Belgrade Turk

Sire Line

Belgrade Turk

Belgrade Turk c 1712c. Sire Line Belgrade Turk.

In the summer of 1717 Prince Eugene of Savoy led an attack on Belgrade, Serbia which had been occupied by the Turks. During the seige the horse, later called the Belgrade Turk, was captured from the Bashaw of Belgrade by Claudius Florimund, Count of Mercy, who was a general under the command of the French Prince. The count sent him to the Prince de Craon, who in turn presented him to Leopold, Duke of Lorraine (from 1690 to 1729). Leopold's father, Charles 5th and Duke of Lorraine from 1675 to 1690, had earlier taken part in the seige of Vienna, during which the Byerley Turk was probably captured.

Leopold's son, Francis, Duke of Lorraine and later Emperor of Germany, had been schoolmate and friend to Edward Coke, of Longford Hall, Derbyshire, the first English owner of the Godolphin Arabian. Together they attended Luneville Academy and were hunting companions. In 1716 Cary, the daughter of Edward Coke's older brother, had married Sir Marmaduke Wyvill. These connections probably led to the purchase of the Belgrade Turk by Sir Marmaduke, although Cheny notes that the broker was Baron de Brogue (possibly spelled de Broglie), Lorraine's London minister. Since Francis did not become Duke of Lorraine until 1729 there is speculation that the Belgrade Turk may have entered England somewhat later than 1719, the traditional date given for his importation.

In any case Belgrade Turk entered the stud of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill at Constable Burton, near Bedale, Yorkshire, and there left a son and two daughters who made contributions to the stud book. Belgrade Turk is said to have died around 1740, still in the possession of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill.

Belgrade Turk Mares
1.	Belgrade Turk Mare is the taproot of Family 22, and ancestress of such horses as (1) Gladiator (ch c 1833 Partisan), sire of a host of French Derby and Oaks winners as well as Queen Mary (b f 1843 Gladiator), the taproot mare of Family 10-a, (2) St. Frusquin (br c 1893 St. Simon), winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, and one of the best sons of St. Simon (br c 1881), and (3) Mill Reef (b c 1968 Never Bend).
2.	Belgrade Turk Mare was one of the foundation mares of Family 25. Tracing to her are such horses as (1) the good stallion Comus (ch c 1809 Sorcerer), who was a link in the Matchem Sire Line, (2) Slane (b c 1833 Royal Oak), winner of the Prix Royal Oak, who led the sires' list in 1845, and (3) Planet (ch c 1855 Revenue), an excellent sire in 19th century America.

Notable Offspring

Young Belgrade c 1730c (Belgrade Turk - Mare, by Bay Bolton). Sire Line Belgrade Turk. Family 25.
Bred by Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, he doesn't appear to have been on the turf. He sired the colts Antelope (b c 1748), Old Standard (b c1736), and Volunteer (b c 1735). Neither Antelope nor Volunteer left stock that bred on, however they both had sisters who were among the foundation mares of Family 18.

Young Belgrade Mares
1.	Although uncertainty exists over the number of sisters to Antelope, Sister 1 to Antelope is the ancestress of such horses as the worthy French stallion, Le Pompon (b c 1891 Fripon) and the Oaks winner Oriana (b f 1807 Beningbrough). Sister 1 was also the 3rd dam of Ulysses (ch c 1777 Florizel), who in turn sired Play or Pay* [ex-Mars] (b c 1891) who was sent to Virginia after a successful turf career.
2.	Sister 2 to Antelope was the dam of Sir John Dutton's Coalition Colt (b c 1749 Godolphin Arabian) who sired the 2nd dam of Don Quixote (ch c 1784 Eclipse) and Alexander (ch c 1782 Eclipse). Sister 1 and Sister 2 may have been the same mare.
3.	Sister 1 to Volunteer was the 4th dam of the useful stallion Paynator (br c 1791 Trumpator), and his sister Miss Furey (b f 1798 Trumpator), the taproot mare of Family 18-a. Sister 1 was also the 2nd dam of Merliton (b f 1768 Snap), from whom descend the Derby winner and Champion Sire Waxy (b c 1790) and the Derby winner Smolensko (bl c 1810 Sorcerer), as well as the Australian-foaled stallion Strawberry Road (b c 1979 Whiskey Road) who stood for most of career in Kentucky.
4.	Sister 2 to Volunteer was the dam of the Godolphin Colt (c 1754 Godolphin Arabian) and his brother, the Godolphin Hunter (b c1753 Godolphin Arabian).
5.	Young Belgrade Mare was among the foundation mares of Family 57, and ancestress of the good Irish stallions Escape (ch c 1802 Commodore) and Rugantino (ch c 1803 Commodore).

