Sir Alfred J. Munnings, P.R.A. Mendham 1878-1959 London

This picture is a sketch for Blue Prince II with Harry Carr Up on Newmarket Heath (Sotheby's, New York, 28 October 2004, lot 180) one of Munnings finest paintings of the 1950s, which was one of the most successful and productive periods of the artist's career. Munnings has placed the handsome form of Blue Prince II against a windy sky on Newmarket Heath with the famous green and white silks of the Jeffords' family shining elegantly within the landscape.

Blue Prince II was a bay colt bred in the USA in 1951 by Princequillo out of Blue Denim, a daughter of Blue Larkspur. He was the property of Mr. W. M. Jeffords and sent to Newmarket to be trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, who ran the famous Warren Stables. His record as a race-horse was exemplary and when he was put to stud he sired several notable horses, including Princess Blair, who became the dam of Cafe Society, the American Steeplechase Champion of 1977 and 1978. His son Days at Sea won the Preis von Europa at Cologne in 1974. Blue Prince II died in 1979 and was buried at 505 Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.