Description
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Engraved by Eugene Tily after a picture by Harrington Bird.
Size 19 x 23 inches (approx 48 x 58 cms.)
TRIPLE CROWN WINNER
Common was bred at Crichel, Dorset, by Henry Gerard Sturt (1825-1904), 1st Baron Alington, and later owned in partnership with Sir Frederic John William Johnstone (1841-1913), 8th Baronet, which associates had successfully campaigned the 1883 Derby winner St. Blaise (ch.c. 1880 Hermit).
An unprepossessing youngster he was unraced as a two year old and at three his appearance in the parade to the post for the Two Thousand Guineas moved Prince Saltykoff to remark that he was well named. He was, however, half brother to the New Stakes winner, Goldfinch (b.c. 1889 Ormonde), who went on to sire Chelandry (b.f. 1894), and to Throstle (b.f. 1891 Petrarch) who won the St. Leger Stakes, Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes, and his courage was never in doubt.
He won four of his five starts, including the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes in a canter, beating Orvieto (b.c. 1888 Bend Or), the Derby Stakes, beating Gouverneur (ch.c. 1888 Energy), the St. James’s Palace Stakes, beating Barbatello, and the St. Leger Stakes, beating Reverend (b.c. 1888 Energy). He also finished 3rd in the Eclipse Stakes to the speedy Two Thousand Guineas winner Surefoot (b.c. 1887 Wisdom).
