# Sweetbriar (horse)

Sweetbriar (foaled 1769) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won all eight of the races he contested, including a match race against Craven Stakes winner Firetail. He later became a successful stallion, with his progeny including Epsom Derby winner Assassin.

## Background

Sweetbriar was a chestnut colt bred by Thomas Meredith and foaled in 1769. He was sired by Great Subscription Purse winner Syphon, who also sired Sweetwilliam. His dam was a daughter of Shakespeare.

## Racing career

Sweetbriar made his racecourse debut in October 1773 when he beat the Earl of Ossory's Chalkstone, Mr. Vernon's Milliner, Mr. Ogilvy's Consul and Lord Foley's Chesterton in a Sweepstakes of 50 guineas each at Newmarket. Chalkstone had started the 6/4 favourite, with Consul at 5/2 and Sweetbriar at 3/1. At Newmarket's second October meeting he beat Chalkstone again, this time in a match race. At the Houghton meeting he beat Mr. Ogilvy's Porsenna, after starting favourite, as he had done in his match against Chalkstone.
In the spring of 1774 he beat Chalkstone in 1000 guineas race at Newmarket. The bookmakers sent them both of as joint-favourites. He then beat Mr. Foley's Craven Stakes winner Firetail after starting as the 1/3 favourite in another 1000 guineas match race at Newmarket. In October he beat the Duke of Grafton's Lamplighter in a 140 guineas race. Two days later Sweetbriar beat Telemachus and Joquille in a Sweepstakes of 20 guineas each.
In his final start he walked over for the Newmarket Cup in October 1775 and retired unbeaten.

## Stud career

Sweetbriar stood as a stallion for Grosvenor and mainly covered his mares. He did meet with some success though, siring 1782 Epsom Derby winner Assassin. He was also the sire of the mares Flyer and Hare. Flyer was the dam of Rhadamanthus and Daedalus, who both won the Derby. Hare foaled Tippitywitchet, who was the dam of the top broodmare the Rubens mare.

## Sire line tree

* Sweetbriar
** Chocolate
*** Cornet
** Assassin
*** Gunpowder

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Sweetbriar, chestnut stallion, 1769 :
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Squirt (GB) ch. 1732 | Bartlett's Childers* | Darley Arabian |
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Squirt (GB) ch. 1732 | Bartlett's Childers* | Betty Leedes |
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Squirt (GB) ch. 1732 | Snake mare | Snake |
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Squirt (GB) ch. 1732 | Snake mare | Grey Wilkes |
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Patriot mare (GB) | Bolton Patriot 1729 | Bay Bolton |
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Patriot mare (GB) | Bolton Patriot 1729 | Jigg mare |
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Patriot mare (GB) | Crab mare | Crab |
| Sire Syphon (GB) ch. 1750 | Patriot mare (GB) | Crab mare | Bay Bolton mare |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Shakespeare (GB) ch. 1745 | Hobgoblin 1724 | Aleppo |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Shakespeare (GB) ch. 1745 | Hobgoblin 1724 | Son of Careless mare |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Shakespeare (GB) ch. 1745 | Little Hartley Mare* | Bartlett's Childers* |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Shakespeare (GB) ch. 1745 | Little Hartley Mare* | Flying Whig |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Miss Meredith (GB) 1751 | Cade b. 1734 | Godolphin Arabian |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Miss Meredith (GB) 1751 | Cade b. 1734 | Roxana |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Miss Meredith (GB) 1751 | Little Hartley Mare* | Bartlett's Childers* |
| Dam Shakespeare mare (GB) b. 1763 | Miss Meredith (GB) 1751 | Little Hartley Mare* | Flying Whig |
Note: b. = Bay, ch. = Chestnut
* Sweetbriar is inbred 3S x 4D × 4D to the stallion Bartlett's Childers, meaning that he appears third generation once on the sire side of his pedigree, and fourth generation twice on the dam side of his pedigree.
* Sweetbriar is inbred 4D × 4D to the mare Little Hartley Mare, meaning that she appears fourth generation twice on the dam side of his pedigree.