(c) Richard Ulbrich 2002
Without hesitation, being asked to name the horse that most excites the imagination and simultaneously intrigues, one name would leap to the lips. It lies nestled in the pedigree of Hyperion, not a high-sounding or ringing name – just seven letters – Tristan.
The doughty, brave, irascible Tristan, who with a constitution of iron and limbs of steel, raced to victory in 29 of his 52 career starts, establishing records unlikely ever to be attempted, and certainly never again achieved. Tristan was foaled in 1878, a dark bay son of Hermit out of the mare, Thrift, whose sire was the “Emperor of Stallions,” Stockwell. His own sire, Hermit, a small, neat individual with a delicate constitution, was a winner or placed in 17 of his 20 career starts, and included among his victories an upset win in Epsom’s Derby Stakes. It is this same Hermit held to be responsible for the vascular weakness in the thoroughbred. Tristan did not inherit this condition – nor the gentle disposition of his sire.
His dam, Thrift, tried on the racecourse, failed to show any form whatsoever, and was banished to the paddocks. After dropping six foals in England, she was sold to France.
Standing an even16.0 hands, Tristan’s pedigree mirrors the lines of Hampton (Lord Clifden ex Lady Langden), both being by grandsons of Newminster, and stemming from grand-daughters of the illustrious Family of Queen Mary (Bruce Lowe No.10)
Without dwelling on his juvenile season, suffice to say he raced 8 times, winning 4 times, and beating the likes of Angelina and Iroquois. In his final effort for the year, Newmarket’s Chesterfield Stakes in the August of the season, he raced unplaced, jarring himself so badly that he was not seen again until May, 1881, an absence from racing of 10 months. Then, a three-year-old, without a lead-up race, he took his place with 12 others for the Two Thousand Guineas Classic at Newmarket. He was unplaced, Peregrine beating Iroquois and Don Fulano; and just two days later and still at Newmarket, he was third in the Payne Stakes. One month later, at Epsom, he was unplaced in the 15 strong field for Epsom’s Derby Stakes, the race won by Iroquois.
Reflecting here, it is of note that three of his total of six unplaced runs (one the result of a disqualification when his jockey failed to weigh-in) happened in the space of four runs between two and three years! Following Epsom and the Derby, Tristan shipped to France, where he captured Longchamp’s Prix de Chantilly. It was the first of 4 wins in that country where he felt the arrow of defeat only twice, both in his three-year-old year, when he failed by a neck to get to Foxhall in the Grand Prix de Paris, and later when third in the Grand Prix de Deauville. He completed his second season, scoring 3 victories, was 4 times second and 4 times third.
If his career was meritorious to this point, it took a transcendent leap at four and five years, when the hall-marked Tristan emerged. At four years “this slashing great chestnut,” displayed an unapproached versatility, as he strode majestically to victory in his first 7 races, successful in 10 of his first 11 starts for the year, among his victories the two miles Ascot Gold Vase, and a “dashing” victory in the six furlongs premier sprint, the July Cup, when he lumped 9st 13 lbs (139 lbs / 63 kgs). But even this weight was as nothing when he slipped across to France for the Grand Prix de Deauville. Here there was no toying with the weights, and he was lumped under 66 kgs (10st 6 lbs / 146 lbs). But he was majestic as he repulsed the challenge of Iceberg, to whom he conceded 23 lbs (10½ kgs), and the formidable filly, Mlle. de Senlis, who received 25 lbs (11 kgs), winning by one and a half lengths. Other stand-out performances in this year, were in Ascot’s Alexandra Plate, in which he trounced Foxhall, and the first of his victories in Ascot’s Hardwicke Stakes and Newmarket’s Champion Stakes, sharing the latter event with the sterling and high-class mare, the dual classic winning Thebais, who in her Classic year had annexed both the One Thousand Guineas Stakes and the Oaks Stakes.
Tristan had nothing further to prove, but his owner, still had goals for him, and he answered the call in a fourth season of racing. After an initial win in a Royal Plate at Epsom, he was, in Kempton’s ten furlongs Westminster Cup, pitted again one of the acknowledgedly all-time great racehorses, another 1878 foal, Barcaldine. Carrying 10st 6 lbs (146 lbs), and to concede his rival 3 lbs, he found the burden beyond him, and was beaten one length. Allowing 3 lbs for a length, this was a victory he surely must have shared at level weights – but allowing he was beaten, it was a defeat that underscored his prize ability.
