Achievement (horse)

British Thoroughbred racehorse

Achievement

Sire| Stockwell
Dam| Paradigm
Sex| Mare
Foaled| 1864
Country| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour| Brown
Breeder| Mark Pearson
Owner| Mark Pearson
Trainer| James Dover
Record| 23:16-6-1
Earnings| £22,442[1]
Major wins
Woodcote Stakes (1866)
New Stakes (1866)
July Stakes (1866)
Champagne Stakes (1866)
1000 Guineas (1867)
Coronation Stakes (1867)
St Leger (1867)
Doncaster Cup (1867)

Achievement (1864-1872) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a career that lasted from April 1866 to June 1868 she ran twenty-three times and won sixteen races. She was arguably the best British two-year-old of either sex in 1866 when she won eleven times and was only beaten when attempting to concede weight to colts. As a three-year-old she won the Classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and then returned from a surprising defeat in The Oaks to beat The Derby winner Hermit in the St Leger at Doncaster. After failing to show her best form in 1868 she was retired to stud and died four years later.

## Background

[edit]

Achievement was a strikingly attractive dark brown filly standing 15.3 hands high.[2] She was foaled in 1864 at Oakley Hall, the stud farm of Colonel (later General) Mark Pearson which was located twenty miles outside of Oakham in Northamptonshire.[3] She was sired by Stockwell, winner of the 1852 St. Leger and 2,000 Guineas Stakes and a seven time leading sire. Achievement's dam, Paradigm, was not "fashionably bred" being sired by Paragone, a "3-guinea" sire noted more for producing hunt horses than racehorses.[4] Paradigm's dam, Ellen Horne, was purchased by Pearson for around 18 guineas for his wife to use as a hack horse.[5] Paradigm was an unsuccessful racehorse, running only twice and placing in the Lavender Stakes as a two-year-old before injury forced her retirement from racing.[6] Like her dam, Paradigm was also used as a hack before she entered the stud.[4] Paradigm was later heralded as a worthy broodmare. In 1863, she had produced Achievement's full brother, Lord Lyon, the winner of the 1866 English Triple Crown. Paradigm produced a total of 13 foals and also produced King at Arms, Man at Arms and Blue Mantle.[6]

Pearson sent Achievement to be trained by James Dover at East Ilsley in Berkshire.[7]

## Racing career

[edit]

### 1866: two-year-old season

[edit]

Achievement made her first appearance in April at Newmarket's Craven meeting when she started at odds of 4/7 for the four furlong Beacon Stakes and won by two lengths. At the Ascot spring meeting she won the Grand Stand Plate by three-quarters of a length over five furlongs. She next ran at the Derby meeting at Epsom where she started joint favourite for the Woodcote Stakes with a colt named Hermit and won by three lengths. At Royal Ascot in June, Achievement won the Triennial Stakes, beating the future 2000 Guineas winner Vauban by a length and a half and then took New Stakes, the race now known as the Norfolk Stakes by three lengths. In these races she was ridden by Harry Custance, who became her regular jockey. She ran twice at Newmarket's July meeting, winning the July Stakes and the Chesterfield Stakes before adding the Lavant Stakes at Goodwood later in the month.[8]

In September she took her unbeaten run to nine when winning the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster before being sent to Newmarket for the autumn meetings. At the first October meeting she started at 1/10 and won the Hopeful Stakes by three lengths. At the next meeting Achievement lost her unbeaten record when she failed by a head to concede four pounds to a colt name Plaudit in the Clearwell Stakes and then finished second to The Rake in the inaugural running of the Middle Park Stakes. On the final start of the year at the Houghton meeting she won the Criterion Stakes, beating Friponnier by two lengths. She ended the season with eleven wins and two seconds in thirteen races and £10,387 in prize money[8] Her two defeats were ascribed to either a lack of stamina or to respiratory problems, and there were some claims that she was a roarer.[9]

### 1867: three-year-old season

[edit]

On her first appearance as a three-year-old, Achievement started at odds of 1/8 against six fillies in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on 25 April. Ridden by Harry Custance, she won easily ("in a hand canter") by three lengths from Soeur de Charite.[10]

At Epsom, Achievement started 1/3 favourite for the Oaks in a field of eight on a cold and cloudy day. Before the race she looked particularly fit ("trained to a hair, with a coat like satin"[11]) and settled well in the early stages behind a very slow pace. After appearing to have every chance in the straight and briefly taking the lead she weakened in the closing stages before dead-heating for second place with Romping Girl, a length behind Hippia.[12] Her performance renewed suspicions raised after her previous defeats that she had problems with her "pipes",[11] while other explanations included over-training and an inability to cope with an uphill finish.[13] At Royal Ascot in June she won the one mile Coronation Stakes by eight lengths from Arapeile, but on the following afternoon she was beaten three lengths by Vauban in the Triennial Stakes.[14] In August she was sent to York where she ran against colts, including Vauban, in the Great Yorkshire Stakes over one mile six furlongs. Achievement, whose stamina had been doubted, started second favourite of the four runners but ran "like a giantess refreshed"[15] and won by ten lengths from Vauban, with the other runners being pulled up and failing to complete the course.

