Warlock

Warlock (1853 – 1871) was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1856 St Leger Stakes. Background Warlock was foaled in 1853 at Lambton Park, the country seat of his breeder the Earl of Durham. Warlock's sire Birdcatcher produced many stakes winners and was a leading sire 15 times during his career. Warlock's dam, Elphine (1837 – 1857), was sired by the 1823 Derby winner Emilius and was bought by Lord Durham in 1850. Warlock was Elphine's tenth foal out of the 12 she produced during her lifetime. Elphine also produced the sire Lambton (sired by The Cure), which sired the Doncaster and Goodwood Cup winner Shannon. Elphine's unnamed daughter sired by The Cure (foaled in 1849) produced the 1860 2000 Guineas winner The Wizard. Warlock was referred to as either a roan or bay horse. The base colour of the majority of his coat was bay and he was registered with the Jockey Club at birth as a bay roan. Warlock had a large amount of white hairs distributed over his head, neck, and back. As he did not turn completely gray with age, he was identified as a roan in racing publications. Roan coloration is unusual in Thoroughbreds, and he was described as "a veritable dusty miller among Thoroughbreds." Warlock was 15 hands 2.5 inches high and was described as "very stout and honest" but with poor leg and shoulder conformation. He also had a small white star on the forehead and a left hind sock. He was initially named Merlin before his name was changed to Warlock for his racing career, which was likely done because another colt sired by Birdcatcher in 1853 was also named Merlin. Racing career Warlock was bought by Mr. Anthony Nichol in 1854 and raced in his name for the majority of his career. A chemist by trade, Nichol also purchased The Wizard from Lord Durham and won the 1851 St Leger with Newminster. Warlock was trained by John Scott.