FIFINELLA, was one of the best fillies in the 20th century and with her Derby victory in 1916, is the most recent filly to do so. She also joins her three predecessors,
Eleanor (1801), Blink Bonny (1857) and Signorinetta (1908), as winners of both the Derby and Oaks.
Fifinella was bred and owned by Sir Edward Hulton, 1st Baronet (1869-1925), who in his early years assisted his father in publishing the Sporting Chronicle. Later he founded the Manchester Evening Chronicle, launched the Daily Sketch and acquired the Evening Standard.
His sporting interests were twofold. In coursing he won the Waterloo Cup in 1908 with Hallow Eve and again in 1916 (the year of Fifinella’s Derby) with Harmonicon, while on the racing front, in late-autumn 1906 he purchased the Curragh National Produce Stakes winner Silver Fowl, who, after an accident, was put to stud and in 1913 produced Fifinella (by Polymelus).
Sir Edward’s other Classic winners were Roseway (1919 One Thousand Guineas) and Straitlace (1924 Oaks).
Fifinella ran her three races as a juvenile at Newmarket, winning the Fulbourne Stakes, finishing second to Jack Joel’s Telephone Girl in the Bibury Club Stakes and then running away with the Cheveley Park Stakes by eight lengths; Champion Jockey, Steve Donoghue being aboard each time.
The following year, Fifinella, who by now, had a reputation for being, “catty, peevish and unreliable,” reappeared in the One Thousand Guineas ridden by Joe Childs. Playing up at the start, she received a no-nonsense reminder from Childs, but got her own back by sulking throughout the race and losing to Canyon by three-quarters of a length.
Due to the First World War, the Derby and Oaks were run at Newmarket. And as the colts entered in the Derby appeared to be below standard, she was allowed to take her chance.
Although agitated and waspish in the paddock, she started 11-2 joint-second favourite with Nassovian (third in the Guineas), while Kwang-Su, (second in the Guineas), went off the 3-1 favourite.
After a lengthy delay at the start, Fifinella was slowly away, then badly bumped, and appeared to take no interest until, taking hold of the bit close home, she sped through a narrow gap and with Child’s assistance won by a neck from Kwang-Su, with Nassovian, a head away, third.
Joe Childs takes up the story, “In the Derby she was inclined to be fretful and nervous, but two days later when the Oaks was run, she was almost a different animal. No nervousness, no fretfulness and she appeared as though she was looking forward to the event.” And so, starting at odds of 8-13, Fifinella won in a canter by five lengths from Salamandra.
Her final race came in September 1917, and proved a dismal display, as she finished last of three behind Phalaris in the Bury St Edmunds Plate at Newmarket.
Dick Dawson, her trainer, was said to be glad to see her go – “a bite or a kick being her usual greeting.”
At stud Fifinella bred 12 foals, eight of which were winners, including Press Gang (ch.c. 1927), winner of the Middle Park Stakes and Princess of Wales’s Stakes.
Fifinella died in 1931
For more Racing History see Michael’s Books for Sale.