Titled Hero (CAN)
March 23, 1963 – July 1968
Canadian Champ (CAN) x Countess Angela (CAN), by Bull Page (USA)
Family 14-c
March 23, 1963 – July 1968
Canadian Champ (CAN) x Countess Angela (CAN), by Bull Page (USA)
Family 14-c
A member of the family of 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year and influential sire Nearctic and Group 1 winner and 10-time Japanese champion sire Northern Taste, Titled Hero was a two-time champion in Canada. He was also a good bargain, earning CAN$214,690 after having sold for just CAN$15,000 as a yearling. Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity to see if he could emulate his famous relatives in the breeding shed as he died as a 5-year-old without ever having gone to stud.
Race record
34 starts, 16 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, CAN$214,690
1965:
1966:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Experimental Handicap for juveniles of 1965, 4 pounds higher than second-rated Stevie B. Good.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1965, 10 pounds below champion Buckpasser.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1966, 2 pounds below He’s a Smoothie.
As an individual
A muscular black colt, Titled Hero was troubled by repeated hoof injuries, possibly related to a dished hoof wall on his left forefoot. He had a calm, professional temperament as a racehorse. He was troubled by osselets (calcium deposits in the ankles) as a 4-year-old and did not run at 5 as his leg problems worsened.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Titled Hero was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Peter K. Marshall, who bought the colt from the annual Windfields pre-priced yearling sale for CAN$15,000. He was trained by Patrick McMurchy and was ridden to his win in the Queen’s Plate by Avelino Gomez. Titled Hero was euthanized as a 5-year-old after his leg ailments worsened and he failed to respond to rest and treatment.
Pedigree notes
Titled Hero is inbred 4x4 to 1943 American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. He is a full brother to Titled Heroine, dam of 1981 Mexican champion imported 3-year-old filly Hungria (by Nodouble) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Fit for a Queen (by Fit to Fight). He is also a half brother to Alegna Regis (by Viceregal), second dam of Grade 3 winner Baileys Edge.
Countess Angela, the dam of Titled Hero, was stakes-placed as a juvenile. She is a half sister to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year and important sire Nearctic (by Nearco) and to 1962 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Choperion (by Chop Chop). She is also a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winner Lady Victoria (by Victoria Park), dam of Prix de la Forêt winner and 10-time Japanese champion sire Northern Taste (by Northern Dancer), of Canadian juvenile stakes winner Canadian Victory (by Canadian Champ), and of English juvenile stakes winner Tanzor (by Nijinsky II).
Countess Angela’s dam Lady Angela (by Hyperion) is a winning half sister to Jockey Club Stakes winner Black Peter (by Blue Peter); to Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lady Sybil (by Nearco), dam of English stakes winner Count Rendered (by Precipitation); and to stakes winners Barkersgate (by Abernant) and Welsh Abbot (by Abernant). Lady Angela is also a half sister to Caerlissa (by Caerleon), dam of 1960 Derby Stakes winner St. Paddy (by Aureole), and to Sybil's Sister (by Nearco), dam of stakes winner and South African champion sire Sybil's Nephew (by Midas) and 1953 Queen Mary Stakes winner Sybil's Niece (by Admiral's Walk), dam of the good stakes winner and two-time English leading sire Great Nephew (by Honeyway). Sybil's Niece also produced 1961 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Crepello's Daughter (by Crepello), third dam of 1992 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas, ITY-G2) winner Treasure Hope, and Great Niece (by Honeyway), third dam of 1973 Canadian champion 3-year old filly and notable producer Square Angel.
