Lavandin (horse)
Encyclopedia
Lavandin was a French Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a brief career which lasted from November 1955 to June 1956, Lavandin ran five times, winning twice. He is best known for his win in the 1956 Epsom Derby
.
. His sire, Verso (also known as Verso II), was the outstanding French colt of his generation, winning the Prix du Jockey Club
and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
in 1943. Lavandin’s dam, Lavande won three races and produced the top class sprinter Le Lavandou, but was later barren for four successive years. Wertheimer had decided to have the mare put down, but was persuaded by Verso’s owner, the Comte de Chambure to have her covered by his stallion in 1949. Lavandin was the result.
Lavandin was sent into training with Alec Head
at Chantilly
.
over 2000m. He finished third, but appeared to be an unlucky loser, with his jockey Roger Poincelet being blamed for his defeat.
Lavandin was sent to England for the Derby
at Epsom
, with the Australian Rae Johnstone taking over as his rider. The colt became Wertheimer’s first runner in the race after more than forty years of involvement in the sport. Despite driving rain, the race attracted an estimated crowd of 250,000, including the Queen Mother. In an open betting race, Lavandin started favourite at 7/1 in a field of twenty-seven. Having been held up in the early stages, Lavandin passed the long time leader Monterey a furlong from the finish and held off the strong- finishing Montaval to win by a neck. The fact that the first two horses were trained in France, following on from the victory of Phil Drake
in the previous year, led some commentators to state that British racing had “hit rock bottom.”
On his final start, Lavandin was injured when running unplaced behind Vattel in the Grand Prix de Paris
.
in 1965.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse and sire. In a brief career which lasted from November 1955 to June 1956, Lavandin ran five times, winning twice. He is best known for his win in the 1956 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
.
Background
Lavandin was bred in France by his owner, the “perfume king” Pierre WertheimerPierre Wertheimer
Pierre Wertheimer was a French businessman.In October 1910, Pierre Wertheimer married Germaine Revel, a daughter of a stockbroker and a member of the Lazard family of investment bankers....
. His sire, Verso (also known as Verso II), was the outstanding French colt of his generation, winning the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
in 1943. Lavandin’s dam, Lavande won three races and produced the top class sprinter Le Lavandou, but was later barren for four successive years. Wertheimer had decided to have the mare put down, but was persuaded by Verso’s owner, the Comte de Chambure to have her covered by his stallion in 1949. Lavandin was the result.
Lavandin was sent into training with Alec Head
Alec Head
Alec Head was a prominent French horseman and breeder and the owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville. A descendant of the great trainers who founded the English Racing Colony in Chantilly, Oise, Head's grandfather was a jockey-turned-trainer, as was his father William Head who was a very...
at Chantilly
Chantilly
Chantilly may refer to:*Chantilly, Oise, a French city located in the Oise département in the Picardie région*Château de Chantilly, a historic château located in the town of Chantilly, France*Chantilly cream, a sweet whipped cream used in pastry...
.
1955: two-year-old season
Lavandin did not appear on the racecourse until late autumn. He ran in a minor race at Maisons-Laffitte in November and finished second.1956: three-year-old season
On his three-year-old debut, Lavandin was sent to Longchamp in April for the Prix de Boulogne over 1900m and recorded his first win. He was then moved up in class for the Prix HocquartPrix Hocquart
The Prix Hocquart is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
over 2000m. He finished third, but appeared to be an unlucky loser, with his jockey Roger Poincelet being blamed for his defeat.
Lavandin was sent to England for the Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
at Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
, with the Australian Rae Johnstone taking over as his rider. The colt became Wertheimer’s first runner in the race after more than forty years of involvement in the sport. Despite driving rain, the race attracted an estimated crowd of 250,000, including the Queen Mother. In an open betting race, Lavandin started favourite at 7/1 in a field of twenty-seven. Having been held up in the early stages, Lavandin passed the long time leader Monterey a furlong from the finish and held off the strong- finishing Montaval to win by a neck. The fact that the first two horses were trained in France, following on from the victory of Phil Drake
Phil Drake
Phil Drake was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a brief racing career which lasted from May to July 1955, Phil Drake ran five times and won three races, becoming the fifth and last horse to win both the Epsom Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris.-Background:Phil Drake, a brown horse with...
in the previous year, led some commentators to state that British racing had “hit rock bottom.”
On his final start, Lavandin was injured when running unplaced behind Vattel in the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Lavandin a “poor” Derby winner.Stud career
Lavandin retired to stud in France, where he stood as a stallion until being exported to Japan in 1963. The most notable of his European progeny was the filly Blabla who won the Prix de DianePrix de Diane
The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
in 1965.