Rataplan

Sire Line

Rataplan ch c 1850 (The Baron - Pocahontas, by Glencoe). Sire Line Birdcatcher. Family 3-n.

Bred at Stockwell by Mr Theobald, he was a full brother to the mighty Stockwell (ch c 1850 The Baron). Rataplan was foaled the day of Mr Theobald's death. He was purchased by Captain Thellusson and subsequently by Mr T Parr. The Druid noted that, excepting Lanercost and Springy Jack, "there never was a more lazy colt foaled than Rataplan. He would lie down at full length whilst they plaited his mane; and after feeding, would go to sleep with unerring regularity. He generally managed to stumble about twelve times between his box and the downs, and it was never safe to take him out without knee-caps." His back was so strong that it was said no boy could sit him when he threw up his heels. He was thought to go "rather proppy on his long pasterns, and was also a very bad beginner, but the further he went the better he liked it, his custom being to creep up to his horses at the half-distance, and make one effort." Mr Parr apparently issued standard orders to all of Rataplan's jockeys: "Let him alone till he gets into his stride." One jockey who rode him at Edinburgh, Sim Templeman, whilst observing this order thought he could never catch the leaders and was surprised to find himself winning the race.

On the racecourse he won over forty races, including the Ascot Gold Vase and twenty-one Royal Plates. His finest performance was thought to be in the Manchester Cup where he deafeated, among others, Balrownie and Jouvence. In the stud he had less success than his brother, which could be said of most other stallions as well. Among his better known winners and stallion sons are: James Cookson's Derby winner Kettledrum (ch c 1858), the Irish Derby winner and Irish Champion Sire Ben Battle (bbr c 1871), the Queen Alexandra Stakes and Queen's Vase winner Blinkhoolie (b c 1864) who went to France in 1875, the Queen's Vase winner Elland (b c 1862) who also went to France in 1875, W S Crawfurd's St James's Palace Stakes winner Dalnacardoch (b c 1868) and the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner The Miner (ch c 1861).

Rataplan was shot on October 10, 1874, at the age of twenty-three.

Pedigree

Rataplan	The Baron	Birdcatcher	Sir Hercules
			Guiccioli
		Echidna	Economist
			Miss Pratt
	Pocahontas	Glencoe	Sultan
			Trampoline
		Marpessa	Muley
			Clare

Race Record

In 1852 he went unplaced for the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, won by Orestes (b c 1850 Orlando). Unplaced for the Nursery Cup at Goodwood, won by Catherine Hayes (br f 1850 Lanercost). Won 150 sovs at Brighton.

In 1853 he finished 4th for the Derby at Epsom, won by this year's triple crown winner West Australian (b c 1850 Melbourne). Won the Queen's Vase and £280 at Ascot, beating Pelion (br c 1850 Ion), Orestes and 6 others. Won the Stewards' Plate and £570 at Stockbridge, beating Captain Lane's Ascot Derby winner Ninnyhammer (ch c 1850 Orlando) "by a head," and 3 others. Finished 3rd for the St Leger at Doncaster, won by West Australian. Won a £100 handicap Plate at Newmarket Second October, beating Poodle (br c 1849 Ion), the Ascot Gold Cup winner Joe Miller (b c 1849 Venison) and 10 others. Was unplaced for the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket Houghton, won by the Cambridgeshire winner Little David (b c 1850 Slane). Sold to Thomas Parr.

In 1854 he won £55 at Nottingham. Won 60 sovs at Epsom Spring. Won the £213 Lothian Handicap at Edinburgh, beating 6 others. Won the £860 Somerset Stakes at Bath, beating Mr Shephard's Cumberland Plate winner Aribbas (ch c 1851 Pyrrhus the First), Lord Clifden's Poodle and 11 others. Won the £330 Cup at the same meeting, beating Jephson (b c 1851 The Cure) by 8 lengths and 3 others. Finished 2nd by a head for the Cup at Epsom, won by Mr Morris's Goodwood Cup winner Kingston (b c 1849 Venison), beating the Doncaster Cup winner Hungerford (ch c 1848 John O'Gaunt), the July Stakes winner The Reiver (b c 1850 Pantaloon) and 2 others. Won the 1000 sovs Cup at Manchester, beating Sir Jas Boswell's La Belle (b f 1850 Malcolm) "in a canter," Mr H Padwick's Balrownie (b c 1850 Annandale), Joe Miller, Monsieur Lupin's Prix du Jockey Club winner Jouvence (b f 1850 Sting), Mr J Osborne's Liverpool July Cup winner Seducer (br c 1851 Melbourne) and 3 others. This latter race was thought to be Rataplan's finest turf performance. Finished 3rd for the Cup at Ascot, won by Lord Londesborough's West Australian. Won £155 at Doncaster. Won the Trial Stakes at Pontrefact. Won Queen's Plates at Newmarket First Spring, Northampton, Chester, Edinburgh, Ascot, Plymouth, Winchester, Bedford and Weymouth. He started 9 other times with no success.