Antelope b c 1748 (Young Belgrade - Mare, by Scarborough Colt). Sire Line Belgrade Turk. Family 18.

Volunteer b c 1735 (Young Belgrade - Wyvill's Childers Mare, by Bartlet's Childers). Sire Line Belgrade Turk. Family 18.

Old Standard [ex-Bashaw] b c 1736 (Young Belgrade - Mare, by Tifter). Sire Line Belgrade Turk. Family 13.
First called Bashaw, Standard was bred by Sir Marmaduke Wyvill and purchased following his first race by the Duke of Beaufort, who changed his name. In April of 1742 he won 60 guineas at Newmarket, beating the Duke of Ancaster's Foxhunter, Mr. Bertie's Ramper (gr c 1736 Crab), the Duke of Devonshire's Snip (br c 1736 Childers) and Lord Godolphin's Molotto (bl c 1736 Godolphin Whitefoot) in four-mile heats. Later the same year he won the Prince of Wales's 60 guineas at Epsom, beating Mr. Marley's Jinker, Mr. Martindale's Smart and others. He next won the King's Plate at Guildford, beating Lord Portmore's Crab, Mr. Dawkins's Whitestockings and Mr. Grisewood's Dumplin. He was said to have won the latter two races in a very high form. He started for the King's Plate at Winchester against the Duke of Bolton's Sourface (gr c 1736 Bartlet's Childers) in which race he broke down. In the stud he got the brothers Jason (gr c 1749) and Figure (or Grey Figure, gr c 1747).

Jason gr c 1749 (Old Standard - Mare, by Beaufort Arabian - Brooke's Arabian - Darley Arabian - Brimmer). Sire Line Belgrade Turk.

Figure gr c 1747 (Old Standard - Mare, by Beaufort Arabian - Brooke's Arabian - Darley Arabian - Brimmer). Sire Line Belgrade Turk.
Figure, often called Grey Figure, was bred by Mr. Curzon and sold to the Duke of Hamilton. In 1753 he won £50 at Peterborough, beating Mr. Vernon's Crab (gr c 1744 Crab), Mr. Leath's Fen Filly and Mr. Nelson's Greylegs in three heats. He also won £50 at Belford, beating Lord March's Wanton (b c 1747 Cade). In 1754 he won £50 at Epsom, beating Mr. Rogers's Soldier (ch c 1747 Sedbury) and Mr. Adams's True Blue in three heats. He then won a £50 give and take at Dunstable, Hertfordshire, beating Sir Charles Sedley's Lady Augusta, Mr. Vernon's Fire, Mr. Stoke's Smiling Ball and Mr. Brooke's Lady Thigh (b f 1747 Grisewood's Partner) in three heats. In 1755 he won £50 at Epsom, beating Mr. Burlton's (later Mr. Vernon's) Amelia (b f 1748 Godolphin Arabian) and Lord Onslow's Victorious (bl c 1747 Portmore's Whitenose) in three heats. His most notable son was Figure*.

Figure* br c 1757 (Figure - Mariamne, by Portmore's Victorious - Croft's Partner - Richardson's Merlin - Makeless - Burford Bull - Devonshire Arabian). Sire Line Belgrade Turk.
Figure* won four Fifties in England and Scotland before his export to Maryland in 1765. Standing about 15.2 hands, he ran in several races and won at Annapolis in 1766. He stood variously in Maryland, New Jersey and New York and got excellent stock, particularly from the Selima* (b f 1745 Godolphin Arabian) branch of Family 21, including two useful sons, Spotswood's Don Carlos (b c 1772), sire of Brent's Driver (br c 1782), and Skipwith's Figure (b c 1770). His daughter Shrewsbury was the dam of both Hall's Union (b c 1777 Slim*) and Van Rantz's Potomac (b c 1796 Messenger*). Another son, Young Figure (b c 1769) sired Heard's Snap (b c 1771). Figure's mating with Maria Slamerkin of Family 4-r ensured his presence in most of the world's bloodstock via their descendant Nearco (br c 1935 Pharos).