Commotion (horse)

British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Commotion

Sire| Mieuxce
Grandsire| Massine
Dam| Riot
Damsire| Colorado
Sex| Mare
Foaled| 1938
Country| United Kingdom
Colour| Bay
Breeder| John Arthur Dewar
Owner| John Arthur Dewar
Trainer| Fred Darling
Record| 2 wins
Major wins
New Oaks (1941)
Falmouth Stakes (1941)

Commotion (1938 - 1960) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who raced during World War II and was best known for winning the classic Oaks Stakes in 1941. After racing over sprint distances, she was stepped up in distance the substitute "New Oaks" over one and a half miles at Newmarket Racecourse. On her next appearance she won the Falmouth Stakes and was then retired from racing. She later became a very successful broodmare.

## Background

[edit]

Commotion was a bay filly bred in England by John Arthur Dewar who had inherited his Thoroughbred racehorses from his uncle the Scottish whisky distiller Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar. She was from the first crop of foals sired by the French stallion Mieuxce, who won the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris before his racing career was ended by injury.[1] Commotion's dam Riot was a half-sister to both Sansonnet (who produced Tudor Minstrel) and Fair Trial as well as being a high-class racehorse in her own right, winning the July Stakes in 1931.[2] Commotion was sent into training with Fred Darling[3] at Beckhampton, Wiltshire.

Commotion's racing career took place during World War II during which horse racing in Britain was subject to many restrictions. Several major racecourses, including Epsom and Doncaster, were closed for the duration of the conflict, either for safety reasons, or because they were being used by the military. Many important races were rescheduled to new dates and venues, often at short notice, and all five of the Classics were usually run at Newmarket.[4] Wartime austerity also meant that prize money was reduced: Commotion's Oaks was worth £1,939 compared to the £8,043 earned by Galatea in 1939.[5]

## Racing career

[edit]

With Epsom Racecourse unavailable in 1941, a substitute "New Oaks" was run over one and a half miles on the July course at Newmarket Racecourse on 19 June. Commotion was well-backed for the race despite never previously having raced beyond six furlongs.[6] Ridden by Harry Wragg, she started at odds of 8/1[7] with the 1000 Guineas winner Dancing Time starting odds-on favourite. Wragg, who was a specialist at waiting tactics, restrained the filly in the early stages before producing her with a strong late run.[8] She "threaded her way through the field"[9] to take the lead in the final furlong and won by two lengths from Turkana, with Dancing Time three-quarters of a length away in third. Following the Derby victory of Owen Tudor, owned by a member of the Buchanan family, Commotion's success completed what was dubbed a "whisky double".[10]

At Newmarket in July Commotion started 6/5 favourite for the Falmouth Stakes which was run as part of a substitute Royal Ascot meeting. She won narrowly from 1000 Guineas runner-up Beausite with Turkana third.[6][4]

## Assessment

[edit]

At the end of 1941, Commotion was rated the best three-year-old filly in Britain, three pounds ahead of Dancing Time.[11]

In their book A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Commotion an "average" winner of the Oaks.[5]

## Breeding record

[edit]

Commotion produced eight winners between 1943 and 1958 including three top-class performers before her death in 1960:[12]

* Combat, a brown colt, foaled in 1944, sired by Big Game. Undefeated winner of nine races including the Sussex Stakes.
* Faux Tirage, bay colt, 1946, by Big Game. Won Newmarket Stakes, St James's Palace Stakes[7]
* Aristophanes, chestnut colt, 1948, by Hyperion. Champion sire in Argentina,[13] sire of Forli

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Commotion (GB), bay mare, 1938[14] Sire
Mieuxce (FR)
1933  | Massine (FR)
1920  | Consols  | Doricles

|
|
|

Console
Mauri  | Ajax
La Camargo
L'Olivete (FR)
1925  | Opott  | Maximum
Oussouri
Jonicole  | Saint Just
Sainte Etoile
Dam
Riot (GB)
1929  | Colorado (GB)
1923  | Phalaris | Polymelus
Bromus
Canyon | Chaucer
Glasalt
Lady Juror (GB)
1919  | Son-in-Law | Dark Ronald
Mother in Law
Lady Josephine  | Sundridge
Americus Girl (Family 9-c)[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "27 Sep 1941 - New Oaks Winner". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1941-09-27. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
2. ^ a b "Crab Mare - Family 9-c". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
3. ^ "Horseracing History Online - Person Profile : Frederick Darling". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
4. ^ a b Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1999). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
5. ^ a b Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
6. ^ a b Saville, John (2009). Insane and Unseemly: British Racing in World War II. Matador. ISBN 978-1848760-349.
7. ^ a b Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
8. ^ "ENGLISH SPORTING LETTER. WAR-TIME RACING". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 6 August 1941.
9. ^ "Papers Past — Auckland Star — 19 July 1941 — THIRD WOMAN TO WIN THE DERBY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1941-07-19. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
10. ^ "Papers Past — New Zealand Herald — 8 July 1941 — ELLERSLIE HORSES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1941-07-08. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
11. ^ "24 Apr 1942 - Principal Winners of Classics and Handicaps in E". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1942-04-24. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
12. ^ The Jockey Club (1961). American Stud Book (34 ed.). New York. p. 148.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
13. ^ "Leading Sires of Argentina". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
14. ^ "Commotion pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-09-01.

