Fleet (horse)

Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Fleet

Sire| Immortality (horse)
Grandsire| Never Say Die
Dam| Review
Damsire| Panorama
Sex| Mare
Foaled| 1964
Country| Ireland
Colour| Bay
Breeder| Peter FitzGerald
Owner| R. C. Boucher
Trainer| Noel Murless
Record| 9: 5-1-0
Earnings| £44,426
Major wins
Princess Margaret Stakes (1966)
Cheveley Park Stakes (1966)
1000 Guineas (1967)
Coronation Stakes (1967)
Honours
Top-rated British two-year-old filly (1966)

Fleet (1964 - after 1979), known in the United States as Fleet II, was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic 1000 Guineas in 1967. In a racing career lasting from June 1966 until July 1967, the filly contested nine races (including one occasion on which she refused to start) and won five times. As a two-year-old in 1966, Fleet won two of her three races including the Cheveley Park Stakes and was the highest rated filly of her age in Britain. In the following year she won three races over a distance of one mile including the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes. When tried over longer distances she finished fourth in The Oaks and Eclipse Stakes. She was retired to stud where she had some success as a broodmare in Britain and the United States.

## Background

[edit]

Fleet was a bay mare bred in County Limerick, Ireland by Peter FitzGerald. Her sire, Immortality, a British-bred half brother to the Whitney Stakes winner Cohoes, was sent to stud without ever having competed in a race. Shortly after siring Fleet he was sold and exported to Argentina. Fleet's dam, Review, was an outstanding broodmare: her other progeny included Pourparler (1000 Guineas), Democratie (Prix de la Forêt) and Display (Cheveley Park Stakes, Coronation Stakes). Review was a difficult and temperamental mare, who was often sent to be covered by Immortality as he was based near FitzGerald's stud.[1]

As a yearling, Fleet was sent to the sales at Newmarket, where she was sold for 11,000 guineas to Robert Boucher, a fruit and hop grower from Kent whose best-known horse had been the Washington, D.C. International winner Wilwyn. Boucher sent the filly into training with Noel Murless at his Warren Place stable at Newmarket.[2]

## Racing career

[edit]

### 1966: two-year-old season

[edit]

Fleet began her racing career at Sandown Park in June, when she finished second to Social Bee in a race over five furlongs.[3] In July she was moved up in class and distance or the six furlong Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. Ridden by Lester Piggott she started the 4/6 favourite and won from Gift Token and Negotiator.[4]

Piggott again took the ride when Fleet ran in the Cheveley Park Stakes, Britain's most prestigious race for two-year-old fillies at Newmarket Racecourse in October. She was restrained by Piggott in the early stages before taking the lead inside the final furlong and won going away by one and a half lengths[5] at odds of 5/2, beating Pia, a filly who had previously won the Cherry Hinton Stakes and Lowther Stakes.[4] In the Free Handicap, an official rating of the best British and Irish juveniles, Fleet was the highest-place filly with a rating of 122 pounds, eleven pounds below the top-rated colt Bold Lad.[6]

### 1967: three-year-old season

[edit]

Fleet was scheduled to begin her three-year-old season in the Classic Trial over one mile at Thirsk Racecourse in April but she refused to line up for the start (starting stalls were not used at the Yorkshire course) and took no real part in the race, although she did eventually complete the course.[5] At Newmarket she started at odds of 11/2 in a field of sixteen for the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile course. The French-trained filly Fix The Date, winner of the Prix Imprudence, started 11/10 favourite for a race which was run in cold, wet and windy conditions.[7] Ridden by the Australian jockey George Moore she won a closely contested finish by half a length from St Pauli Girl, just ahead of Lacquer and Pia. The win followed the success of Royal Palace, trained by Murless and ridden by Moore, in the 2000 Guineas, giving the trainer and jockey a double which was not repeated for 38 years.[8]

