Lake Coniston

Lake Coniston was bred in Ireland by the legendary JP McManus, trained at Epsom by Geoff Lewis and ridden almost entirely by either Pat Eddery or his brother Paul. In 1994 and 1995 he was one of the star sprinters in Europe. His ten race, four victory season as a three year old climaxed with the Prix de Meautry at Deauville and the Diadem Stakes at Ascot. But this was only the start of things.

For if 1994 was good, 1995 was even better. Beginning with the Abernant Stakes in April he blazed a summer trail through York and Ascot to climax with a four length blitz of Europe’s best in the July Cup at Newmarket. The first Group One victory in the Highclere story. It was the sprinting performance of the season and sealed his championship claim.

Lake Coniston, by the sprinting sire Bluebird out of a mare by Persian Bold, was bought by John Warren at Tattersalls October sales for just 22,000 gns. Events conspired against him running as a two year old but when his sixteen race career ended in the Breeders Cup Sprint at Belmont in October 1995 his earnings topped £225,000 and he was then sold as a stallion to the Coolmore Stud for £2.4 million. His success for his fifteen owners had put Highclere most firmly on the map.