Peter Biegel (British, 1913-1988)

'Geoff Lewis' Great Treble', Epsom 1971
signed lower right 'Peter Biegel' and annotated in pencil 'Altesse Royale./The Oaks' (centre left), 'Mill Reef. The Derby.' (centre right), 'Lupe. Coronation Cup.' (lower right)
watercolour over pencil
22 x 27.5cm

Provenance:
Christie's, London, 5th June 1998, lot 184;
J L W Bird Fine Art;
The collection of Richard Bonnycastle,
Dreweatts, Newbury, 11th December 2012, lot 141,
where acquired by the present owner

Exhibited:
Sherborne, Swan Gallery, 'Sporting Pictures by Peter Biegel', 1st-13th April 1995

Literature:
Peter Biegel, Peter Biegel's Racing Pictures, London: Michael Joseph, 1983, illus. p. 84

Geoff Lewis rode the winners of each of the three main races at Epsom in 1971, it was his greatest racing year. He rode Altesse Royale in the Oaks, Mill Reef in the Derby and Lupe in the Coronation Cup.
Altesse Royale, a chestnut filly, was foaled in 1968 by St Crespin and was a winner of the 1000 Guineas. Mill Reef, a bay colt, was also foaled in 1968 by Never Bend, belonged to Paul Mellon and won both the King George VI, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de L'arc de Triomphe later in 1971. Lupe, a bay filly, was foaled in 1967, as a three-year-old, she had won the Oaks.