Sailor's Guide
Encyclopedia
Sailor's Guide was an outstanding Thoroughbred
racehorse that was conceived in England and foaled in Australia. He is notable in that he won races in the United States
, Canada
, and a number of principal Australian races, and was a high stakes earner.
He was a brown stallion that was foaled in 1952 and was sired by the good racehorse Lighthouse II. His dam was the imported mare Jehane (GB) by Legend of France (FR). Jehane was also the dam of several other winners including Far Away Places (by Royal Empire) who won the SAJC Adelaide Cup
.
his winning margin was a half head. In the Pentathlon Stakes (a VATC Olympic Games commemorative event) Sailor's Guide showed his class by defeating the New Zealand
(NZ) horse, Rising Fast
and then another NZ horse in Redcraze
in the C B Fisher Plate. During the spring Sailor's Guide again won the Craiglee Stakes
, was third in the Caulfield Cup
and won the LKS MacKinnon Stakes
.
He won many other major races in Australia
in the late 1950s, including the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes
(defeating Prince Darius and Tulloch
) and the VRC Derby. and was one of the highest stake winners of the period. He also won the Sky Classic Stakes
in Toronto
, Canada
.
He ended up winning more than £100,000, with Tulloch and the Standardbred harness horse Caduceus
as the only horses bred in Australia or New Zealand to have achieved this distinction at that time. Tulloch was his main rival, and they defeated each other on a number of occasions.
The most important race he won was the 1958 Washington, D.C. International (now replaced by the Breeders' Cup Turf
), a major horse race in the United States. It was contested on turf over 1½ miles (2,400 metres) and drew the best horses from North America and Europe. In winning the race, Sailor's Guide defeated the top performer Ballymoss
who had a Timeform
rating of 136. Soon after, Ballymoss won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
and was also voted as 1958 European Horse of the Year
.
Sailor's Guide was retired to stud in America, but was a poor foal-getter. He did have eight of his progeny race without any great success.
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 that was conceived in England and foaled in Australia. He is notable in that he won races in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and a number of principal Australian races, and was a high stakes earner.
He was a brown stallion that was foaled in 1952 and was sired by the good racehorse Lighthouse II. His dam was the imported mare Jehane (GB) by Legend of France (FR). Jehane was also the dam of several other winners including Far Away Places (by Royal Empire) who won the SAJC Adelaide Cup
Adelaide Cup
The Adelaide Cup is a SAJC Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held in South Australia. It is handicap race run over 3,200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide Australia. Total prize money for the race is A$400,000....
.
Racing career
Many of Sailor's Guide’s wins were by margins of a neck or less and in the Sydney CupSydney Cup
The Sydney Cup is an Australian horse race, held for Thoroughbred horses and run over 3200 metres. It is run every year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, New South Wales in April/May...
his winning margin was a half head. In the Pentathlon Stakes (a VATC Olympic Games commemorative event) Sailor's Guide showed his class by defeating the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(NZ) horse, Rising Fast
Rising Fast
Rising Fast was an outstanding New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. In 1954 he became the only horse in history to win the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate races in the same season - the Spring Grand Slam - and since that time no Melbourne Cup winner has performed such a feat...
and then another NZ horse in Redcraze
Redcraze
Redcraze was a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who raced both in Australia and New Zealand, winning major races in both countries....
in the C B Fisher Plate. During the spring Sailor's Guide again won the Craiglee Stakes
Craiglee Stakes
The Craiglee Stakes, renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes, is a 1600 metre Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race at Set Weights with Penalties conditions. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in September...
, was third in the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
and won the LKS MacKinnon Stakes
LKS MacKinnon Stakes
From 1869 to 1936 the LKS Mackinnon Stakes was known as the Melbourne Stakes.The LKS Mackinnon Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 2000 metre Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the Saturday before...
.
He won many other major races in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the late 1950s, including the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over, under open handicap conditions, over a distance of 2500 metres.It is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne....
(defeating Prince Darius and Tulloch
Tulloch (horse)
Tulloch was a Thoroughbred racehorse, who is regarded as one of the three finest racehorses in Australian racing history...
) and the VRC Derby. and was one of the highest stake winners of the period. He also won the Sky Classic Stakes
Sky Classic Stakes
The Sky Classic Stakes is a Canadian Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in mid to late September on turf over a distance of 1¼ miles , it is open to horses three years of age and older...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
He ended up winning more than £100,000, with Tulloch and the Standardbred harness horse Caduceus
Caduceus (horse)
Caduceus was a New Zealand bred Standardbred racehorse. Caduceus is notable for winning the 1960 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship, trotting's premiership event in Australia and New Zealand, from a handicap of 36 yards, in front of a world record crowd...
as the only horses bred in Australia or New Zealand to have achieved this distinction at that time. Tulloch was his main rival, and they defeated each other on a number of occasions.
The most important race he won was the 1958 Washington, D.C. International (now replaced by the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
), a major horse race in the United States. It was contested on turf over 1½ miles (2,400 metres) and drew the best horses from North America and Europe. In winning the race, Sailor's Guide defeated the top performer Ballymoss
Ballymoss
Ballymoss was an Irish Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. The son of Mossborough, his grandsire was the extremely important Nearco. Out of the mare Indian call, the damsire of Ballymoss was Singapore whose sire was the 1918 U.K. Triple Crown winner Gainsborough.Ballymoss was sold by his breeder at...
who had a 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...
rating of 136. Soon after, Ballymoss won 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...
and was also voted as 1958 European Horse of the Year
European Horse of the Year
European Horse of the Year is an award in European Thoroughbred horse racing. Since 1991 the honor has been part of the Cartier Racing Awards. It is presented annually by Cartier SA to a horse of any age racing in Europe.-Honorees:...
.
Sailor's Guide was retired to stud in America, but was a poor foal-getter. He did have eight of his progeny race without any great success.