Surefoot (1887 – 1904) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire whose exceptional racing ability was combined with a violent and unpredictable temperament. As a juvenile in 1889 he was regarded as the best colt of his generation in England after winning three of his four races including the Woodcote Stakes and New Stakes. He also demonstrated his precocity by reportedly siring a foal as a two-year-old. In 1890 he was an emphatic winner of the 2000 Guineas but despite being regarded as a near certainty for the Epsom Derby he finished fourth after spending much of the race attempting to savage other horses and jockeys. He went on to win a minor race at Royal Ascot and later defeated a strong field to take the valuable Prince of Wales' Stakes at Leicester Racecourse. As a four-year-old he showed little worthwhile form early in the season but returned to his best to win the Eclipse Stakes. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in England and France but had limited success as a sire of winners.
Background
Surefoot was a "big, perfectly-formed" bay horse bred in England by his owner Mr A. W. "Archie" Merry, the son of James Merry. The colt was sent into training with Charles Jousiffe at Seven Barrows near Lambourn in Berkshire, where he was assigned to the box previously occupied by Bendigo. He was ridden in almost all of his races by the Edinburgh-born jockey John Liddiard.
His sire Wisdom, who died in 1893, was a failure as a racehorse but became a highly successful stallion, siring good horses such as Sir Hugo, Love Wisely (Ascot Gold Cup) and La Sagesse. Surefoot's dam, an unnamed mare by Galopin, was a granddaughter of the influential British broodmare Gossamer (foaled 1849).
Racing career
1889: two-year-old season
In 1888, the English sportsman Sir John Willoughby opened a book on the 1890 Epsom Derby and accepted a bet £100 on Surefoot at odds of 100/1 meaning that he stood to lose £10,000 if the colt won the race.
Surefoot recorded his first significant success on his racecourse debut in the Woodcote Stakes at the Derby meeting at Epsom Racecourse when he won by half a length from Heresy. At Royal Ascot in June he sustained his only defeat of the season in the Biennial Stakes when he was beaten a head after a "desperate" struggle with the filly Semolina. In the New Stakes two days later at the same meeting he was ridden by John Liddiard and won "easily" by a length from Heaume at odds of 5/4, After the race he was backed at odds of 6/1 for the following year's Epsom Derby. In the Findon Stakes over six furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse on 2 August Surefoot started at odds of 6/100 against two opponents and won "in a canter" by three lengths from the filly Red Thorn.
Despite failing to reappear after his Goodwood victory, Surefoot ended the year with earnings of £2,411 and headed the Derby betting on 4/1 with his nearest rivals being Le Nord (Dewhurst Stakes), Heaume (Challenge Stakes) and the filly Riviera (Champagne Stakes). He was described as the best two-year-old colt of the year although some doubts were expressed about his temperament and ability to withstand hard training.
It was later reported that at some point in 1889, Surefoot had broken his way into a paddock containing several broodmares and that at least one foal was born as a result of his escapade.
1890: three-year-old season
Spring
Early in 1890 a visitor to Seven Barrows described the colt as "gross in constitution... lusty... clean in the pipes... [with] extraordinary muscular development" and "nearly the finest three-year-old I have ever looked over".
Surefoot began his second campaign when he was one of nine colts to contest the 82nd running of the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on 30 April. With Liddiard again in the saddle he was made the 5/4 favourite ahead of Le Nord (15/8) while the only other runners to start at less than 20/1 were the Duke of Portland's St Serf and the Duke of Westminster's Blue Green. Presumably on account of his nervous disposition he was saddled at the start rather than taking part in the mounted parade in front of the stands. Surefoot led from the start under strong restraint before Liddiard allowed him to stride out a furlong from the finish. He "romped" away from his opponents and won in the "easiest possible" style by a length and a half from Le Nord with five length back to Blue Green in third. After the race he still appeared full of energy and looked as though he had merely completed an exercise canter.