Pitcairn (horse)

Pitcairn (1974–2004) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in four countries before retiring to stud where he became Champion Sire in Britain.

Pitcairn
SirePetingo
GrandsirePetition
DamBorder Bounty
DamsireBounteous
SexStallion
Foaled1971
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederCaptain Tim Rogers
OwnerSandy Struthers
TrainerJohn Dunlop
Record15: 5-4-3
EarningsUS$101,090 (equivalent)
Major wins
Blue Riband Trial Stakes (1974)
Hungerford Stakes (1974)
Goodwood Mile (1974)
Awards
Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland (1980)

Background and pedigree

Bred at Airlie Stud in Ireland, Pitcairn was bought as a yearling at Ballsbridge for IR£3,200 by the British Bloodstock Agency for Sandy Struthers.[1][2] The relatively modest price was possibly due to an unattractive skin condition.[3] He was sired by Petingo (incidentally the leading Great British sire the season prior to his son winning the title) who also produced 1978 Oaks winner Fair Salinia and 1979 horse of the year Troy. Pitcairn's full brother, Valley Forge, finished third in the 1978 Irish St Leger as well as winning the Blandford Stakes of the same year while their full sister, Dingle Bay, produced classy stayer and successful National Hunt stallion Assessor. Half sister Eljazzi produced another Blandford Stakes winner in Chiang Mai who herself produced Chinese White, the Champion older Irish mare of 2010.[4] She is also the grand dam of prominent sires Invincible Spirit and Kodiac. Their dam, Border Bounty finished second in 1968's Musidora Stakes, Park Hill Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks while her half sister, Brief Chorus, who finished third in the 1966 renewal of the latter named race, was also the great grand-dam of Bachir who won the Irish, French and UAE equivalents of the 2000 guineas.

Racing career

2yo season

Pitcairn made a winning debut on 9 May 1973 in the five furlong Warminster Stakes at Salisbury which he took by four lengths.[5] He followed up with a victory over six furlongs in Kempton's Nightingale Stakes beating two previous winners. Pitcairn would not win any of his remaining five races for the season but he did run with credit in his final three starts. After finishing third to the talented Giacometti in Doncaster's Champagne Stakes,[6] he was a two and a half length runner up to the season's leading juvenile, Habat, in Newmarket's Middle Park Stakes while wearing a hood for the first time.[7] Pitcairn then returned to Newmarket to finish runner up to Cellini in the Dewhurst Stakes. He would surpass his latter two conquerors during the following season.

3yo season

Pitcairn began his 1974 season with an eight length victory from Deerslayer in Epsom's Blue Riband Trial Stakes.[8] This was followed by a solid effort on his return to Ireland in the Irish 2000 Guineas where after making the running, he was caught in the final strides by Furry Glen and beaten a short head.[9] A fever of 104 ruled him out of the Epsom Derby,[10] a race for which he was as low as 16/1.[11] Pitcairn returned to action in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Prior to the race, trainer John Dunlop was not convinced that his charge would be at his best. During the race, he was slow to break and unable to adopt his usual front running tactics so in light of his lack of fitness, the sixth-place finish was not without merit.[12] He returned to winning ways next time out when taking the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury by three lengths from the useful Midsummer Star.[13] Eight days later, Pitcairn added a third and final victory to his seasonal tally when beating his two rivals in the Goodwood Mile despite hanging left.[14] Following a short break, Pitcairn finished a respectable third behind Giacometti and Northern Gem on his sole attempt over ten furlongs in Newmarket's Champion Stakes. His season closed with a rather tepid fifth in the Prix de la Forêt at Longchamp before finishing second behind the two-year-old and subsequent Italian Oaks winner Carnauba in the Premio Chiusura.

Stud career

Upon retirement, Pitcairn stood at Lord Harrington's Greenmount Stud in Limerick at £1,250 no foal, no fee.[15] However, he was not especially popular among broodmare nominations was exported to Japan in 1978.[16] Nevertheless, he was crowned Champion Sire of Great Britain and Ireland in 1980 thanks largely to the efforts of Ela-Mana-Mou and Cairn Rouge.[17]

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Notable Performances
1976 Ela-Mana-Mou c 1978 1st Royal Lodge Stakes, 1979 1st King Edward VII Stakes, 3rd King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 1980 Earl of Sefton Stakes, 1st Prince of Wales Stakes, 1st Eclipse Stakes, 1st King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 3rd Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
1976 Yanuka f 1979 3rd 1000 Guineas Stakes, 3rd Coronation Stakes
1976 Bonnie Isle f 1979 2nd Epsom Oaks, 2nd Sun Chariot Stakes, 1980 3rd Prince of Wales Stakes, 2nd Nassau Stakes
1977 Cairn Rouge f 1980 1st Irish 1000 Guineas, 1st Coronation Stakes, 2nd Benson & Hedges Gold Cup, 1st Champion Stakes 1981 2nd Champion Stakes
1977 Kahaila f 1980 3rd Yorkshire Oaks
1978 Flightling f 1981 1st Princess Royal Stakes

Pedigree
Pedigree of Pitcairn (IRE), Bay Horse, 1974[18]
Sire
Petingo (GB)
Bay 1965		 Petition
1944		 Fair Trial
1932		 Fairway
Lady Juror
Art Paper
1933		 Artists Proof
Quire
Alcazar
1957		 Alycidon
1945		 Donatello
Aurora
Quarterdeck
1947		 Nearco
Poker Chip
Dam
Border Bounty (IRE)
Bay 1965		 Bounteous
1958		 Rockefella
1941		 Hyperion
Rockfel
Marie Elizabeth
1948		 Mazarin
Miss Honor
B Flat
1958		 Chanteur
1942		 Chateau Bouscaut
La Diva
Ardeen
1949		 Ardan
Peradventure

References
  1. Airlie Stud
  2. "Racing". The Times. London. 24 Apr 1974. p. 13.
  3. Walker, Alan Yuill (2006). The Scots & The Turf: Racing and Breeding – The Scottish Influence.
  4. Tally-Ho Stud
  5. "Racing". The Times. London. 10 May 1973. p. 17.
  6. Galopp Sieger
  7. "Racing". The Guardian. London. 5 Oct 1973. p. 22.
  8. "Racing". The Times. London. 18 May 1974. p. 18.
  9. Timeform (1975). Racehorses of 1974. London: Portway Press Limited. p. 285.
  10. Timeform (1975). Racehorses of 1974. London: Portway Press Limited. p. 563.
  11. "Racing". The Times. London. 1 Jun 1974. p. 18.
  12. "Racing". The Times. London. 16 Aug 1974. p. 14.
  13. Timeform (1975). Racehorses of 1974. London: Portway Press Limited. p. 564.
  14. "Racing". The Times. London. 26 Aug 1974. p. 9.
  15. Timeform (1975). Racehorses of 1974. London: Portway Press Limited. p. 563.
  16. Walker, Alan Yuill (2006). The Scots & The Turf: Racing and Breeding – The Scottish Influence.
  17. Walker, Alan Yuill (2006). The Scots & The Turf: Racing and Breeding – The Scottish Influence.
  18. Pedigree Query
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