Godiva (horse)

Godiva
Sire	Hyperion
Grandsire	Gainsborough
Dam	Carpet Slipper
Damsire	Phalaris
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1937
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Esmond Harmsworth
Owner	Esmond Harmsworth
Trainer	Willie Jarvis
Record	8: 6–0–1
Earnings	£7,804
Major wins
New 1000 Guineas (1940) New Oaks (1940)

Godiva (1937–1940) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning two Classics in 1940. The filly won six times from eight races in a racing career which lasted from 1939 until June 1940. After winning three times as a two-year-old she was unbeaten in 1940, winning the 1000 Guineas over one mile at Newmarket and a wartime substitute Oaks over one and a half miles at the same course a month later. Godiva died within five months of her final race. She has been described as one of the best British racemares of the 20th century.

Background

Godiva was a bay mare bred by her owner Esmond Harmsworth who later became better known as Lord Rothermere. In 1938 Harmsworth sold off most of his bloodstock interests, but kept three horses, one of which was the yearling filly later named Godiva. One of the horses he sold was Godiva's pregnant dam Carpet Slipper. The foal being carried by Carpet Slipper was Windsor Slipper, the 1942 Irish Triple Crown winner. Godiva was from the second crop of foals sired by the 1933 Derby winner Hyperion, the first of whose six Sires' championships in 1940 was largely due to the filly's successes.^[1] As a grand-daughter of the broodmare Simon's Shoes, Godiva came from the same branch of Thoroughbred Family 5-h which later produced the notable stallions Sadler's Wells and Nureyev.^[2]

Godiva was sent into training with William Rose "Willie" Jarvis at his Egerton House stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.^[3] Godiva was a temperamental and difficult filly^[4] who often gave trouble at the starting gate, but she formed a strong bond with her teenage exercise rider Douglas Marks.^[5] When Jarvis's stable jockey John Crouch was killed in a flying accident in June 1939, it was decided that Marks would ride the filly in her races.^[6]

Racing career

1939: two-year-old season

Godiva was one of the best British two-year-olds of 1939, winning three of her five races. Her victories came in the Princess Royal Stakes at Kempton, the Bedford Stakes at Newmarket and the Stud Produce Stakes at Sandown Park.^[6] Her best performance, however, came in defeat when she was tried against colts in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on 1 November. She started poorly but ran on strongly at the finish to take third place behind the French-trained colts Djebel and Tant Mieux.^[7] In the Free Handicap, a ranking of the year's best two-year-olds, she was given a weight of 127 pounds, three pounds below the top-rated filly Golden Penny.^[8]

1940: three-year-old season

Godiva made her three-year-old debut in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The outbreak of World War II led to strict restrictions on the sport. Many racecourses were closed, leading to important races being either abandoned or relocated. In 1940, the "New 1000 Guineas Stakes" was switched from its traditional home on Newmarket's Rowley Mile to the adjoining July Course. Godiva and the virtually unknown Marks started at odds of 10/1 in a field of eleven fillies, with Golden Penny, ridden by the champion jockey Gordon Richards being made odds on favourite. In the race, Godiva raced on the opposite side of the course from the main group and moved up to dispute the lead with Golden Penny two furlongs from the finish. Despite swishing her tail as she galloped (regarded as a sign of temperament), Godiva quickly went clear and won very easily by five lengths from Golden Penny, with Allure four lengths further back in third.^[5] Her time was more than two seconds faster than Djebel's winning time in the 2000 Guineas two days earlier.^[9] On her next appearance, Godiva was moved up in distance and beat Drawing Prize to win the Oaks Trial Plate over ten furlongs at Hurst Park.^[10]

With Epsom Downs Racecourse out of use, the Derby and Oaks of 1940 where scheduled to be run at Newbury Racecourse, but a late change of plan saw the races being switched to the Newmarket July Course. In the "New Oaks" on 13 June, Godiva was made 7/4 favourite against thirteen opponents. She behaved poorly before the race was left many lengths behind at the start. Marks steadily made up the ground until he drew level with the leaders three furlongs from the finish. Godiva moved into the lead and quickly went clear, travelling with such ease that Marks had time to turn in the saddle and shout "Come on!" to his more experienced rivals.^[6] Godiva won easing down by three lengths from Silverlace, with Valeraine four lengths back in third. For the second time she beat the colts on the clock: her winning time of 2:29.4 was 1.4 seconds faster than the time recorded by Pont l'Eveque in winning the New Derby over the same course and distance a day earlier. The win gave Marks a second Classic win on only his seventh ride of the year.^[4]

Prize money had been greatly reduced in 1940, and Godiva's wins in the 1000 Guineas and Oaks brought her owner only £5,544: Galatea had won a combined total of £15,935 for winning the same two races in 1939.^[11]

