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Lot Essay
The 1880 St. Leger winner, Robert the Devil, was a bay colt foaled in 1877 by Bertram out of Cast Off. He was owned in partnership by Mr. Charles Brewer and his trainer Blanton, and was ridden by the former champion jockey Tom Cannon.
The colt was described by a contemporary commentator as 'a great slashing bay horse, slightly on the leg'. His great rival was the Duke of Westminster's massive colt Bend Or, who stood over sixteen hands high. They met on five occasions, with Robert the Devil victorious in the Doncaster St. Leger, the Great Foals Stakes and the Champion Stakes, where he beat Bend Or by a clear ten lengths. The Duke of Westminster's colt, however, won the 1880 Derby by a head, in what is acknowledged as one of the most exciting encounters in the race's history.
In a superb career, Robert the Devil won twelve of his sixteen races between 1879 and 1881, and £23,000 in prize money. Other notable victories included the Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood, the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and the Gold Cup at Ascot. He was retired to stud in 1881 and was sold to Mr. Henry Waring who owned the Benham Stud, near Newbury. His best progeny was Chittabob who was one of the top horses of the 1889 season.
The colt was described by a contemporary commentator as 'a great slashing bay horse, slightly on the leg'. His great rival was the Duke of Westminster's massive colt Bend Or, who stood over sixteen hands high. They met on five occasions, with Robert the Devil victorious in the Doncaster St. Leger, the Great Foals Stakes and the Champion Stakes, where he beat Bend Or by a clear ten lengths. The Duke of Westminster's colt, however, won the 1880 Derby by a head, in what is acknowledged as one of the most exciting encounters in the race's history.
In a superb career, Robert the Devil won twelve of his sixteen races between 1879 and 1881, and £23,000 in prize money. Other notable victories included the Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood, the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and the Gold Cup at Ascot. He was retired to stud in 1881 and was sold to Mr. Henry Waring who owned the Benham Stud, near Newbury. His best progeny was Chittabob who was one of the top horses of the 1889 season.