Lot 66: Harry Hall (British, 1814-1882)

Harry Hall (British, 1814-1882)
Mr John Gully's Andover, Alfred Day up, winner of the 1854 Derby
inscribed 'Andover/Bay Colt Foaled in 1851. Property of John Gully Esq./by Bay Middleton out of Sister of Aegis/going back to Godolphin Arabian's Regulus 1757./Derby 1854 won £5950 ridden by A. Day (7-2)' (on an old label attached to the stretcher)
oil on canvas
23 x 29.9 in. (58.5 x 76 cm.)

Charles Lane, Harry Hall's Classic Winners, London, 1990, pl. 54, p. 45.

with Arthur Ackermann and Son, Ltd., London.

Property from the Estate of Leona M. Helmsley

Andover, by Bay Middleton, was a bay colt foaled in 1851, out of Sister to Aegis, by Defence. He ran in the colors of John Gully, beginning at age two, when he debuted at Goodwood in the Ham Stakes, running third to Alembic and Sortie. His next outing was the Molecomb Stakes, which he won, beating Mincemeat and others. He won his next two races, both at Brighton wagering for a sweep for £175, and a 100 sovereign plate, in the latter race beating the future Goodwood Stakes winner Quince.

At age three he won the Epsom Derby by a length over King Tom and The Hermit, who had won the 2,000 Guineas. The scene depicted by Hall is clearly Epsom as the horse in the background is the Derby second, King Tom, in Lord Rothschild's colors. This was followed that by winning the Triennial at Stockbridge. This was followed by a walk-over at Goodwood for £125, and then a win in Brighton's Champagne Stakes. His first loss at age three was to the two-year-old Vengeance (first called The Chicken) in the Eglinton Stakes at Doncaster, where he ran fourth. The last race of his career was the Don Stakes, which he won. He was sold to Sir Tatton Sykes, who put him to stud at his great Sledmere Stud in Yorkshire, but he got little of note and was later sold to Russia.