Sweetbriar (horse)

Sweetbriar (foaled 1769) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won all eight of the races he contested, including a match race against Craven Stakes winner Firetail. He later became a successful stallion, with his progeny including Epsom Derby winner Assassin.

Sweetbriar
Print of Sweetbriar from an original painting by George Stubbs
Sire	Syphon
Grandsire	Squirt
Dam	Shakespeare mare
Damsire	Shakespeare
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1769
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Thomas Meredith
Owner	1st Baron Grosvenor
Record	8: 8-0-0
Major wins
Sweepstakes of 50 gs at Newmarket (1773) Match against Chalkstone (1773, 1774) Match against Firetail (1774) Newmarket Cup (1775)

Background

Sweetbriar was a chestnut colt bred by Thomas Meredith and foaled in 1769.^[1] He was sired by Great Subscription Purse winner Syphon, who also sired Sweetwilliam.^[2] His dam was a daughter of Shakespeare.^[1]

Racing career

Sweetbriar made his racecourse debut in October 1773 when he beat the Earl of Ossory's Chalkstone, Mr. Vernon's Milliner, Mr. Ogilvy's Consul and Lord Foley's Chesterton in a Sweepstakes of 50 guineas each at Newmarket. Chalkstone had started the 6/4 favourite, with Consul at 5/2 and Sweetbriar at 3/1. At Newmarket's second October meeting he beat Chalkstone again, this time in a match race. At the Houghton meeting he beat Mr. Ogilvy's Porsenna, after starting favourite, as he had done in his match against Chalkstone.^[3]

In the spring of 1774 he beat Chalkstone in 1000 guineas race at Newmarket. The bookmakers sent them both of as joint-favourites. He then beat Mr. Foley's Craven Stakes winner Firetail after starting as the 1/3 favourite in another 1000 guineas match race at Newmarket. In October he beat the Duke of Grafton's Lamplighter in a 140 guineas race. Two days later Sweetbriar beat Telemachus and Joquille in a Sweepstakes of 20 guineas each.^[3]

In his final start he walked over for the Newmarket Cup in October 1775 and retired unbeaten.^[3]

Stud career

Sweetbriar stood as a stallion for Grosvenor and mainly covered his mares. He did meet with some success though, siring 1782 Epsom Derby winner Assassin. He was also the sire of the mares Flyer and Hare. Flyer was the dam of Rhadamanthus and Daedalus, who both won the Derby. Hare foaled Tippitywitchet, who was the dam of the top broodmare the Rubens mare.^[4]

See also

• List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses

Pedigree

Pedigree of Sweetbriar, chestnut stallion, 1769^[1][5]

Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750	Squirt (GB) ch. 1732	Bartlett's Childers*	Darley Arabian
			Betty Leedes
		Snake mare	Snake
			Grey Wilkes
	Patriot mare (GB)	Bolton Patriot 1729	Bay Bolton
			Jigg mare
		Crab mare	Crab
			Bay Bolton mare
Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763	Shakespeare (GB) ch. 1745	Hobgoblin 1724	Aleppo
			Son of Careless mare
		Little Hartley Mare*	Bartlett's Childers*
			Flying Whig
	Miss Meredith (GB) 1751	Cade b. 1734	Godolphin Arabian
			Roxana
		Little Hartley Mare*	Bartlett's Childers*
			Flying Whig

Note: b. = Bay, ch. = Chestnut

* Sweetbriar was inbred 3 ×3 to Little Hartley Mare. This means that the mare appears twice in the third generation of his pedigree. He was also inbred 3 × 4 × 4 to Bartlett's Childers.

References

1. The General Stud Book. J. S. Skinner, Baltimore. 1834. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
2. "Bartlett's Childers". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
3. Pick, William; Johnson, R. (1805). The Turf Register (Volume II). A. Bartholoman, High-Ousegate.
4. "Sweetbriar". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
5. "Early Studbook". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-01-03.