Pebbles

Pebbles (27 February 1981–9 September 2005) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from 1983 until 1985, she ran fifteen times and won eight races. After showing good form as a two-year-old in 1983, she won the 1000 Guineas as a three-year-old the next spring. In 1985 Pebbles produced her most notable performances, becoming the first filly to win the Eclipse Stakes and then defeating an exceptionally strong field in the Champion Stakes. On her final racecourse appearance she became the first British-trained racehorse to win a Breeders' Cup race, when she won the Breeders' Cup Turf. She is regarded as one of the greatest fillies of the modern era. Background Pebbles was a chestnut filly with a white blaze, bred in England by the Greek shipping magnate Marcos Lemos whose blue and white colours she carried for her first seven races. Pebbles was the first foal of her dam, La Dolce, who finished fifth in the 1979 Epsom Oaks. As a descendant of the mare Aloe, she was related to such notable racehorses as Round Table, Known Fact and Parthia. Pebbles' sire, Sharpen Up, was a highly successful breeding stallion, best known as a strong influence for speed rather than stamina. Pebbles was sent into training with Clive Brittain at Newmarket, Suffolk. Racing career 1983: two-year-old season As a two-year-old in 1983 Pebbles finished unplaced on her first appearance and then won the Kingsclere Stakes at Newbury by four lengths. In June she ran in the Childwick Stud Stakes at Newmarket and won by three lengths from Sajeda, leading Brittain to comment that she was one of the best fillies he had trained. Pebbles was off the course for two months before being moved up in class for the Group Two Lowther Stakes at York. She finished fourth behind Prickle and Desirable, beaten four lengths. Pebbles then started favourite for the Waterford Candelabra Stakes at Goodwood but sweated badly before the race and appeared to tire in the closing stages before finishing fifth behind Shoot Clear. In the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in September, Pebbles was made a 33/1 outsider in the twelve runner field. Ridden by Philip Robinson, she produced her best performance of the season, producing a "strong run" in the closing stages and failing by a head to catch Desirable.