Talk:Connaught (horse)

Great start, in fact hard to say much: a few comments and disagreements. I know Sandy Barclay rode him in all his 68-70 races but I'm not sure who rode him in his 1967 outings. I'd suspect Moore 'rode' him at York. Which brings me on to my second point that Barclay did not become Murless's stable jockey until 1968 as Moore was stable jockey in '67. Barclay was attached to the stable however in '67 though he often did not get the second strings to ride as in the '67 Eclipse. Here's an amusing story about Connaught. After his problems in the stalls as a 2yo he was put through countless stall trials by Murless. He'd come out of the stalls and just gallop for 2-3 furlongs at Newmarket before doing it again (and again). In the 2000G he did exactly as he was trained to do but virtually pulled himself up after 2-3 furlongs. This story is told in the Fitzgeorge-Parker biography of Murless called 'The Governor' which unfortunately I have in the UK and not at hand. The performance against Remand was creditable as although receiving 3lbs from that horse it had to be remembered that the unbeaten Remand was rated only 2lbs behind Vaguely Noble in the 2yo Free Handicap. He was 4th in Sir Ivor's Derby (Hern considered him the unluckiest horse he ever trained) but was a sick horse that day. I might add that Ribero went on to win the Irish Derby and St Leger of that year. The Coronation Stakes was always run in April (confusing I know but I think we've had this conversation already) on the moxed-raceday card. Murless liked that race and had won it with Busted in 1967. Is it worth adding that Karabas having won the Washington International and having beaten Connaught was favourite that day.

I'd say Sauceboat and Connaught Bridge were his best offspring. I'd favour the latter who was the best filly of her year but her 2nd season did not start until July due to injury. After a pipe-opener she won her final 3 races. Bought by P Harris she became the root mare of his stud. A daughter Dorothea Brooke produced Primo Valentino for him. Not sure Connaught had considerable success as a sire. He was a tough, brave but one paced stayer who as Timeform say often set a scorching gallop and had to be ridden that way but never produced anything that came near him and was hardly used his last 5 years at stud.

What about Welsh Pageant now!! (Victor Middlesex (talk) 02:55, 19 January 2015 (UTC))

Lots of good points there Victor. I have already modified the comments on Barclay and will change "considersble" to "steady". I am happy to put the "amusing story" in there, accepting the book reference, but I have the title of the book as "The Guv'nor", published in 1980: does that sound right? The silly thing about his stud career was that his best colt, Lirung, only made a splash after Connaught had been more or less retired from stud duty. Welsh Pageant is becoming one of those "sore thumb" horses who obviously merit an article. I am tying up some loose ends from the Eclipse Awards at the moment but will certainly take a look. And Connaught Bridge could also do with an article- I have the relevant Timeform annuals so it should be quite easy. Tigerboy1966  18:53, 19 January 2015 (UTC)

Reference for the Connaught story is p213 of Makers of the Modern Thoroughbred by Peter Willett ISBN 0-8131-1592-2 published 1984 (63.241.226.71 (talk) 02:17, 5 October 2015 (UTC)) (Victor Middlesex (talk) 14:06, 10 June 2016 (UTC)).