Despite doubts about her stamina, Fleet was allowed to take her place[3] in the Oaks at Epsom a month later and started favourite in a field of twelve.[9] She looked to be travelling strongly early in the straight, but tired in the closing stages to finish fourth behind Pia, St Pauli Girl and Ludham. The filly returned to one mile for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and won at odds of 5/2 from Royal Saint and Whirled, giving Moore the 2000th victory of his career.[10] Fleet was well-fancied for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July, a race in which she was matched against colts and older horses for the first time. She finished fourth behind her stable companion Busted. On her final start she won the Michael Sobell Stakes over one mile at Ascot.[3]

The successes of Fleet, Busted and Royal Palace enabled Murless to become British flat racing Champion Trainer with record earnings of £256,899.[11]

## Retirement

[edit]

Fleet was retired to her owners stud, but after a year she was sold and exported to the United States. She remained in North America until 1973 when she returned to England. The best of her foals was the Florida-bred filly Heloise (sired by Dr. Fager)[12] who won the Diana Handicap in 1975.[13]

## Assessment and honours

[edit]

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Fleet an "average" winner of the 1000 Guineas.[14]

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Fleet (IRE), bay mare, 1964[15] Sire
Immortality (horse) (GB)
1956  | Never Say Die
1951  | Nasrullah | Nearco

|
|
|

Mumtaz Begum
Singing Grass  | War Admiral
Boreale
Belle of Troy
1947  | Blue Larkspur | Black Servant
Blossom Time
La Troienne | Teddy
Helene de Troie
Dam
Review (GB)
1951  | Panorama
1936  | Sir Cosmo  | The Boss
Ayn Hali
Happy Climax  | Happy Warrior
Clio
Pin Up Girl
1943  | Coup de Lyon  | Winalot
Sundry
Careless  | Caerleon
Traverse (Family:4-p)[16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. p. 495\. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
2. ^ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. p. 72\. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
3. ^ a b c Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. p. 215\. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
4. ^ a b Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.
5. ^ a b "Royal Palace Derby favourite". Glasgow Herald. 4 May 1967. p. 6. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
6. ^ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third ed.). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
7. ^ "Moore's second classic". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 May 1967. p. 15. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
8. ^ "O'Brien, Fallon, Coolmore Guineas double at Newmarket". Thoroughbrednews.com.au. 2 May 2005. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
9. ^ "Pia captures English race". Youngstown Vindicator. 10 June 1967. p. 8. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
10. ^ "Moore's 2000th winner". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 June 1967. p. 1. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
11. ^ "Trainer break record". The Age. Melbourne. 6 November 1967. p. 23. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
12. ^ "Heloise pedigree". equineline.com. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
13. ^ "Diana Captured By Heloise". New York Times. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
14. ^ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
15. ^ "Fleet II Pedigree". equineline.com. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
16. ^ "Bolter's Dam - Family 4-p". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 6 October 2012.

