Sterling (1868 – 26 March 1891) was a British racehorse and sire. While not particularly successful in terms of major wins, he was very highly regarded, being rated by his jockey Harry Custance as the equal of Thormanby.
Background Sterling was a bay horse bred and owned by the Graham family who owned the Yardley Stud near Birmingham. His dam, Whisper, was bred by Mr. R. Taylor and produced ten foals between 1866 and her death in 1882. Sterling was her third foal and one of six sired by Oxford. Whisper's other good racers included Playfair.
Racing career Sterling won five races including the Liverpool Autumn Cup at Aintree Racecourse. He also finished second to Bothwell in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on 25 April 1871. In the autumn of 1871, the owner of the Belmont Stakes winner Harry Bassett's owner issued a challenge to the owner of Sterling for a one and a half mile match race at level weights, to be run in the United States. Sterling's owner responded by offering to put up £12,000 to the American's £8,000, but only if the match took place in England. The race never materialised.
Stud career Sterling was much more successful as a breeding stallion than he had been as a racehorse. +FoaledNameSexMajor Wins/Achievements1875IsonomyStallionAscot Gold Cup (1879, 1880)1881HarvesterStallionEpsom Derby1882ParadoxStallion2000 Guineas Stakes1884EnterpriseStallion2000 Guineas Stakes1886EnthusiastStallion2000 Guineas Stakes Sterling died on 26 March 1891 at 23.
Sire line tree
Sterling Darley Arabian Sire Line: BirdcatcherSire Line: BirdcatcherSire Line: Sterling Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line, Birdcatcher BranchPortrait: SterlingStudbook: Early S IsonomyPortrait: Isonomy Isobar Destillateur Iceland Bonnet Rouge Eiridspord Challenger Hymettus Ranfurly GallinulePortrait: Gallinule Ball Coote Gazetteer Lesterlin Duke Of Leinster Glenesky Port Marnock Gulsalberk General Peace Redmond Dunamase Noble Howard WildfowlerPortrait: Wild Fowler Llangibby J.J. Maher: The Flat Racers: Llangibby Mayfowl Twenty-Third Wild Bouquet Oppressor Travelling Lad Ally Sloper Steinort Carrigavalla Good Morning Abt Vogler Fariman Armant Christian De Wet Glenamoy Kosmos Bey Penury Santry Dealer Jingling Geordie Sandro Sanquhar Sanguine Galangal The Gull The Guller Gala Wreath Hammurabi Meridian Poussin Rocketter Sarcelle Zadkiel All Black Bunting Egypt Pershore Kickoff All Sunshine Nigger Minstrel Balmerino Goldminer Goldcourt Hermes Slieve GallionPortrait: Slieve Gallion Palatin Onkel Ludwig Pasztorfiu Oktondi Montalto Weathercock Petrillo Portrush Rodney White EaglePortrait: White Eagle Let FlyPortrat: Let Fly Durazzo Bird Of Prey Erne Eagle's Pride Arc De Triumphe Cock-A-Hoop Glasgerion Carados Fohanaun Phaleron Admiral Hawk Galatine Powhatan Chilperic Absolute Gallon Emigrant Winstanley Great Sport Judge Fuller L'Oiseau Lyre Night HawkPortrait: Night Hawk Zaporozec Francinet Torloisk Isosceles St Luke Ruler Aschabad Hungarian Mortimer Lancelot Atilla Pickwick Gajda Petrarka Homard Smike No Rule Don Juan Despot Culloden Trafalgar Uzda Clan Chattan FortunioPortrait: Fortunio Delaunay Quai De Fleurs Galaor Matador Proponent Weathercock Capo Gallo Unak Apollo Nesze Firlej Ingram Queen's Counsel SatietyPortrait: Satiety Piety Silver Fox The Policeman Janissary Jeddah CommonPortrait: CommonBiography: Common Martin Osbech Uncommon Czar Cottager Charcot Mushroom Beaumont Hermence HermisHall of Fame: HermisAmerican Classic Pedigree: Hermis Prince Hermis Herman Whit Islington Kinley MackKinley Mack Won Le Noir Pilgrim's Progress Lieutenant Bill Abundance Kandos Pilgrim's Rest Demas Bunyan Signor Bunbury Fatherless Grand Duke IsinglassPortrait: IsinglassBiography: Isinglass