Felicitation

{{Infobox racehorse | horsename = Felicitation | image_name = | caption = | sire = [[Colorado (horse)|Colorado]] | grandsire = [[Phalaris (horse)|Phalaris]] | dam = Felicita | damsire = Cantilever | sex = [[Stallion]] | foaled = 1930 | country = United Kingdom | colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]] | breeder = [[Aga Khan III]] | owner = Aga Khan III | trainer = [[Frank Butters]] | record = 23: 8-3-4 | earnings = £14,575<ref name="Mortimer">{{cite encyclopedia | last1 = Mortimer|first1=Roger |last2=Onslow|first2=Richard|last3=Willett|first3=Peter| title=Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing|publisher=Macdonald and Jane's| year=1978|isbn=0-354-08536-0}}</ref> | race = [[Middle Park Stakes]] (1932) Churchill Stakes (1934) [[Ascot Gold Cup]] (1934) [[John Porter Stakes]] (1934) [[Jockey Club Cup]] (1934) [[Yorkshire Cup (horse race)|Yorkshire Cup]] (1935) | awards= | honours = | updated= }} '''Felicitation''' (foaled 1930) was a British [[Thoroughbred]] [[racehorse]] and [[sire (horse)|sire]]. A specialist stayer, owned and bred by the [[Aga Khan III|Aga Khan]] he was best known for his emphatic victory over a very strong international field in the 1934 [[Ascot Gold Cup]]. He was one of the best two-year-olds of his generation in England in 1932 when he was awarded the [[Middle Park Stakes]] on the disqualification of [[Manitoba (horse)|Manitoba]]. He failed to win in eight starts as a three-year-old but ran well to finish second in to [[Hyperion (horse)|Hyperion]] in the [[St Leger]]. In the summer of 1934 he established himself as one of the best horses in Europe by winning the [[Ascot Gold Cup]], [[John Porter Stakes]] and [[Jockey Club Cup]] as well as finishing third in the [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]]. He was injured when winning the [[Yorkshire Cup (horse race)|Yorkshire Cup]] as a five-year-old and was retired from racing. He stood as a breeding stallion in England and Brazil with moderate results.

==Background== Felicitation was a bay horse with a white [[star (horse marking)|star]] bred in the United Kingdom by his owner the [[Aga Khan III|Aga Khan]]. He was probably the best horse sired in a brief stud career by [[Colorado (horse)|Colorado]] who won the [[2000 Guineas]] in 1926 and the [[Eclipse Stakes]] in 1927. His dam Felicita was closely related to [[Epsom Derby|The Derby]] winner [[Papyrus (horse)|Papyrus]].<ref name="bloodlines1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family16f.htm|title=Queen Bee – Family 16-f|work=Thoroughbred Bloodlines|access-date=2015-06-06|archive-date=2013-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015222955/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family16f.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The colt was sent into training with the Aga Khan's veteran trainer [[Frank Butters]] at his stable in [[Newmarket, Suffolk]].

==Racing career== ===1932: two-year-old season=== After being beaten in his first three races, including a second place at [[Goodwood Racecourse|Goodwood]],<ref name="nzh"/> Felicitation recorded his first success in the Autumn Foal Plate at [[Newbury Racecourse]]. He was then moved up in class and started at odds of [[Fractional odds|3/1]]<ref name="Breedon"/> for the [[Middle Park Stakes]] at [[Newmarket Racecourse]] in October and finished second to Manitoba. After the race however, Felictation's connections lodged a protest against the winner for causing interference ("crossing") and Manitoba was disqualified by the racecourse stewards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19321014.2.125.6&srpos=1&e=01-10-1932-31-12-1932--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=WON ON A PROTEST|date=14 October 1932|work=Evening Post}}</ref> Felicitation was well-fancied for the [[Dewhurst Stakes]] later that month but finished fourth of the six runners behind [[Hyperion (horse)|Hyperion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19321224.2.126&srpos=7&e=01-10-1932-31-12-1932--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=RACING AND TROTTING|date=24 December 1932|work=The Press|location=Canterbury, New Zealand}}</ref>

===1933: three-year-old season=== Felicitation took time to find his best form in 1933 and was well beaten in his early races. He finished unplaced in the [[European Free Handicap|Free Handicap]] at Newmarket in April,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19330527.2.113&srpos=4&e=01-04-1933-31-05-1933--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=RACING AND TROTTING|date=27 May 1933|work=The Press|location=Canterbury, New Zealand}}</ref> seventh in the [[2000 Guineas]]<ref name="rise">{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19340622.2.79.3&srpos=3&e=01-06-1934-30-06-1934--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=FELICITATION'S RISE|date=22 June 1934|work=Evening Post|location=New Zealand}}</ref> and fourth when favourite for the [[Newmarket Stakes]] in May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19330710.2.91&srpos=2&e=01-07-1933-31-07-1933--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=RACING AND TROTTING LATEST NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR|date=10 July 1933|work=The Press|location=Canterbury, New Zealand}}</ref> On 31 May, ridden by [[Charlie Elliott (jockey)|Charlie Elliott]], he ran in [[Epsom Derby|The Derby]] but made no impact and finished sixteenth in a race won by Hyperion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19330601.2.92&srpos=2&e=01-06-1933-30-06-1933--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=RESULT OF DERBY|date=1 June 1933|work=New Zealand Herald}}</ref> He went on to finish fourth in the [[King Edward VII Stakes]] in June and fourth in the Royal Plate at [[Newbury Racecourse]].<ref name="rise"/>

