Pretender’s form subsequently deteriorated and he failed to record any significant wins despite staying in training for two more seasons.

Pretender was a bay or brown horse standing 16 hands high bred by William Sadler of Doncaster and sold for 400 guineas[1] as a yearling to the trainer Thomas Dawson, acting on behalf of John Johnstone.

His dam, Ferina, who had previously produced the 2000 Guineas runner-up St. Hubert, was twenty-two years old when Pretender was foaled.

The more important of his wins came in the North of England Biennial Stakes at York, a race previously won by Blair Athol.

In the final furlong, Pretender turned back a challenge from The Drummer, but was then pressed by John Wells on Pero Gomez who finished very strongly.

On the line Pretender prevailed by a short head, although the result was in considerable doubt for several moments until the judge's verdict was announced, and Wells was convinced that he had won.

[3] Pretender won the Great Northern “St Leger” at Stockton in August, but was beginning to show symptoms of the respiratory condition known as Roarer Syndrome, which increasingly prevented him from exerting himself fully.

In the one and a half mile Doncaster Stakes two days later he was ridden closer to the lead but was again beaten easily by Pero Gomez, finishing second by a length.

[14] In October he showed slightly better form to finish second, beaten a neck by the French outsider Boulogne, to whom he was conceding seven pounds in the Newmarket Derby.