Gallerte Jacobite Star ShootPortrait: Star ShootAmerican Classic Pedigree: Star Shoot Beacon Light Kentucky Beau UnclePortrait: UncleAmerican Classic Pedigree: Uncle Great Heavens Captain Ross Colinet Any Port Bourbon Beau Star Charter Eyebrow Magneto Helios Solar Star Ivory Black Star Master Stargazer AudaciousPortrait: Audacious Sir BartonPortrait: Sir BartonHall of Fame: Sir BartonAmerican Classic Pedigree: Sir BartonSir BartonA Forgotten Champion: Sir Barton’s Legendary Rise to Stardom Star Hampton Georgie Grey LagPortrait: Grey LagHall of Fame: Grey LagAmerican Classic Pedigree: Grey Lag Hildur Arendal Veles Vexillum Rising Glass Azamat Kilglass Agar Challenger Gillamatong John O'GauntPortrait: John O'Gaunt Cardinal Beaufort SwynfordPortrait: SwynfordAmerican Classic Pedigree: Swynford Sobieski Lancaster Harry Of Hereford Cressingham Duke Humphrey KennymorePortrait: Kennymore Thurnham Burne Jones Duke Of Lancaster Black GauntletPortrait: Black Gauntlet Spithead Pam Hare Hill Sir Tredennes Prince George The Scribe Lempriere Atlas Decanter Pure Crystal Admiral Crichton Glasconbury Wombwell Baltinglass Pure Gem Parazit Carpathian Tarzan Morgan Ednam Louviers LandgrafDeutsches Derby Marble Arch Mullingar Uncle Ned Eye Glass Moenus LouvoisPortrait: Louvois Parisian Diamond Scapin St LouisPortrait: St Louis French Briar Loufoque Warminster Prisoner Antonio Giru RavensburyPortrait: Ravensbury Belvoir Kilbarry Sandboy Feather Bed Lie-A-Bed Knight Of Blyth Bennitthorpe Contract Conby Ivor Son O'Mine Querido Amyntas Herouval Liao Alvarez Janus Saint Ange Harpocrate Le Var Outbreak Civil War Sterlingworth BeaudesertStudbook: Early B StilettoAmerican Classic Pedigree: Stiletto Porrazo Pimiento AmericoAmerican Classic Pedigree: Americo El Amigo Etolo Aji Cincel Fulminante De Beavoir Finance Discount Fernandez Miguel Gonsalvo Tucka Tucka Ferdinand Foston Wavelet's Pride Rot's Pride Jerpoint Tidal Wave Amberwave Geologist Ellison Caliche Shancrotha Play Actor David Trot Be Careful EnergyPortrait: Energy GouverneurPortrait: Gouverneur Altgold Connex FliederPortrait: Flieder Andiamo Commandeur Gastfreund Marocco Linos Tuki Iwnsweb Jungturke Saperloter Liebesritter Vicewachtmeister Empereur Tire-Haut Frampol Enguelade Hazlehatch Reinfall Stossvogel Damio Journalist Septimus Reverend Castelnau Artisan Sirdar Amorek Drzymala Caius Danilo Csardas Turmfalke Indus Wirbel Energique Le Chesnay Rueil Cazabat Mauvezin Aldford War Shot Cannon Shot Sospiro Farnus Presto Falmouth Marly Keir The Golden Farmer HarvesterPortrait: Harvester Harvest Feast Thorax Lulu Kevely Esterling Lord Esterling Koran Metal Blue Metal Parsee ParadoxPortrait: Paradox Unicorne Red Ensign Alconbury Frodi Atheling Royal Emperor Armeath Armiak Madrigalian Bard Of Hope Homestretch Dublin Short Hose Bryn Mawr Dalhousie Alfar Doubloon Mortgage Harvest Money Silver Harmonist Vasquito Stalwart Cherry Ripe DroghedaImage: Drogheda Red Heart Royal Cherry Eulogy Cerasus Lord Rossmore President Roosevelt Enterprise Top Gallant TyphoonAmerican Classic Pedigree: Typhoon II Sydney Lucas Japan Migraine The Minks Loyalist The Judge Lissak Claude The Don Pharmacy Enthusiast Eager Eastern Prince Olaf Percy Plato Lantorna Prince Rupert Rangag Irish Prince Meleager Portmore Duende Jaeger Percival Keene Sir Eager Lord Of Burghley Compiler Drake Succoth Don Sancho Lord Edward Energetic Glenapp Fiery Cross Bealderg Halston Meldhre Lochryan Lough Foyle Roseate Dawn Arranmore Lowenherz Rheinwein Impet Kares Gold King Gold Aureus Purser Endurance Paderewski Encounter Kingsley
Pedigree
Sterling is inbred 4S x 5D to the stallion Whalebone, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation (via Camel) on the dam side of his pedigree.
References