King Tom (GB)
1851 – January 1878
Harkaway (GB) x Pocahontas (GB), by Glencoe (GB)
Family 3-n
1851 – January 1878
Harkaway (GB) x Pocahontas (GB), by Glencoe (GB)
Family 3-n
A half brother to the “Emperor of Stallions,” Stockwell, and to the fine Cup horse and sire Rataplan, King Tom had ability but was less sound than either of his siblings and did not make anywhere near the same reputation for himself on the Turf. He was perhaps an unlucky horse not to have won the Derby Stakes as he injured a hock a couple of weeks before the event and missed crucial training time; as it was, he was beaten only a length and came out of the race dead lame. He was able to make only two starts at 4, breaking down while running unplaced in the 1855 Cesarewitch Stakes, but received excellent support during his stud career from his doting owner. He made the most of his opportunities. As a stallion, he gained his greatest reputation in England based on his excellent fillies and broodmare daughters, but in the United States he was popular as a sire of sires.
Race record
6 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third
1853:
1854:
1855:
As an individual
King Tom was a big horse by the standards of the mid-19th century, standing 16 hands, but was more lightly made than either Stockwell or Rataplan. He had an excellent shoulder, high withers, a short back and strong quarters, and was known for his light action. He was speedy but not as sound or correct as either of his famous brothers (though more refined than either) and was particularly faulted for weak hocks. His disposition was excellent.
As a stallion
King Tom led the English general sire list in 1870 and 1871 and was among the top 10 English general sires on another 11 occasions. His progeny tended to be large and gangling as youngsters, and many of them did not have the best of legs or were too heavy for their underpinnings. In particular, horses sired by King Tom were faulted for their hocks and fetlocks.
Notable progeny
Great Tom (GB), Hannah (GB), Hippia (GB), King Ban (GB), King Ernest (GB), King of Diamonds (GB), Kingcraft (GB), Phaeton (GB), Tomato (GB), Tormentor (GB)
Connections
King Tom was bred and owned by Captain Charles Thellusson and was trained by a Mr. Wyatt. After his first two starts as a juvenile, King Tom was purchased for £2,000 by Baron Meyer de Rothschild, who transferred the colt to his private trainer, Joseph Hayhoe. Baron Rothschild stood King Tom at his Mentmore Stud at the conclusion of the horse's racing career. The stallion was humanely destroyed in January 1878 after suffering a severe attack of colic.
Pedigree notes
King Tom is inbred 4x5 to 1793 Derby Stakes winner and 1810 English champion sire Waxy and and the noted broodmare Penelope through the full brother and sister Whisker (winner of the 1815 Derby) and Web. His dam Pocahontas was one of the greatest matrons of all time and bred on through several of her daughters in addition to producing Stockwell and Rataplan.
Fun Facts
Last updated: June 26, 2020
Race record
6 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third
1853:
- Won Brighton Biennial Stakes (ENG, Brighton)
- Won Triennial Produce Stakes (ENG, 6FD, Newmarket)
- 3rd Great North & South of England Biennial (ENG, Goodwood)
1854:
- 2nd Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
1855:
- Won Triennial Produce Stakes (ENG, about 16.5FT, Newmarket)
As an individual
King Tom was a big horse by the standards of the mid-19th century, standing 16 hands, but was more lightly made than either Stockwell or Rataplan. He had an excellent shoulder, high withers, a short back and strong quarters, and was known for his light action. He was speedy but not as sound or correct as either of his famous brothers (though more refined than either) and was particularly faulted for weak hocks. His disposition was excellent.
As a stallion
King Tom led the English general sire list in 1870 and 1871 and was among the top 10 English general sires on another 11 occasions. His progeny tended to be large and gangling as youngsters, and many of them did not have the best of legs or were too heavy for their underpinnings. In particular, horses sired by King Tom were faulted for their hocks and fetlocks.
Notable progeny
Great Tom (GB), Hannah (GB), Hippia (GB), King Ban (GB), King Ernest (GB), King of Diamonds (GB), Kingcraft (GB), Phaeton (GB), Tomato (GB), Tormentor (GB)
Connections
King Tom was bred and owned by Captain Charles Thellusson and was trained by a Mr. Wyatt. After his first two starts as a juvenile, King Tom was purchased for £2,000 by Baron Meyer de Rothschild, who transferred the colt to his private trainer, Joseph Hayhoe. Baron Rothschild stood King Tom at his Mentmore Stud at the conclusion of the horse's racing career. The stallion was humanely destroyed in January 1878 after suffering a severe attack of colic.
Pedigree notes
King Tom is inbred 4x5 to 1793 Derby Stakes winner and 1810 English champion sire Waxy and and the noted broodmare Penelope through the full brother and sister Whisker (winner of the 1815 Derby) and Web. His dam Pocahontas was one of the greatest matrons of all time and bred on through several of her daughters in addition to producing Stockwell and Rataplan.
Fun Facts
- Although Charles Thelluson is King Tom's breeder of record, Pocahontas was actually mated to Harkaway while the mare was still owned by the estate of John Theobald. The mating was apparently planned by the executors of the estate.
- King Tom was often known as “The Monarch of Mentmore,” and in 1879 a life-sized statue of the horse by sculptor J. Ernst Boehm was erected on the estate. The statue was later moved to Dalmeny House near Edinburgh, Scotland, an estate owned by the descendants of Baron Rothschild's daughter Hannah.
Last updated: June 26, 2020