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Epsom Oaks winners

* 1779 Bridget
* 1780 Tetotum
* 1781 Faith
* 1782 Ceres
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* 1830 Variation
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* 1833 Vespa
* 1834 Pussy
* 1835 Queen of Trumps
* 1836 Cyprian
* 1837 Miss Letty
* 1838 Industry
* 1839 Deception
* 1840 Crucifix ‡
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* 1842 Our Nell
* 1843 Poison
* 1844 The Princess
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* 1848 Cymba
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* 1853 Catherine Hayes
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* 1860 Butterfly
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* 1867 Hippia
* 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡
* 1869 Brigantine
* 1870 Gamos
* 1871 Hannah ₩
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* 1874 Apology ₩
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* 1876 Camelia (dh)
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* 1890 Memoir
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* 1895 La Sagesse
* 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim
* 1897 Limasol
* 1898 Airs and Graces
* 1899 Musa
* 1900 La Roche
* 1901 Cap and Bells II
* 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡
* 1903 Our Lassie
* 1904 Pretty Polly ₩
* 1905 Cherry Lass
* 1906 Keystone
* 1907 Glass Doll
* 1908 Signorinetta †
* 1909 Perola
* 1910 Rosedrop
* 1911 Cherimoya
* 1912 Mirska
* 1913 Jest
* 1914 Princess Dorrie
* 1915 Snow Marten
* 1916 Fifinella †
* 1917 Sunny Jane
* 1918 My Dear
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* 1921 Love in Idleness
* 1922 Pogrom
* 1923 Brownhylda
* 1924 Straitlace
* 1925 Saucy Sue
* 1926 Short Story
* 1927 Beam
* 1928 Toboggan
* 1929 Pennycomequick
* 1930 Rose of England
* 1931 Brulette
* 1932 Udaipur
* 1933 Chatelaine
* 1934 Light Brocade
* 1935 Quashed
* 1936 Lovely Rosa
* 1937 Exhibitionnist
* 1938 Rockfel
* 1939 Galatea
* 1940 Godiva
* 1941 Commotion
* 1942 Sun Chariot ₩
* 1943 Why Hurry
* 1944 Hycilla
* 1945 Sun Stream
* 1946 Steady Aim
* 1947 Imprudence
* 1948 Masaka
* 1949 Musidora
* 1950 Asmena
* 1951 Neasham Belle
* 1952 Frieze
* 1953 Ambiguity
* 1954 Sun Cap
* 1955 Meld ₩
* 1956 Sicarelle
* 1957 Carrozza
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* 1959 Petite Etoile
* 1960 Never Too Late
* 1961 Sweet Solera
* 1962 Monade
* 1963 Noblesse
* 1964 Homeward Bound
* 1965 Long Look
* 1966 Valoris
* 1967 Pia
* 1968 La Lagune
* 1969 Sleeping Partner
* 1970 Lupe
* 1971 Altesse Royale
* 1972 Ginevra
* 1973 Mysterious
* 1974 Polygamy
* 1975 Juliette Marny
* 1976 Pawneese
* 1977 Dunfermline
* 1978 Fair Salinia
* 1979 Scintillate
* 1980 Bireme
* 1981 Blue Wind
* 1982 Time Charter
* 1983 Sun Princess
* 1984 Circus Plume
* 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩
* 1986 Midway Lady
* 1987 Unite
* 1988 Diminuendo
* 1989 Snow Bride
* 1990 Salsabil
* 1991 Jet Ski Lady
* 1992 User Friendly
* 1993 Intrepidity
* 1994 Balanchine
* 1995 Moonshell
* 1996 Lady Carla
* 1997 Reams of Verse
* 1998 Shahtoush
* 1999 Ramruma
* 2000 Love Divine
* 2001 Imagine
* 2002 Kazzia
* 2003 Casual Look
* 2004 Ouija Board
* 2005 Eswarah
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* 2007 Light Shift
* 2008 Look Here
* 2009 Sariska
* 2010 Snow Fairy
* 2011 Dancing Rain
* 2012 Was
* 2013 Talent
* 2014 Taghrooda
* 2015 Qualify
* 2016 Minding
* 2017 Enable
* 2018 Forever Together
* 2019 Anapurna
* 2020 Love
* 2021 Snowfall
* 2022 Tuesday
* 2023 Soul Sister
* 2024 Ezeliya

Legend \- ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners
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