 He was foaled on 5 April, which was also the birthday of his breeder, McGregor.When the partnership of McGregor and Whitelaw was dissolved, April the Fifth was put up for auction as a yearling and bought for 200 guineas by McGregor, who was therefore both part-vendor and buyer in the transaction.He raced in the name of Tom Walls who trained him at his stables at Epsom Downs.