Retirement and death

Racing was suspended in Britain during July and August 1940. Although there were hopes that Godiva would return for an autumn campaign,^[12] the filly was withdrawn from training and retired. She was sent to Ireland to begin a new career as a broodmare and was lodged at the Fort Union Stud in County Limerick.^[6] Shortly after her arrival she underwent an operation as a result of which she contracted septicaemia and died.^[13]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Godiva a "great" winner of the 1000 Guineas and Oaks and the fifth best British-trained filly of the 20th century.^[11]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Godiva (GB), bay mare, 1937^[14]
Sire Hyperion (GB) 1930	Gainsborough 1915	Bayardo	Bay Ronald
		Bayardo	Galicia
		Rosedrop	St. Frusquin
		Rosedrop	Rosaline
	Selene bay 1919	Chaucer	St. Simon
		Chaucer	Canterbury Pilgrim
		Serenissima	Minoru
		Serenissima	Gondolette
Dam Carpet Slipper (GB) 1930	Phalaris 1913	Polymelus	Cyllene
		Polymelus	Maid Marian
		Bromus	Sainfoin
		Bromus	Cheery
	Simon's Shoes 1914	Simon Square	St. Simon
		Simon Square	Sweet Marjorie
		Goody Two-Shoes	Isinglass
		Goody Two-Shoes	Sandal (Family No. 5-h)^[2]

Godiva was inbred 4x4 to St. Simon, meaning that the stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.

References

↑ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
1 2 "Ann of the Forest - Family 5-h". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
↑ "Person Profile : William Jarvis". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
1 2 "GODIVA'S DOUBLE WIN". Evening Post. 1 August 1940. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
1 2 "THE ONE THOUSAND". Evening Post. 1 June 1940. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
1 2 3 4 Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1999). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
↑ "RACING IN ENGLAND". Evening Post. 2 November 1939. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
↑ "Godiva wins 1000 Guineas race". Indian Express. 3 May 1940. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
↑ "Godiva best for the Oaks". Glasgow Herald. 13 June 1940. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
1 2 Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press,. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
↑ "Welcome racing news". Glasgow Herald. 5 August 1940. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
↑ "RACING NOTES". Bay of Plenty Beacon. 9 December 1940. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
↑ "Godiva pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-27.

1000 Guineas winners

1814 Charlotte 1815 Filly by Selim 1816 Rhoda 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Catgut 1820 Rowena 1821 Zeal 1822 Whizgig 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Tontine 1826 Problem 1827 Arab 1828 Zoe 1829 Young Mouse 1830 Charlotte West 1831 Galantine 1832 Galata 1833 Tarantella 1834 May-day 1835 Preserve 1836 Destiny 1837 Chapeau d'Espagne 1838 Barcarolle 1839 Cara 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Potentia 1842 Firebrand 1843 Extempore 1844 Sorella 1845 Pic-nic 1846 Mendicant 1847 Clementine 1848 Canezou 1849 The Flea 1850 Lady Orford 1851 Aphrodite 1852 Kate 1853 Mentmore Lass 1854 Virago 1855 Habena 1856 Manganese 1857 Imperieuse 1858 Governess 1859 Mayonaise 1860 Sagitta 1861 Nemesis 1862 Hurricane 1863 Lady Augusta 1864 Tomato 1865 Siberia 1866 Repulse 1867 Achievement 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Scottish Queen 1870 Hester 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Cecilia 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia 1877 Belphoebe 1878 Pilgrimage 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Elizabeth 1881 Thebais 1882 St Marguerite 1883 Hauteur 1884 Busybody 1885 Farewell 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Briarroot 1889 Minthe 1890 Semolina 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Siffleuse 1894 Amiable 1895 Galeottia 1896 Thais 1897 Chelandry 1898 Nun Nicer 1899 Sibola 1900 Winifreda 1901 Aida 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Quintessence 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Flair 1907 Witch Elm 1908 Rhodora 1909 Electra 1910 Winkipop 1911 Atmah 1912 Tagalie 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Vaucluse 1916 Canyon 1917 Diadem 1918 Ferry 1919 Roseway 1920 Cinna 1921 Bettina 1922 Silver Urn 1923 Tranquil 1924 Plack 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Pillion 1927 Cresta Run 1928 Scuttle 1929 Taj Mah 1930 Fair Isle 1931 Four Course 1932 Kandy 1933 Brown Betty 1934 Campanula 1935 Mesa 1936 Tide-way 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Dancing Time 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Herringbone 1944 Picture Play 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Hypericum 1947 Imprudence 1948 Queenpot 1949 Musidora 1950 Camaree 1951 Belle of All 1952 Zabara 1953 Happy Laughter 1954 Festoon 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Honeylight 1957 Rose Royale 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Abermaid 1963 Hula Dancer 1964 Pourparler 1965 Night Off 1966 Glad Rags 1967 Fleet 1968 Caergwrle 1969 Full Dress 1970 Humble Duty 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Waterloo 1973 Mysterious 1974 Highclere 1975 Nocturnal Spree 1976 Flying Water 1977 Mrs McArdy 1978 Enstone Spark 1979 One in a Million 1980 Quick As Lightning 1981 Fairy Footsteps 1982 On The House 1983 Ma Biche 1984 Pebbles 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Miesque 1988 Ravinella 1989 Musical Bliss 1990 Salsabil 1991 Shadayid 1992 Hatoof 1993 Sayyedati 1994 Las Meninas 1995 Harayir 1996 Bosra Sham 1997 Sleepytime 1998 Cape Verdi 1999 Wince 2000 Lahan 2001 Ameerat 2002 Kazzia 2003 Russian Rhythm 2004 Attraction 2005 Virginia Waters 2006 Speciosa 2007 Finsceal Beo 2008 Natagora 2009 Ghanaati 2010 Special Duty 2011 Blue Bunting 2012 Homecoming Queen 2013 Sky Lantern 2014 Miss France 2015 Legatissimo

