There have been seventeen classic winners trained at the historic Palace House stables. One hundred years ago on 30 April 1926 the filly Pillion became the last, when she won the 1000 Guineas at the Rowley Mile.
Pillion was owned and bred by Anthony de Rothschild who had taken over the Rothschild racing dynasty from his father Leopold following his death in 1917. The bay filly was sent into training with John Watson, the dual classic winning trainer who had taken over the Palace House yard in 1905.
Pillion’s sire Chaucer, a son of the legendary St Simon, won the Gimcrack Stakes in 1902 and finished 4th in the following year’s 2000 Guineas. Plus, as a stallion he sired the 1916 1000 Guineas winner Canyon, who went on to sire the classic winning colt Colorado.
Pillion began her two-year-old campaign on 30 July 1925 in the Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood where she came 2nd to Coronach, who went on to double classic success next year winning the Derby and St Leger. It must be rare for two future classic winners to meet in the same race as two-year-olds.
The Palace House filly had shown promise as a two year old with one win in her second start at Nottingham and three seconds in her five starts. She had ended the season with two seconds at the home or racing including the Cheveley Park Stakes a renowned end of season race for two-year-olds who are likely targeting the following year’s 1000 Guineas, as it is to this day. Indeed, in the very next year the Cheveley Park Stakes was won by King George V’s filly Scuttle, who went on to win the 1928 1000 Guineas.
In the end of season Free Handicap rankings for two-year-olds Pillion was rated 24th, 14Ibs behind the top-rated Colorado. Colorado justified his position at the top as a three year old when two days before Pillion’s best day he had won the 2000 Guineas.
Twenty-nine runners went to post on 1000 Guineas Day, a record then, which remains to this day, and will forever. My research revealed that his Majesty King George V was in attendance, a race as we know he was to win in two years’ time with Scuttle.
Karra was sent off as favourite at 100/30 with the French raider Dorina next in the betting at 6/1 while Pillion was one of the outsiders at 25/1.
Reports reveal that the Palace House filly ridden by her regular jockey Dick Perryman took the lead at halfway and held on to beat Trilogy 8/1 by a length with Short Story a half-length further back in third. Dorina finished 5th.
Pillion proved to be owner Anthony de Rothschild’s only classic winner. His father Leopold had owned four classic winners including the 1904 Derby winner St Amant. For jockey Dick Perryman it was the first of three 1000 Guineas wins
The fast-finishing 1000 Guineas 3rd Short Story went on to gain her revenge in the 1926 Oaks where Pillion was an unplaced 11/2 second favourite. Pillion’s only future career victory came at Nottingham on 10 August in a six furlong handicap.
The filly was retired to stud at the end of her 3 year old season with three wins from eleven starts, two of them at Nottingham, but she won the one that really mattered for owner Anthony de Rothschild, trainer John Watson, and the Palace House yard.
She will always remain the last classic winner trained at Palace House stables.
Stephen Wallis
The Paddock and The Pavilion