In September, Achievement was sent to Doncaster where she was entered in both the St Leger and the Doncaster Cup. In the St Leger on 11 September she was made 15/8 second choice in the betting, with Hermit starting the 6/5 favourite. Achievement was impressive in the parade before the race, looking bigger and stronger than she had done earlier in the season. Ridden by Tom Challoner she took the lead in the straight and held off challenges from Hermit and Julius to win by a length.[16] Two days after her win in the St Leger, Achievement faced Hermit again in the Doncaster Cup over two miles five furlongs and won by three quarters of a length.[17]

### 1868: four-year-old season

[edit]

Achievement returned to race as a four-year-old, but failed to reproduce her best form, failing to win in three starts. On 19 May she finished second, beaten at fifteen lengths by Julius in the Beaufort Cup at Bath[18] and at Ascot in June she finished second to Mandrake in the Triennial Stakes. On her final appearance, she finished third of the five runners behind Knight of the Garter in the Stockbridge Cup over seven furlongs on 24 June.[19]

## Assessment

[edit]

In May 1886 The Sporting Times carried out a poll of one hundred racing experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th century. Achievement was ranked in the top ten by nine of the contributors, placing her twenty-seventh among all horses and making her the sixth highest-rated filly or mare behind Virago, Plaisanterie, Crucifix, Blink Bonny and Wheel of Fortune.[20]

## Stud career

[edit]

Achievement made no impact as a broodmare. Two of her three pregnancies resulted in dead foals, and her only live offspring was a colt by Gladiateur who did not race. Achievement died at the age of eight in 1872 of a ruptured intestine.[21][22]

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Achievement (GB), bay mare 1864[23] Sire
Stockwell
Chestnut 1849  | The Baron
Ch. 1842  | Birdcatcher | Sir Hercules

|
|
|

Guiccioli
Echidna  | Economist
Miss Pratt
Pocahontas
Bay 1837  | Glencoe | Sultan
Trampoline
Marpessa  | Muley
Clare
Dam
Paradigm
Bay 1853  | Paragone
1843  | Touchstone | Camel
Banter
Hoyden  | Tomboy
Rocbana
Ellen Horne
1844  | Redshank  | Sandbeck
Johanna
Delhi  | Plenipotentiary
Pawn Junior (Family 1-j)[24]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Patricia Erigero. "Stockwell". Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
2. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 168. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
3. ^ Staff (1893). "Sporting associations of Rutlandshire". Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. 60: 107. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
4. ^ a b Staff (2 January 1905). . Australian Town and Country Journal. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
5. ^ Custance, Henry (1894). Riding recollections and turf stories. London: Edward Arnold. p. 43. "paradigm general pearson ellen."
6. ^ a b Taunton, Thomas Henry (1888). Portraits of celebrated racehorses of the past and present, Volume 4. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. p. 324.
7. ^ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
8. ^ a b The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 170. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
9. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 80. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
10. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 391. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
11. ^ a b The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 413. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
12. ^ "THE OAKS DAY". West Coast Times. 26 July 1867. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
13. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 392. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
14. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 61. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
15. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 395. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
16. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 239. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
17. ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1868. p. 117. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
18. ^ C. J. E. AND J. P. WEATHERBY (1868). THE RACING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1868. Weatherbys. p. 151. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
19. ^ C. J. E. AND J. P. WEATHERBY (1868). THE RACING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1868. Weatherbys. p. 228. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
20. ^ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third ed.). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
21. ^ "Stockwell". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
22. ^ Staff (20 April 1872). "Death of Achievement". Sporting Life.
23. ^ Hugh McMahon. "The Sport Horse Show and Breed Database". Sporthorse-data.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
24. ^ "Ellen Horne - Family 1-j". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-03-03.

* v
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1000 Guineas winners

* 1814 Charlotte
* 1815 Filly by Selim
* 1816 Rhoda
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* 1821 Zeal
* 1822 Whizgig
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* 1858 Governess
* 1859 Mayonaise
* 1860 Sagitta
* 1861 Nemesis
* 1862 Hurricane
* 1863 Lady Augusta
* 1864 Tomato
* 1865 Siberia
* 1866 Repulse
* 1867 Achievement
* 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡
* 1869 Scottish Queen
* 1870 Hester
* 1871 Hannah ₩
* 1872 Reine
* 1873 Cecilia
* 1874 Apology ₩
* 1875 Spinaway
* 1876 Camelia
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* 1878 Pilgrimage
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* 1883 Hauteur
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* 1891 Mimi
* 1892 La Fleche ₩
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* 1894 Amiable
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* 1907 Witch Elm
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* 1911 Atmah
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* 1914 Princess Dorrie
* 1915 Vaucluse
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* 2019 Hermosa
* 2020 Love
* 2021 Mother Earth
* 2022 Cachet
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Legend \- ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown winners, † = Epsom Derby winners, ‡ = 2000 Guineas Stakes winners

