the season, she was rated fourteen pounds below the top-rated colt Tudor Melody and nine pounds behind the top-rated fillies Rosalba and Lindsay.^[5] She was considered a fast filly who would be unlikely to make an impression beyond sprint distances.^[6]

1959: three-year-old season

Petite Etoile began her three-year-old season in the Free Handicap over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse. She was ridden by Doug Smith and carried top weight to victory. Noel Murless's stable jockey Lester Piggott having chosen to ride the Queen's filly Short Sentence .In the 1000 Guineas two weeks later she started at odds of 8/1 in field of fourteen fillies. Piggott had chosen to ride Collyria for Murless . Prince Aly Khan's rider George Moore was assigned to ride Prince Aly Khan's favoured representative Paraguana, and Petite Etoile was ridden again by Doug Smith. Petite Etoile stayed on strongly in the closing stages to win by a length from Rosalba, with Paraguana four lengths back in third. Doug Smith was later to admit that he had kept quiet about the feel Petite Etoile had given him in the Free Handicap in the hope that Piggott would choose one of Murless's two other contenders Collyria or Rose of Medina and that he would keep the ride. After that Lester Piggott took over on Petite Etoile, although there were concerns that she would not stay the 1m 4f of the Oaks trip. .

A month later, Petite Etoile started 11/2 second favourite for the Oaks, in which she was ridden by Lester Piggott. The favourite was the undefeated Cantelo, a filly whose wins included the Royal Lodge Stakes against colts and who was regarded as a superior stayer, whereas Petite Etoile's pedigree led to doubts about her stamina over one and a half miles.^[7] Petite Etoile was settled by Lester Piggott in the early stages before moving up into third place on the turn into the straight. She accelerated past Cantelo a furlong from the finish and won easily by three lengths.^[8] Later that year, Cantelo won the St. Leger Stakes.

Petite Etoile won her remaining races in 1959. In July she moved down to one mile to win the Sussex Stakes against colts at Goodwood. In August, she moved back up to a mile and a half to win the Yorkshire Oaks at York Racecourse. On her final start of the year she contested the Champion Stakes at Newmarket^[9] and won by half a length from the previously unbeaten Irish St Leger winner Barclay with the French-trained Javelot in third. An unusual feature of the race was that the Queen was fined by the Jockey Club for the late withdrawal of her horse Above Suspicion.^[10]

1960: four-year-old season

On Petite Etoile's 1960 debut she won the Victor Wild Stakes over ten furlongs at Kempton Park Racecourse. Following the death of Prince Aly Khan in May 1960, the ownership of Petite Etoile was inherited by his son Aga Khan IV.^[6] She was then sent to Epsom for the Coronation Cup in which she was pitted against the Epsom Derby winner Parthia. Starting at odds of 1/3 she was restrained by Piggott until the closing stages where she displayed "devastating speed",^[11] to accelerate past Parthia, "as if he were a selling plater" and win by one and a half lengths.^[12] Following the race, her owners reportedly turned down an offer of £320,000 for the filly from an American source.^[13]

In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, Petite Etoile started 2/5 favourite, despite the rain-softened ground. Before the race, Lester Piggott said that he could see no danger to the filly and described her as "the best I have ever ridden".^[14] Piggott held the filly up at the rear of the field before attempting to challenge on the inside rail. Unable to obtain a clear run, he was forced to switch Petite Etoile to the outside, and despite finishing strongly Petite Etoile was beaten half a length by the five-year-old Aggressor. Petite Etoile then succumbed to the epidemic of coughing which affected many British racing stables, and missed the rest of the season, leading to reports that she would be retired.^[13]

1961: five-year-old season

As a five-year-old Petite Etoile began her season with a narrow victory over Wordpam in the Coronation Stakes at Sandown. She then claimed a second Coronation Cup, beating Vienna by a neck. At Royal Ascot she took the Rous Memorial Stakes over one mile. Petite Etoile was then moved back up to one and a half miles for the Aly Khan International Memorial Gold Cup, named after her late owner, in which she finished second to High Hat.^[6]

Petite Etoile returned to one mile for her last two races. In September, she was an easy winner of the Scarborough Stakes at Doncaster. Later in the same month she was beaten half a length by Le Levanstell when starting 2/9 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.^[15]

Assessment and honours

Petite Etoile was rated at 134 by Timeform in 1959, making her the highest-rated three-year-old filly of the year. The rating was the highest ever awarded to a British three-year-old filly and remained so until the sprinter Habibti was rated at 136 in 1983. Petite Etoile was again rated at 134 in 1960, making her the equal highest-rated older horse in Europe, alongside the sprinter Bleep-Bleep. In 1961 she was the highest-rated older female with a rating of 131.^[5]

In 1959, the Bloodstock Breeders' Review conducted their first Horse of the Year poll. Petite Etoile won the award, taking 90% of the votes. Petite Etoiles career earnings of £72,624 set a record for a female racehorse trained in Britain or Ireland, which stood until it was surpassed by Park Top in 1969.^[5]

Noel Murless described her as "a peculiar animal ... unique in every way" who was only happy when exercising with other grey horses. In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Petite Etoile the sixth best filly trained in the British Isles in the 20th Century and the best British filly of the 1950s.^[16]

