DEATH OF SIGNORINETTA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20355, 12 March 1928, Page 12

DEATH OF SIGNORINETTA.

FAMOUS DERBY MARE. 100 TO 1 WINNER. HOW SHE WAS SIRED. (From Ors Own (JoEREsroKDBNT.) LONDON, January 17. All the leading writers of turf topics refer at length to the death of tho famous 1908 Derby and Oaks winning mare Signorinotta. This famous horse died at Lord Rosebery’s Epsom home at The Dur. dans a few days ago, and now lies buried in close proximity to Lord Rosebery’s three Derby winners—Ladas, Sir Yisto, and Cicero. The Times racing correspondent comments;— Signoriuettas very bii’th was a romance. Her owner, the picturesque Chevalier Ginistrelli. had a very nice brood mare named Signorina. A colt out of her, by name Signorino, had finished third in the Derby of 1905, which was won by Cicero, beside whom, in the grounds of The Durdans, Signorinetta has now been buried. The Chevalier, who really loved Signorina, could not make up his mind with wlict sire he would mate her. Then one day when she was passing a paddock she whinnied to a horse named Chalereux. a useful but not a great or fashionable sire. The Chevalier decided that, his mare had fallen in love, and his mind was made up. The result 'was Signorinetta, who, starting at 100 to 1 against, won the' Derby in 1908 by two leughts from Primer, who .started at 40 to 1 against, with Llangwm third at 100 to 6. Two days later Signorinetta won the Oaks by three-quarters of a length from Courtesy. She never won another race, but bad by her two remarkable wins made for herself a definite place in turf annals, for in the long history of the Derby only two other fillies have won the two races, Blink Bonny in 1857 and Eleanor in 1801. Fifinella won the two substitute races which were run at Newmarket in 1916. After being retired from the racecourse to the stud Signorinetta was purchased as a brood mare by Lord Rosebery, but she never had any children w-ho approached her as a racehorse. The best was probably The Winter King, who was by Son-in-Law, an honest, useful horse, who might, if he gets the chance, become a useful sire. For the last few years Signorinetta had been Jiving the life of a comfortable pensioner in the paddocks at The Durdans. FROM NEWMARKET PRACTICALLY UNKNOWN. .“ Hotspur ” (Daily Telegraph) writes that Signorinetta’s death at the ripe old age of 23 years, removes a racehorse that weaved real romance, such as will ever be recalled, in the wonderful history of our greatest race. She cams to Epsom, practically unheard of, from Newmarket, and certainly unsung by those at Newmarket, who had cued to give her a passing thought, as a candidate for Derby honours. No one, apparently, considered for a moment tho likelihood of one trained ht the quaint little Italian owner-trainer being capable of winning tho Derby. And she was a filly, tco. Few fillies have won the Derby at Epsom, perhaps because so few are asked to do so with the Oaks, of almost equal value only two days off. Signorinetta, however, happened to be in both races, and strict adherence to convention was not part of the outlook in life of the quiet aud unostentatious stranger. So lie went on training his beloved filly after somewhat unconcentional methods, and cared nought either for the caustic gibes of those who looked on, or, it may be, did not oven bother about locking on when she galloped. It was in her favour that she was very well bred,. her s : re being Chalereux and her dam .Signorina, who was a fine race mare in her day. Pcrhans I should add that exception wes possiblv taken to the fact of her save being u Cosarewitch winner. Highbrow breeders would rather object to that in those days. A STAGGERING RESULT. The first lira public really knew about her was when she swept in a three-lengths ■winner at Epsom. » Onlookers for tha most part could scarcely believe their eyes. Many would not realise for a few moments what the winner was, for the colours of Signorinetta’s owner were in no sense as familiar to the public as those of, ■ say, the nobleman who came to own the mare at the stud. That first uncanny silence during moments of cheering was deunitely broken when, after an interval., the Chevalier, who in an instint had achieved worldwide fame, was seen to be. at tho front Cl the Royal box receiving the congratulations cf Kirn- Edward. With his “goaty” beard, an ancient-look-ing straw hat. and a personality in general which was far removed from popular notions of a Derby winner’s owner, Chevalier Giii'strc’di being cordially, congratulated by the King cf England made an unforgettable picture. Then there was cheering, but it was as nothing compared with that which broke out and was prolonged 48 hours later when- Signorinetta. no worse for her great -and glorious adventure, came tho ea?v winner of the Oak*. But not this time at 100 h 1. , She had revealed her powers, and, "barring an .accident, it was rightly argued that the winner of tna Derby would surclv be capable of winning the Oaks. It was only a question of her being uo worse for her exertion? m tbs Derby, and a? she had won eafily there worn no veal m-sgivin"? on the peunt. Chevalier Ginistrelli died a few years ago. so that his wonder mare outlived him. It would console him v.'heu be came to part with her that she went into tha possession of Lord Ro-ebcry. She did not breed one anything like as good as herself, l-.-t ?ti ! l she bred v.inn" r ? and no doubt Lord Rosebery would fed that he had been more than repaid for the sum he gav® for hw,-. I have heard that sum staled at 80Q0gns, out. of course, she would have made a great deal mere b"d she entered the ring for sale by public auction in the’e davs of scar-ng prices. The mar® bred The Winter Kir."- for lord Rosebery, and ethers I recall that also wen races wp'-e Eiz-’o. Princox. Lattice, and Fvvcina. I fiiucv Rizzio might Itvc proved himself a high-class horse ccmd he have been trained; at least, such was the oninioj l dice expressed! to the writer by Lord L/aiirony. 's a. thrcc-vear-old Rirzio only ran on-;-’ That wa? when h" went out favourite at 7 to 4 on for’th" C-meiiliam Stakes and was beaten into third place.