Felicitation began to improve in the autumn of 1933. In the [[St Leger]] at [[Doncaster Racecourse]] he was no match for Hyperion, who led from the start and won easily, but he finished strongly to take second place, three lengths behind the winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19331111.2.195.39&srpos=1&e=01-11-1933-30-11-1933--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=SPORT IN BRITAIN|date=11 November 1933|work=Auckland Star}}</ref> On his final appearance of the season he finished second again in the [[Jockey Club Stakes]] over fourteen furlongs at Newmarket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19330929.2.117.10&srpos=4&e=16-09-1933-30-09-1933--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=ENGLISH TURF|date=29 September 1933|work=Auckland Star}}</ref>

===1934: four-year-old season=== On his debut as a four-year-old, Felicitation finished third behind Hyperion and Angelico in the March Stakes at Newmarket on 3 May.<ref name="rise"/> In an attempt to improve the colt's attitude he was tried with [[Blinders|blinkers]] in training. The experiment was successful, and he wore the headgear in his subsequent races.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19340808.2.39.12&srpos=5&e=01-08-1934-15-08-1934--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=TURF NEWS IN BRIEF|date=8 August 1934|work=Evening Post|location=New Zealand}}</ref> On 20 June at [[Royal Ascot]] the colt recorded his first win for more than twenty months when he led from the start and drew of his opponents in the straight to win the two-mile Churchill Stakes by ten lengths from Solar Boy with Angelico in third.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19340807.2.124&srpos=2&e=01-08-1934-15-08-1934--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=ENGLISH RACING|date=7 August 1934|work=The Press|location=Canterbury, New Zealand}}</ref> On the following day he started at odds of 9/2<ref name="Breedon">{{cite book|last1=Abelson|first1=Edward|last2=Tyrrel|first2=John| title=The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing |year=1993|isbn=978-1-873626-15-3}}</ref> for the Ascot Gold Cup, in which his opponents included Hyperion, Thor ([[Prix du Jockey Club]]), the Italian colt Crapom ([[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]]) and the American challenger [[Mate (horse)|Mate]]. Ridden by Gordon Richards, Felicitation took the lead from the start, dominated the race, and won "in a common canter"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19340622.2.79.1&srpos=2&e=01-06-1934-30-06-1934--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=A Surprise Result|date=22 June 1934|work=Evening Post|location=New Zealand}}</ref> by eight lengths from Thor with Hyperion in third. In August, Felicitation took his third consecutive win when he took the Eglington Plate at [[Ayr Racecourse]].<ref name="nzh"/>

In September, Felicitation started odds-on favourite for the John Porter Stakes at Newbury and won from Cecil.<ref name="nzh"/> In October he was sent to France to contest the fifteenth running of the [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]] over 2400 metres on heavy ground at [[Longchamp Racecourse]]. He took an early lead and maintained his advantage into the straight before being overtaken and finishing third of the thirteen runners behind [[Brantôme (horse)|Brantôme]] and Assuerus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19341120.2.124&srpos=4&e=16-11-1934-30-11-1934--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=Racing and Trotting: Horse of the Century|date=20 November 1934|work=The Press|location=Canterbury, New Zealand}}</ref> On his final appearance of the season he won the Jockey Club Cup over two and a quarter miles at Newmarket by ten lengths from Armour Bright<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19341103.2.143.5&srpos=1&e=01-11-1934-15-11-1934--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=ENGLISH TURF|date=3 November 1934|work=Auckland Star}}</ref> at odds of 1/4.<ref name="Breedon"/>

Felicitation ended the year with earnings of £9,255 making him the third most financially successful horse of the season in Britain behind the three-year-old [[Windsor Lad]] and the two-year-old [[Bahram (horse)|Bahram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19350115.2.117&srpos=6&e=01-01-1935-31-01-1935--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=RACING AND TROTTING|date=15 January 1935|work=The Press|location=Canterbury, New Zealand}}</ref>

The Aga Khan had intended that Felicitation would be retired to stud at the end of 1934. He was scheduled to begin his career as a breeding stallion at the Egerton Stud at a fee of 250 [[guinea (coin)|guineas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19341215.2.33.2&srpos=2&e=01-12-1934-31-12-1934--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=HORORATA RACES|date=15 December 1934|work=New Zealand Herald}}</ref> Before the end of the year, however, these plans were revised and it was announced that the horse would stay in training. The Aga Khan reportedly felt that Felicitation had not shown his best form at Longchamp and planned to match him against Brantôme and Windsor Lad in the 1935 Ascot Gold Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19350108.2.17.15&srpos=1&e=01-01-1935-31-01-1935--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=REVISION OF PLANS|date=8 January 1935|work=Evening Post|location=New Zealand}}</ref>

