GREAT RACEHORSE FAILS AS A SIRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 6 February 1913, Page 4

GREAT RACEHORSE FAILS AS A SIRE.

Referring to the death of Common, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger in 1891, which took place at the King’s Court Stud, Chelmsford, Essex, on December 17, “Sporting Life” says:—“Common, who was by Isonomy out of Thistle, never ran at two years of age, being such a big, awkward, and unfurnished horse that John Porter, who had him under his care at Kingsclere, wisely came to the conclusion that to hurry him would be to spoil him. He made his first appearance in public in the Two Thousand Guineas of 1891, but was not generally liked by the Newmarket critics, who voted him light in appearance, and, as his connections were none too sanguine concerning his chance, he was allowed to start at Gouverneur, being a warm favourite. However, Common won in a canter, and at once naturally became all the rage for the Derby. The race for the Blue Riband of the Turf was that year run in drenching rain, hut all kinds of going were alike to- Common, and he again had no difficulty in winning. He then won the St. James’ Palace Stakes at Ascot, but in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, met with the only defeat of his career, being beaten for speed at the finish of a race that wasi run too slowly to suit his great staying powers, by both Surefoot and his old opponent, Gouverneur- However, he won the St. Leger easily, and thus joined the select list of “Triple Crown’ heroes. In his first year he ran in the name and colours of the late Lord Alington, but fulfilled his other engagements in those of Sir Frederic Johnstone. He was sold immediately after the race for the St. Leger for £15,000 to the late Sir John Blundell Maple, and the latter decided to retire him to the stud at once. His trainer, John Porter, has put it on record that he considered this to be an unwise policy, as he believed that if Common had been kept in training he would have swept the board of the great cup races the following year, whilst it seemed decidedly risky to put such a backward horse to stud duties so early as the close of his three-year-old career.” Be that as it may, Common was comparatively a failure as a stallion.