Wilwyn Explained

Horsename:Wilwyn
Sire:Pink Flower
Dam:Saracen
Damsire:Donatello
Sex:Stallion
Foaled:1948
Country:Great Britain
Colour:Bay
Breeder:not found
Owner:Robert C. Boucher
Trainer:George Colling
John Waugh (assistant)
Record:35: 21-4-3
Earnings:US$71,582 (equivalent)
Race:Rous Memorial Stakes (1952)
Great Yorkshire Stakes (1952)
Washington, D.C. International Stakes (1952)
Queen Anne's Plate (1953)
John Porter Stakes (1953)
Limekiln Stakes (1953)
Awards:Leading sire in South Africa (1964)

Wilwyn (foaled 1948 in England) was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Background

Wilwyn was sired by Pink Flower, a son of one of Germany's great runners, Oleander, a three-time winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden and a two-time winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin. His dam, Saracen, was a daughter of Federico Tesio's outstanding Italian runner, Donatello.

The horse was by Robert C. Boucher, a fruit farmer from Kent,[1] and trained by George Colling.

Racing career

He raced at age three with his best conditions race result a third in the Knights Royal Stakes.

In October 1952, assistant trainer John Waugh brought the four-year-old Wilwyn to the United States where he won his eleventh straight race by capturing the inaugural running of the Washington, D.C. International Stakes at the Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland.[2] An outstanding race in which the lead changed hands six times, the success of the Washington, D.C. International Stakes would help spawn the Breeders' Cup.

The November 27, 1952 edition of the New York Times reported that an American syndicate was negotiating with owner Robert Boucher to buy Wilwyn. The deal eventually did not go through as Boucher rejected an offer of US$100,000.[3] [4]

After winning the October 27, 1953 Limekiln Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse, Wilwyn was sent back to the United States for the second edition of the Washington, D.C. International Stakes.[5] This time, he finished out of the money.

Stud record

Wilwyn was retired to stud duty in England, but met with his greatest success as a sire after being sent to breeders in South Africa in 1959. There, he earned Leading sire honors in 1964.[6] Wilwyn also has a successful progeny in Japan named, who was named the Japanese Horse of the Year in 1959 after winning several graded races, most notably the Satsuki Shō.[7]

Sire line tree

Pedigree

Wilwyn is inbred 4S x 5D to the stallion William the Third, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation (via Orange Girl) on the dam side of his pedigree.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Washington International Race Today; Laurel Park. 1952-10-18. 13. 2026-02-02. St. Petersburg Times.
  2. News: Wilwyn, British Racer, First In Washington International; WILWYN IS FIRST IN INTERNATIONAL. The New York Times. 1952-10-19. 2026-02-02. 0362-4331. en-US. James. Roach. https://web.archive.org/web/20180722191033/https://www.nytimes.com/1952/10/19/archives/wilwyn-british-racer-first-in-washington-international-wilwyn-is.html. 2018-07-22. live. subscription.
  3. News: American Syndicate Bids For British Colt Wilwyn. The New York Times. 1952-11-28. 2026-02-02. 0362-4331. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180722193501/https://www.nytimes.com/1952/11/28/archives/american-syndicate-bids-for-british-colt-wilwyn.html. 2018-07-22. live. subscription.
  4. News: $100,000 Bid for Wilwyn Not Enough, Owner Says. The New York Times. 1952-10-21. 2026-02-02. 0362-4331. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180722190243/https://www.nytimes.com/1952/10/21/archives/100000-bid-for-wilwyn-not-enough-owner-says.html. 2018-07-22. live. subscription.
  5. News: WILWYN TRIUMPHS IN ENGLISH FINALE; British Racer Takes Limekiln Stakes -- Will Be Flown Here Sunday for Laurel Test. The New York Times. 1953-10-28. 2026-02-02. 0362-4331. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180722185129/https://www.nytimes.com/1953/10/28/archives/wilwyn-triumphs-in-english-finale-british-racer-takes-limekiln.html. 2018-07-22. subscription.
  6. Web site: Leading Sires of South Africa. www.tbheritage.com. 2026-02-02.
  7. Web site: 日刊競馬で振り返る名馬 - ウイルデイール(1970年・菊花賞). Nikkan Keiba. 2026-02-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20231217074454/https://www.nikkankeiba.co.jp/chuo/meiba1/25/25.html. 2023-12-17. Tani. Maou. ja.
  8. https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Oleander.html#PinkFlower Portrait: Pink Flower