Rubens

Sire Line

Rubens ch c 1805 (Buzzard - Mare, by Alexander). Sire Line Buzzard. Family 2-n.

Bred by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales from Mr. Sandiver's Alexander Mare, he was later sold to Lord Darlington, then to General L. Gower, and again to C. Dundas. A full-brother to the Oaks winner Bronze (br f 1803), to the Champion sire Selim (ch c 1802), and to Castrel (ch c 1801) he was described as a "heavy-topped, fleshy horse, standing quite sixteen hands high, and with a flash of speed like lightning."

Following a moderately successful turf career he was then retired to General Gower's stud. He covered at Wheeler's Farm, near Workingham, Berkshire, in 1811 (12gs) and 1812 (15gs), nearby at Bill-Hill in 1813 (21gs) and 1814 (16gs), and at Barton-Court, between Newbury and Hungerford, Berkshire, in 1815 (16gs) and 1816 (20gs). In 1818 he covered at Newmarket (25gs), and in 1819 at Six-Mile Bottom, near Newmarket (25gs). In 1820 he moved to Eaton, near Chester (20gs) and then back to Newmarket for the 1821 season (20gs). In 1822 he covered at Barton-Court (12gs), then went back to Newmarket for 1823 (20 sovs), then back again to Barton-Court for 1824 (15gs) and 1825 (15gs).

In the stud he sired the Oaks Stakes winner Landscape (b f 1813), the Two Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes winner Pastille (b f 1819), and the One Thousand Guineas Stakes winner Whizgig (ch f 1819). His best son was thought to be Peter Lely (b c 1818). His daughter Defiance (ch f 1816) produced the sire Defence (b c 1824 Whalebone). Another daughter, Ruby (ch f 1825), produced the Derby Stakes winner Coronation (b c 1838 Sir Hercules).

Rubens was Champion sire three times. He died in February of 1829.

Pedigree

Rubens	Buzzard	Woodpecker	King Herod
			Miss Ramsden
		Misfortune	Dux
			Curiosity
	Alexander Mare	Alexander	Eclipse
			Grecian Princess
		Highflyer Mare	Highflyer Mare
			Alfred Mare

Race Record

In 1808 Rubens won the Pavilion Stakes at Brighton by a neck over the Duke of Grafton's Vandyke, Lord Egremont's Scorpion and Mr. Kellerman's Zoroaster. Later at the same meeting he received a forfeit from General Gower's Bradbury. At Lewes he received a forfeit from Mr. Fermor's Gohanna Colt. At Newmarket he received a forfeit from Lord Cavendish's Dreadnought, and later, a forfeit from Mr. Turner's Jock. In the Derby Stakes at Epsom he placed fourth, defeated by Sir Hedworth Williamsom's Pan, the Duke of Grafton's Vandyke and Lord Grosvenor's Chester.

In 1809 he won a sweepstakes at Newmarket, defeating Chester, Zoroaster and No Conjuror. Later he lost a match to Vandyke, and paid a forfeit to the Duke of Grafton's Oaks winner Morel.

In 1810 he won the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, defeating Lord Grosvenor's Plover and Mr. Douglas' All Dickey. He later placed third in a sweepstakes, defeated by Lord Foley's Spaniard and Mr. Batson's Cecilia.