Musa (horse)

Musa (1896 – 1920) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1898, she failed to win but showed great promise by being placed in several major races including the New Stakes. In the following spring, she finished third in the 1000 Guineas before winning the Epsom Oaks. She ran unplaced in two subsequent starts and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She had considerable success as a broodmare.

Musa
Musa in 1899
SireMartagon
GrandsireBend Or
DamPalmflower
DamsireThe Palmer
SexMare
Foaled1896[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
OwnerDouglas Baird
TrainerHarry Enoch
Record7: 1-2-2 232-3100
Major wins
Oaks Stakes (1899)

Background

Musa was a bay mare bred in England. During her racing career she was owned by Douglas Baird and trained by Harry Enoch.

She was sired by Martagon, a stayer whose biggest wins came in the Goodwood Cup and Queen's Vase before going on to sire the Snow Marten and Wool Winder. Her dam Palmflower was an influential broodmare who was the ancestor of numerous major winners and is regarded as the foundation mare of Thoroughbred family 20-c.[2]

Racing career

1898: two-year-old season

In her first major race Musa contested the New Stakes over five and a half furlongs at Royal Ascot on 16 June. Starting at odds of 7/2 she led for most of the way before being overtaken in the closing stages and beaten three quarters of a length by the colt Flying Fox.[3] At Goodwood Racecourse on 28 July Musa finished third behind Eventail and St Gris in the Prince of Wales' Stakes over six furlongs.[4] On 13 October at Newmarket Racecourse Musa started favourite for the Prendergast Stakes but was beaten one and a half lengths into second place by the American-bred filly Myakka.[5]

1899: three-year-old season

Musa began her second season in the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on 28 April 1899 in which she started at odds of 100/7 and finished third of the thirteen runners behind Sibola and Fascination.[6][7]

In the 121st running of the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse on 2 June, Musa, ridden by Otto Madden, started a 20/1 outsider in a twelve-runner field. Sibola started favourite while the other fancied runners included Princess Mary, Janitza, Fairy Gold and Victoria May. After tracking the leaders for most of the way she slipped through on the inside to take the lead and held off the challenge of Sibola to win by a head. The ride of the American jockey Tod Sloan on the runner-up was widely criticised and Musa was considered a somewhat lucky winner.[8]

On 29 June at Newmarket Musa was matched against male opposition and older horses in the Princess of Wales's Stakes and finished unplaced behind Flying Fox.[9] In the Newmarket Oaks over fifteen furlongs on 10 October Musa ran unplaced behind Gadfly.[10]

Breeding record

Musa was retired from racing to become a broodmare for her owner's stud before being moved to France in 1909. She produced eight foals, including three top-class winners, from 1901 to 1915 and died in 1920.[11]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Musa (IRE), bay mare, 1896[1]
Sire
Martagon (GB)
1887		 Bend Or
1877		 Doncaster Stockwell
Marigold
Rouge Rose Thormanby
Ellen Horne
Tiger Lily
1875		 Macaroni Sweetmeat
Jocose
Polly Agnes The Cure
Miss Agnes
Dam
Palmflower (GB)
1874		 The Palmer
1864		 Beadsman Weatherbit
Mendicant
Madame Eglentine Cowl
Diversion
Jenny Diver
1866		 Buccaneer Wild Dayrell
Little Red Rover mare
Fairy Warlock
Leila (Family: 20-c)[2]

References
  1. "Musa pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Palmflower - Family 20-c". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  3. "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 4 August 1898. p. 34 – via Papers Past.
  4. "Liverpool. Wednesday, July 20". Otago Witness. 15 September 1898. p. 35 – via Papers Past.
  5. "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 1 December 1898. p. 38 – via Papers Past.
  6. "1899 1000 Guineas result". greyhoundderby.com.
  7. "Sporting Notes from Home". The Australasian. 10 June 1899. p. 19 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  8. "The Oaks". Otago Witness. 27 July 1899. p. 35 – via Papers Past.
  9. "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 17 August 1899. p. 38 – via Papers Past.
  10. "Racing in England". Otago Witness. 7 December 1899. p. 38 – via Papers Past.
  11. "Musa". Stud Book Français. 19: 526. 1924.
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