Court Martial
SireFair Trial
GrandsireFairway
DamInstantaneous
DamsireHurry On
SexStallion
Foaled1942
CountryGreat Britain
ColourChestnut
BreederLord Astor
OwnerLord Astor
TrainerJoseph Lawson
Record8: 6–1–1
Earnings£11,666½
Major wins
2000 Guineas Stakes (1945)
Champion Stakes (1945)
Awards
Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland
(1956, 1957)
Last updated on 23 October 2011

Court Martial (foaled 1942 in England – died in 1974) was a Thoroughbred racehorse bred and raced by Lord Astor best known for defeating two exceptional colts in Dante and Royal Charger for the Classic 2000 Guineas Stakes and as a two-time leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland.

He was a chestnut horse sired by the leading sire Fair Trial, that also sired Petition (won the Eclipse Stakes). Court Martial's dam Instantaneous by Hurry On was the dam of several other named foals, but none was a stakes winner. She was a great granddaughter of Astor's foundation mare Conjure. John Hislop describes Court Martial as "A beautiful horse of superb quality, truly made, sound and possessed of excellent limbs, but with shelly feet a trait which he has handed on ... Though having a measure of stamina, speed was Court Martial's forte, which is reflected in his stock. An outstanding and wonderfully consistent stallion . . . his mares have done comparably well at stud. Most of his stock likes soft ground."[1]

Racing record

Court Martial was undefeated in his two starts as a two-year-old. At three, he won the 2000 Guineas Stakes and the Champion Stakes and was third in The Derby, where he finished two lengths and a head away third to Dante and Midas in a field of 27 runners in the time of 2 min 26.6 sec.

Stud record

Court Martial was a prolific sire of winners, being the leading sire twice and was a six-time leading sire of two-year-olds.[2]

Notable progeny include:

About 25 of Court Martial's sons have been imported to Australia and New Zealand since 1954 and have sired the collective winners of almost $8 million in prize money.[4]

Court Martial died of infirmities of old age. He was 32.

References

  1. ^ Hislop, John, Breeding for Racing, Martin Secker & Warburg, London, 1976, ISBN 0-436-19701-4.
  2. ^ Wicks, B.M., "The Australian Racehorse", Libra Books, Canberra, 1973 ISBN 0-909619-00-X.
  3. ^ "Court Martial (GB) – Stakes winners". Australian Stud Book. Australian Turf Club Limited and Victoria Racing Club Limited. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  4. ^ du Bourg, Ross (1980). The Australian and New Zealand Thoroughbred. Melbourne: Thomas Nelson. pp. 59–60. ISBN 0 17 005860 3.
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