Saucy Sue

Saucy Sue
Sire	Swynford
Grandsire	John o' Gaunt
Dam	Good and Gay
Damsire	Bayardo
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1922
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor
Owner	Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor
Trainer	Alec Taylor, Jr.
Record	10: 8–0–2
Earnings	£26,000
Major wins
Criterion Stakes (1924) 1000 Guineas (1925) Epsom Oaks (1925) Coronation Stakes (1925) Nassau Stakes (1925) Atalanta Stakes (1925)
Honours
Top-rated British two-year-old (1924)

Saucy Sue (1922–1937) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare, best known for winning two Classics in 1925. The filly won eight times from ten races in a racing career which lasted from July 1924 until October 1925. She was the top-rated British two-year-old of either sex in 1924, when she was unbeaten in three races. In her first two races the following year she won the 1000 Guineas over one mile at Newmarket and the Epsom Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse a month later. Saucy Sue took her unbeaten run to seven by winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. She was defeated in her next two races and was retired from racing at the end of the season after a final win in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown Park. She had some success as a broodmare and died in 1937.

Background

Saucy Sue was a bay mare with a white blaze and one white sock on her left hind foot. She was bred by her owner Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, an American-born politician and newspaper proprietor. Saucy Sue's sire, Swynford, was a successful racehorse and stallion, winning the St Leger Stakes in 1910 and becoming British Champion sire in 1923.^[1] Her dam, Good and Gay, was a daughter of Lord Astor's broodmare Popinjay, and therefore a half-sister of the Caulfield Cup winner Magpie. Popinjay's other descendants have included the 2000 Guineas winners Pay Up and Shadeed, the St Leger winners Book Law and Provoke, and the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Swale.^[2]

Astor sent the filly into training with Alec Taylor, Jr. at his stables at Manton in Wiltshire.^[3] The Bloodstock Breeders'Review described her as "somewhat plain-looking" at rest but also said that she possessed "a wonderful action and a great, sweeping stride".^[4] Before her win in the Oaks, one correspondent called her "greyhoundish" in appearance, but with "immense power".^[5]

Racing career

1924: two-year-old season

In 1924 Saucy Sue was unbeaten, winning all three of her races by wide margins. She began by winning the five furlong Lavant Stakes at Goodwood in July. In October she won the Bretby Stakes at Newmarket and the Criterion Stakes at the same course two weeks later.^[4]^[6] She reportedly won the latter race very easily at odds of 1/4 and was described as "one of the smartest two-year-olds in England".^[7]

At the end of the season, at the instructions of the Jockey Club, the inaugural Free Handicap, a rating of the year's best juveniles was published. Saucy Sue was assigned top weight of 127 pounds, one pound ahead of the leading colt Picaroon, who had won the Middle Park Stakes and was also trained by Alec Taylor.^[8] The Manton stables housed another leading two-year-old filly in the form of the Cheveley Park Stakes winner Miss Gadabout: like Saucy Sue she was owned and bred by Lord Astor and was a grand-daughter of Popinjay.

1925: three-year-old season

Saucy Sue began her three-year-old season in the 1000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile course on 3 May. Ridden by the Australian jockey Frank Bullock,^[9] she started at odds of 1/4 against ten opponents, making her the shortest priced favourite since 1904. She was never in any danger of defeat and won by six lengths from Miss Gadabout, with Firouze Mahal two lengths further back in third.^[10] According to descriptions of the race she won the race with her ears pricked and her mouth hanging open as her jockey struggled to restrain her.^[11] The win gave the forty-year-old Bullock a first classic win^[12] in what was to be his final season as a jockey. After the race he described Saucy Sue was the most remarkable horse he had ever ridden and said that she had won without ever traveling at more than half-speed.^[11]

Twenty-six days later, Saucy Sue was made 30/100 favourite for the Oaks in a field of twelve fillies. Ridden again by Bullock she pulled hard in the early stages as her jockey tried to restrain her and ran wide at the turn into the straight as her bit slipped through her mouth.^[5] Once Bullock allowed her to gallop freely however, she quickly went clear of the field and won by very easily by eight lengths from Miss Gadabout, who was in turn eight lengths clear of the rest.^[13] Her winning time of 2:38.2 was more than two seconds faster than that recorded by the Derby winner Manna over the same course and distance two days earlier. Following the win, she was described in the press as the best filly seen in Britain since Pretty Polly.^[14]

