Pretty Polly

Pretty Polly ch.f. 1901 (Gallinule - Admiration, by Saraband). Sire Line Sterling. Family 14-c. One of the great race mares of all time "Peerless" Pretty Polly was bred and campaigned by Major Eustace Loder. Said to be calm and sensible in training, she won 22 of 24 races from two to five. Her juvenile season was brilliant; she won the National Breeders' Produce Stakes, Mersey Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Autumn Breeders Foal Plate, Cheveley Park Stakes, Criterion Stakes, Moulton Stakes, and the Middle Park Stakes in which she defeated the future Derby winner St. Amant. The following year, although she had not been entered for the Derby, she beat St. Amant in both the St. Leger, in record time, and the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Roger Mortimer says of her, "There was not a horse in England capable of extending her and she looked completely invincible." She was sent to France, but after a long and exhausting journey, she lost her first race to Presto 2nd. Returning to England, she beat St. Amant yet again, conceding three pounds, in the Free Handicap at Newmarket. That year she also won the One Thousand Guineas Stakes, Oaks Stakes, Coronation Stakes, and the Nassau Stakes. She was undefeated at four, winning the Coronation Cup, Champion Stakes, Limekiln Stakes, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. At five she won both the March Stakes and the Coronation Cup, before running second to Bachelor's Button in her final race, the Ascot Gold Cup.
	Gallinule (ch.c. 1884), after an troubled turf career in which he developed wind infirmities, retired to Brownstown Stud in Ireland, previously the home of Birdcatcher (ch.c. 1833). His stud career flourished after his second crop produced the Irish Derby winner Portmarnock (br.c. 1892). Besides Pretty Polly he sired two St. Leger winners, and six Irish Derby winners. He led the the Sires' List twice and was among the Champion Sires another fifteen times. He was Champion Broodmare Sire five times and among the top stallions another fourteen times. He died at Brownstown in 1912.
In the stud, Pretty Polly produced ten foals, none of whom measured up to herself. She was, ironically, considered a failure as a broodmare. Described as a "big, powerful, handsome filly" although she was only 15.2 hands, she was said to be too nervous to make a good mother. Her four filly foals, Baby Polly (br.f. 1924), Dutch Mary (ch.f. 1915), Molly Desmond (b.f. 1914), and Polly Flinders (ch.f. 1918) bred on to establish the successful family she is known for. Her son Clachmannan (b.c. 1919) was sent to Japan where he led the Sires' List in 1933 and 1934 and was highly regarded as a Broodmare Sire.
	St. Paddy (b.c. 1957), tracing through Molly Desmond, was the first of Pretty Polly's descendants to win a Classic. Owned by Sir Victor Sasson and trained by Noel Murless, he won nine races, including the Derby, St. Leger and Eclipse Stakes, and was at the top of the Free Handicap in 1960. (Lester Piggott up).
Among Pretty Polly's many notable descendants are Colorado Kid (Doncaster Cup), The Cobbler (Middle Park Stakes, Coventry Stakes, sire in New Zealand), Premonition (St. Leger Stakes), Supreme Court (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Cappiello (Grand Prix), Court Harwell (Jockey Club Stakes, Champion Sire), Only For Life (Two Thousand Guineas Stakes), Swain (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes twice, 2nd Dubai World Cup) and Psidium (Derby Stakes, sired St. Leger winner Sodium). The influential stallions Vienna (Blue Riband Trial Stakes, sired *Vaguely Noble winner Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe), Donatello 2nd (unbeaten in Italy and Leading Broodmare Sire, sired Alycidon and Crepello), Great Nephew (2nd Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, Champion Sire twice), and Luthier (Champion Sire in France four times, Champion Broodmare Sire twice) are also tail-female descendants of Pretty Polly. Other champions descending from Pretty Polly are Brigadier Gerard (Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, Champion Stakes twice, Sussex Stakes, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, won 17 of 18 starts), Epsiba (Belgium), Flying Water (One Thousand Guineas Stakes, Champion Stakes, Prix Jacques le Marois Stakes), Lady Sybil (Cheveley Park Stakes), Opale (Irish St. Leger Stakes), Square Angel (Canadian Oaks Stakes), Kamar (Canadian Oaks Stakes), Key To The Moon (Queen's Plate Stakes), Golden Attraction (Frizette Stakes, Spinaway Stakes, Matron Stakes), Nearctic (Michigan Mile, Champion Sire in Canada seven times, sired Northern Dancer), Titled Hero (Queen's Plate Stakes), Shadayid (One Thousand Guineas Stakes), Park Appeal (Moyglare Stud Stakes, Chevely Park Stakes), Nashamaa (National Stakes), Alydaress (Irish Oaks Stakes), Caspian (Nell Gwyn Stakes), Golden Test (Marble Hill Plate), Dudinka (Italy), Cesca (Sandown Stakes), Unite (Oaks Stakes, Irish Oaks Stakes), Marwell (King's Stand Stakes, July Cup, Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp), Caerwent (Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, 2nd Irish Two Thousand Guineas Stakes), Marling (Irish Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, Coronation Stakes, Sussex Stakes, 2nd Two Thousand Guineas Stakes), Great Deeds (Ruth Darling Stakes, Ballyogan Stakes), Sigy (Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp), Double Form (July Cup, Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp), Jimmy Lorenzo (Breeder's Cup Steeplechase Handicap, Colonial Cup Steeplechase Handicap), Canango (Italy), Carroll House (Champion Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe). Pretty Polly lived to age thirty and was buried near Spearmint, who was also bred by Major Loder, at Eyrefield Lodge stud in Ireland. Pretty Polly heads her own branch of Family Number 14, that descends from The Oldfield Mare.