St. Frusquin

St. Frusquin was a brown colt with a white star and snip, bred by his owner, Leopold de Rothschild, a banker, philanthropist and member of the prominent Rothschild family. St. Frusquin was sired by St. Simon, one of the best racehorses of his era who became a dominant stallion, being Champion sire on nine occasions between 1890 and 1901.{{cite web|author=Anne Peters |url=http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/StSimon.html |title=St. Simon |publisher=Thoroughbred Heritage |access-date=2012-03-14}} St. Simon also sired Persimmon, St. Frusquin's chief rival in his racing career.{{cite web|author=Elizabeth Martiniak |url=http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/StFrusquin.html |title=St. Frusquin |publisher=Thoroughbred Heritage |access-date=2012-03-19}}

St. Frusquin's dam Isabel was a successful racehorse, winning eleven races before being retired to stud, where the best of her other progeny was the Richmond Stakes winner St. Gris. Rothschild sent St. Frusquin to Alfred Hayhoe, who trained his horses at the Palace House stables at Newmarket, Suffolk.{{cite web|url=http://www.horseracinghistory.co.uk/hrho/action/viewDocument?id=1110 |title=Alfred Hayhoe |publisher=Horseracing History Online |access-date=2012-03-14}}

The colt was not named after a Christian saint but after an informal French expression for the entirety of a person's possessions.

File:Leopold de Rothschild.png, St. Frusquin's owner]]

St. Frusquin made his first appearance on 10 May when he won the £3,000 Royal Two-Year-Old Plate over five furlongs at Kempton. Ridden by Tommy Loates, who became his most regular jockey, he showed inexperience by hanging to the left after taking the lead but held on to win by a neck from Gulistan.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18950627.2.72.11&srpos=5&e=01-01-1895-31-06-1895--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=KEMPTON PARK |publisher=Otago Witness |date=27 June 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} He followed up with victories in the £2,000 Sandringham Cup at Sandown on 27 June, beating Labrador easily{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18950815.2.96.7&srpos=2&e=01-07-1895-31-08-1895--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=RACING IN ENGLAND |publisher=Otago Witness |date=15 August 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} by three lengths, and the Chesterfield Stakes at Newmarket on 18 July{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18950905.2.120.1&srpos=1&e=01-09-1895-31-09-1895--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=NEWMARKET |publisher=Otago Witness |date=5 September 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} before an attack of rheumatism interrupted his season.

St. Frusquin returned to the racecourse on 4 October with a run in the £5,000 Imperial Produce Stakes over six furlongs at Kempton in which he carried the top weight. He finished second after a "gallant effort",{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18951205.2.4&srpos=3&e=01-12-1895-31-12-1895--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=ENGLISH SPORTS AND PASTIMES |publisher=Press |date=5 December 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} failing by half a length against Teufel, who was carrying twelve pounds fewer. His next race, one week later, was one of the season's most important two-year-old races, the Middle Park Plate over six furlongs at Newmarket in which he was matched against the Prince of Wales's highly regarded colt Persimmon. With Loates unavailable, he was ridden by the twenty-year-old Frederick Pratt, a nephew of Fred Archer.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18951220.2.5.2&srpos=4&e=01-12-1895-31-12-1895--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=ROUND THE WORLD |publisher=Press |date=20 December 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} St. Frusquin tracked the leaders before overtaking the filly Omladina inside the final furlong and winning "very cleverly" by half a length, with the favourite Persimmon a further four lengths away in third.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18951205.2.126&srpos=1&e=01-11-1895-31-12-1895--10--1----0Persimmon-- |title=RACING IN ENGLAND. NEWMARKET |publisher=Otago Witness |date=5 December 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} At the next Newmarket meeting on 24 October, St. Frusquin confirmed his position as "the best youngster in England"{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18951102.2.11.10&srpos=1&e=01-11-1895-15-11-1895--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=MISCELLANEOUS |publisher=Auckland Star |date=2 November 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} by winning the Dewhurst Plate over seven furlongs. In this race, he conceded weight to his four opponents and won by three lengths from Knight of the Thistle despite being eased down by Pratt in the closing stages.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18951212.2.105&srpos=2&e=01-10-1895-31-12-1895--10-OW-1----0Frusquin-- |title=RACING IN ENGLAND |publisher=Otago Witness |date=12 December 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} becoming the fifth horse to complete the Middle Park-Dewhurst double after Chamant, Friar's Balsam, Donovan and Orme.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18951031.2.84&srpos=4&e=01-10-1895-31-12-1895--10-OW-1----0Frusquin-- |title=TALK OF THE DAY |publisher=Otago Witness |date=31 October 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}}

