Spion Kop (horse)

Spion Kop

Sire	Spearmint
Grandsire	Carbine
Dam	Hammerkop
Damsire	Gallinule
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1917
Country	Ireland^[1]
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Giles Loder
Owner	Giles Loder
Trainer	Peter Gilpin
Record	14: 2-6-2
Earnings	£
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1920)

Spion Kop (1917–1941) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1919 until 1921, Spion Kop ran fourteen times winning two races. After an undistinguished early career in which he lost his first six races, he improved as a three-year-old to win the Epsom Derby in record time in 1920. After his retirement from racing he had some success as a stallion.

Background

Spion Kop, a “strong, handsome”^[2] bay horse with a white blaze and four white socks, was bred by his owner Major Giles Loder who had inherited the Eyrefield Stud near Caragh in County Kildare from his uncle Eustace “Lucky” Loder ^[3] in 1914.^[4] He was named after the Battle of Spion Kop (1900).

Spion Kop’s sire Spearmint had been Eustace Loder’s most successful horse winning the Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris in 1906. At stud, he was fairly successful, siring Royal Lancer (St Leger), Zionist (Irish Derby) and Plucky Liege. Hammerkop, Spion Kop’s dam was a top-class staying racehorse who won the Yorkshire Oaks in 1903 and the Cesarewitch Handicap in 1905, but produced no other winners in a long stud career.

Spion Kop was sent into training with Peter Gilpin at his Clarehaven Stables at Newmarket, Suffolk. ^[5]

Racing career

1919: two-year-old season

As the offspring of two slow-maturing stayers, Spion Kop was not expected to excel as a two-year-old in 1919. He failed to win in six starts, but showed some consistency by reaching the frame in all his races, finishing second five times and third once. At the end of the year, in the Free Handicap, a rating list of the leading juveniles, Spion Kop was given a weight of 102 pounds, suggesting that he was at least twenty pounds below top class.^[4]

1920: three-year-old season

In the spring of 1920 there were rumours that Spion Kop had made exceptional improvement and was likely to be a major contender for the Derby. On his debut in May he went some way towards substantiating the stories when he won a race at Kempton impressively, and his odds for the Derby were cut to 9/1. He did not run again in public but was instead tried in a private trial race against the best of his trainer’s other three-year-olds. He was well beaten by his stable companions, finishing last of the four runners behind Sarchedon, Comrade and Paragon,^[6] and a result his odds for the Derby lengthened again. The stable jockey Arthur Smith, who had rejected the eventual winner Grand Parade in the 1919 Derby, was instructed to ride Sarchedon at Epsom,^[7] with the mount on Spion Kop being given to the American Frank O'Neill.

Spion Kop (foreground) wins the Epsom Derby.

The Derby was run on an unusually hot day in front of an estimated crowd of 250,000 including the King and Queen.^[8] Spion Kop started at odd of 100/6 (approximately 16/1) in a field of 19 runners. The favourite was the 2000 Guineas winner Tetratema a colt noted for his exceptional early speed but with dubious stamina.^[9] Tetratema went into an early lead and set an extremely fast pace as he was challenged by Abbot’s Trace (ridden by Steve Donoghue),^[10] while O’Neill settled Spion Kop well back in the field. Tetratema dropped back soon after half way and Abbot’s Trace led into the straight as Spion Kop made rapid progress from the rear. Spion Kop took the lead three furlongs from the finish and ran on strongly up the straight to win by two lengths from Archaic and Orpheus in a new race record time of 2:34.8. The most dramatic incident of the race occurred in the closing stages when Abbot’s Trace was brought down in a collision with Sarchedon, who finished fourth.^[10]

Spion Kop then attempted to emulate his sire by travelling to France for the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, a much anticipated event, which, with a first prize of £12,000, was the most valuable race in the world at the time.^[11] Having narrowly escaped a fire which destroyed his horse-box,^[12] Spion Kop started joint-favourite, but finished unplaced behind Comrade.^[13] There were excuses however, as the race was extremely rough, with one report claiming that Spion Kop had been "treated like a shuttlecock".^[14] Spion Kop failed to recover his form in autumn. He prepared for the St Leger by taking on Abbott's Trace in a two-runner race for the Derbyshire Three-Year-Old Plate at Derby and was beaten a short head in a "desperate" finish.^[15] He nevertheless started favourite^[16] for the St Leger but finished unplaced behind Caligula. On his final start he was unplaced again behind Orpheus in the Champion Stakes .

1921: four-year-old season

Spion Kop failed to re-establish his reputation in two starts as a four-year-old. He returned to Epsom’s Derby meeting for the Coronation Cup but finished well beaten behind Silvern. At Royal Ascot he was moved up in distance to two and a half miles for the Ascot Gold Cup and produced his best performance in over a year by finishing third (promoted from fourth) to Periosteum.^[17] There were hopes that he would appear later in the year in the Cesarewitch or the Cambridgeshire Handicap,^[18] but he never ran again.

Assessment

In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Spion Kop a “poor” Derby winner. More specifically, they rated him equal with Aboyeur as one of the two worst colts to have won the race in the 20th Century. Spion Kop was not even the best middle distance colt in his own stable, that honour clearly belonging to Comrade.^[19]

Stud career

Spion Kop was retired to his owner’s Old Connell Stud, near Newbridge, County Kildare, where he became a “respectable” sire^[2] with a clear tendency to produce runners with stamina. His most notable progeny included Felstead (Epsom Derby), Kopi (Irish Derby), Bongrace (Doncaster Cup). His son The Bastard won the Yorkshire Cup and, after being renamed The Buzzard was twice the leading stallion in Australia,^[20] siring the Melbourne Cup winner Rainbird.

Spion Kop died in 1941 and was buried at the Eyrefield Stud.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Spion Kop (IRE), bay stallion, 1917
Sire Spearmint (GB) 1903	Carbine 1885	Musket	Toxophilite
		Musket	West Australian mare
		Mersey	Knowsley
		Mersey	Clemence
	Maid of the Mint 1897	Minting	Lord Lyon
		Minting	Mint Sauce
		Warble	Skylark
		Warble	Coturnix
Dam Hammerkop (GB) 1900	Gallinule 1884	Isonomy	Sterling
		Isonomy	Isola Bella
		Moorhen	Hermit
		Moorhen	sister to Ryshworth
	Concussion 1885	Reverberation	Thunderbolt
		Reverberation	The Golden Horn
		Astwith	Wenlock
		Astwith	Skirmisher mare (Family: 19)

References

↑ "Spion Kop's Derby". Melbourne Argus. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
1 2 Liz Martiniak (1924-06-24). "Spearmint". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "Major Eustace Loder". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
1 2 Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
↑ "Peter Gilpin". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "NEWS AND NOTES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1921-07-30. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "NEWS AND NOTES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-08-21. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "DERBY DAY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-06-04. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "NEWS AND NOTES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-08-14. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
1 2 "Newspaper Article". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1920-07-29. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "25-GUINEA HORSE WINS £12,000 PRIZE". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-09-09. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "RACEHORSES RESCUED FROM BURNING BOXES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-06-26. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "SPORTING". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-06-29. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "NEWS AND NOTES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-09-18. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "ENGLISH RACING". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1920-09-03. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "NOTES AND COMMENTS". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1921-10-18. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "ENGLISH RACING". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1921-06-17. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ "NOTES FROM ENGLAND". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1921-08-08. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press,. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions(Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.

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

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