Larkspur (horse)

Larkspur
Sire	Never Say Die
Grandsire	Nasrullah
Dam	Skylarking
Damsire	Woodlark
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	January 1959
Country	Ireland
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Philip Love
Owner	Raymond R. Guest
Trainer	Vincent O’Brien
Record	10: 3-1-1
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1962)

Larkspur was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who won the Epsom Derby 1962. He was the first of six Derby winners trained by Vincent O’Brien at Ballydoyle. Larkspur achieved little of note either before or after his Epsom triumph.

Larkspur, a light chestnut horse with a white blaze, was bred in Ireland by Philip Love. His sire, the American-bred Derby winner Never Say Die, was a qualified success at stud, getting the double Classic winner Never Too Late and becoming Champion Sire in 1962, largely thanks to Larkspur’s earnings. Apart from Larkspur, his dam Skylarking produced eight winners, the best being the 1965 Dante Stakes winner Ballymarais. Ballymarais ran in the 2000 Guineas and was nearest at finish at 33-1,and when the weights for the Dante were published he carried only 7.11 and was 1-4 on for the race, which he duly won, he was trained by Bill Gray, owned by Bill Stoker and ridden by Brian Connorton.

Larkspur was sent as a yearling to the Ballsbridge Sales where he was bought for 12,200gns by Vincent O’Brien on behalf of the American businessman Raymond R. Guest

Larkspur made little impression on his debut, finishing unplaced in a maiden race at Leopardstown in the summer of 1961. After a break he returned to Leopardstown in September to record his first win, taking a maiden race by three lengths. He was strongly fancied for the National Stakes later in the month, in which he finished a close third behind Mystery.

...
Wikipedia