Apart from his ability, St. Frusquin was also praised for his attitude, being described as "a thorough sticker, who wins his races through sheer hard finishing".{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18951217.2.4.3&srpos=7&e=01-12-1895-31-12-1895--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=ENGLISH SPORTS AND PASTIMES |publisher=Press |date=17 December 1895 |access-date=2012-03-14}} His winnings for the season totaled £9,622 and he entered the winter break as 11/4 favourite for the following year's Derby, ahead of Persimmon and the Duke of Westminster's colt Regret, who was being talked of "a second Ormonde".{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960106.2.12&srpos=1&e=01-01-1896-31-01-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=ROUND THE WORLD |publisher=Press |date=6 January 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}}

File:Tom Loates Vanity Fair 4 October 1890.jpg

Discussion regarding the relative merits of St. Frusquin, Persimmon and Regret continued over the winter, with each horse having supporters and critics.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960319.2.86&srpos=3&e=01-03-1896-31-03-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=TALK OF THE DAY |publisher=Otago Witness |date=19 March 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} St. Frusquin began his three-year-old season by winning the Column Produce Stakes at Newmarket on April, making "mincemeat" of the opposition despite conceding at least thirteen pounds to the other runners.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960528.2.108&srpos=5&e=21-05-1896-31-05-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=ENGLISH RACING |publisher=Otago Witness |date=28 May 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} He next ran in the 2000 Guineas two weeks later. With both Persimmon and Regret withdrawn from the race after performing poorly in training,{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960615.2.12&srpos=45&e=01-06-1896-31-06-1896--10--41----0Frusquin-- |title=ENGLISH SPORTS AND PASTIMES |publisher=Press |date=15 June 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} St. Frusquin was made one of the shortest-priced favourites in the history of the Classics, starting at the unusual odds of 12/100. Tommy Loates sent him into the lead halfway through the one-mile race, and his opponents were soon struggling. In the closing stages, St. Frusquin drew away to win "very easily"{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960618.2.111&srpos=1&e=01-06-1896-31-06-1896--10-OW-1----0Frusquin-- |title=Wednesday, April 29 |publisher=Otago Witness |date=18 June 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} by at least three lengths from Love Wisely (who won the Ascot Gold Cup in June), with Labrador another three lengths back in third. Some critics, however, pointed out that St. Frusquin had been least effective in the downhill section of the race and might therefore struggle on the contours of the Derby course.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960618.2.94&srpos=5&e=01-06-1896-31-06-1896--10-OW-1----0Frusquin-- |title=TALK OF THE DAY |publisher=Otago Witness |date=18 June 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} The ground at Newmarket in the spring of 1896 was reported to be "like iron", a fact put forward later in the season as a contributory factor in St. Frusquin's career-ending injuries.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=HNS18961102.2.26&srpos=1&e=01-11-1896-31-12-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=SPORTING |publisher=Hawera & Normanby Star |date=2 November 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}}

