Tetratema
Tetratema | |
---|---|
Tetratema, c. 1921 | |
Sire | The Tetrarch |
Grandsire | Roi Herode |
Dam | Scotch Gift |
Damsire | Symington |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 1917 |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Grey |
Breeder | Dermot McCalmont |
Owner | Dermot McCalmont |
Trainer | Atty Persse |
Record | 16: 13-1-0 |
Earnings | £21,776 |
Major wins | |
National Breeders' Produce Stakes (1919) Molecomb Stakes (1919) Champagne Stakes (1919) Imperial Produce Plate (1919) Middle Park Stakes (1919) 2,000 Guineas (1920) Fern Hill Stakes (1920) King George Stakes (1920, 1921) King's Stand Stakes (1921) July Cup (1921) | |
Awards | |
Leading British money winner (1919) Top-rated two-year-old in Britain (1919) Leading sire in GB & Ireland (1929) | |
Last updated on January 22, 2007 |
Tetratema (27 April 1917 – July 1939) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from May 1919 until October 1921 he won thirteen of his sixteen races, include the all twelve of his starts over the sprint distances of five and six furlongs. He was unbeaten in five races in 1919, including the Molecomb Stakes, Champagne Stakes, and Middle Park Stakes, and was the highest-rated two-year-old in Britain by a record margin. In the following year he had enough stamina to win the Classic 2000 Guineas over a mile, but failed to stay when unplaced in both The Derby and the Eclipse Stakes. He then returned to sprinting and won his remaining two races of 1920 and all four in 1921. His successes in this phase of his career included the King's Stand Stakes, July Cup and two runnings of the King George Stakes.
At the end of 1921 he was retired from racing and returned to his birthplace in Ireland to become a breeding stallion. He became a highly successful sire of winners and regularly featured among the leading sires in Britain and Ireland. Most of his best runners inherited their father's aptitudes, being particularly successful as two-year-olds and over sprint distances. Tetratema died at the age of twenty-two in 1939.
Background
Tetratema was a grey horse bred and owned by Major Dermot McCalmont. He was a late foal, being born on 27 April 1917,[1] at the Ballylinch Stud on McAlmont's Mount Juliet estate in Thomastown, County Kilkenny.[2] McCalmont named his horse Tetratema, a choice which was described by one critic as being both "meaningless" and "ugly".[3]
He was sired by The Tetrarch an unbeaten horse who was regarded as one of the fastest two-year-olds ever seen in Britain and Ireland, but whose career was ended by injury before he could race at three. The Tetrarch showed very little interest in his stud duties (his attitude towards sex was described as being "monastic in the extreme")[4] and as a result sired few foals. Tetratema's performances enabled The Tetrarch to win his only sires' championship in 1919.[5] Tetratema's dam Scotch Gift won the Somerville Stakes at Newmarket and became a successful broodmare: her other foals included Tetratema's full-brothers The Satrap, a very fast colt who won the July Stakes and Richmond Stakes in 1926, and Arch Gift a sprinter whose wins included the Bretby Stakes.[6]
Like The Tetrarch, from whom he inherited his colour, Tetratema was trained throughout his racing career by Henry Seymour "Atty" Persse at Stockbridge in Hampshire. He was ridden in most of his races by the Australian jockey Brownie Carslake.
