Mannamead (horse)

Mannamead (1929 – after 1946) was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was undefeated in three races in 1931 when he was rated the equal-best two-year-old of the year in Britain. In 1932 he was regarded as a major contender for the British Classic Races but was injured in training and was restricted to one race in late autumn. In 1933 Mannamead was unbeaten in three further races before being retired to stud. He had limited success as a sire of winners in Britain, but had more success after being exported to Hungary. He disappeared during the Soviet occupation of Hungary in 1946.

Mannamead
Sire	Manna
Grandsire	Phalaris
Dam	Pinprick
Damsire	Torpoint
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1929
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor
Owner	Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor
Trainer	Joseph Lawson
Record	7:7-0-0
Earnings	£4,186[1]
Major wins
Clearwell Stakes (1931) Rous Memorial Stakes (1933)
Awards
Top-rated British two-year-old (1931)

Background

Mannamead was a bay horse with no white markings^[2] bred by his owner Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor. He was one of the first crop of foals sired by the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby winner Manna. His dam was Pinprick who also produced two influential broodmares: Point Duty was the ancestor of the classic winners Sodium and Ambiguity, while the descendants of So Quick include Black Caviar.^[3] Pinprick was a granddaughter of Conjure, a mare which Astor had purchased when he was still a student at Oxford University.^[4] The colt was sent into training at Manton in Wiltshire with Joseph Lawson.^[5]

Racing career

1931: two-year-old season

As a two-year-old, Mannamead did not appear on the racecourse until September, but was undefeated in three races, and was never seriously challenged. He recorded an easy victory on his debut when he won the Malton Plate at York Racecourse. He then started odds-on favourite for the Clearwell Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse and won by four lengths. He ended his season by winning the Autumn Foal Plate at Doncaster by three lengths.^[6] In the Free Handicap, a rating of the best two-year-olds, he was given a weight of 133 pounds, making the equal top-rated juvenile of the year, level with his stable companion the unnamed Golden Hair colt.^[7]

1932: three-year-old season

At the end of February, Mannamead pulled up lame after a training gallop and was ruled out of competing in the British Classic Races. At the time he was the second favourite for the Derby.^[8] On his only appearance of the year he won a weight-for-age race at Manchester Racecourse in November by six lengths.^[9]

1933: four-year-old season

Mannamead returned as a four-year-old and won all three of his races. In spring he won the Chippenham Stakes and the Burwell Stakes over one and a half miles at Newmarket.^[10] At Royal Ascot in June he retained his unbeaten record in the Rous Memorial Stakes over one mile. The closing stages of the contest saw Mannamead and his principal rival Loaningdale racing on opposite sides of the course and the racecourse judge declared a dead heat.^[4] Despite the performances of the three-year-old Hyperion, Mannamead was described as "the best horse in training"^[11] in mid 1933. He was to be aimed at the Champion Stakes in autumn but the prevailing firm ground made him difficult to train and he was retired from racing.^[1]

Stud record

Mannamead was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion, starting his stud career at a fee of £98.^[1] He made little impression as a sire of winners in Britain, with the best of his progeny being the Chester Vase winner Cave Man. He was sold and exported to Hungary in 1937. Mannamead was an immediate success in his new country and was champion sire with his first crop of foals. He disappeared during the Soviet occupation of Hungary which followed the Second World War.^[10]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Mannamead (GB), bay stallion, 1929^[12]

Sire Manna (GB) 1922	Phalaris (GB) 1913	Polymelus	Cyllene
			Maid Marion
		Bromus	Sainfoin
			Cheery
	Waffles (IRE) 1917	Buckwheat	Martagon
			Sesmame
		Lady Mischief	St. Simon*
			Vain Duchess
Dam Pinprick (GB) 1917	Torpoint (GB) 1900	Trenton	Musket
			Frailty
		Doncaster Beauty	Sheen
			Doncaster Belle
	Third Trick 1906	William the Third	St. Simon*
			Gravity
		Conjure	Juggler
			Connie (Family:1-p)[3]

• Mannamead was inbred 4x4 to St. Simon, meaning that this stallion appears twice fourth generations of his pedigree.

See also

• List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses

References

1. "TURF NOTES". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 21 Nov 1933. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
2. "Mannamead photograph". sporthorse-data.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
3. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Hilarity - Family 1-p". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
4. "Sporting Intelligence. Turf Topics". Brisbane Courier. 29 Jul 1933. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
5. "Person Profile : Joseph Lawson". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
6. "MANNAMEAD'S MISHAP". Evening Post. 9 April 1932. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
7. "HOW THEY ARE RATED". Evening Post. 8 February 1932. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
8. "LORD ASTOR'S BAD LUCK". Evening Post. 21 April 1932. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
9. "- SPORTING NEWS THE TURF. TURF NOTES". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 11 Jan 1933. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
10. Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
11. "OUR ENGLISH SPORTING LETTER". The Northern Miner. 1 July 1933. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
12. "Mannamead pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-07-21.