At Epsom on 3 June, St. Frusquin faced ten opponents in the 117th running of the Derby. He was made favourite at 8/13, with Persimmon, having his first run of the year, being the second choice on 5/1. St. Frusquin was towards the back of the field in the early stages but soon moved up to join the leaders and turned into the straight in second place behind Bay Ronald. Tommy Loates sent St. Frusquin into the lead two furlongs out and was immediately challenged by Jack Watts on Persimmon. St. Frusquin ran on strongly under pressure, but after a "fine race" Persimmon prevailed by a neck,{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960730.2.102&srpos=2&e=21-07-1896-31-07-1896--10--1----0Persimmon-- |title=RACING IN ENGLAND |publisher=Otago Witness |date=30 July 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} with a winning time of 2:42.0 that set a new course record.{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=HNS18960804.2.25&srpos=3&e=01-08-1896-15-08-1896--10--1----0Persimmon-- |title=SPORTING |work=Hawera & Normanby Star |date=4 August 1896 |access-date=2012-03-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.victorian-cinema.net/persimmon.htm |title=Who's Who of Victorian Cinema |publisher=Victorian-cinema.net |author=Luke McKernan |access-date=2012-03-19}} The close finish was one of the earliest horse races ever captured on film. Loates was reportedly hampered by a broken stirrup strap in the final stages.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960613.2.25&srpos=44&e=01-06-1896-31-06-1896--10--41----0Frusquin-- |title=NOTES AND COMMENTS |publisher=Press |date=13 June 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} One rumour, which stated that Rothschild had instructed that St. Frusquin should not be trained to peak fitness for the race in order to facilitate a "Royal" victory, was both reported and attacked in the British press.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960611.2.85&srpos=6&e=01-06-1896-31-06-1896--10-OW-1----0Frusquin-- |title=TALK OF THE DAY |publisher=Otago Witness |date=11 June 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}}

St. Frusquin and Persimmon met for the third time a month later in the £10,000 Princess of Wales's Stakes over one mile at Newmarket. On this occasion, St. Frusquin received three pounds from his rival but conceded nine pounds to Regret, who started favourite. The field also included the 1895 Classic winners Kirkconnel and Sir Visto. St. Frusquin was restrained by Loates in the early stages before moving forward to overtake Persimmon in the straight and after a "very exciting"{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960827.2.110&srpos=2&e=16-08-1896-31-08-1896--10--1----0Persimmon-- |title=RACING IN ENGLAND |work=Otago Witness|date=27 August 1896 |access-date=2011-12-17}} race during which he displayed "the utmost gameness"{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960824.2.8&srpos=14&e=01-08-1896-31-08-1896--10--11----0Frusquin-- |title=PNOTES AND COMMENTS |publisher=Press |date=24 August 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} he defeated the Derby winner by half a length, with Regret third. Two weeks later, on 17 July, St. Frusquin ran in the year's second "Ten-Thousand-Pounder", the Eclipse Stakes over ten furlongs at Sandown Park Racecourse. With Persimmon being rested in preparation for the St. Leger Stakes, St. Frusquin started 1/2 favourite against Regret, Labrador and the four-year-old Troon. According to press reports, St. Frusquin was fitted with specially designed, cushioned shoes in the race to protect his hooves on the hard ground.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18960909.2.13.8&srpos=7&e=01-09-1896-31-09-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=MISCELLANEOUS |publisher=Auckland Star |date=9 September 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} At one point, Regret opened up an apparently decisive lead, and St. Frusquin appeared unsettled by having dust kicked up into his face,{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960910.2.81&srpos=10&e=01-09-1896-31-09-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=TALK OF THE DAY |publisher=Otago Witness |date=10 September 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} but Loates produced the favourite with a strong run in the straight to overtake Regret and win "very cleverly" by one and a half lengths,{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18960910.2.81.16&srpos=1&e=01-09-1896-31-09-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=SANDOWN PARK |publisher=Otago Witness |date=10 September 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} taking his winnings for the year to £23,343. Shortly after his win at Sandown, St. Frusquin was being prepared for the St Leger when he was injured in training, sustaining serious injuries to the suspensory ligaments in his forelegs (initially reported as a tendon strain).{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THS18960817.2.25.2&srpos=5&e=01-08-1896-31-08-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=ST. FRUSQUIN STRAINS A TENDON |publisher=Thames Star |date=17 August 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} He appeared to make a slight recovery,{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18961020.2.7&srpos=3&e=01-10-1896-31-10-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=AUSTRALIAN AND FOREIGN SPORTING |publisher=Star |date=20 October 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} but then broke down completely and was retired to his owner's Southcourt Stud.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18961020.2.7&srpos=4&e=01-10-1896-31-10-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=ENGLISH LETTER |publisher=Press |date=20 October 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}}