Racing career
1919: two-year-old season
Tetratema never contested a maiden race, beginning his racing career by winning the valuable National Breeder's Produce Stakes over five furlongs at Sandown Park Racecourse. At Goodwood in July he was ridden by Carslake to a four length victory in the £850 Molecomb Stakes at odds of 1/2[7] defeating a well-regarded colt named Orpheus, the winner of the New Stakes, "in a canter".[8]
In September, Tetratema returned to win the Champagne Stakes[9] at Doncaster by four lengths and in the following month he won the Imperial Produce Stakes at Kempton by six lengths from two opponents.[10] On his final start of the year he contested Britain's most important two-year-old race, the £3,000 Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket and won by six lengths[11] at odds of 1/4.[7] According to press reports he won very easily, making "mincemeat" of his four opponents.[12]
In the Free Handicap, a rating of the best two-year-olds to have raced in Britain that season, Tetratema was rated twelve pounds clear of his nearest rival.[13] Some contemporary observers were lavish in their praise for the colt, commenting on his "electrical speed" and the "rhythmic perfection" of his action and describing him as "the best horse of his age... a marvel".[14] His earnings for the season totaled £10,951, making him the highest earning racehorse of any age in Britain.[15]
1920: three-year-old season
Tetratema began 1920 as a leading contender for the Epsom Derby, but doubts were expressed about whether a horse with such speed could stay longer distances:[16] W. Allison, writing in the London Sportsman doubted that the horse would even be effective over one mile.[17] On his seasonal debut he was tried over seven furlongs in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on 9 April. Racing on heavy ground he took an early lead but was overtaken approaching the final furlong by Silvern to whom he was conceding three pounds. Tetratema appeared to lose his footing in the difficult conditions and although he rallied in the closing stages, he failed by half a length to catch Silvern in a result which was described as a "sensation".[18] On 28 April Tetratema was one of seventeen colts to contest the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket and started at odds of 2/1. He won by half a length from Allenby, with Paragon three lengths further back in third, becoming the first of his colour to win the race since Grey Momus in 1838.[19] Modern sources have given the winning time as 1:43.2, but contemporary hand-timings differed widely, with 1:44.6, 1:43.6 and 1:39.8 all being reported.[20] In the aftermath of the race Tetratema retained his position as Derby favourite ahead of Allenby and the Peter Gilpin-trained Sarchedon,[21] and some experts even considered him a likely Triple Crown winner.[22]
The Derby was run on an unusually hot day in front of an estimated crowd of 250,000 including the King and Queen.[23] Tetratema, the 3/1 favourite, went into an early lead and set an extremely fast pace as he was challenged by Abbot’s Trace (ridden by Steve Donoghue).[24] The favourite was struggling soon after half way and dropped from contention before the straight, eventually finishing unplaced behind the outsider Spion Kop.[24] Two weeks after the Derby, Tetratema was brought back to sprinting at Royal Ascot and won the Fern Hill Stakes by six lengths from the two-year-old Galway Castle. When tested over ten furlongs in the Eclipse Stakes however,[25] he again failed to stay and finished unplaced behind the four-year-old Buchan, who won from Silvern and Allenby.[26]
Tetratema then reverted permanently to sprint distances and was never beaten again. On 28 July he ran in the King George Stakes at Goodwood in which he was opposed by the six-year-old mare Diadem who had won the 1000 Guineas in 1917 before becoming an outstanding sprinter. In what was described as a "splendid duel", Tetratema held off a strong challenge from Diadem to win by three-quarters of a length.[27] Shortly after this race it was reported that McAlmont had refused an offer of £100,000 for the colt which would have more than doubled the highest price ever paid for a British or Irish racehorse.[28] On his final race of the year, Tetratema won the Kennet Three-year-old Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket.[29]
