Spearhead is one of the great sons of Spearmint, but his place in history has always underestimated his importance. For some reason, his stud career was overshadowed by his best son Spearfelt who dominated headlines, while his illustrious sire was underappreciated, even being sold at what should have been the pinnacle of his career. He was a reasonably well credentialled racehorse in the UK winning the Chippenham Stakes and running second in the April Stakes at Newmarket.
Spearhead was a son of Baroness La Fleche, by Ladas, who was a good 2yo winning the Acorn Stakes. At stud not only did she produce Spearhead but also the One Thousand Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner, Cinna. Cinna was to go on to produce the stallion Beau Pere who won the Chesterfield and Swaffham Plates before being sent to NZ where he produced the outstanding Beau Vite who won thirty stakes races including two Cox Plates and Beaulivre who won seventeen stakes races including the Caulfield Cup. Beau Pere was later sold to the US where he continued his success siring multiple stakes winners there including Honeymoon who won both the Hollywood Oaks and Derby during the glory years of racing in that area. Baroness La Fleche was a daughter of La Fleche by St Simon.
La Fleche was to prove an outstanding racehorse winning six stakes races in total in the Oaks, Thousand Guineas, St Leger, Nassau and Champion Stakes, and the Ascot Gold Cup. She had been bred at Hampton Court but was sent to sale in 1890 shortly after her sister, Memoir had won the Newmarket Stakes and the Oaks. She was sold for a record price of 5,500 guineas to Lord Marcus Beresford on behalf of Baron Hirsch. La Fleche found herself at the famed Kingsclere stables of John Porter alongside other notables in Orme and Goldfinch. At stud she was also to produce John O’Gaunt who was to sire the excellent stallion, Swynford. La Fleche was herself
