Spilletta Explained
Spilletta (1749 - 1776) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She only raced once and is best known for being the dam of the undefeated Eclipse.
Background
Spilletta was a bay filly bred by the Sir Robert Eden and foaled in 1749. She was sired by the undefeated Regulus.[1] Regulus was also a very successful stallion, becoming Champion sire eight times. Regulus also sired Careless and Cato.[2] Spilletta's dam was Mother Western, a daughter of Smith's son of Snake.[1]
Racing career
Spilletta only started one race, in April 1754 at Newmarket for a £50 Plate. She lost the race to Sir Charles Sedley's Royal, the Marquess of Hartington's Tantivy and Mr. Curzon's Jason.
Stud career
Spilletta was a broodmare at the Duke of Cumberland stud. She produced five foals:
- Ariaden – a bay filly foaled in 1759 and sire by Crab.[1]
- Eclipse – a chestnut stallion foaled in 1764 and sired by Marske.[1] He was undefeated during his 18 race career and is generally considered one of the best horses ever. His wins included 11 King's Plates, the Great Subscription Purse and a match against Bucephalus. He sired Planet, Pot-8-Os, King Fergus, Mercury, Young Eclipse, Saltram, Serjeant and Annette.[3] Eclipse is the sire-line ancestor of most Thoroughbreds alive today.
- Proserpine – a bay mare foaled in 1766 and sired by Marske.[1] She never raced, but was the dam of Humbug and six others.[4]
- Garrick – first called Hyperion, a chestnut stallion foaled in 1772 and sired by Marske.[1] He won a 140 guineas race at Newmarket in 1777. As a stallion he stood at Newmarket and near Malton in Yorkshire.[5]
- Briseis – a chestnut filly foaled in 1774 and sired by Chrysolite.[1]
Spilletta died in 1776.[1]
Pedigree
Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown* Spilletta is inbred 4S × 3D to the stallion Snake, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and third generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
Notes and References
- Book: The General Stud Book . J. S. Skinner, Baltimore . 1834 . 2012-12-31.
- Web site: Regulus . Bloodlines.net . 2012-12-31.
- Web site: Eclipse . Bloodlines.net . 2012-12-31.
- Book: Johnson . R. . The Turf Register (Volume III). A. Bartholoman, High-Ousegate . 1822.
- Book: Pick . William . Johnson . R. . The Turf Register (Volume II). A. Bartholoman, High-Ousegate . 1805.