In 1855 he won the £250 Cup at Bath, beating 3 others. Won the £185 Cup at Epsom, beating The Nabob (bl c 1849 The Nob) and 2 others. Won the £275 Cumberland Plate at Carlisle, beating 8 others. Won £170 at Liverpool. Won the £170 Cup at Brighton. Won £98 at Plymouth. Finished 2nd for the Queen's Plate at Egham, won by the Ascot Gold Cup winner Winkfield (b c 1851 Alarm). Won the £160 Cup at Warwick, beating Lord Clifden's Homily (ch f 1852 Surplice) and 1 other. Finished 2nd for the £1060 Great Yorkshire Handicap at Doncaster, won by Mr J Merry's Wild Huntsman (b c 1851 Harkaway); 16 started. Won the Cup at the same meeting, beating Admiral Harcourt's Ellermire (br f 1852 Chanticleer) by 6 lengths, Lord Derby's Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Acrobat (b c 1851 Ithuriel), the Derby winner Wild Dayrell (br c 1852 Ion) and 2 others. Won Queen's Plates at Shrewsbury, Carlisle, Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham, Chelmsford, Canterbury, Goodwood, Plymouth, Warwick, Doncaster and Lichfield.

Notable Rataplan Mares

1.	Mandragora (ch f 1860), dam of the Ebor Handicap and Doncaster Cup winner Mandrake (ch c 1864 Weatherbit), the Nassau Stakes winner Agility (b f 1867 Adventurer), the splendid One Thousand Guineas, Oaks, St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup winner Apology (ch f 1871 Adventurer) and the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Napsbury (ch c 1877 Scottish Chief). Family 4-d.
2.	Rigolboche (ch f 1861), dam of the Derby, Ascot Gold Cup and Grand Prix de Paris winner Cremorne (b c 1869 Parmesan) and the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Earl of Dartrey (b c 1872 The Earl). Family 2-n.
3.	The Ratcatcher's Daughter (br f 1862), 2nd dam of the Champion Stakes winner and stallion Amphion (ch c 1886 Rosebery) and 3rd dam of the Cambridgeshire winner Marcovil (ch c 1903 Marco). Family 12-c.
4.	Mineral (ch f 1863), bred by Mr Launde, dam of the St Leger winner Wenlock (b c 1869 Lord Clifden), the Deutsches Derby winner Schwindler (ch c 1872 Adventurer), the Derby and Grand Prix de Paris winner Kisber (b c 1873 Buccaneer) and the stallion Kisber Ocscse (b c 1877 Buccaneer). Mineral was sent to Austria-Hungary in 1871 where she joined the Kisber Stud. Family 4-d.
5.	Quick March (b f 1863), dam of the Doncaster Cup winner Retreat (b c 1877 Hermit) and the St James's Palace Stakes winner Battlefield (b c 1879 Springfield), and 2nd dam of the Derby winner Sir Hugo (ch c 1889 Wisdom). Family 19-b.
6.	Minaret (ch f 1866), dam of the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Mintdrop (b f 1872 Lozenge), 2nd dam of the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Peppermint (b c 1879 Camballo) and 3rd dam of the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Koran (b c 1891 Esterling). Family 4-d.
7.	Sweet Sound (br f 1867), 2nd dam of the Goodwood Cup and Queen's Vase winner Border Minstrel (ch c 1880 Tynedale) and the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Melody (b f 1888 Tynedale), 3rd dam of the One Thousand Guineas, Coronation and Richmond Stakes winner Winifreda (b f 1897 St. Simon) and the Nassau Stakes winner Red Lily (b f 1900 Persimmon), and 4th dam of the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Goodwood Cup winner Catmint (b c 1909 Spearmint). Family 3-j.
8.	Utopia (b f 1868), 2nd dam of the Champion Stakes and Queen's Vase winner Solitaire (b c 1896 Ayrshire) and ancestress of the very good winner La Camargo (b f 1898 Childwick) who foaled the Ascot Gold Cup and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Massine (b c 1920 Consols). Family 12.
9.	Blue Light (ch f 1870), dam of Gimcrack Stakes winner Lady Muncaster (ch f 1884 Muncaster), the latter the ancestress of the St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup winner Bayardo (b c 1906 Bay Ronald) and the Derby winner Lemberg (b c 1907 Cyllene). Family 10-a.
10.	Light Drum (ch f 1870), dam of the Prix du Jockey Club and Grand Prix de Paris winner Little Duck (bbr c 1881 See Saw). Family 13-a.