Poseidon (horse)

Poseidon (19 August 1903 - 3 February 1930) was an Australian Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He won 19 races over distances ranging from five furlongs to three miles. Sixteen of these wins were "Principal Races" (equivalent to today's "Black Type" races), eight of them now of Group 1 (G1) status.

Poseidon
Poseidon, 1906 Melbourne Cup winner
SirePositano (GB)
DamJacinth
DamsireMartini-Henry (NZ)
SexStallion
Foaled(1903-08-19)19 August 1903
Died3 February 1930(1930-02-03) (aged 26)
CountryAustralia
ColourBrown
BreederRichard Halifax Dangar (Neotsfield Stud)
OwnerSir Hugh Denison
TrainerIsaac Earnshaw
Record33: 19-4-3
Earnings£19,946[1]
Major wins
Melbourne Cup (1906)
Caulfield Cup (1906, 1907)
AJC Derby (1906)
Victoria Derby (1906)
VRC St Leger Stakes (1907)
AJC St Leger (1907)
AJC Spring Stakes (1907)
Melbourne Stakes (1907)
AJC Plate (1908)
Rawson Stakes (1908)
Awards
Australian Racing Hall of Fame
(2004 inductee)
Honours
VRC Poseidon Stakes
Last updated on 12 March 2010

As a three-year-old in 1906/07, Poseidon had 14 starts for 11 wins, including the Caulfield Cup (in race record time), Melbourne Cup, Victoria Derby and AJC Derby. In achieving this, Poseidon became the first horse to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double. In winning the Caulfield Cup again the following year, he also became the first horse to win consecutive Caulfield Cups.

Early history

Poseidon was foaled on 19 August 1903 at R H Dangar's Neotsfield Stud in NSW. He was from the fifth crop of his sire Positano (GB) and was the fifth foal of his dam Jacinth, a daughter of Martini-Henry (NZ), winner of 1883 VRC Melbourne Cup. Positano, a son of the great St. Simon, was unplaced in his seven starts in England, although he was placed second in the Ascot Derby. After he was imported into Australia he won three races from 12 starts. Jacinth won five races and was the dam of 11 foals, seven of whom raced for five moderate winners, aside from Poseidon.[2]

At the dispersal of the Neotsfield Stud, Poseidon was sold to the Moses brothers as a foal at foot with his dam for 400 guineas. The Moses brothers went on to establish the Arrowfield Stud near Singleton, NSW. Interested only in the dam and not the foal at foot, Poseidon was later sold to owner, Sir Hugh Denison for 500 guineas at the April 1905 Chisholm and Co Yearling Sales in Sydney.[3]

Racing career

Poseidon was trained by Isaac Earnshaw, and ridden throughout his career by Tom Clayton,

Season 1905/06 - two-year-old

Six starts: 1-0-1

Unplaced in his racing debut, Poseidon won at his second start as favourite by 4 lengths. Then sent to Melbourne, he had two starts but did not figure in the placings. Sent back to Sydney, Poseidon was off the board in the AJC Champagne Stakes. In his last two-year-old start he finished in a dead heat for third in the AJC Nursery Handicap, and was then sent out for a spell.

Season 1906/07 - three-year-old

14 starts: 11-3-0

Poseidon had an exemplary career as a three-year-old.

He began his three-year-old season with wins in two minor races, before winning the AJC Derby by three lengths, ahead of the two favourites. Just two days later, he raced against older competition for the first time in the AJC Metropolitan Handicap, finishing in second place to Solution (NZ).

Poseidon chalked up a string of wins in Melbourne. First came the VATC Eclipse Stakes in record time, then just two days later the Caulfield Cup in race record time, the VRC Victoria Derby, and finally the VRC Melbourne Cup.

After a spell over Christmas, Poseidon returned in the autumn and continued on his winning ways with wins in the VATC St Helier Stakes, VRC St Leger Stakes, and the VRC Loch Plate. He then finished second to Dividend in the three mile VRC Champion Stakes, before heading back to Sydney for the Autumn Racing Carnival.

In his two starts in the autumn, Poseidon won the AJC St Leger, but in his last start as a three-year-old, he finished second again to Dividend in the AJC Cumberland Stakes.

During his three-year-old season, Poseidon won approximately £12,000 in prize money.