Two races later, he sealed the measure of his fame when he won the two-and-a-half miles Ascot Gold Cup, defeating the 1882 Doncaster St Leger winner, Dutch Oven, and following this victory just two days later with a second win in the 12 furlongs Hardwicke Stakes, carrying 9st 12 lbs (138 lbs / 62½ kgs). Without respite, he was again sent Channel hopping and with a millstone 68½ kgs (151 lbs / 10st 11 lbs / 68½ kgs), he notched a second victory in the Grand Prix de Deauville, bravely resisting the challenge of the multi-victorious Friandise, conceding him 16½ lbs / 8kgs, with Mlle de Senlis, receiving 12 lbs / 5½ kgs, 3 lengths away third. Before the season ended Tristan had to his credit a second victory in Newmarket’s Champion Stakes. How, then, do we appraise Tristan?
Highly… for he showed those hallmarks of quality, versatility and consistency, and more, he showed durability, dogged courage and endurance For the gallant Tristan, there was no respite from his labours. All he could do was show signs of wear-and-tear, or set records. It was the latter, and in this fifth season on the Turf, he framed a record/s which will stand for all time, winning for a third time Ascot’s Hardwicke Stakes, the Grand Prix de Deauville and Newmarket’s Champion Stakes, in this latter event, again sharing the victory!
But all too often his merit is assessed against the race that is not recorded in the record books – and his run in the Ascot Gold Cup. In this last season on the Turf, Tristan took part in a public/private trial with that mighty sovereign, the transcendent St Simon. This race – for race it was – was held at Newmarket’s Second Spring Meeting. The Trial Match was of 4 runners, for both he and St Simon were allowed a pacemaker. At six years, and past his best, Tristan was conceding his three-year-old opponent 23 lbs /10½ kgs – and St Simon showed for the first time just what a giant ability his was. At the post, six lengths separated him from Tristan. Some weeks later, they met again in the Ascot Gold Cup, and St Simon, his star still on the rise, put 20 lengths between himself and the hard-used but gallant Tristan. But Tristan’s pot still boiled, and two days after this thrashing, he won for the third time the Hardwicke Stakes. A quick dash across the Channel, and he made it three-in-a-row victories in the Grand Prix de Deauville, again lumped under (68½ kgs – 151 lbs). His final start was again in the Champion Stakes and he made it a treble of victories, sharing the victory with the gifted and admirably smart, Lucerne.
His Turf career ended, Tristan went to stud in France, but in 1891, he was re-purchased to England. Sadly, he found little popularity with English breeders, and in 1894, he was sold to Austria-Hungary. Ah! What loss to the English bloodstock industry. For in1895, his daughter, Canterbury Pilgrim, showed her wares. Well, not really, but in 1896 she did, winning Epsom’s Oaks Stakes and Doncaster’s Park Hill Stakes; and at stud, she proved one of the most influential broodmares of the 20th century, who to a cover by St Simon threw, Chaucer! Tristan’s name can also be seen in the pedigree of Swynford and his descendants.
Tristan was not destined for a long life. His career waxing in Austria-Hungary, and his temper deteriorating, in 1897, in a spiteful mood and without anyone or anything on whom or which to vent his spleen, he beat his head against a brick wall, killing himself.
There was no funeral oration for him, ergo…
Tristan had within him all the qualities we admire in the thoroughbred. He had extravagant ability and astonishing versatility, and showed his mettle each time he set foot on the racecourse. Tough and durable, brave and tenacious…and consistent, he was truly the punters’ friend. He asked no quarter, and alway gave all of himself, and then some. He will always stand alone as the only horse to capture three consecutive victories in three prominent races – and certainly alone as the only horse to dead-heat twice for a major prize. Able to sprint, able to stay, able to carry huge weights, he possessed all the attributes, and showed when racing, all the attributes of a great racehorse. He won the preserve of the great stayers, the stamina sapping Ascot Gold Cup, then reached out and grasped that other coveted trophy of the English Turf and preserve of the great sprinters, the July Cup. His defeats at the “hooves” of St Simon should be placed in the context that here was a horse two years past maturity, whilst St Simon’s was a flowering ability.
But generous, brave when racing, the surface hid a disposition bordering on the malevolent, and when upset, he was quick to attack anything, or anyone who caught his eye. It was only the unknowing and the unwary who approached him without a weapon at hand. He had noble and generous qualities in abundance when racing – and equally demons and churlish bad temper in his make-up. With great will, and grim determination, this wilful character would never surrender a hard-won advantage. He raced against the best that could be pitted against him, and when ne plus ultra, was never humbled or disgraced The measure of greatness is always a subjective assessment – and there are no echoes from his grave…
A thought: I am mindful of a new book “Great Racehorses of the Century” -really it shoud be “Great American Horses of the Century” – and muse would any measure themselves from 6 furlongs (1200m) to 2½ miles (4000m) and all distance between, against the truly mighty Tristan… or for that matter… any three of these “Greats” even at their specialist distances.
Copyright © 2002 Richard Ulbrich
