46 | Issac James Cullin (British, active 1881-1936)
“Polymelus” & “Pretty Polly, Cicero & Bachelor’s Button” (a pair), 1906 Watercolor, 10” x 14” each Signed, dated 1906 $3,000. – 5,000.
It stands to reason that Polymelus, the leading Thoroughbred sire in Great Britain and Ireland for the years of 1914, 1915, 1916, 1920, and 1921, would have a lasting effect on the breed. Through his son Phalaris, leading sire of 1925 and 1928, we have such names as Northern Dancer, Bold Ruler, Native Dancer, Nasrullah, Tom Fool, Mr. Prospector, Hail to Reason, and more in pedigrees today. The skeleton of Polymelus is on display at the University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology. Among noted upsets in race finishes the 1906 Ascot Gold Cup remains on the list. Going to the starter was Major Eustace Loder’s Pretty Polly under jockey Bernard Dillon at unheard-of odds of 4-to-11. The accomplished Pretty Polly had already been victorious in 22 of 23 starts. She made a valiant effort, feeling the whip for one of the few times in her career, but at the end of 2½ miles Bachelor’s Button had her by a length. Epsom Derby winner Cicero finished badly and was unplaced. Pretty Polly lived to the age of 30 and became one of the breed’s foundation producers.
47 | Franck Elim (French, 19th/20th Century) finish at paris le prix Oil on canvas, 20 ¼” x 28 ¾” Signed, dated July 1919 $5,000. – 6,000.
The 1919 Paris le Prix at Longchamp was won by Anthony Gustav de Rothschild’s Galloper Light. Bred by Leopold de Rothschild, Galloper Light was the winner of six races in England and France but was ineligible for the English classics. Anthony inherited his father’s racing and breeding interests upon his death in 1917. Besides his Paris le Prix win, he also captured the 1926 1,000 Guineas Stakes with Pillion and bred Midstream, three-time leading sire in Australia.
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