Tom Clayton - Poseidon's regular jockey

Season 1907/08 - four-year-old

Twelve starts: 7-1-2

Poseidon continued on his winning way as a four-year-old.

At his first start back in the Rawson Stakes he finished third, but won at his next start, in the WFA AJC Spring Stakes (12-fur) at Randwick ahead of stable mate Apologue. At his second start Poseidon disappointed his backers with a poor third in the AJC Craven Plate, after Antonius had cannoned into him mid-race and knocked the wind out of him.

Moving back down to Melbourne for the Spring Carnival, Poseidon returned to form, winning the WFA VATC Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield on 16 October 1907, the Wednesday before the Caulfield Cup.

There were 16 starters in the Caulfield Cup in 1907, and after the start he was dropped towards the rear of the field. Jockey Tom Clayton waited to the half mile then set off on Poseidon. Poseidon raced around the field and dashed clear with a winning break, the Cup in his keeping. He had become the first horse to win consecutive Caulfield Cups.

On Derby Day, as 1-3 favourite, Poseidon won again beating Apologue in the VRC Melbourne Stakes.

Next was the Melbourne Cup, but as a result of his Caulfield Cup win, Poseidon was given a 10 lb penalty, and had to carry 10 stone 3 pounds (65 kg). The weight told, and Poseidon finished in eighth place with the win going to Apologue who carried only 7 st 9 lb (49 kg).

Poseidon's return to the track in 1908 was delayed by a minor leg problem. He bypassed the Melbourne Autumn Carnival but in a shortened Sydney program, won three of his four starts. His only failure was a fourth place to Tartan in the AJC Autumn Stakes.

Season 1908/09 - five-year-old

One unplaced start.

Poseidon returned as a five-year-old for one last campaign. After finishing fifth in the RRC Rawson Stakes, he pulled up sore. As he would require a long spell away from the track to recover, the decision was made to retire Poseidon to stud duties.

Race record

Result Date Race Venue Distance Weight (st) Time Jockey Winner/2nd
1905-06 season as a two-year-old
Unpl01/01/1906Tatts Club (NSW) Handicap-5½f7.91:9Tom ClaytonBarrenjoey 1st
Won26/01/1906AJC First Nursery HandicapRandwick5f7.101:1.75Tom ClaytonRoosevelt 2nd
Unpl24/02/1906VATC Alma StakesCaulfield6f8.51:15.5Tom ClaytonGaleria 1st
Unpl06/03/1906VRC Junior HandicapFlemington6f8.31:16.6Tom ClaytonMelodrama 1st
Unpl16/04/1906AJC Champagne StakesRandwick6f8.101:16.25Tom ClaytonCollarit 1st
3rd (DH)21/04/1906AJC Second Nursery HandicapRandwick6f7.81:16.5Tom ClaytonMelodrama 1st
Result Date Race Venue Distance Weight (st) Time Jockey Winner/2nd
1906-07 season as a three-year-old
Won08/09/1906Tatts Club (NSW) Welter Handicap-8f8.21:41.25Tom ClaytonMelodrama 2nd
Won22/09/1906Hawkesbury RC Spring Handicap-10f 100yds7.102:15.25Tom ClaytonOak Grafton 2nd
Won29/09/1906AJC DerbyRandwick12f8.102:38Tom ClaytonCollarit 2nd
2nd01/10/1906AJC Metropolitan HandicapRandwick12f7.92:33.5Tom ClaytonSolution 1st
Won17/10/1906VATC Eclipse Stakes (WFA)Caulfield11f8.22:21.75 *RTom ClaytonIolaire 2nd
Won20/10/1906VATC Caulfield CupCaulfield12f7.72:34.25 *RRTom ClaytonSimoda 2nd
Won03/11/1906VRC DerbyFlemington12f8.102:40.5Tom ClaytonAntonious 2nd
Won06/11/1906VRC Melbourne CupFlemington2m7.63:31.5Tom ClaytonAntonious 2nd
Won23/02/1907VATC St Helier StakesCaulfield12f8.82:39Tom ClaytonRealm 2nd
Won02/03/1907VRC St Leger StakesFlemington14f8.103:11Tom ClaytonBooran 2nd
Won07/03/1907VRC Loch Plate (WFA)Flemington2m8.03:34.5Tom ClaytonDividend 2nd
2nd09/03/1907VRC Champion StakesFlemington3m7.125:29.5Tom ClaytonDividend 1st
Won30/03/1907AJC St LegerRandwick14f8.103:22.25Tom ClaytonOakton 2nd
2nd03/04/1907AJC Cumberland Stakes (WFA)Randwick2m8.23:31.5Tom ClaytonDividend 1st
Result Date Race Venue Distance Weight (st) Time Jockey Winner/2nd
1907-08 season as a four-year-old
3rd14/09/1907RRC Rawson StakesRosehillabt 9f9.71:52.25Tom ClaytonMountain King 1st
Won05/10/1907AJC Spring Stakes (WFA)Randwick12f9.02:34.25Tom ClaytonApologue 2nd
3rd09/10/1907AJC Craven Plate (WFA)Randwick10f9.02:7.25Tom ClaytonMountain King 1st
Won16/10/1907VATC Eclipse Stakes (WFA)Caulfield11f9.02:23.75Tom ClaytonMay King 2nd
Won19/10/1907VATC Caulfield CupCaulfield12f9.32:35.5Tom ClaytonApologue 2nd
Won02/11/1907VRC Melbourne Stakes (WFA)Flemington10f9.02:12.25Tom ClaytonApologue 2nd
Unpl05/11/1907VRC Melbourne CupFlemington2m10.33:27.5Tom ClaytonApologue 1st
2nd09/11/1907VRC C B Fisher Plate (WFA)Flemington12f9.02:40Tom ClaytonMountain King 1st
Won04/04/1908RRC Rawson StakesRosehill9f9.71:55.5Tom ClaytonDecollette 2nd
Unpl18/04/1908AJC Autumn Stakes (WFA)Randwick12f9.02:39.5Tom ClaytonTartan 1st
Won22/04/1908AJC Cumberland Stakes (WFA)Randwick2m9.03:34.5Tom ClaytonTartan 2nd
Won25/04/1908AJC Plate (WFA)Randwick3m9.06:49.25Tom ClaytonTartan 2nd
Result Date Race Venue Distance Weight (st) Time Jockey Winner/2nd
1908-09 season as a five-year-old
Unpl12/09/1908RRC Rawson StakesRosehill9f9.111:52.25Tom ClaytonPerkeo 1st

