Attila

Attila (1839–1846) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from August 1841 to June 1844 he ran thirteen times and won eight races. He began his career with a run of six successive wins, culminating in the 1843 Derby. His later form was disappointing and he never won another competitive race: his two subsequent "victories" were the result of walkovers in races in which he was unopposed. He had little chance to prove himself as a stallion as he died at the age of seven from injuries sustained in an accident on board a ship in the English Channel. Background Attila was a small, but strongly built colt of a rich bay or brown colour with a white blaze. He was described as good-tempered horse with a "peculiar, Arab-looking head" but "excellent loins" and "very fine quarters". Attila was bred by Colonel Hancox, who owned him as a yearling before the colt was acquired by Colonel George Anson, who accepted him in payment of a debt of £220 or £140 ($34.8k or $22.1k in modern dollars, respectively). Anson sent Attila into training with John Scott who trained forty classic winners at his base at Whitewall stables, Malton, North Yorkshire. Attila's sire, Colwick, a descendant of Sir Peter Teazle, was a successful but unexceptional racehorse who had stood at a fee of 10 guineas at Bonehill Farm near Fazeley in Staffordshire, as well as covering mares for Lord Exeter at Burleigh, although his fee doubled after Attila's successes. He was known for siring both racehorses and hunters. Attila's dam, Progress, was a sister to Miss Cobden, who produced the Grand National winner Freetrader. According to "Sylvanus", writing in Bentley's Miscellany, Attila had a distinctive habit of racing with his head "remarkably low". Racing career