Lady Josephine ch f 1912 (Sundridge - Americus Girl, by Americus). Family 9-c. Sire Line King Fergus. Bred by Alexander Holmes Ledlie (1862-1928),  Lady Josephine, the first foal of Americus Girl, was the only one by the sprinter Sundridge (ch c 1898 Amphion). In 1913 Mr Ledlie sent two filles to the Doncaster Yearling Sales in September, the first of whom was Lady Catherine (b f 1912 Desmond), a half-sister to Americus Girl, who was sold to Russia for 2,600 guineas. The other filly was Lady Jospehine who was sold to H Savill for 1,700 guineas. They were the high-priced yearlings at the sale. Described as a two year old, it was said "her forelegs are not quite perfect; nevertheless she is a charming filly, with a grand back and quarters".

Lady Josephine Sundridge Amphion Rosebery Suicide Sierra Springfield Sanda Americus Girl Americus Emperor Of Norfolk Clara D. Palotta Gallinule Maid Of Kilcreene

Trained by Jack Fallon and raced by W M Savill, Lady Josephine ran for two years only, winning 4 of her 6 starts and earning £3,636. As a two year old she won her first four races and was judged a "very smart filly". In 1914 she won the Tattenham Plate at Epsom by three-quarters of a length, beating Lamplugh (b c 1912 Llangwm) and Weyhill (b c 1912 Earla Mor). She then won the Acorn Stakes at Epsom by half a length, beating Bambusa (ch f 1912 St. Amant) and Polydamna (b f 1912 Polymelus). Starting favourite for the first time she won the Coventry Stakes at Ascot Heath by 2 lengths, beating Costello (ch c 1912 Marco) and Bright (br f 1912 Sundridge). Following this she won the Champagne Stakes at Bibury by a length, beating Willna Stop (b f 1912 William The Third) and Longueville (b f 1912 Long Tom). In her final outing of the year she finished 2°for the Cliftonville Plate at Brighton, won by the future Cambridgeshire winner Silver Tag (ch f 1912 Sundridge), beating Silver Spray (gr f 1912 Grey Leg). In 1915 she ran only once and was unplaced for the 6f Three Years Old Sweepstakes at Newmarket, won by the July Cup winner Volta (b c 1912 Valens) and the future July Cup winner Torloisk (ch c 1912 Gallinule). It was thought she would not stand training, so she was retired from the turf. A month later she was sent to the July sales at Newmarket and sold for 1,200 guineas (in the midst of WW I) to Henry Cholmondeley, manager of the Sledmere Stud, Yorkshire, which was owned by Sir Mark Sykes, 6th baronet. Sir Mark, grandson of the legendary Sir Tatton Sykes, died in 1919 and as his children were still minors the stud was run by his wife Lady Sykes and his cousin Henry Cholmondeley. At the time Lady Josephine was considered "a very sound purchase". She bred 7 foals, all in the Sledmere Stud, of which 4 were winners, including Lady Juror and Mumtaz Mahal.

Lady Juror, Photograph by W A Rouch © Thoroughbred

(1) Lady Juror (b f 1919 Son-In-Law), described as having "plenty of size" and of "great quality," was purchased for 3,000 guineas by Alec Taylor for Joseph Watson, later 1st Baron Manton, at the Doncaster sales in 1920. In 1921 she ran twice, finishing 3° for both the Champion Breeders' Foal Stakes at Derby, won by Polyhistor (b c 1919 Polymelus) and Collaborator (b c 1919 Cicero), and the Rous Plate at Doncaster, won by Collaborator and the future Derby winner Captain Cuttle (ch c 1919 Hurry On). Following her owner's sudden death she was leased by Somerville Tattersall and ran in his colours as a three year old. In 1922 she won the 5f Red Rose Stakes at Manchester, beating Sir Greysteel (gr c 1919 Roi Hérode) by 2 lengths. she followed this with a win in the 6f Empire Stakes at Newbury by a length, beating Mayfair (b c 1919 Roseland) and Lodestar (br f 1918 Prospector). She was then unplaced for the 6f Stewards' Cup at Goodwood, won by Tetrameter (ch c 1917 The Tetrarch) and The Night Patrol (b c 1918 Stedfast), the latter won the 1924 Cox Plate in Australia. She placed 2° for the 1m 1f Duke Of York Stakes at York by half a length, won by Corcyrian (ch c 1919 Corcyra), beating Clackmannan (b c 1919 Lomond). She was also 2° by a head for the 1m 3f Breeders' St Leger at Derby, won by the future Doncaster Cup winner Silurian (br c 1919 Swynford), beating Soubriquet (ch f 1919 Lemberg). Starting favourite, she won the 1m 6f Jockey Club Sweepstakes at Newmarket by 4 lengths, beating Baton Rouge (ch c 1919 Lemberg) and Glorioso (bl c 1918 Swynford). In her final two races she was unplaced for the 1m 1f Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, won by Re-Echo (br c 1919 Neil Gow) and Poisoned Arrow (br c 1919 Spearmint) and unplaced for the Hampton Court Great Three Year Old Stakes at Hurst Park, won by Selene (b f 1919 Chaucer) and Simon Pure (ch c 1919 Simon Square). She was noted to have shown "notable speed and fine stamina over varied distances from five to fourteen furlongs" and won £8,057 in stakes. As a four year old she was purchased for 8600gs by Thomas Robert Dewar (1864-1930), 1st Baron Dewar, from the estate of Lord Manton. Distinguished in the stud she got both good daughters and sons.