1921: four-year-old season
Tetratema remained in training at four and was undefeated in four races. He began his season in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, in which he was opposed by a highly regarded colt named Vencedor. Carrying a weight of 143 pounds Tetratema started at odds of 6/5 won in a time of 1:01.8. Although the winning margin was only a length he was described as the easiest winner of the meeting, and it was implied that he could have won by much further had Carslake desired.[30] After winning the July Cup from the filly Princess of Mars,[31] he contested the King George Stakes at Goodwood in which he was opposed by Orpheus, who had won the Champion Stakes in October 1920. He was ridden with great confidence by Carslake, who never resorted to the whip as Tetratema won by a length from Orpheus, ending the race as if he had had no more than an exercise gallop. Some commentators, however, felt that the race would have been closer but for the indifferent performance of Orpheus' jockey, Hector Grey.[32]
Although his retirement was announced in August,[33] Tetratema returned to the track in October to end his racing career in the Snailwell Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket. Carrying 136 pounds he won easily in a time of 1:01.6.[34] At the end of the year he was retired to breeding duty at his owner's Ballylinch Stud.[35]
Assessment
As noted above, Tetrattema was the top-rated horse in the 1919 Free Handicap. His twelve-pound margin of superiority over his contemporaries remains the largest ever recorded. At the end of the season, the Bloodstock Breeders' Review commented that "critics began to wonder whether Tetratema was not a better colt then his brilliant sire. The chances certainly are that he is better." In their book A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform system John Randall and Tony Morris rated Tetratema a “superior” winner of the 2000 Guineas and the third best two-year-old colt of the 20th century trained in Britain or Ireland, behind The Tetrarch and Tudor Minstrel. The same authors placed him fourth (behind Abernant, Irish Elegance and Pappa Fourway) in their list of British and Irish sprinters and rated him the second best horse foaled anywhere in 1917, four pounds inferior to Man o' War[36]
Stud career
Tetratema was a highly successful breeding stallion, winning the sire's championship in 1929 and finished in the top seven on the sire's list on a total of eleven occasions. The American breeder C. V. Whitney, held Tetratema in particularly high regard and imported many of the stallion's sons and daughters to the United States.[37] Unlike his sire, whose stock performed well over a variety of distances, Tetratema's offspring were notable for their speed and precocity.[35] The best of his progeny included:
- Fourth Hand (brown colt, foaled in 1924), winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas
- Royal Minstrel (grey colt, 1925), St. James's Palace Stakes, Eclipse Stakes,
- Mr Jinks (grey colt, 1926), 2,000 Guineas, St. James's Palace Stakes, top-rated British two-year-old colt
- Tiffin (bay filly, 1926), Cheveley Park Stakes, July Cup, top-rated British two-year-old
- Queen of the Nore (chestnut filly, 1927), female-line ancestor of the Derby winners Teenoso and Sir Percy
- Myrobella (bay filly, 1928), July Cup, top-rated British two-year-old, dam of Big Game
- Four Course (bay filly, 1928), 1,000 Guineas
- Winsome Way (grey filly, 1928), female-line ancestor of Spectacular Bid
- Una (grey filly, 1930), dam of Palestine
- Bazaar (bay filly, 1931), Hopeful Stakes
- Theft (bay colt, 1932), five times leading sire in Japan[38]
- Foray (grey colt, 1934), King's Stand Stakes, top-rated British two-year-old
Tetratema died in July 1939 at age twenty-two and is buried at Ballylinch Stud. Reports of his death described him as "one of the most famous racehorses of all time."[39]
Sire line tree
- Tetratema[40][41]
- Rolls Royce
- Fourth Hand
- Treat
- Royal Minstrel[42]
- Gay Monarch
- Singing Wood
- Mr Bones
- Court Scandal
- Melodist
- Time Step
- First Fiddle
- Master Fiddle
- Mr Jinks
- Maltravers
- Fair William
- Crusader's Horn
- Rogerstone Castle
- The Jigger
- Effervescence
- To You
- Teacup
- Tetrarchal
- Arthos
- Sherab
- Tetramite
- Thyestes
- Bacteriophage
- Teleferique
- Torcello
- Liberal
- Corvet
- Alizier
- Kilometer
