Used by permission of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin).
Although he was the best English sprinter of his time, Sundridge was probably a horse whose true abilities were never fully developed due to misfortune. The victim of a fractured pelvis as a juvenile, Sundridge survived three months in a sling and actually managed to start once before the end of his 2-year-old season. His debut was inauspicious as he ran out of the money in a maiden selling race at Newmarket. By the time he was 4, he had developed a breathing problem, leading his connections to race him almost exclusively in sprints in spite of a heritage that suggested more distance potential; a respiratory illness contracted during his 5-year-old campaign made the problem worse.
Sundridge's apparent distance limitations and his wind infirmity made him unattractive to English breeders, and he received only limited patronage before being exported to France in 1911. His opportunities were further limited by lower than normal fertility. Nonetheless, Sundridge proved he had been sadly underestimated as a stallion prospect by getting 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar in his third crop. Sunstar, whose dam Doris was related to to several good Cup horses on her dam's side, proved to be atypical of most of Sundridge's get, but Sundridge proved an important source of quality speed and a good sire of sires. His sons Sun Briar and Sunreigh both stood in the United States and exerted significant influence on American pedigrees, while his son Sunstar and daughter Lady Josephine kept his name alive in England.
Race record
35 starts, 17 wins, 8 seconds, 1 third, £6,716
1901:
1902:
1903:
1904:
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse with a good shoulder and powerful hindquarters, Sundridge was sound and durable of limb and could carry high weights. His dam Sierra was said to have had a malformed nostril that impaired her breathing sufficiently that she never raced, and it is possible that her son inherited a tendency toward breathing issues from her.
As a stallion
Sundridge led the English/Irish general sire list in 1911 and was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires on another six occasions, including a second-place finish in 1913. He led the English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1923, was runner-up in 1925, and ranked among the top 10 English/Irish broodmare sires another three times and was also the English leading juvenile sire of 1914. He sired at least 25 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Absurd (GB), Argos (GB), Golden Sun (GB), Jest (GB), Lady Josephine (GB), Sun Briar (FR), Sunder (GB), Sunstar (GB), White Star (GB)
Connections
Sundridge was bred and owned by Sir Samuel Scott. Following his 4-year-old season, the colt was sent to the Newmarket December sales, where Jack Joel purchased him for 1,450 guineas. Following his sale, Sundridge was trained by Charles Morton. Sundridge stood at Joel's Northaw House Stud in 1905-1907 and moved to Childwick Bury Stud in 1908 after Joel's purchase of the property. Sold to a French syndicate in September 1910, Sundridge remained in England until after the 1911 breeding season, when he was exported to France. He was repatriated to England in 1920 but had become seriously subfertile and sired only a handful of foals during the next two seasons. Jack Joel repurchased Sundridge in 1922 and brought him back to Childwick Bury, where the stallion died in 1923 after an attack of paralysis.
Pedigree notes
Sundridge is inbred 4x4x5 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster and 4x5 to Rataplan, a noted Cup horse and good sire. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to 1845 St. Leger Stakes winner The Baron and the great 19th-century matron Pocahontas through the full brothers Rataplan and Stockwell, a dual English Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire. In addition, Sundridge carries a 5x5 cross to three-time English champion sire Orlando, winner of the 1844 Derby Stakes.
Sundridge's sire Amphion won the 1890 Champion Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes but tended to sire speedy offspring with lesser stamina than his own. Among them was Sundridge's full brother Elmstead, a good sprinter who was exported to Argentina for stud duty. Amphora, a full sister to Sundridge and Elmstead, was also a classy speedster, winning the 1897 Goodwood Stewards' Cup; her produce included Lucknow (by Minoru), a good stakes winner in Australia; Glass Jug (by Isinglass), runner-up in the 1902 Oaks Stakes; and Symbolism (by Symington), third dam of 1938 VRC Melbourne Cup winner Catalogue.
Sundridge's dam Sierra is an unraced full sister to Derby Stakes winner Sainfoin. Her dam Sanda (by Wenlock) also produced Black Sand (by Melanian), winner of the 1902 Cesarewitch Stakes and Jockey Club Cup. A half sister to 1876 Coronation Stakes winner Footstep (by See Saw), Sanda is out of Sandal, by Stockwell.
Books and media
Sundridge 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.