* v
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1000 Guineas winners

* 1814 Charlotte
* 1815 Filly by Selim
* 1816 Rhoda
* 1817 Neva
* 1818 Corinne
* 1819 Catgut
* 1820 Rowena
* 1821 Zeal
* 1822 Whizgig
* 1823 Zinc
* 1824 Cobweb
* 1825 Tontine
* 1826 Problem
* 1827 Arab
* 1828 Zoe
* 1829 Young Mouse
* 1830 Charlotte West
* 1831 Galantine
* 1832 Galata
* 1833 Tarantella
* 1834 May-day
* 1835 Preserve
* 1836 Destiny
* 1837 Chapeau d'Espagne
* 1838 Barcarolle
* 1839 Cara
* 1840 Crucifix ‡
* 1841 Potentia
* 1842 Firebrand
* 1843 Extempore
* 1844 Sorella
* 1845 Pic-nic
* 1846 Mendicant
* 1847 Clementine
* 1848 Canezou
* 1849 The Flea
* 1850 Lady Orford
* 1851 Aphrodite
* 1852 Kate
* 1853 Mentmore Lass
* 1854 Virago
* 1855 Habena
* 1856 Manganese
* 1857 Imperieuse
* 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
* 1877 Belphoebe
* 1878 Pilgrimage
* 1879 Wheel of Fortune
* 1880 Elizabeth
* 1881 Thebais
* 1882 St Marguerite
* 1883 Hauteur
* 1884 Busybody
* 1885 Farewell
* 1886 Miss Jummy
* 1887 Reve d'Or
* 1888 Briarroot
* 1889 Minthe
* 1890 Semolina
* 1891 Mimi
* 1892 La Fleche ₩
* 1893 Siffleuse
* 1894 Amiable
* 1895 Galeottia
* 1896 Thais
* 1897 Chelandry
* 1898 Nun Nicer
* 1899 Sibola
* 1900 Winifreda
* 1901 Aida
* 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡
* 1903 Quintessence
* 1904 Pretty Polly ₩
* 1905 Cherry Lass
* 1906 Flair
* 1907 Witch Elm
* 1908 Rhodora
* 1909 Electra
* 1910 Winkipop
* 1911 Atmah
* 1912 Tagalie
* 1913 Jest
* 1914 Princess Dorrie
* 1915 Vaucluse
* 1916 Canyon
* 1917 Diadem
* 1918 Ferry
* 1919 Roseway
* 1920 Cinna
* 1921 Bettina
* 1922 Silver Urn
* 1923 Tranquil
* 1924 Plack
* 1925 Saucy Sue
* 1926 Pillion
* 1927 Cresta Run
* 1928 Scuttle
* 1929 Taj Mah
* 1930 Fair Isle
* 1931 Four Course
* 1932 Kandy
* 1933 Brown Betty
* 1934 Campanula
* 1935 Mesa
* 1936 Tide-way
* 1937 Exhibitionnist
* 1938 Rockfel
* 1939 Galatea II
* 1940 Godiva
* 1941 Dancing Time
* 1942 Sun Chariot ₩
* 1943 Herringbone
* 1944 Picture Play
* 1945 Sun Stream
* 1946 Hypericum
* 1947 Imprudence
* 1948 Queenpot
* 1949 Musidora
* 1950 Camaree
* 1951 Belle of All
* 1952 Zabara
* 1953 Happy Laughter
* 1954 Festoon
* 1955 Meld ₩
* 1956 Honeylight
* 1957 Rose Royale
* 1958 Bella Paola
* 1959 Petite Etoile
* 1960 Never Too Late
* 1961 Sweet Solera
* 1962 Abermaid
* 1963 Hula Dancer
* 1964 Pourparler
* 1965 Night Off
* 1966 Glad Rags
* 1967 Fleet
* 1968 Caergwrle
* 1969 Full Dress
* 1970 Humble Duty
* 1971 Altesse Royale
* 1972 Waterloo
* 1973 Mysterious
* 1974 Highclere
* 1975 Nocturnal Spree
* 1976 Flying Water
* 1977 Mrs McArdy
* 1978 Enstone Spark
* 1979 One in a Million
* 1980 Quick As Lightning
* 1981 Fairy Footsteps
* 1982 On The House
* 1983 Ma Biche
* 1984 Pebbles
* 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩
* 1986 Midway Lady
* 1987 Miesque
* 1988 Ravinella
* 1989 Musical Bliss
* 1990 Salsabil
* 1991 Shadayid
* 1992 Hatoof
* 1993 Sayyedati
* 1994 Las Meninas
* 1995 Harayir
* 1996 Bosra Sham
* 1997 Sleepytime
* 1998 Cape Verdi
* 1999 Wince
* 2000 Lahan
* 2001 Ameerat
* 2002 Kazzia
* 2003 Russian Rhythm
* 2004 Attraction
* 2005 Virginia Waters
* 2006 Speciosa
* 2007 Finsceal Beo
* 2008 Natagora
* 2009 Ghanaati
* 2010 Special Duty
* 2011 Blue Bunting
* 2012 Homecoming Queen
* 2013 Sky Lantern
* 2014 Miss France
* 2015 Legatissimo
* 2016 Minding
* 2017 Winter
* 2018 Billesdon Brook
* 2019 Hermosa
* 2020 Love
* 2021 Mother Earth
* 2022 Cachet
* 2023 Mawj
* 2024 Elmalka
* 2025 Desert Flower

Legend \- ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown winners, † = Epsom Derby winners, ‡ = 2000 Guineas Stakes winners
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