Alycidon

Alycidon was extremely slow to mature and was not hurried by Earl. He made only two appearances, finishing unplaced in minor races over seven furlongs.[6]

Lord Derby died in February 1948 and the ownership of Alycidon passed to his grandson Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby. As the family was in mourning, Alycidon was officially registered as being owned by Brigadier Fairfax-Ross for the early part of the season. On Alycidon's three-year-old debut he was ridden by Eph Smith in the Christopher Wren takes at Hurst Park Racecourse. The colt whipped around at the start (starting stalls were not used in Britain until 1965) and took no part in the race. After this display, Alycidon always raced in blinkers, although there appeared to be nothing irresolute about his racing. Two weeks after his "run" at Hurst Park, Alycidon recorded his first victory in the one mile Classic Trial Stakes at Thirsk Racecourse in which he was ridden by a stable lad named Shaw. In May he finished third in the Chester Vase and then won the Royal Standard Stakes at Manchester Racecourse.[6]

Alycidon was regarded as a potential Derby contender, but as Lord Derby had two other colts in the race he was re-routed to Royal Ascot for the King Edward VII Stakes. He finished third to Vic Day, being apparently unsuited by the tactics employed by his jockey T. Lowrey, who restrained the colt before attempting to produce him with a late burst of speed. More positive tactics were used in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket in July and he won decisively from the 1947 St. Leger winner Sayajirao. Later in July he won the St George Stakes at Liverpool over thirteen furlongs, partnered for the first time by Doug Smith who rode him in all his remaining race.[6]

In the St. Leger on 11 September, Alycidon started at odds of 20/1 in a field of fourteen runners in front of a crowd estimated at 500,000 which included the King and Queen.[7] Smith attempted to make all the running on Alycidon, but was caught inside the final quarter mile and beaten one and a half lengths by the American-bred Black Tarquin. Following his St Leger run, Alycidon returned to action at Newmarket where he won the Jockey Club Cup. On his final race of the year he was sent to Ascot for the two-mile King George VI Stakes, an important international event which attracted three French challengers. Alycidon tracked his pacemaker Benny Lynch, before taking the lead half a mile from the finish and drawing clear to win by five lengths.[6]

As a four-year-old Alycidon was aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup, in which he was scheduled for a highly anticipated rematch with Black Tarquin.[8] On his debut he won the Ormonde Stakes by a length from Benny Lynch and then was more impressive when winning the Corporation Stakes at Doncaster by twelve lengths. Black Tarquin also won his prep races and was made 10/11 favourite for the Gold Cup ahead of Alycidon on 5/4.[9] Alycidon was assisted by two pacemakers to ensure a true test of stamina and took the lead five furlongs from the finish. In the straight, Black Tarquin moved up to challenge and drew level a furlong from the finish, but Alycidon pulled away again in the closing stages to win by five lengths.[10] His victory was notable as it came after a period in which the race had been dominated by foreign-bred horses.[11]

In July he appeared to be unsuited by the firm ground, but still won the Goodwood Cup by two lengths from Riding Mill.[3] He completed his career with an eight length success in the Doncaster Cup in September.[12] By winning the Ascot, Goodwood and Doncaster Cups he completed the Stayers' Triple Crown, a feat that had not been achieved by any horse since Isonomy in 1879[13] and was not repeated until Le Moss won all three races in 1980. Alycidon retired with a tally of 11 wins worth £37,206 in prize money (he set a record for prize-money won by a non-Classic winner).[11]