A handsome horse of great quality, Court Martial was first-rate at up to 10 furlongs but did not really stay further, though he was only beaten slightly more than two lengths for the 1945 Derby Stakes. He was a highly successful sire of speed and precocity in England and also made some contributions following his importation to the United States. As a sire of sires, he had his greatest influence in the Southern Hemisphere, where his sons Wilkes and Jerry Honor were notable successes.
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$47,072 (converted from English earnings)
1944:
1945:
Assessments
Rated at 132 pounds on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1944, 1 pound below champion Dante.
As an individual
A chestnut, Court Martial stood 16.1-1/4 hands. He was a well-balanced horse with a look of great quality and excellent overall conformation. He was troubled by shelly feet, which he tended to transmit to his progeny. A calm, good-natured horse around the barn, he was thoroughly courageous on the race course.
As a stallion
Court Martial led the English/Irish general sire list in 1956 and 1957 and was among the top 10 sires on another seven occasions. He was among the top 10 English/Irish broodmare sires seven times, including runner-up finishes in 1963 and 1970, and ranked twice among the top 10 French broodmare sires. He also led the English/Irish juvenile sire list six times (1951 and 1953-1957). According to Jockey Club records, Court Martial sired 313 winners (56.2%) and 71 stakes winners (8.4%) from 498 named foals; Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) credits him with 96 stakes winners. His progeny often preferred soft going, perhaps because of the foot issues passed down from their sire. Court Martial is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Above Suspicion (IRE), Court Sentence (GB), Desert Law (USA), Face the Facts (USA), Goofed (USA), High Treason (IRE), Impressive (USA), Jerry Honor (GB), King's Bench (GB), Major Portion (GB), Marsolve (GB), Rosalba (GB), Star of India (GB), Timandra (FR), Wilkes (FR)
Connections
Court Martial was bred and owned by Waldorf Astor, second Viscount Astor. He was trained by Joseph Lawson. Following his racing career, Lord Astor sold the colt to H. B. Joel for a reported price of £60,000. After his importation to the United States in 1958, Court Martial stood at Claiborne Farm. He died of the infirmities of old age in 1966.
Pedigree notes
Court Martial is inbred 4x4 to five-time English champion sire Polymelus, 5x4 to 1890 Derby Stakes winner Sainfoin and 5x5 to Bay Ronald. He is a half brother to English stakes winner At Once (by Umidwar) and to Skeet (by Bahram), dam of stakes winner Contest (by Sir Gallahad III).
Court Martial's dam Instantaneous won the 1934 Leicestershire Oaks and was third in the Oaks Stakes. She is a fulll sister to 1935 Ascot Gold Vase winner Flash Bye and a half sister to 1937 Yorkshire Oaks winner and Oaks Stakes third Sculpture (by Sansovino). Another half sister, Scenery II (by Biribi) is the dam of 1955 Ladies Handicap winner Manotick (by Double Jay; dam of 1971 San Marino Handicap winner Pleasant Harbour, by First Landing) and the stakes-winning hurdler River Jordan (by Bimelech). Instantaneous is also a half sister to stakes-placed Canvas Shoe (by Windsor Slipper), second dam of 1966 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Paveh and 1968 Horris Hill Stakes winner Sentier.Picture (by Gainsborough), the dam of Instantaneous, is a half sister to six stakes winners including 1929 Oaks Stakes winner Pennycomequick (by Hurry On) and 1931 Coronation Stakes winner Sunny Devon (by Solario). Produced from the Polymelus mare Plymstock, she is also a half sister to Alpenstock III (by Apelle), 1951 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
Court Martial is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$47,072 (converted from English earnings)
1944:
- Won Shinfield Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- Won Burghfield Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Ascot)
1945:
- Won Bridgewater Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Salisbury)
- Won Whepstead Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Two Thousand Guineas (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Champion Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Trial Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Salisbury)
- 3rd Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
Assessments
Rated at 132 pounds on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1944, 1 pound below champion Dante.
As an individual
A chestnut, Court Martial stood 16.1-1/4 hands. He was a well-balanced horse with a look of great quality and excellent overall conformation. He was troubled by shelly feet, which he tended to transmit to his progeny. A calm, good-natured horse around the barn, he was thoroughly courageous on the race course.
As a stallion
Court Martial led the English/Irish general sire list in 1956 and 1957 and was among the top 10 sires on another seven occasions. He was among the top 10 English/Irish broodmare sires seven times, including runner-up finishes in 1963 and 1970, and ranked twice among the top 10 French broodmare sires. He also led the English/Irish juvenile sire list six times (1951 and 1953-1957). According to Jockey Club records, Court Martial sired 313 winners (56.2%) and 71 stakes winners (8.4%) from 498 named foals; Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) credits him with 96 stakes winners. His progeny often preferred soft going, perhaps because of the foot issues passed down from their sire. Court Martial is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Above Suspicion (IRE), Court Sentence (GB), Desert Law (USA), Face the Facts (USA), Goofed (USA), High Treason (IRE), Impressive (USA), Jerry Honor (GB), King's Bench (GB), Major Portion (GB), Marsolve (GB), Rosalba (GB), Star of India (GB), Timandra (FR), Wilkes (FR)
Connections
Court Martial was bred and owned by Waldorf Astor, second Viscount Astor. He was trained by Joseph Lawson. Following his racing career, Lord Astor sold the colt to H. B. Joel for a reported price of £60,000. After his importation to the United States in 1958, Court Martial stood at Claiborne Farm. He died of the infirmities of old age in 1966.
Pedigree notes
Court Martial is inbred 4x4 to five-time English champion sire Polymelus, 5x4 to 1890 Derby Stakes winner Sainfoin and 5x5 to Bay Ronald. He is a half brother to English stakes winner At Once (by Umidwar) and to Skeet (by Bahram), dam of stakes winner Contest (by Sir Gallahad III).
Court Martial's dam Instantaneous won the 1934 Leicestershire Oaks and was third in the Oaks Stakes. She is a fulll sister to 1935 Ascot Gold Vase winner Flash Bye and a half sister to 1937 Yorkshire Oaks winner and Oaks Stakes third Sculpture (by Sansovino). Another half sister, Scenery II (by Biribi) is the dam of 1955 Ladies Handicap winner Manotick (by Double Jay; dam of 1971 San Marino Handicap winner Pleasant Harbour, by First Landing) and the stakes-winning hurdler River Jordan (by Bimelech). Instantaneous is also a half sister to stakes-placed Canvas Shoe (by Windsor Slipper), second dam of 1966 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Paveh and 1968 Horris Hill Stakes winner Sentier.Picture (by Gainsborough), the dam of Instantaneous, is a half sister to six stakes winners including 1929 Oaks Stakes winner Pennycomequick (by Hurry On) and 1931 Coronation Stakes winner Sunny Devon (by Solario). Produced from the Polymelus mare Plymstock, she is also a half sister to Alpenstock III (by Apelle), 1951 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
Court Martial is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