Fun facts
Sundridge's apparent distance limitations and his wind infirmity made him unattractive to English breeders, and he received only limited patronage before being exported to France in 1911. His opportunities were further limited by lower than normal fertility. Nonetheless, Sundridge proved he had been sadly underestimated as a stallion prospect by getting 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar in his third crop. Sunstar, whose dam Doris was related to to several good Cup horses on her dam's side, proved to be atypical of most of Sundridge's get, but Sundridge proved an important source of quality speed and a good sire of sires. His sons Sun Briar and Sunreigh both stood in the United States and exerted significant influence on American pedigrees, while his son Sunstar and daughter Lady Josephine kept his name alive in England.
Race record
35 starts, 17 wins, 8 seconds, 1 third, £6,716
1901:
- Won Chatsworth Plate (ENG, 5FT, Derby)
- 2nd Royal Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Epsom)
- 2nd Portland Plate (ENG, about 5FT, Doncaster)
1902:
- Won July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Chatsworth Plate (ENG, 5FT, Derby)
- 2nd Challenge Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
1903:
- Won July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won King's Stand Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- Won Royal Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Epsom)
1904:
- Won July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won King's Stand Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Portland Plate (ENG, about 5FT, Doncaster)
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse with a good shoulder and powerful hindquarters, Sundridge was sound and durable of limb and could carry high weights. His dam Sierra was said to have had a malformed nostril that impaired her breathing sufficiently that she never raced, and it is possible that her son inherited a tendency toward breathing issues from her.
As a stallion
Sundridge led the English/Irish general sire list in 1911 and was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires on another six occasions, including a second-place finish in 1913. He led the English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1923, was runner-up in 1925, and ranked among the top 10 English/Irish broodmare sires another three times and was also the English leading juvenile sire of 1914. He sired at least 25 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Absurd (GB), Argos (GB), Golden Sun (GB), Jest (GB), Lady Josephine (GB), Sun Briar (FR), Sunder (GB), Sunstar (GB), White Star (GB)
Connections
Sundridge was bred and owned by Sir Samuel Scott. Following his 4-year-old season, the colt was sent to the Newmarket December sales, where Jack Joel purchased him for 1,450 guineas. Following his sale, Sundridge was trained by Charles Morton. Sundridge stood at Joel's Northaw House Stud in 1905-1907 and moved to Childwick Bury Stud in 1908 after Joel's purchase of the property. Sold to a French syndicate in September 1910, Sundridge remained in England until after the 1911 breeding season, when he was exported to France. He was repatriated to England in 1920 but had become seriously subfertile and sired only a handful of foals during the next two seasons. Jack Joel repurchased Sundridge in 1922 and brought him back to Childwick Bury, where the stallion died in 1923 after an attack of paralysis.
Pedigree notes
Sundridge is inbred 4x4x5 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster and 4x5 to Rataplan, a noted Cup horse and good sire. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to 1845 St. Leger Stakes winner The Baron and the great 19th-century matron Pocahontas through the full brothers Rataplan and Stockwell, a dual English Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire. In addition, Sundridge carries a 5x5 cross to three-time English champion sire Orlando, winner of the 1844 Derby Stakes.
Sundridge's sire Amphion won the 1890 Champion Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes but tended to sire speedy offspring with lesser stamina than his own. Among them was Sundridge's full brother Elmstead, a good sprinter who was exported to Argentina for stud duty. Amphora, a full sister to Sundridge and Elmstead, was also a classy speedster, winning the 1897 Goodwood Stewards' Cup; her produce included Lucknow (by Minoru), a good stakes winner in Australia; Glass Jug (by Isinglass), runner-up in the 1902 Oaks Stakes; and Symbolism (by Symington), third dam of 1938 VRC Melbourne Cup winner Catalogue.
Sundridge's dam Sierra is an unraced full sister to Derby Stakes winner Sainfoin. Her dam Sanda (by Wenlock) also produced Black Sand (by Melanian), winner of the 1902 Cesarewitch Stakes and Jockey Club Cup. A half sister to 1876 Coronation Stakes winner Footstep (by See Saw), Sanda is out of Sandal, by Stockwell.
Books and media
Sundridge 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.
Fun facts
- In English geography, Sundridge is a village in Kent.
- Sundridge stood the 1905 breeding season at a fee of just 9 guineas. At the peak of his stud career, he commanded 300 guineas.