Stud record

Poseidon's owner had established the 'Eurmeralla Stud' at Gulgong, NSW, with a number of well-bred Australian and British mares to give Poseidon every chance of success as a sire.[4]

His best performers were the "Principal Race" winners:

  • Rascasse
  • 1915 QTC Queensland Derby
  • Telecles
  • 1918 WmtnRC Australia Day Cup
  • 1919 MVRC Moonee Valley Cup

Poseidon died on 3 February 1930 at 26 years of age. Each year the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings is run in his honour.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Poseidon (10) Br. h. 1903
Sire
Positano (GB)
1893
St. Simon (GB)
1881
Galopin (GB) Vedette (GB)
Flying Duchess (GB)
St Angela (GB) King Tom (GB)
Adeline (GB)
Ponza (GB)
1887
Springfield (GB) St Albans (GB)
Viridis (GB)
Napoli (GB) Macaroni (GB)
Sunshine (GB)
Dam
Jacinth (Aus)
1894
Martini-Henry (NZ)
1880
Musket (GB) Toxophilite (GB)
West Australian mare (GB)
Sylvia (Aus) Fisherman (GB)
Juliet (GB)
Iantha (Aus)
1886
Chester (Aus) Yattendon (Aus)
Lady Chester (GB)
Iolanthe (Aus) Maribyrnong (Aus)
Rosedale (GB) (Family: 10-d)

See also

References

  1. Pollard, Jack (1981). The Pictorial History of Australian Horse Racing. Lansdowne Press. p. 148. ISBN 0-7018-1468-3.
  2. Pring, Peter; "Analysis of Champion Racehorses", The Thoroughbred Press, Sydney, 1977, ISBN 0-908133-00-6
  3. Barrie, Douglas M., The Australian Bloodhorse, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1956
  4. Warwick Hobson. "Poseidon and 'Louis The Possum'". Retrieved 2007-06-20.

Sources

Australia's Champion Racehorses. Federal Publishing Company.

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