- Argel
- Seaulieu
- Djebel Ali
- Reinach
- Jet Stream
- Cirio
- Chalchaqui
- Crivelli
- Sigebert
- Tapalque
- Cobalt
- Millerole
- Marly Knowe
- Elu
- Jangas
- Bacchus
- Irifle
- Teleferique
- Strathcarron
- Gino
- American Way
- Alishah
- Allison
- Satyr
- Turbotin
- Palatino
- Theft
- Hayatake
- Cymba
- Dainana Hoshu
- High Record
- Takakurayama
- Issei
- Taisei Hope
- Tokino Minoru
- Bostonian
- Theio
- Lay Lord
- Foray
- Tahir
- Prometheus
- Quarteroon
- Prince Tetra
- Tetrabar
- Zalophus
Pedigree
Sire The Tetrarch (IRE) 1911 | Roi Herode (FR) 1904 | Le Samaritain | Le Sancy |
---|---|---|---|
Clementina | |||
Roxelane | War Dance | ||
Rose of York | |||
Vahren (GB) 1897 | Bona Vista | Bend Or | |
Vista | |||
Castania | Hagioscope | ||
Rose Garden | |||
Dam Scotch Gift (GB) 1907 | Symington (GB) 1893 | Ayrshire | Hampton |
Atalanta | |||
Siphonia | St Simon* | ||
Palmflower | |||
Maund (GB) 1898 | Tarporley | St Simon* | |
Ruth | |||
Ianthe | The Miser | ||
Devonshire Lass (Family:14-a)[6] |
* Tetratema is inbred 4D x 4D to the stallion St Simon, meaning that he appears fourth generation twice on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
- ^ "LOCAL AND GENERAL". Daily News (Perth, Western Australia). 13 May 1920. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "McAlmont". Ballylinchstud.com. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 4 October 1919. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- ^ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Banter - Family 14-a". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ a b Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
- ^ "SPORTING". Press (Canterbury, New Zealand). 17 October 1919. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "THE ENGLISH TURF". The Evening Post (New Zealand). 11 September 1919. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "ENGLISH RACING". Auckland Star. 13 October 1919. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "MIDDLE PARK PLATE". Evening Post. 20 October 1919. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "NOTES AND COMMENTS". Evening Post. 20 December 1919. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third ed.). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
- ^ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 27 December 1919. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "SPORTING". New Zealand Herald. 7 January 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 28 February 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 24 April 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 12 June 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 29 May 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "RACING WORLD". Auckland Star. 7 July 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "SPORTING". Canterbury Press. 21 May 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "NEWS AND NOTES". New Zealand Truth. 5 June 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "DERBY DAY". Poverty Bay Herald. 4 June 1920. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Spion Kop's Derby". Hobart Mercury. 29 July 1920. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ "ASCOT RACES". Evening Post. 18 June 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "SPORTING". New Zealand Herald. 19 July 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "Papers Past — Marlborough Express — 30 July 1920 — THE TURF". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 July 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "£100,000 REFUSED: OFFER FOR TETRATEMA". Poverty Bay Herald. 14 August 1920. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "NOTES AND COMMENTS". Evening Post. 3 August 1921. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "THE TURF". Evening Post. 5 August 1921. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "SUCCESSES OF ORPHEUS". Hobart Mercury. 1 October 1921. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "SPORTING". Hawera & Normanby Star. 13 September 1921. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "TETRATEMA RETIRED. LONDON, August 1". Hobart Mercury. 3 August 1921. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "THE TURF". Evening Post. 21 November 1921. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ a b Anne Peters. "The Tetrarch". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 978-1-901570-15-1.