At Royal Ascot in June, Saucy Sue was brought back in distance to one mile for the Coronation Stakes and started at odds of 1/10.^[15] Carrying a weight of 136 pounds, she won the race by ten lengths "in a canter" from Inca and two others.^[16] A heel injury forced Saucy Sue to miss a run against colts and older horses in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July,^[17] but she returned later in the month to win the Nassau Stakes over ten furlongs at Goodwood.

On 12 September, Saucy Sue was stepped up in distance for the Park Hill Stakes over fourteen and a half furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse. Taylor's original intention had been to run the filly in the St Leger at the same meeting, but plans were revised after she was beaten by Picaroon in a trial race at Manton.^[18] She was beaten for the first time as she finished third of the four runners, beaten twelve lengths by the Aga Khan's filly Juldi.^[19] In her next race she finished third to the colts Conquistador and Warden of the Marches in the Royal Stakes at Newmarket on 17 October,^[20] leading some commentators to offer the opinion that she had been over-rated as a result of wins against an unusually weak crop of three-year-old fillies.^[21] Saucy Sue ended her career with a win in late October as she defeated five opponents in the ten furlong Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.^[22] Saucy Sue's earnings of £22,155 for the year enabled Lord Astor to claim the title of British flat racing Champion Owner for the 1925 season.^[23]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Saucy Sue a "superior" winner of the 1000 Guineas and Oaks and the twentieth best filly trained in Britain or Ireland in the 20th century.^[4]

Stud record

As a broodmare, Saucy Sue produced a good colt in Truculent, sired by Teddy, who won the Royal Standard Stakes at Manchester Racecourse and made a promising start as a breeding stallion before dying in 1937 at the age of ten.^[24]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Saucy Sue (GB), bay mare, 1922^[25]
Sire Swynford (GB) 1907	John O’Gaunt 1901	Isinglass	Isonomy
		Isinglass	Dead Lock
		La Fleche	St. Simon
		La Fleche	Quiver
	Canterbury Pilgrim 1893	Tristan	Hermit
		Tristan	Thrift
		Pilgrimage	The Palmer
		Pilgrimage	Lady Audley
Dam Good and Gay (GB) 1912	Bayardo 1906	Bay Ronald	Hampton
		Bay Ronald	Black Duchess
		Galicia	Galopin
		Galicia	Isoletta
	Popinjay 1905	St. Frusquin	St. Simon
		St. Frusquin	Isabel
		Chelandry	Goldfinch
		Chelandry	Illuminata (Family: 1-n)^[2]

References

↑ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
1 2 "Chelandry - Family 1-n". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "Person Profile : Alec Taylor". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
1 2 3 Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press,. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
1 2 "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 18 July 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "RACING NEWS". Auckland Star. 6 May 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "SAUCY SUE0". The Register (Adelaide). 4 Dec 1924. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "ENGLISH DERBY PROSPECTS". Evening Post. 29 January 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "Francis Bullock". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
↑ "NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING". Evening Post. 4 May 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
1 2 "THE WORLD OF SPORT". The Northern Miner. 24 Jun 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "RACING NEWS". Evening Post. 7 July 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "THE ENGLISH OAKS". Auckland Star. 30 May 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS". Evening Post. 15 July 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "RACING FIXTURES". Evening Post. 25 July 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 1 August 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "RACING NEWS". Evening Post. 27 August 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "Saucy Sue scratched". Montreal Gazette. 2 September 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "ENGLISH RACING". Evening Post. 14 September 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "TURF NOTES". Auckland Star. 19 December 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "WORLD OF SPORT". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 9 Dec 1925. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
↑ "RACING REFLECTIONS". The Mail (Adelaide). 12 Dec 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "ENGLISH TURF". Northern Advocate. 30 November 1925. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ Anne Peters Thoroughbred Heritage (1928-05-18). "Swynford". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
↑ "Saucy Sue pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-31.

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 2016 Minding

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 2016 Minding

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

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