Common (1888–1912) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from May to September 1891 he ran five times and won four races. He became the fifth, and the most lighty-raced horse to win the English Triple Crown by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Derby at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster.
Contents
Background
Common was a “big, lathy, sinewy” brown horse, standing just over 16 hands high bred at Crichel in Dorset by Henry Sturt, 1st Baron Alington who owned him during his racing career in partnership with Sir Frederick Johnstone. The colt was sent into training with John Porter at Kingsclere, and was ridden in all his races by George Barrett.
Common's sire Isonomy was one of the outstanding British racehorses of the 19th Century, winning the Ascot Gold Cup in 1879 and 1880. He went on to become a successful stallion; apart from Common he sired Isinglass, thus being the first of two horses to father two winners of the English Triple Crown. Common's dam Thistle, who had been a successful racehorse, went on to produce the New Stakes winner Goldfinch and the filly Throstle who won the St Leger in 1894.
Racing career
1891: three-year-old season
Common was very immature as a two-year-old and Porter decided not to race him. In the spring of 1891 Common showed significant progress and produced impressive performances in training. Before he appeared on the racecourse his potential was noted by the Sporting Times who described him as an "exceedingly fine" colt. In a gallop viewed by his owners together with the Prince of Wales he easily defeated his stable companions Gone Coon and Orion, leading Porter to name the colt as a likely Classic winner. In the 2000 Guineas on 29 April he started at odds of 9/1 in a field of nine, with the French-trained Gouverneur and Peter Flower heading the betting. Shortly before the start his odds had drifted out from 7/1 with one commentator suggesting that the public were put off by his unappealing name. The runners made an even break and raced in a line across the wide Newmarket straight. Two furlongs from the finish Peter Flower showed in front but was immediately overtaken by Common who pulled clear "without an effort" and won very easily by three lengths from Orvieto, with Peter Flower in third.
At Epsom on 27 May, Common started 10/11 favourite in a field of eleven for the Derby. The conditions for the race were difficult, with mist, hail, driving rain and very soft ground. Gouverneur, whose rider's orange jacket made him one of the more visible runners, led the field in the early running, with Common first being sighted in fifth place just after half way. The French colt turned into the straight in front, with Common improving in fourth. Barrett produced Common to dispute the lead two furlongs from the finish. After racing alongside Gouverneur for a few strides, Barrett, riding in the "coolest manner" sent him clear to win "in a canter" by two lengths. Common had been heavily backed and his win was enthusiastically received despite the conditions. The rain had been so heavy that the sodden jockeys returned from the race up to three pounds heavier, and Barrett's face was described as having "enough mud on it to plant potatoes in."
Common was then sent to Royal Ascot for the St. James's Palace Stakes. Only one horse, Barbatello, opposed him and he won easily. His next race was the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse in which he faced older horses for the first time. Common started favourite at 1/2 ahead of the four-year-olds Memoir and Surefoot. Common disputed the lead with Gouverneur from the start until the closing stages when the two three-year-olds were joined by Surefoot. In a "most exciting" finish, Surefoot prevailed by half a length, with Gouverneur beating Common for second by a short head.
Assessment
Porter said of Common that if he had stayed in training he would have “proved one of the greatest Cup horses of modern times."
Stud career
Common was not a success at stud, a fact illustrated by his stud fee, which fell from 200 guineas in his first season to 19 guineas. He did sire one very good horse in the filly Nun Nicer who won the 1000 Guineas in 1898. Common died on 17 December 1912, at a stud near Chelmsford, Essex.
Pedigree
* Common is inbred 4S x 5S to the stallion Birdcatcher, meaning that he appears fourth generation and fifth generation (via The Baron) on the sire side of his pedigree.
* Common is inbred 5S x 4D to the stallion Touchstone, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Flatcatcher) on the sire side of his pedigree, and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.