Octavian (horse)

Octavian's dam was an unnamed mare sired by Oberon, who was bought by Allison, from Mr Peverill, a breeder based at Stockton-on-Tees.

This mare has been traditionally assigned to Thoroughbred family number 8, but recent research, including analysis of matrilinear MtDNA, has rendered the female side of Octavian's pedigree extremely uncertain.

The Oaks Stakes winner Oriana was made the 11/8 favourite ahead of Major Wheatley's colt Recollection at 7/2, with Octavian starting at odds of 12/1.

[3] Two days after his St Leger win, Octavian walked over for the Gascoigne Stakes over the same course, when the six other horses engaged in the race were withdrawn by their owners.

[13] In retirement, Octavian remained in the ownership of the Duke of Leeds and stood as a stallion at Oran Farm, near Catterick at an initial fee of six and a half guineas.

His second crop of foals included Antonio, a colt who won the St Leger in 1819, and in the same year Octavian's fee rose to twelve guineas.

In 1822 Octavian was sold to James Ferguson and moved to his new owners stud at Catterick, where he remained for three years, standing at ten guineas.