Phil Drake
Encyclopedia
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
.
was bred in France by his owner Mme Leon “Suzy” Volterra. His sire Admiral Drake was a top class racehorse who won the Grand Prix de Paris
in 1934. Phil Drake’s dam, Philippa, was a successful racehorse who also produced the Prix Morny
winner Bozet. Phil Drake was trained by Francois Mathet at Chantilly
.
at Longchamp in impressive style to establish himself as a Derby contender. Before the news of his victory reached England some “astute punters” backed him for the Derby at odds of up to 50/1.
In the Derby, he started at 100/8 in a field of twenty-three and was ridden by Freddie Palmer, in front of a crowd estimated at 200,000 including the Queen. Phil Drake was held up by Palmer in the early stages and was not in the first fifteen at half way. In the straight he produced a sustained run to move through the field, but was still only sixth entering the final furlong as the 100/1 Irish colt Panaslipper went clear. In the closing stages Phil Drake was switched to the inside and produced a "terrific burst of speed" to overtake Panaslipper and win going away by one and a half lengths, with the 11/4 favourite, Acropolis a further three lengths back in third.
Later in June he won the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, beating the Prix du Jockey Club
winner Rapace, and becoming the fifth and last horse to win the Derby-Grand Prix double, following Gladiateur
, Cremorne
, Spearmint
and My Love
.
On his final start, Phil Drake ran in Britain's most valuable race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot
for which he started 8/11 favourite. After making a brief effort in the straight he faded to finish sixth of the ten runners behind Vimy.
Timeform
rated Phil Drake on a mark of 132. A rating of 130 is considered the mark of an above average European Group One winner.
and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
.
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 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
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...
and 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:...
.
Background
Phil Drake, a brown horse with a white stripeHorse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
was bred in France by his owner Mme Leon “Suzy” Volterra. His sire Admiral Drake was a top class racehorse who won 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:...
in 1934. Phil Drake’s dam, Philippa, was a successful racehorse who also produced the Prix Morny
Prix Morny
The Prix Morny is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
winner Bozet. Phil Drake was trained by Francois Mathet 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: three-year-old season
Phil Drake was a slow maturing colt who did not race as a two-year-old. He made his first racecourse appearance in the spring of 1955 when he ran second in the Prix Juigne, finishing strongly and narrowly failing to catch his stable companion Dastour. The colt developed respiratory problems after the race and his connections considered "scratching" him (withdrawing his entry) from the Derby. In May, however, he won the three-year-old division of the Prix La RochettePrix La Rochette
The Prix La Rochette is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:...
at Longchamp in impressive style to establish himself as a Derby contender. Before the news of his victory reached England some “astute punters” backed him for the Derby at odds of up to 50/1.
In the Derby, he started at 100/8 in a field of twenty-three and was ridden by Freddie Palmer, in front of a crowd estimated at 200,000 including the Queen. Phil Drake was held up by Palmer in the early stages and was not in the first fifteen at half way. In the straight he produced a sustained run to move through the field, but was still only sixth entering the final furlong as the 100/1 Irish colt Panaslipper went clear. In the closing stages Phil Drake was switched to the inside and produced a "terrific burst of speed" to overtake Panaslipper and win going away by one and a half lengths, with the 11/4 favourite, Acropolis a further three lengths back in third.
Later in June he won the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, beating 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...
winner Rapace, and becoming the fifth and last horse to win the Derby-Grand Prix double, following Gladiateur
Gladiateur
Gladiateur was a French Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1865. Gladiateur is called a legend by France Galop and "One of the best horses ever to grace the turf in any century" by the National Sporting Library of Middleburg, Virginia...
, Cremorne
Cremorne
Cremorne is the name of many places in Australia.*Cremorne, New South Wales*Cremorne, Tasmania*Cremorne, Victoria-See also:*The Cremorne, a Victorian pornographic magazine*The Cremorne, Sheffield, a public house in Sheffield, England...
, Spearmint
Spearmint (horse)
Spearmint was a classic winning English Thoroughbred racehorse and a good sire. He sired classic winners in three countries: Great Britain, Ireland and the United States. His daughters produced the winners of eight classic races...
and My Love
My Love (horse)
My Love was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1947 to 1948 he ran eight times and won three races. In the summer of 1948 he became the third French-trained horse to win the Epsom Derby and the fifth horse to win both the Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris...
.
On his final start, Phil Drake ran in Britain's most valuable race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
for which he started 8/11 favourite. After making a brief effort in the straight he faded to finish sixth of the ten runners behind Vimy.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Phil Drake an “average” Derby winner.Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rated Phil Drake on a mark of 132. A rating of 130 is considered the mark of an above average European Group One winner.
Stud career
The best of Phil Drake’s offspring was Dicta Drake, who won the Coronation CupCoronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:...
.