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown winners, † = Epsom Derby winners, ‡ = 2000 Guineas Stakes winners

Epsom Oaks winners

1779 Bridget 1780 Tetotum 1781 Faith 1782 Ceres 1783 Maid of the Oaks 1784 Stella 1785 Trifle 1786 Yellow Filly 1787 Annette 1788 Nightshade 1789 Tag 1790 Hippolyta 1791 Portia 1792 Volante 1793 Caelia 1794 Hermione 1795 Platina 1796 Parisot 1797 Nike 1798 Bellissima 1799 Bellina 1800 Ephemera 1801 Eleanor † 1802 Scotia 1803 Theophania 1804 Pelisse 1805 Meteora 1806 Bronze 1807 Briseis 1808 Morel 1809 Maid of Orleans 1810 Oriana 1811 Sorcery 1812 Manuella 1813 Music 1814 Medora 1815 Minuet 1816 Landscape 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Shoveler 1820 Caroline 1821 Augusta 1822 Pastille ‡ 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Wings 1826 Lilias 1827 Gulnare 1828 Turquoise 1829 Green Mantle 1830 Variation 1831 Oxygen 1832 Galata 1833 Vespa 1834 Pussy 1835 Queen of Trumps 1836 Cyprian 1837 Miss Letty 1838 Industry 1839 Deception 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Ghuznee 1842 Our Nell 1843 Poison 1844 The Princess 1845 Refraction 1846 Mendicant 1847 Miami 1848 Cymba 1849 Lady Evelyn 1850 Rhedycina 1851 Iris 1852 Songstress 1853 Catherine Hayes 1854 Mincemeat 1855 Marchioness 1856 Mincepie 1857 Blink Bonny † 1858 Governess 1859 Summerside 1860 Butterfly 1861 Brown Duchess 1862 Feu de Joie 1863 Queen Bertha 1864 Fille de l'Air 1865 Regalia 1866 Tormentor 1867 Hippia 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Brigantine 1870 Gamos 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Marie Stuart 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia (dh) 1876 Enguerrande (dh) 1877 Placida 1878 Jannette 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Jenny Howlet 1881 Thebais 1882 Geheimniss 1883 Bonny Jean 1884 Busybody 1885 Lonely 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Seabreeze 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre 1890 Memoir 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Mrs Butterwick 1894 Amiable 1895 La Sagesse 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim 1897 Limasol 1898 Airs and Graces 1899 Musa 1900 La Roche 1901 Cap and Bells II 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Our Lassie 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Keystone II 1907 Glass Doll 1908 Signorinetta † 1909 Perola 1910 Rosedrop 1911 Cherimoya 1912 Mirska 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Snow Marten 1916 Fifinella † 1917 Sunny Jane 1918 My Dear 1919 Bayunda 1920 Charlebelle 1921 Love in Idleness 1922 Pogrom 1923 Brownhylda 1924 Straitlace 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Short Story 1927 Beam 1928 Toboggan 1929 Pennycomequick 1930 Rose of England 1931 Brulette 1932 Udaipur 1933 Chatelaine 1934 Light Brocade 1935 Quashed 1936 Lovely Rosa 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Commotion 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Why Hurry 1944 Hycilla 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Steady Aim 1947 Imprudence 1948 Masaka 1949 Musidora 1950 Asmena 1951 Neasham Belle 1952 Frieze 1953 Ambiguity 1954 Sun Cap 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Sicarelle 1957 Carrozza 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Monade 1963 Noblesse 1964 Homeward Bound 1965 Long Look 1966 Valoris 1967 Pia 1968 La Lagune 1969 Sleeping Partner 1970 Lupe 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Ginevra 1973 Mysterious 1974 Polygamy 1975 Juliette Marny 1976 Pawneese 1977 Dunfermline 1978 Fair Salinia 1979 Scintillate 1980 Bireme 1981 Blue Wind 1982 Time Charter 1983 Sun Princess 1984 Circus Plume 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Unite 1988 Diminuendo 1989 Snow Bride 1990 Salsabil 1991 Jet Ski Lady 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity 1994 Balanchine 1995 Moonshell 1996 Lady Carla 1997 Reams of Verse 1998 Shahtoush 1999 Ramruma 2000 Love Divine 2001 Imagine 2002 Kazzia 2003 Casual Look 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Eswarah 2006 Alexandrova 2007 Light Shift 2008 Look Here 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Dancing Rain 2012 Was 2013 Talent 2014 Taghrooda 2015 Qualify

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners

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