Sterling (horse)

Sterling
Sterling by Harry Hall
Sire	Oxford
Grandsire	Birdcatcher
Dam	Whisper
Damsire	Flatcatcher
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1868
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Graham brothers
Owner	Miss Graham

Sterling (1868 – 26 March 1891) was a British racehorse and sire. Although he was not particularly successful in terms of major wins he was very highly regarded, being rated by his jockey Harry Custance as the equal of Thormanby.^[1]

Background

Sterling was a bay horse bred and owned by the Graham family who owned the Yardley Stud near Birmingham.^[2] His dam, Whisper, was bred by Mr. R. Taylor and produced ten foals between 1866 and her death in 1882.^[3] Sterling was her third foal and one of six sired by Oxford. Whisper's other good racers included Playfair.^[4]

Racing career

Sterling won five races including the Liverpool Autumn Cup at Aintree Racecourse. He also finished second to Bothwell in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on 25 April 1871.^[5] In the autumn of 1871, the owner of the Belmont Stakes winner Harry Bassett's owner issued a challenge to the owner of Sterling for a one and a half mile match race at level weights, to be run in the United States. Sterling's owner responded by offering to put up £12,000 to the American's £8,000, but only if the match took place in England. The race never materialised.^[6]

Stud career

Sterling was much more successful as a breeding stallion than he had been as a racehorse. His classic winners included the Derby winner Harvester and the 2000 Guineas winners Paradox, Enterprise and Enthusiast. His best runner however was probably Isonomy, who won two Ascot Gold Cup in 1879 and 1880.^[1] Sterling died on 26 March 1891 at 23.^[7]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Sterling (GB), bay stallion, 1868^[8]

Sire Oxford (GB) 1857	Birdcatcher 1833	Sir Hercules	Whalebone
			Peri
		Guiccioli	Bob Booty
			Flight
	Honey Dear 1844	Plenipotentiary	Emiluis
			Harriet
		My Dear	Bay Middleton
			Miss Letty
Dam Whisper (GB) 1857	Flatcatcher 1845	Touchstone	Camel
			Banter
		Decoy	Filho da Puta
			Finesse
	Silence 1848	Melbourne	Humphrey Clinker
			Cervantes mare
		Secret	Hornsea
			Solace (Family: 12-a)[9]

References

1. Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
2. "Sterling". Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
3. Weatherby (1885). "Whisper". The General Stud Book 15: 502.
4. Weatherby (1881). "Whisper". The General Stud Book 14: 487.
5. "THE SUEZ MAIL". Otago Witness. 17 June 1871. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
6. "untitled". Grey River Argus. 1872-01-25. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
7. Weatherby (1893). "Obituary of stallions". The General Stud Book 17: 923.
8. "Sterling pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
9. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Whiteshirt Mare - Family 12-a". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-04-14.