Sickle (GB)

February 8, 1924 – December 26, 1943

Phalaris (GB) x Selene (GB), by Chaucer (GB)

Family 6-e

Picture

Sickle was one of the better English juveniles of his year but proved that he did not stay much beyond a mile as a 3-year-old. After standing one year in England, he was imported to the United States by Joseph Widener and became a foundation sire for Widener's Elmendorf Stud. His male line is one of the most important in modern American breeding as he is the direct male ancestor of the great sire and sire of sires Mr. Prospector.


Race record

10 starts, 3 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, £3,915

1926:
  • Won Mersey Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Liverpool)
  • Won Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Goodwood)
  • Won Boscawen Post Stakes (ENG, 5f+134yT, Newmarket)
  • 2nd New Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
  • 2nd July Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
  • 2nd Middle Park Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
  • 3rd Champagne Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Doncaster)

1927:
  • 2nd Union Stakes (ENG, Liverpool)
  • 3rd Two Thousand Guineas (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)


Assessments

Rated at 122 pounds on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1926, 4 pounds below champion The Satrap and third overall.


As an individual

A brown horse standing somewhat less than 15.3 hands, Sickle had legs considered slightly short for the size of his body, a trait inherited from his dam Selene. Attractive, lengthy and well-muscled, with a long, level hip, he could be faulted for somewhat upright shoulders and pasterns. He was game and competitive as a racer but developed a more difficult temperament as a stallion.


As a stallion

According to The Jockey Club, Sickle sired 190 winners (66.2%) and 41 stakes winners (14.3%) from 287 named foals. The excellent website Thoroughbred Heritage states that he sired 45 stakes winners from 297 foals, while Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners (Blood-Horse) credits him with 43 stakes winners. Sickle was considered an influence for speed and precocity and had a reputation for transmitting a difficult temperament to his stock, particularly his fillies.


Sire rankings

​Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
  • Led the American general sire list in 1936 and 1938; 4th in 1945; 6th in 1937; 7th in 1939.
  • 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1949; 4th in 1947 and 1948; 7th in 1946; 8th in 1950.
  • Led the American juvenile sire list in 1945

Per The Blood-Horse:
  • Led the American general sire list in 1936 and 1938; 4th in 1945; 6th in 1937; 7th in 1939.
  • 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1949 and 1951; 4th in 1947 and 1948; 7th in 1946 and 1952; 8th in 1950 and 1955; 9th in 1954.
  • Led the American juvenile sire list in 1945.

Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
  • Led the American general sire list in 1936 and 1938; 4th in 1945; 6th in 1937; 7th in 1939.
  • 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1949; 4th in 1947 and 1948; 7th in 1946, 1950, and 1952; 8th in 1955; 9th in 1954

Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
  • Led the American general sire list in 1936 and 1938.


Notable progeny

Brevity (USA), Cravat (USA), Gossip II (FR), Jabot (USA), Misty Isle (USA), Price Level (USA), Reaping Reward (USA), Silver Spear (USA), Stagehand (USA), Star Pilot (USA), The Squaw II (FR), Unbreakable (USA)


Notable progeny of daughters

Blue Border (USA), Bornastar (USA), But Why Not (USA), Bymeabond (USA), Cherokee Rose (USA), Cosmic Missile (USA), Counterpoint (USA), Guillotine (USA), How (USA), My Request (USA), Ruddy (USA), Sequoia (USA), Social Outcast (USA)


Connections

Sickle was bred and owned by the 17th Earl of Derby. He was trained by George Lambton. After his racing career and one year in Lord Derby's stud, Sickle was leased for three years to Joseph E. Widener, who bought the horse outright at the end of the lease for US$100,000. Sickle stood at Widener's Elmendorf Farm until his death on December 26, 1943. An autopsy revealed an enlarged spleen. He was buried next to Fair Play on what is now part of Normandy Farm.


Pedigree notes

Sickle is inbred 3x4 to Cyllene, 4x3 to St. Simon and 5x4 to St. Simon's sire Galopin. He is a full brother to Middle Park Stakes winner Pharamond II, also an important sire in the United States, and a half brother to dual Classic winner and six-time English leading sire Hyperion (by Gainsborough) and 1929 Newmarket Stakes winner Hunter's Moon (by Hurry On), a champion sire in Brazil and Peru and leader of the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1954. Sickle's dam Selene also produced 1939 Yorkshire Oaks winner Night Shift (by Trimdon); the stakes-winning gelding Guiscard (by Gay Crusader); stakes-placed Coronal (by Coronach), dam of two-time leading Chilean sire Afghan II (by Mahmoud); and stakes producers Hecate (by Felstead), New Moon (by Solfo), and All Moonshine (by Bobsleigh). The last-named mare's son Mossborough (by Nearco) was the leading sire in England and Ireland in 1958 thanks to his great son Ballymoss.

The best English filly of her crop at both 2 and 3, Selene is a half sister to 1923 One Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes winner Tranquil (by Chaucer's half brother Swynford) and to Bosworth, winner of the 1930 Ascot Gold Cup. Selene's dam Serenissima (by 1909 Derby Stakes winner Minoru) is out of Gondolette (by Loved One), a foundation mare for Lord Derby's stud who also produced 1918 One Thousand Guineas winner Ferry (by Swynford), 1924 Derby Stakes winner Sansovino (by Swynford), 1914 Dewhurst Stakes and 1915 Champion Stakes winner Let Fly (by White Eagle), stakes winners Great Sport (by Gallinule) and Piazzetta (by Chaucer's best son, Stedfast) and Dolabella (by White Eagle), dam of 1932 English champion 2-year-old filly Myrobella (by Tetratema) and second dam of 1942 Two Thousand Guineas winner Big Game.


Books and media

Sickle is profiled along with his son Unbreakable in Chapter 26 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).


Fun facts
  • Sickle and his full brother Pharamond II occupied the first two spots on the American general sire list in 1938, the only time that full brothers have finished 1-2 on the list.
​

Photo credit

Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.



Last updated: June 15, 2022