Warlock (horse)

Warlock was foaled in 1853 at Lambton Park, the country seat of his breeder the Earl of Durham. Warlock's sire Birdcatcher produced many stakes winners and was a leading sire 15 times during his career.^[4] Warlock's dam, Elphine (1837 – 1857), was sired by the 1823 Derby winner Emilius and was bought by Lord Durham in 1850. Warlock was Elphine's tenth foal out of the 12 she produced during her lifetime.^[5] Elphine also produced the sire Lambton (sired by The Cure), which sired the Doncaster and Goodwood Cup winner Shannon. Elphine's unnamed daughter sired by The Cure (foaled in 1849) produced the 1860 2000 Guineas winner The Wizard.^[6]

Warlock was referred to as either a roan or bay horse.^[7] The base colour of the majority of his coat was bay and he was registered with the Jockey Club at birth as a bay roan.^[5] Warlock had a large amount of white hairs distributed over his head, neck, and back.^[3] As he did not turn completely gray with age, he was identified as a roan in racing publications.^[7] Roan coloration is unusual in Thoroughbreds, and he was described as "a veritable dusty miller among Thoroughbreds."^[8] Warlock was 15 hands 2.5 inches high and was described as "very stout and honest" but with poor leg and shoulder conformation.^[1] He also had a small white star on the forehead and a left hind sock.^[3] He was initially named Merlin before his name was changed to Warlock for his racing career,^[9] which was likely done because another colt sired by Birdcatcher in 1853 was also named Merlin.^[2]

Warlock was bought by Mr. Anthony Nichol in 1854 and raced in his name for the majority of his career. A chemist by trade, Nichol also purchased The Wizard from Lord Durham and won the 1851 St Leger with Newminster.^[10] Warlock was trained by John Scott.^[3]

Warlock ran three times as a two-year-old. At Epsom in May, Warlock ran a dead heat for second place in the Woodcote Stakes with Padwick's filly Spindle (winner of the July Stakes at Newmarket). He was unplaced in the Prince of Wales's Stakes run in August at York. He won a £200 subscription stakes at Doncaster in his final engagement for the year.^[2]

Warlock had a series of racing mishaps as a three-year-old. While running in the North Derby at Newcastle, he suddenly bolted off the course and was disqualified. At the same meeting, Warlock fell while running for the Northumberland Plate and was also disqualified. At Carlisle, he was beaten by Fisherman for the Cumberland Plate after he was accidentally slowed by his jockey, George Fordham, after the first lap. Warlock managed to recover and was only beaten by a margin of two lengths. At York, Warlock won the Great Ebor Handicap, beating Merin (sired by Birdcatcher) and six other runners. He was unplaced for the Cup at the St Leger meeting.^[2] Warlock did not run in the Derby due to sore legs.^[11]

The 1856 St Leger was run on Wednesday, September 17 with a field of nine horses, including the Derby winner Ellington, Bonnie Scotland, and Artillery. Ellington was favored to win the race, but Warlock won easily by two lengths, the Derby winner ultimately finishing unplaced. Bonnie Scotland and Artillery tied for second place.^[12]

In 1857, Warlock was eighth in the Ascot Gold Cup run in June, unplaced in the Chester Cup, and sixth in the Cesarewitch Stakes run in October.^[13][2] At York in August, Warlock won the Queen's Plate beating Fisherman by a neck. At Doncaster, he won the Great Ebor Handicap, beating the fillies Tasmania and Melissa. At the same meeting, he ran third for the Cup won by Vedette. At Lincoln, he won the Queen's Plate and was fourth in the York Great Ebor Handicap.^[2]

Warlock was not extensively campaigned in 1858, racing only twice before retirement. He ran fourth for the Great Northern Handicap at York and finished fourth for the Cup at Ascot, won by Fisherman.^[2]