Stud career

Petite Etoile's career as a broodmare was disappointing. She produced only three known foals, none of whom showed any merit as racehorses. However, she is the ancestress of the unbeaten, in 7 races, dual French classic and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winning filly Zarkava.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Petite Etoile (GB), grey mare, 1956^[17]
Sire Petition (GB) 1944	Fair Trial (GB) 1932	Fairway	Phalaris
		Fairway	Scapa Flow
		Lady Juror	Son-in-Law
		Lady Juror	Lady Josephine
	Art Paper (GB) 1933	Artists Proof	Gainsborough
		Artists Proof	Clear Evidence
		Quire	Fairy King
		Quire	Queen Carbine
Dam Star of Iran (GB) 1949	Bois Roussel (FR) 1935	Vatout	Prince Chimay
		Vatout	Vashti
		Plucky Liege	Spearmint
		Plucky Liege	Concertina
	Mah Iran (GB) 1939	Bahram	Blandford
		Bahram	Friar's Daughter
		Mah Mahal	Gainsborough
		Mah Mahal	Mumtaz Mahal (Family:9-c^[2])

References

↑ "It's Little Star for nine in a row". Evening Times. 30 June 1960. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
1 2 "Crab Mare - Family 9-c". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ Hugh McMahon. "Petite Etoile images". Sporthorse-data.com. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ The Aga Khan Studs - http://www.AgaKhanStuds.com/. "Petite Etoile". Aga Khan Studs. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
1 2 3 Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions(Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
1 2 3 Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
↑ "Unbeaten Cantelo taken for Oaks". The Bulletin. 5 June 1959. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ "Petite Etoile wins Oaks". Glasgow Herald. 6 June 1959. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ "Petite Etoile well fancied". Glasgow Herald. 17 October 1960. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ "British Queen fined for pulling horse". Miami News. 18 October 1959. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ "No trouble for Petite Etoile". Evening Times. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
↑ "Petite Etoile tops in Coronation Cup". The Leader-Post. 3 June 1960. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
1 2 "Filly's fine career". Glasgow Herald. 3 October 1960. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ "Petite Etoile was a world beater look". Evening Times. 11 July 1960. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ "Star UK mare to be retired". The Age. 27 September 1961. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press,. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
↑ "Petite Etoile pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-01-11.

Mooney, Bill & Ennor, George. The Complete Encyclopedia of Horse Racing (2006) Carlton Publishing Group ISBN 978-1-84442-127-5

1000 Guineas winners

1814 Charlotte 1815 Filly by Selim 1816 Rhoda 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Catgut 1820 Rowena 1821 Zeal 1822 Whizgig 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Tontine 1826 Problem 1827 Arab 1828 Zoe 1829 Young Mouse 1830 Charlotte West 1831 Galantine 1832 Galata 1833 Tarantella 1834 May-day 1835 Preserve 1836 Destiny 1837 Chapeau d'Espagne 1838 Barcarolle 1839 Cara 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Potentia 1842 Firebrand 1843 Extempore 1844 Sorella 1845 Pic-nic 1846 Mendicant 1847 Clementine 1848 Canezou 1849 The Flea 1850 Lady Orford 1851 Aphrodite 1852 Kate 1853 Mentmore Lass 1854 Virago 1855 Habena 1856 Manganese 1857 Imperieuse 1858 Governess 1859 Mayonaise 1860 Sagitta 1861 Nemesis 1862 Hurricane 1863 Lady Augusta 1864 Tomato 1865 Siberia 1866 Repulse 1867 Achievement 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Scottish Queen 1870 Hester 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Cecilia 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia 1877 Belphoebe 1878 Pilgrimage 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Elizabeth 1881 Thebais 1882 St Marguerite 1883 Hauteur 1884 Busybody 1885 Farewell 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Briarroot 1889 Minthe 1890 Semolina 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Siffleuse 1894 Amiable 1895 Galeottia 1896 Thais 1897 Chelandry 1898 Nun Nicer 1899 Sibola 1900 Winifreda 1901 Aida 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Quintessence 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Flair 1907 Witch Elm 1908 Rhodora 1909 Electra 1910 Winkipop 1911 Atmah 1912 Tagalie 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Vaucluse 1916 Canyon 1917 Diadem 1918 Ferry 1919 Roseway 1920 Cinna 1921 Bettina 1922 Silver Urn 1923 Tranquil 1924 Plack 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Pillion 1927 Cresta Run 1928 Scuttle 1929 Taj Mah 1930 Fair Isle 1931 Four Course 1932 Kandy 1933 Brown Betty 1934 Campanula 1935 Mesa 1936 Tide-way 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Dancing Time 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Herringbone 1944 Picture Play 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Hypericum 1947 Imprudence 1948 Queenpot 1949 Musidora 1950 Camaree 1951 Belle of All 1952 Zabara 1953 Happy Laughter 1954 Festoon 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Honeylight 1957 Rose Royale 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Abermaid 1963 Hula Dancer 1964 Pourparler 1965 Night Off 1966 Glad Rags 1967 Fleet 1968 Caergwrle 1969 Full Dress 1970 Humble Duty 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Waterloo 1973 Mysterious 1974 Highclere 1975 Nocturnal Spree 1976 Flying Water 1977 Mrs McArdy 1978 Enstone Spark 1979 One in a Million 1980 Quick As Lightning 1981 Fairy Footsteps 1982 On The House 1983 Ma Biche 1984 Pebbles 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Miesque 1988 Ravinella 1989 Musical Bliss 1990 Salsabil 1991 Shadayid 1992 Hatoof 1993 Sayyedati 1994 Las Meninas 1995 Harayir 1996 Bosra Sham 1997 Sleepytime 1998 Cape Verdi 1999 Wince 2000 Lahan 2001 Ameerat 2002 Kazzia 2003 Russian Rhythm 2004 Attraction 2005 Virginia Waters 2006 Speciosa 2007 Finsceal Beo 2008 Natagora 2009 Ghanaati 2010 Special Duty 2011 Blue Bunting 2012 Homecoming Queen 2013 Sky Lantern 2014 Miss France 2015 Legatissimo 2016 Minding

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown winners, † = Epsom Derby winners, ‡ = 2000 Guineas Stakes winners

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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