The Black Abbot The Recorder Fair Trial   The Black Abbot (b c 1926, by Abbots Trace) Bred by Lord Dewar and trained by Fred Darling at Beckhampton, he won the Gimcrack Stakes as a two year old. In the stud he got Wychwood Abbot (b c 1931), winner of the Cambridgeshire in 1934 and the Champion Stakes in 1935 and 1936. The Recorder (ch c 1927, by Captain Cuttle) Also bred by Lord Dewar, he won the Queen Anne Stakes in 1930 and the Rous Memorial Stakes and the Princess Of Wales's Stakes in 1931. He had limited success in the stud, getting the dam of Mustang (b c 1941 Mieuxce) before export to Soviet Union. Fair Trial (ch c 1932, by Fairway) Bred by John Arthur Dewar, who inherited his racing stock from his uncle, Lord Dewar, he won the Queen Anne Stakes in 1935 and the Rous Memorial Stakes in 1936. He got a number of good sons, including Court Martial (ch c 1942), Petition (bbr c 1944) and  Palestine (gr c 1947). He was both Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire.

(2) Americus Boy (ch c 1920 Corcyra) ran for S W Beer. From 4 starts as a two year old he finished 2° twice, for the Linton Stakes at Newmarket, won by My Lord (ch c 1920 Sunspot), beating Teresina (ch f 1920 Tracery), and for the Rangemore Maiden Stakes at Derby, won by Mountain Light (ch f 1920 Juggernaut), beating Silver Square (ch f 1920 Simon Square). As a three year old he won the Four Elms Three Years Old Maiden Plate at Lingfield Park by 3 lengths, beating Argo Navis (b g 1920 Argos) and Brown Pom (b c 1920 Pommern), and finished 2° for both the Worksop Maiden Plate at Leicester, won by Meteoric (b c 1920 Sunstar), beating Cambodia (ch c 1920 Flying Orb) and the Great Surrey Handicap at Epsom, won by Crowdennis (bbr c 1918 Tredennis), beating Zoomp (b c 1919 Golden Sun). As a four year old he finished 3° for the Abingdon Plate at Newmarket, won by Laughing Lady (b f 1922 Syndrian) and St Gironette (b f 1922 St Girons), was sold to H Sidebottom and finished 2° for the Stainsby Selling Plate at Derby, won by King Of Clubs (bl c 1920 Buckstead), beating Glennell (b f 1921 Glenesky). He was sent to Belgium the same year. (3) Mumtaz Mahal (gr f 1921 The Tetrarch). See Mumtaz Mahal. (4) Joyous (ch f 1922 Gay Crusader) never ran, but became the dam of First Cast (ch f 1933 Salmon-Trout) who was sent to New Zealand and was ancestress of a number of winners there, including Avondale Gold Cup winners Fettle (b g 1949 Finis) and Beatnik (b f 1966 Better Honey). Joyous was also the dam of The Slea (b f 1938 Salmon-Leap), the ancestress of the NZ 1000 Guineas winner Prepak (b f 1970 Pakistan), herself the ancestress of the NZ St Leger winner Katy Keen (b f 2003 Zorro's Lad). (5) Samphire (b c 1924 Son-In-Law) ran only once as a two year old, for F W Dennis, and was unplaced for the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket. As a three year old he finished 2° for both the 1m 3f Elvaston Castle Maiden at Nottingham, won by Lilyon (b f 1924 Hurry On) and the 1m 4f Zetland Plate at Stockton, won by Servus (b g 1923 Rochester). As a four year old he won the 1m 4f Great West Riding Handicap Plate at Pontrefact by a head, beating Gloucester Hussar (b c 1925 Bucks Hussar) and Winker (br c 1922 Blink), and finished 3° for the 1m 5f+ Victoria Welter Handicap Plate at Sandown Park, won by Plumbago (b c 1924 Galloper Light) and Shippon (br g 1917 Lorello). In the stud he got Marsh Mist (b f 1932) the dam of the Gran Premio De San Sebastián winner Twentypark (bbr f 1941 Pharian); Marsh Mystery (b f 1934) the ancestress of the Jockeyklubbens Jubileumslöpning winner Pomperipossa (ch f 1960 Gilles De Retz); Lovely Samphire (b f 1937) ancestress of a number of winners in Scandinavia; Bank Holiday (ch f 1940) ancestress of Log John (b c 1973 Town Boy), a good winner in Sweden and Denmark; and Tide Time (ch f 1940) ancestress of the Australian Derby winner Great Lover (ch c 1973 Spoiled Lad) and VRC Oaks winner Denise's Joy (b f 1972 Seventh Hussar) herself the ancestress of a number of winners. (6) Maharajah (ch g 1925 Swynford) raced for HH Aga Khan. As a three year old he finished 2° for the April Stakes at Newmarket, won by Purple Wave (b c 1925 Captain Cuttle), and the Royal Plate at Newbury, won by O'Curry (ch c 1925 Abbots Trace). (7) Last Cast (ch c 1927 Salmon-Trout) ran for Sir Charles Hyde for one year only. He finished 3° for the Bryn Selling High-Weight Handicap at Haydock Park from 7 starts. Lady Josephine died in 1932.