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St Leger Stakes winners

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* 1815 Filho da Puta
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* 1827 Matilda ♥
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* 1829 Rowton
* 1830 Birmingham
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* 1833 Rockingham
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* 1835 Queen of Trumps ♥
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* 1840 Launcelot
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* 1843 Nutwith
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* 1845 The Baron
* 1846 Sir Tatton Sykes
* 1847 Van Tromp
* 1848 Surplice
* 1849 The Flying Dutchman
* 1850 Voltigeur
* 1851 Newminster
* 1852 Stockwell
* 1853 West Australian ₩
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* 1855 Saucebox
* 1856 Warlock
* 1857 Imperieuse ♥
* 1858 Sunbeam ♥
* 1859 Gamester
* 1860 St Albans
* 1861 Caller Ou ♥
* 1862 The Marquis
* 1863 Lord Clifden
* 1864 Blair Athol
* 1865 Gladiateur ₩
* 1866 Lord Lyon ₩
* 1867 Achievement ♥
* 1868 Formosa ♥ ₩
* 1869 Pero Gomez
* 1870 Hawthornden
* 1871 Hannah ♥ ₩
* 1872 Wenlock
* 1873 Marie Stuart ♥
* 1874 Apology ♥ ₩
* 1875 Craig Millar
* 1876 Petrarch
* 1877 Silvio
* 1878 Jannette ♥
* 1879 Rayon d'Or
* 1880 Robert the Devil
* 1881 Iroquois
* 1882 Dutch Oven ♥
* 1883 Ossian
* 1884 The Lambkin
* 1885 Melton
* 1886 Ormonde ₩
* 1887 Kilwarlin
* 1888 Seabreeze ♥
* 1889 Donovan
* 1890 Memoir ♥
* 1891 Common ₩
* 1892 La Fleche ♥ ₩
* 1893 Isinglass ₩
* 1894 Throstle ♥
* 1895 Sir Visto
* 1896 Persimmon
* 1897 Galtee More ₩
* 1898 Wildfowler
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* 1900 Diamond Jubilee ₩
* 1901 Doricles
* 1902 Sceptre ♥ ₩
* 1903 Rock Sand ₩
* 1904 Pretty Polly ♥ ₩
* 1905 Challacombe
* 1906 Troutbeck
* 1907 Wool Winder
* 1908 Your Majesty
* 1909 Bayardo
* 1910 Swynford
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* 1915 Pommern ₩
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* 1919 Keysoe ♥
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* 1921 Polemarch
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* 1923 Tranquil ♥
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* 1931 Sandwich
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* 1935 Bahram ₩
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* 1940 Turkhan
* 1941 Sun Castle
* 1942 Sun Chariot ♥ ₩
* 1943 Herringbone ♥
* 1944 Tehran
* 1945 Chamossaire
* 1946 Airborne
* 1947 Sayajirao
* 1948 Black Tarquin
* 1949 Ridge Wood
* 1950 Scratch
* 1951 Talma
* 1952 Tulyar
* 1953 Premonition
* 1954 Never Say Die
* 1955 Meld ♥ ₩
* 1956 Cambremer
* 1957 Ballymoss
* 1958 Alcide
* 1959 Cantelo ♥
* 1960 St. Paddy
* 1961 Aurelius
* 1962 Hethersett
* 1963 Ragusa
* 1964 Indiana
* 1965 Provoke
* 1966 Sodium
* 1967 Ribocco
* 1968 Ribero
* 1969 Intermezzo
* 1970 Nijinsky ₩
* 1971 Athens Wood
* 1972 Boucher
* 1973 Peleid
* 1974 Bustino
* 1975 Bruni
* 1976 Crow
* 1977 Dunfermline ♥
* 1978 Julio Mariner
* 1979 Son of Love
* 1980 Light Cavalry
* 1981 Cut Above
* 1982 Touching Wood
* 1983 Sun Princess ♥
* 1984 Commanche Run
* 1985 Oh So Sharp ♥ ₩
* 1986 Moon Madness
* 1987 Reference Point
* 1988 Minster Son
* 1989 Michelozzo
* 1990 Snurge
* 1991 Toulon
* 1992 User Friendly ♥
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* 1995 Classic Cliche
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* 2012 Encke
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* 2014 Kingston Hill
* 2015 Simple Verse ♥
* 2016 Harbour Law
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* 2018 Kew Gardens
* 2019 Logician
* 2020 Galileo Chrome
* 2021 Hurricane Lane
* 2022 Eldar Eldarov
* 2023 Continuous

Legend \- ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly
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