In August 1896, the Live Stock Journal described St. Frusquin as "one of the best horses of the century, his great courage and resolution making him worthy to compare with Isinglass, Donovan and Ormonde."{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18961020.2.41&srpos=2&e=01-10-1896-31-10-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=TUFTS OF TURF |publisher=Press |date=20 October 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}}

During his time as a stallion Southcourt Stud, where he initially stood at a fee of 200 guineas,{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18961117.2.9&srpos=2&e=01-11-1896-31-12-1896--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=SPORTING BREVITIES |publisher=Star |date=17 November 1896 |access-date=2012-03-14}} St. Frusquin proved a highly successful sire of winners. He sired the Derby winner St. Amant, the 1000 Guineas winners Rhodora, Quintessence, and Flair, and The Oaks winners Rosedrop and Mirska. He was Britain's Champion sire in 1903 and 1907{{cite web|url=http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/LeadingSires/GBLeadSires.html |title=Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland |publisher=Tbheritage.com |access-date=2012-03-14}} and the leading broodmare sire in 1924.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/LeadingSires/GBLeadingBSSires.html |title=Leading Broodmare Sires of Great Britain and Ireland |publisher=Tbheritage.com |access-date=2012-03-14}} St Frusquin was destroyed on 25 August 1914 after a medical condition rendered him incapable of continuing his stud duties.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19141014.2.23.5&srpos=1&e=01-01-1914-31-12-1914--10--1----0Frusquin-- |title=NOTES |publisher=Press |date=14 October 1914 |access-date=2012-03-14}} His body was donated to the Natural History Museum.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bTVOAAAAYAAJ&q=frusquin |title=Country life - Volume 36 |publisher=Country life |page=341 |year=1914 |access-date=2012-03-14}}

{{Pedigree

|name = St. Frusquin (GB), brown stallion, 1893{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=480003®istry=T&horse_name==St.%20Frusquin%20(GB)&dam_name==Isabel&foaling_year=1893&nicking_stats_indicator=Y |title=St Frusquin pedigree |publisher=equineline.com |date=2012-05-08 |access-date=2013-04-30}}

|inf =

|f = St. Simon (GB)
1881

|m = Isabel (GB)
1879

|ff = Galopin
1872

|fm = St. Angela
1865

|mf = Plebeian
1872

|mm = Parma
1864

|fff = Vedette

|ffm = Flying Duchess

|fmf = King Tom

|fmm = Adeline

|mff = Joskin

|mfm = Queen Elizabeth

|mmf = Parmesan

|mmm = Archeress

|ffff = Voltigeur

|fffm = Mrs Ridgeway

|ffmf = The Flying Dutchman

|ffmm = Merope

|fmff = Harkaway

|fmfm = Pocahontas

|fmmf = Ion

|fmmm = Little Fairy

|mfff = West Australian

|mffm = Peasant Girl

|mfmf = Autocrat

|mfmm = Bay Rosalind

|mmff = Sweetmeat

|mmfm = Gruyere

|mmmf = Longbow

|mmmm = Tingle (Family:22-b){{cite web|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family22b.htm |title=Echo - Family 22-b |publisher=Bloodlines.net |access-date=2012-03-14}}}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{2000 Guineas Winners}}

Category:1893 racehorse births

Category:1914 racehorse deaths

Category:Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom

Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom

Category:Thoroughbred family 22-b

Category:2000 Guineas winners