Fun facts
Last updated: January 25, 2024
Race record
34 starts, 16 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, CAN$214,690
1965:
- Won Grey Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Coronation Futurity (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
- Won Summer Stakes (CAN, 8FD, Fort Erie)
- Won Colin Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Cup and Saucer Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Vandal Stakes (CAN, 6.5FD, Fort Erie)
1966:
- Won Queen's Plate (CAN, 10FD, Woodbine)
- Won Breeders' Stakes (CAN, 12FT, Woodbine; new course record 2:31-2/5)
- Won Sandown Stakes (CAN, 8FD, Greenwood)
- Won Plate Trial Stakes (second division) (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Horometer Stakes (CAN, 9.5FD, Greenwood)
- Won Friar Rock Stakes (CAN, 8FD, Greenwood)
- 2nd Fairbank Handicap (CAN, 10FD, Greenwood)
- 2nd Queenston Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Marine Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Greenwood)
- 3rd Mohawk Stakes (CAN, 10.5FD, Greenwood)
- 3rd Kingarvie Stakes (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
Honors
- Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1965)
- Canadian champion 3-year-old male (1966)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Experimental Handicap for juveniles of 1965, 4 pounds higher than second-rated Stevie B. Good.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1965, 10 pounds below champion Buckpasser.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1966, 2 pounds below He’s a Smoothie.
As an individual
A muscular black colt, Titled Hero was troubled by repeated hoof injuries, possibly related to a dished hoof wall on his left forefoot. He had a calm, professional temperament as a racehorse. He was troubled by osselets (calcium deposits in the ankles) as a 4-year-old and did not run at 5 as his leg problems worsened.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Titled Hero was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Peter K. Marshall, who bought the colt from the annual Windfields pre-priced yearling sale for CAN$15,000. He was trained by Patrick McMurchy and was ridden to his win in the Queen’s Plate by Avelino Gomez. Titled Hero was euthanized as a 5-year-old after his leg ailments worsened and he failed to respond to rest and treatment.
Pedigree notes
Titled Hero is inbred 4x4 to 1943 American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. He is a full brother to Titled Heroine, dam of 1981 Mexican champion imported 3-year-old filly Hungria (by Nodouble) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Fit for a Queen (by Fit to Fight). He is also a half brother to Alegna Regis (by Viceregal), second dam of Grade 3 winner Baileys Edge.
Countess Angela, the dam of Titled Hero, was stakes-placed as a juvenile. She is a half sister to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year and important sire Nearctic (by Nearco) and to 1962 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Choperion (by Chop Chop). She is also a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winner Lady Victoria (by Victoria Park), dam of Prix de la Forêt winner and 10-time Japanese champion sire Northern Taste (by Northern Dancer), of Canadian juvenile stakes winner Canadian Victory (by Canadian Champ), and of English juvenile stakes winner Tanzor (by Nijinsky II).
Countess Angela’s dam Lady Angela (by Hyperion) is a winning half sister to Jockey Club Stakes winner Black Peter (by Blue Peter); to Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lady Sybil (by Nearco), dam of English stakes winner Count Rendered (by Precipitation); and to stakes winners Barkersgate (by Abernant) and Welsh Abbot (by Abernant). Lady Angela is also a half sister to Caerlissa (by Caerleon), dam of 1960 Derby Stakes winner St. Paddy (by Aureole), and to Sybil's Sister (by Nearco), dam of stakes winner and South African champion sire Sybil's Nephew (by Midas) and 1953 Queen Mary Stakes winner Sybil's Niece (by Admiral's Walk), dam of the good stakes winner and two-time English leading sire Great Nephew (by Honeyway). Sybil's Niece also produced 1961 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Crepello's Daughter (by Crepello), third dam of 1992 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas, ITY-G2) winner Treasure Hope, and Great Niece (by Honeyway), third dam of 1973 Canadian champion 3-year old filly and notable producer Square Angel.
Fun facts
- Following Titled Hero’s championship juvenile season, owner Peter Marshall was offered CAN$125,000 for his one-horse stable. He refused.
- Marshall completed a father-and-son double in the Queen’s Plate thanks to Titled Hero’s win. Marshall’s father, Colonel K. R. Marshall, had owned 1961 winner Blue Light, also trained by Patrick McMurchy.
- Titled Hero was one of four Plate winners for Avelino Gomez, who remains tied for the most wins by a jockey in the race. The other riders who share the record are Sandy Hawley and Robin Platts. Gomez’s other Plate winners were Lyford Cay (1957), Victoria Park (1963), and Jumpin Joseph (1969).
- Although Titled Hero was voted Canadian champion 3-year-old male in 1966, He’s a Smoothie defeated him in four of six encounters and was rated two pounds higher on the Canadian Free Handicap. He’s a Smoothie would go on to be named Canada’s Horse of the Year in 1967.
Last updated: January 25, 2024