Moulton (23 April 1969 – 1981) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After finishing unplaced on his only start as a juvenile, Moulton improved to become a high-class middle-distance performer in 1972, winning the White Rose Stakes, Prix Ridgway and Prix Henri Delamarre as well as placing second in the Dante Stakes and the Prix du Prince d'Orange. He reached his peak as a four-year-old in 1973 when he won the Premio Presidente della Repubblica and finished second in the Eclipse Stakes before recording a 14/1 upset win in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. He was retired from racing and had limited success as a breeding stallion.
Background
Moulton was a "big, strong, most attractive" bay horse with a white blaze and a white sock on his right hind foot bred by his owner Ralph "Budgie" Moller at his White Lodge Stud. Moller sent the colt to be trained in Newmarket by Harry Wragg at his Abington Place stable.
He was one of the best horses sired by Pardao who was a top-class middle-distance performer on both sides of the Atlantic, finishing third in The Derby and winning the San Juan Capistrano Handicap. He returned to stand at stud in England at the end of his racing career and sired several other good winners including the filly Sovereign whose wins included the Coronation Stakes. Moulton's dam Close Up was a winning daughter of Horama, an Irish broodmare who has been the ancestor of numerous major winners including Teenoso, Sir Percy, Rule of Law and Harayir.
Racing career
1971: two-year-old season
Moulton was slow to mature and made no impact as a two-year-old, finishing sixth on his only appearance.
1972: three-year-old season
On his first appearance of 1972, Moulton recorded his first win as he won the Meldon Stakes, a maiden race over nine furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse in April before being moved up in class and distance for the White Rose Stakes over ten furlongs at Ascot Racecourse. Ridden by Brian Taylor he held off a strong late challenge from the Bruce Hobbs-trained Paper Cap to win by a short head. On his next appearance the colt contested the Dante Stakes (a major trial race for The Derby) over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse in May. He was beaten half a length by Rheingold with a gap of five lengths back to Coup de Feu in third. In the 193rd running of the Derby Mouton ran prominently for a long way before finishing ninth of the twenty-two runners behind Roberto.
In the late summer and autumn of 1972 Moulton was campaigned in France. On 27 August he was sent to Deauville Racecourse and started the 1.8/1 favourite for the Prix Ridgway over 1950 metres. Ridden by Lester Piggott he came out best in a close finish beating Mister Sic Top (winner of the 1971 Prix d'Ispahan) by a short head with Coup de Feu a short head away in third. In the Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp Racecourse in September Moulton was badly hampered in the closing stages before finishing third to Sharapour and Mister Sic Top and was promoted to second after the winner was disqualified. Moulton was equipped with blinkers in the Prix Henri Delamarre over 2200 metres at Longchamp and won by two and a half lengths from Christmas Box.
1973: four-year-old season
On his first appearance of 1973, Moulton finished unplaced behind Scottish Rifle in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket in April. At the end of the month he finished a close-up ninth behind Rheingold in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp. Moulton was then sent to Italy for the Premio Presidente della Repubblica over 2400 metres in Rome on 27 May in which his opponents included Hoche (winner of the race in 1972), Orsa Maggiore (Oaks d'Italia) and Fernet (Premio Parioli). Ridden by Piggott he started favourite and won easily by two and a half lengths from Ferramonti. On his next appearance he finished third to La Troublerie and Some Crack in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchanp on 24 June.