William Cavendish-Bentinck
Donovan was a dark-coated bay bred by his owner William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland a Conservative politician and landowner. Among the Duke’s other horses were the undefeated St. Simon and the 1888 Derby winner Ayrshire. He was sent into training with George Dawson at his Heath House Stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.