Vaucluse (horse)


Vaucluse was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a brief racing career which consisted of five races in three seasons she finished second on her only start as a juvenile, fell on her three-year-old debut and then recorded her first and only victory when taking the 1000 Guineas. She ran poorly when favourite for the Oaks Stakes and finished second on her only subsequent start. After her retirement from racing she had considerable influence as a broodmare.

Background

Vaucluse was a bay mare bred and owned by Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. She was trained throughout her racing career by Frank Hartigan at Weyhill in Hampshire.
Her sire Dark Ronald won the Royal Hunt Cup and Princess of Wales's Stakes in 1909 and went on to become a very successful breeding stallion. The best of his other foals was probably Son-in-Law. Vaucluse's dam Valve was a half-sister to Cicero and a close relative of Ladas. Valve also produced Verve, who was the female-line ancestor of numerous major winners including Greek Money, Pentire, Shirley Heights, Sanglamore and Divine Proportions.
Vaucluse's racing career took place during World War I. Many racecourses were closed for the duration of the conflict and all five of traditional British Classic Races were run at Newmarket.

Racing career

1914: two-year-old season

On her first and only appearance as a two-year-old in 1914, Vaucluse finished second to the colt Roseland in the Fitzwilliam Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.

1915: three-year-old season

On her first run as a three-year-old Vaucluse contested the Tudor Plate at Sandown Park but slipped up and fell in a race that she looked likely to win.
On 30 April Vaucluse started the 5/2 favourite in a fifteen-runner field for the 103rd running of the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile course. Ridden by Fred Rickaby, she took the lead soon after the start and won by three quarters of a length from Silver Tag, with a length and a half back to Bright in third place.
With Rickaby again in the saddle, Vaucluse started 11/10 favourite for the New Oaks over one and a half miles at Newmarket on 17 June but finished unplaced behind the outsider Snow Marten who won "in a canter".

1916: four-year-old season

After an absence of almost ten months, Vaucluse returned to the track for one final race in April 1916, and finished second by a neck to Cerval in the Spring Cup at Newbury Racecourse.

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Vaucluse an "inferior" winner of the 1000 Guineas.

Breeding record

Vaucluse was retired from acing to become a broodmare. She produced at least five foals between 1918 and 1926:
Vaucluse died in 1928.

Pedigree