Poseidon (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename= Poseidon


caption=Poseidon (c 1906) with jockey Tom Clayton
sire= Positano
dam= Jacinth
damsire= Martini-Henry
sex= Stallion
foaled= 1903
country= Australia
colour= Brown
breeder= Richard Halifax Dangar (Neotsfield Stud)
owner= Sir Hugh Denison
trainer= Isaac Earnshaw
record=33: 19-4-3
earnings=£19,946 [cite book| last = Pollard|first = Jack|authorlink=Jack Pollard|title = The Pictorial History of Australian Horse Racing|publisher = Lansdowne Press|year = 1981|pages=p148|isbn = 0-7018-1468-3 ]
race =Melbourne Cup (1906)
Caulfield Cup (1906, 1907)
AJC Derby (1906)
Victoria Derby (1906)
VRC St Leger Stakes (1907)
Melbourne Stakes (1907)
AJC Plate (1908)
Rawson Stakes (1908)
awards= Australian Racing Hall of Fame
(2004 inductee)
honours =
updated= December 7, 2007

Poseidon (August 19, 1903 - February 3, 1930) is an Australian Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.

Owned by Sir Hugh Denison, trained by Isaac Earnshaw, and ridden throughout his career by Tom Clayton, Poseidon won 19 races over distances ranging between 5 furlongs and 3 miles. Of these wins, 16 were "Principal Races" (equivalent to today's "Black Type" races), 8 of them now of Group 1 status. As a three year old in 1906/07, Poseidon had 14 starts for 11 wins, including the Caulfield Cup (in race record time), Melbourne Cup, Victoria Derby and AJC Derby.

In achieving this, Poseidon became the first horse to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double. In winning the Caulfield Cup again the following year, he also became the first horse to win consecutive Caulfield Cups.

At the end of his career, Poseidon was retired to stud where he produced 2 Principal Race winning progeny. Poseidon died on February 3, 1930 at 26 years of age. Each year the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes for 3 year old colts and geldings is run in his honour.

Early history

Poseidon was foaled on August 19 1903 at R H Dangar's Neotsfield Stud in NSW. He was from the 5th crop of his sire Positano (GB) and was the 5th foal of his dam Jacinth (Aus), a daughter of Martini-Henry (NZ), winner of 1883 VRC Melbourne Cup.

At the dispersal of the Neotsfield Stud, he was sold to the Moses brothers as a foal at foot with his dam for 400 guineas. The Moses brothers went on to establish the Arrowfield Stud near Singleton, NSW.

Interested only in the dam and not the foal at foot, Poseidon was later sold to Sir Hugh Denison for 500 guineas at the April 1905 Chisholm and Co Yearling Sales in Sydney.

eason 1905/06 - 2 year old

6 starts: 1-0-1

Unplaced in his racing debut, Poseidon won at his second start as favourite by 4 lengths. Then sent to Melbourne, he had two starts but did not figure in the placings. Sent back to Sydney, Poseidon was off the board in the AJC Champagne Stakes. In his last 2-year-old start he finished in a dead heat for 3rd in the AJC Nursery Handicap, and was then sent out for a spell.

eason 1906/07 - 3 year old

14 starts: 11-3-0

Poseidon had an exemplary career as a 3 year old.

He began his three year old season with wins in 2 minor races, before winning the AJC Derby by 3 lengths, ahead of the two favourites. Just two days later, he raced against older competition for the first time in the AJC Metropolitan Handicap, finishing in 2nd place to Solution (NZ).

Heading down to Melbourne, Poseidon chalked up an amazing string of wins. First came the VATC Eclipse Stakes in record time, then just 2 days later the Caulfield Cup in Race Record time, the VRC Victoria Derby, and finally the VRC Melbourne Cup.

After a spell over Christmas, Posedion returned in the Autumn and continued on his winning ways with wins in the VATC St Helier Stakes, VRC St Leger Stakes, and the VRC Loch Plate. He then finished 2nd to Dividend in the 3 mile VRC Champion Stakes, before heading back to Sydney for the Autumn Racing Carnival.

In his two starts in the Autumn, Poseidon won the AJC St Ledger, but in his last start as a 3 year old, he finished 2nd again to Dividend in the AJC Cumberland Stakes.

During his 3 year old season, Poseidon won approximately £12,000 in prizemoney.

eason 1907/08 - 4 year old

12 starts: 7-1-2

Poseidon continued on his winning way as a 4 year old.

