Common
br.c. 1888 (Isonomy - Thistle by Scottish Chief).
Sire Line Sterling.
Family 4-c.
Common was
bred at Crichel, Dorset, by Henry Gerard Sturt
(1825-1904), 1st Baron Alington, and later owned
in partnership with Sir Frederic John William
Johnstone (1841-1913), 8th Baronet, which
associates had successfully campaigned the 1883
Derby winner St. Blaise (ch.c. 1880 Hermit).
An
unprepossessing youngster he was unraced as a two
year old and at three his appearance in the parade
to the post for the Two Thousand Guineas moved
Prince Saltykoff to remark that he was well named.
He was, however, half brother to the New Stakes
winner, Goldfinch (b.c. 1889 Ormonde),
who went on to sire Chelandry
(b.f. 1894), and to Throstle (b.f. 1891 Petrarch)
who won the St. Leger Stakes, Coronation Stakes
and Nassau Stakes, and his courage was never in
doubt.
He won four
of his five starts, including the Two Thousand
Guineas Stakes in a canter, beating Orvieto (b.c.
1888 Bend Or),
the Derby Stakes, beating Gouverneur (ch.c. 1888
Energy), the St. James's Palace Stakes, beating
Barbatello, and the St. Leger Stakes, beating
Reverend (b.c. 1888 Energy). He also finished 3rd
in the Eclipse Stakes to the speedy Two Thousand
Guineas winner Surefoot (b.c. 1887 Wisdom).
Sold for
15,000 guineas to Sir John Blundell Maple
(1845-1903), 1st Baronet, who subsequently refused
20,000 guineas for him from the Austrian
government, Common retired to the Childwick Stud
of his new owner at St. Albans, Hertfordshire. He
initially covered for a fee of 200 guineas and did
get the One Thousand Guineas winner Nun Nicer
(bbr.f. 1895) although he was generally considered
a disappointment and his fee dwindled to 19
guineas when he later stood at the Burrow Stud
near Chelmsford. He was 9th on the sires' list in
1898, 6th in 1900 and 13th in 1902. Common died at
Chelmsford in 1912.
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