- ^ Frank B. Ward (10 November 1943). "Along the sports Rialto". Youngstown Vindicator. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "Leading Sires of Japan". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "DEATH OF TETRATEMA". Evening Post. 19 July 1939. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "Byerley Turk Line". www.tbheritage.com.
- ^ "Buzzard Sire Line". www.bloodlines.net.
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Royal Minstrel
- ^ "Tetratema pedigree". equineline.com. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- v
- t
- e
- 1809 Wizard
- 1810 Hephestion
- 1811 Trophonius
- 1812 Cwrw
- 1813 Smolensko
- 1814 Olive
- 1815 Tigris
- 1816 Nectar
- 1817 Manfred
- 1818 Interpreter
- 1819 Antar
- 1820 Pindarrie
- 1821 Reginald
- 1822 Pastille ♥
- 1823 Nicolo
- 1824 Schahriar
- 1825 Enamel
- 1826 Dervise
- 1827 Turcoman
- 1828 Cadland
- 1829 Patron
- 1830 Augustus
- 1831 Riddlesworth
- 1832 Archibald
- 1833 Clearwell
- 1834 Glencoe
- 1835 Ibrahim
- 1836 Bay Middleton
- 1837 Achmet
- 1838 Grey Momus
- 1839 The Corsair
- 1840 Crucifix ♥
- 1841 Ralph
- 1842 Meteor
- 1843 Cotherstone
- 1844 The Ugly Buck
- 1845 Idas
- 1846 Sir Tatton Sykes
- 1847 Conyngham
- 1848 Flatcatcher
- 1849 Nunnykirk
- 1850 Pitsford
- 1851 Hernandez
- 1852 Stockwell
- 1853 West Australian ₩
- 1854 The Hermit
- 1855 Lord of the Isles
- 1856 Fazzoletto
- 1857 Vedette
- 1858 Fitz-Roland
- 1859 The Promised Land
- 1860 The Wizard
- 1861 Diophantus
- 1862 The Marquis
- 1863 Macaroni
- 1864 General Peel
- 1865 Gladiateur ₩
- 1866 Lord Lyon ₩
- 1867 Vauban
- 1868 Formosa ♥
- Moslem
- 1869 Pretender
- 1870 Macgregor
- 1871 Bothwell
- 1872 Prince Charlie
- 1873 Gang Forward
- 1874 Atlantic
- 1875 Camballo
- 1876 Petrarch
- 1877 Chamant
- 1878 Pilgrimage ♥
- 1879 Charibert
- 1880 Petronel
- 1881 Peregrine
- 1882 Shotover ♥
- 1883 Galliard
- 1884 Scot Free
- 1885 Paradox
- 1886 Ormonde ₩
- 1887 Enterprise
- 1888 Ayrshire
- 1889 Enthusiast
- 1890 Surefoot
- 1891 Common ₩
- 1892 Bona Vista
- 1893 Isinglass ₩
- 1894 Ladas
- 1895 Kirkconnel
- 1896 St. Frusquin
- 1897 Galtee More ₩
- 1898 Disraeli
- 1899 Flying Fox ₩
- 1900 Diamond Jubilee ₩
- 1901 Handicapper
- 1902 Sceptre
- 1903 Rock Sand ₩
- 1904 St. Amant
- 1905 Vedas
- 1906 Gorgos
- 1907 Slieve Gallion
- 1908 Norman
- 1909 Minoru
- 1910 Neil Gow
- 1911 Sunstar
- 1912 Sweeper
- 1913 Louvois
- 1914 Kennymore
- 1915 Pommern ₩
- 1916 Clarissimus
- 1917 Gay Crusader ₩
- 1918 Gainsborough ₩
- 1919 The Panther
- 1920 Tetratema
- 1921 Craig an Eran
- 1922 St Louis
- 1923 Ellangowan
- 1924 Diophon
- 1925 Manna
- 1926 Colorado
- 1927 Adam's Apple
- 1928 Flamingo
- 1929 Mr Jinks
- 1930 Diolite
- 1931 Cameronian
- 1932 Orwell
- 1933 Rodosto
- 1934 Colombo
- 1935 Bahram ₩
- 1936 Pay Up
- 1937 Le Ksar
- 1938 Pasch
- 1939 Blue Peter
- 1940 Djebel
- 1941 Lambert Simnel
- 1942 Big Game
- 1943 Kingsway
- 1944 Garden Path ♥
- 1945 Court Martial
- 1946 Happy Knight
- 1947 Tudor Minstrel
- 1948 My Babu
- 1949 Nimbus
- 1950 Palestine
- 1951 Ki Ming
- 1952 Thunderhead
- 1953 Nearula
- 1954 Darius
- 1955 Our Babu
- 1956 Gilles de Retz
- 1957 Crepello
- 1958 Pall Mall
- 1959 Taboun
- 1960 Martial
- 1961 Rockavon
- 1962 Privy Councillor
- 1963 Only For Life
- 1964 Baldric
- 1965 Niksar
- 1966 Kashmir
- 1967 Royal Palace
- 1968 Sir Ivor
- 1969 Right Tack
- 1970 Nijinsky ₩
- 1971 Brigadier Gerard
- 1972 High Top
- 1973 Mon Fils
- 1974 Nonoalco
- 1975 Bolkonski
- 1976 Wollow
- 1977 Nebbiolo
- 1978 Roland Gardens
- 1979 Tap On Wood
- 1980 Known Fact
- 1981 To-Agori-Mou
- 1982 Zino
- 1983 Lomond
- 1984 El Gran Senor
- 1985 Shadeed
- 1986 Dancing Brave
- 1987 Don't Forget Me
- 1988 Doyoun
- 1989 Nashwan
- 1990 Tirol
- 1991 Mystiko
- 1992 Rodrigo de Triano
- 1993 Zafonic
- 1994 Mister Baileys
- 1995 Pennekamp
- 1996 Mark of Esteem
- 1997 Entrepreneur
- 1998 King of Kings
- 1999 Island Sands
- 2000 King's Best
- 2001 Golan
- 2002 Rock of Gibraltar
- 2003 Refuse To Bend
- 2004 Haafhd
- 2005 Footstepsinthesand
- 2006 George Washington
- 2007 Cockney Rebel
- 2008 Henrythenavigator
- 2009 Sea the Stars
- 2010 Makfi
- 2011 Frankel
- 2012 Camelot
- 2013 Dawn Approach
- 2014 Night of Thunder
- 2015 Gleneagles
- 2016 Galileo Gold
- 2017 Churchill
- 2018 Saxon Warrior
- 2019 Magna Grecia
- 2020 Kameko
- 2021 Poetic Flare
- 2022 Coroebus
- 2023 Chaldean
- 2024 Notable Speech