===1935: five-year-old season=== Felicitation returned as a five-year-old in 1935 with the Gold Cup as his objective. Te prospect of a showdown between Felicitation, Brantôme and Windsor Lad created great interest, with bookmakers publishing ante-post odds from the race as early as February.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19350312.2.125&srpos=4&e=01-02-1935-31-03-1935--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=RACING AND TROTTING|date=12 March 1935|work=The Press|location=Canterbury, New Zealand}}</ref> Felicitation began his fourth season by finishing third to Tai-Yang and Tiberius in the Chippenham Stakes over one and a half miles at Newmarket in early May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19350619.2.39&srpos=1&e=01-06-1935-30-06-1935--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=TURF HISTORY|date=19 June 1935|work=New Zealand Herald}}</ref> He recorded his final major success later that month when he won the Yorkshire Cup over two miles at [[York Racecourse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19350702.2.46.7&srpos=3&e=01-07-1935-31-07-1935--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=R. PERRYMAN IN FORM|date=2 July 1935|work=Evening Post|location=New Zealand}}</ref> He sustained an injury in the race and did not race contest the Gold Cup, which was won by Tiberius. His retirement from racing was announced shortly afterwards.<ref name="nzh">{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19350802.2.33&srpos=1&e=01-08-1935-31-08-1935--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=ENGLISH RACING|date=2 August 1935|work=New Zealand Herald}}</ref>

==Assessment== In the 1932 Free Handicap, a rating of the best two-year-olds to race in Britain, Felicitation was assigned a weight of 123 pounds making him the eighth best juvenile of the season and the fourth best two-year-old colt. The three top rated horses [[Myrobella]], Betty and [[Brown Betty (horse)|Brown Betty]] were all fillies whilst the others rated ahead of Felicitation were Manitoba, Hyperion, Jim Thomas and Supervisor (another filly).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19330128.2.196&srpos=4&e=01-01-1933-31-03-1933--10--1----0Felicitation--|title=ENGLISH YOUNGSTERS|date=28 January 1933|work=Evening Post|location=New Zealand}}</ref>

In their book ''A Century of Champions'', based on a modified version of the [[Timeform]] system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Felicitation the one hundred and twentieth best racehorse of twentieth century, the fifty-second best horse of the century to have been trained in Britain and Ireland, and the second best horse foaled in 1930 behind Hyperion.<ref name="century">{{cite book|last1=Morris| first1=Tony|last2=Randall|first2=John|title=A Century of Champions|publisher= Portway Press|year=1999|isbn=1-901570-15-0}}</ref>

==Stud record== Felicitation began his career as a breeding stallion at the Highclere Stud at a fee of 198 guineas. He stood in England for several years before being sold and exported to Brazil in 1945. The best of his British offspring was Morogoro (foaled in 1938), who won the [[Craven Stakes]] and finished second in both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1941.<ref name="Mortimer"/> His last foals were born in 1949.

==Pedigree== {{Pedigree |name = Felicitation (GB), bay stallion, 1930<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=157520&registry=T&horse_name==Felicitation%20(GB)&dam_name==Felicita%20(GB)&foaling_year=1930&nicking_stats_indicator=Y |title=Felicitation pedigree |website=Equineline|date=2012-05-08 |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref> |inf = |f = [[Colorado (horse)|Colorado]] (GB) 1923 |m = Felicita (GB) 1923 |ff = [[Phalaris (horse)|Phalaris]] (GB) 1913 |fm = [[Canyon (horse)|Canyon]] (GB) 1913 |mf = Cantilever (GB) 1910 |mm = Best Wishes (GB) 1913 |fff = [[Polymelus]] |ffm = Bromus |fmf = Chaucer |fmm = Glasalt |mff = Bridge of Canny |mfm = Lighthead |mmf = [[Neil Gow]] |mmm = Simonath |ffff = [[Cyllene (horse)|Cyllene]] |fffm = Maid Marian |ffmf = [[Sainfoin (horse)|Sainfoin]] |ffmm = Cheery |fmff = '''[[St Simon (horse)|St Simon]]''' |fmfm = [[Canterbury Pilgrim]] |fmmf = [[Isinglass (horse)|Isinglass]] |fmmm = Broad Corrie |mfff = [[Love Wisely]] |mffm = Santa Brigida |mfmf = Zealot |mfmm = Whitelock |mmff = [[Marco (horse)|Marco]] |mmfm = [[Chelandry]] |mmmf = '''St Simon''' |mmmm = Philomath (Family:16-f)<ref name="bloodlines1"/>}}

==References== {{reflist|2}}

[[Category:1930 racehorse births]] [[Category:Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Thoroughbred family 16-f]]