At his first start back in the Rawson Stakes he finished third, but won at his next start, in the WFA AJC Spring Stakes (12-fur) at Randwick ahead of stablemate Apologue. At his second start Poseidon disappointed his backers with a poor third in the AJC Craven Plate, after Antonius had cannoned into him mid-race and knocked the wind out of the him.

Moving back down to Melbourne for the Spring Carnival, Poseidon returned to form, winning the WFA VATC Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield on October 16, 1907, the Wednesday before the Caulfield Cup.

There were 16 starters in the Caulfield Cup in 1907, and after the start he was dropped towards the rear of the field. Jockey Tom Clayton waited to the half mile then set off on Poseidon. Poseidon raced around the field and dashed clear with a winning break, the Cup in his keeping. He had become the first horse to win consecutive Caulfield Cups.

On Derby Day, as 1-3 favourite, Poseidon won again beating Apologue in the VRC Melbourne Stakes.

Next was the Melbourne Cup, but as a result of his Caulfield Cup win, Poseidon was given a 10 lb penalty, and had to carry 10.3 (65kg). The weight told, and Poseidon finished in 8th place with the win going to Apologue who carried only 7.9 (48.5kg).

Poseidon's return to the track in 1908 was delayed by a minor leg problem. He bypassed the Melbourne Autumn Carnival but in a shortened Sydney program, won three of his four starts. His only failure was a 4th place to Tartan in the AJC Autumn Stakes.

eason 1908/09 - 5 year old

1 unplaced start.

Poseidon returned as a 5 year old for one last campaign. After finishing 5th in the RRC Rawson Stakes, he pulled up sore. As he would require a long spell away from the track to recover, the decision was made to retire Poseidon to stud duties.

tud record

Upon his retirement from the track, Poseidon's owner established the 'Eurmeralla Stud' at Gulgong, NSW, and purchased a number of well-bred Australian and British mares to give Poseidon every chance of success as a sire. [cite web | title = Poseidon and 'Louis The Possum'| url = http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/breedingfeatures.asp?f=FeatureArticles-Poseidon06 | author=Warwick Hobson | accessdate = 2007-06-20]

His best performers were the "Principal Race" winners::* Rascasse::*1915 QTC Queensland Derby:* Telecles::* 1918 WmtnRC Australia Day Cup::* 1919 MVRC Moonee Valley Cup

Race record

Pedigree

Pedigree
name = Poseidon
f = Positano (GB) 1893
m = Jacinth (Aus) 1894
ff = St. Simon (GB) 1881
fm = Ponza (GB) 1887
mf = Martini-Henry (NZ) 1880
mm = Iantha (Aus) 1886
fff = Galopin (GB)
ffm = St Angela (GB)
fmf = Springfield (GB)
fmm = Napoli (GB)
mff = Musket (GB)
mfm = Sylvia (Aus)
mmf = Chester (Aus)
mmm = Iolanthe (Aus)
ffff = Vedette (GB)
fffm = Flying Duchess (GB)
ffmf = King Tom (GB)
ffmm = Adeline (GB)
fmff = St Albans (GB)
fmfm = Viridis (GB)
fmmf = Macaroni (GB)
fmmm = Sunshine (GB)
mfff = Toxophilite (GB)
mffm = West Australian mare (GB)
mfmf = Fisherman (GB)
mfmm = Juliet (GB)
mmff = Yattendon (Aus)
mmfm = Lady Chester (GB)
mmmf = Maribyrnong (Aus)
mmmm = Rosedale (GB) (Family: 10D)|

References

* [http://www.racingmuseum.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=175 Poseidon's Australian Racing Hall of Fame Page]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/poseidon2 Poseidon's pedigree and partial racing stats]
* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080303b.htm Sir Hugh Denison]
* [http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricDams/EngFoundationMares/Family10/Family10.html Thoroughbred Heritage: Family 10 - Fair Helen/Childers Mare]
* [http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family10.htm Bloodlines.net: Family 10 - Fair Helen]
* [http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family10d.htm Bloodlines.net: Family 10d - Braxey]

ources

cite book
last = Pring
first = Peter
title = Analysis of Champion Racehorses
publisher = The Thoroughbred Press
year = 1977
isbn = 0-908133-00-6

cite book
title = Australia's Champion Racehorses
publisher = Federal Publishing Company