Ambiorix (horse)
Encyclopedia
Ambiorix (also known as Ambiorix II to distinguish him from another Ambiorix [1940], also by Tourbillon) was a French Champion Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred
racehorse
who became a leading sire.
at his Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
in Orne
, he was sired by Tourbillon
whom Ambiorix II would help make the Leading sire in France
in 1948. Tourbillon was a son of Ksar
, a two-time winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
and the Leading sire in France in 1931. The dam of Ambiorix II was Lavendula, a daughter of Pharos
, the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
in 1931 and Leading sire in France in 1939. Ambiorix was a half-brother to Source Sucree (dam of Turn-To
), Perfume II (dam of My Babu
and Sayani), Singadula and Wild Lavender II.
s in distance rather than the European Classic distance of 12 furlongs or more.
In 1948 Ambiorix made three starts. He finished off the board in his racing debut in the French Prix de Chatou and then easily won the Selsey Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse
in England
. He followed this with a win in the most important race for two-year-olds in France, the Grand Criterium
. His performances earned him the 1948 French Champion Two-Year-Old-Colt honors. Racing at age three in 1949, Ambiorix made four starts. Jockey Poincelet guided the colt to wins in the Prix Lupin
at Longchamp Racecourse and the Prix Greffulhe
at Saint-Cloud Racecourse
, both of which were run at around ten furlongs. Ambiorix then earned seconds to Good Luck in the 1949 Prix du Jockey Club
and to Val Drake in the Prix Hocquart
.
250,000 to a syndicate led by Bull Hancock who brought him to stand at stud
in time for the 1950 season at his Claiborne Farm
near Paris, Kentucky
.
Ambiorix would spend the rest of his life at Claiborne Farm where he sired fifty-one stakes race winners and was the Leading sire in North America
in 1961. His best offspring included:
Through his daughter Fantan II, Ambiorix was the damsire of Ragusa
who was a major factor in him earning Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
honors in 1963.
After being pensioned, Ambiorix died at age twenty-nine in January 1975 at Claiborne Farm and is buried the farm's equine cemetery.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who became a leading sire.
Pedigree
Regally bred by Marcel BoussacMarcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history....
at his Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard was a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Neuvy-au-Houlme in the Orne department in Lower Normandy purchased by Marcel Boussac in 1919. Widely respected, Marcel Boussac was called "the greatest of French breeders" by John P. Sparkman, an editor with Thoroughbred Times....
in Orne
Orne
Orne is a department in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne.- History :Orne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Normandy and Perche.- Geography :Orne is in the region of...
, he was sired by Tourbillon
Tourbillon (horse)
Tourbillon was an French Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire. He was bred and raced by one of France's most prominent horsemen, Marcel Boussac...
whom Ambiorix II would help make the Leading sire in France
Leading sire in France
The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of racehorses in France for each year since 1887. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the season .-----References:* -See also:*...
in 1948. Tourbillon was a son of Ksar
Ksar (horse)
Ksar was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who had back-to-back wins in France's most prestigious horse race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.-Breeding:...
, a two-time winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
and the Leading sire in France in 1931. The dam of Ambiorix II was Lavendula, a daughter of Pharos
Pharos (horse)
Pharos was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Pedigree:Bred and raced by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, he was a brother to the stakeswinners, Fair Isle and Fairway who won 31 races and ₤71,635 between them...
, the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
in 1931 and Leading sire in France in 1939. Ambiorix was a half-brother to Source Sucree (dam of Turn-To
Turn-To
Turn-To was a British Thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by the great British stakes winner Royal Charger, out of the French mare Source Sucree, whose sire, Admiral Drake, was third on the French sire list in 1949....
), Perfume II (dam of My Babu
My Babu
My Babu was a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who became one of the most influential sires in American breeding of show jumpers, eventers and hunters. His descendants include Bruce Davidson's former eventing mount JJ Babu, Anky van Grunsven's dressage horse Bonfire, and puissance and grand prix...
and Sayani), Singadula and Wild Lavender II.
Race record
Trained by Charles Semblat and ridden by Roger Poincelet, Ambiorix proved to be a better runner at races around 8-10 furlongFurlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s in distance rather than the European Classic distance of 12 furlongs or more.
In 1948 Ambiorix made three starts. He finished off the board in his racing debut in the French Prix de Chatou and then easily won the Selsey Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He followed this with a win in the most important race for two-year-olds in France, the Grand Criterium
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.It is the oldest and most prestigious race in France...
. His performances earned him the 1948 French Champion Two-Year-Old-Colt honors. Racing at age three in 1949, Ambiorix made four starts. Jockey Poincelet guided the colt to wins in the Prix Lupin
Prix Lupin
The Prix Lupin was a Group 1 flat horse race in France which was open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres , and it was scheduled to take place each year in May....
at Longchamp Racecourse and the Prix Greffulhe
Prix Greffulhe
The Prix Greffulhe is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
at Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France...
, both of which were run at around ten furlongs. Ambiorix then earned seconds to Good Luck in the 1949 Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and to Val Drake in the Prix Hocquart
Prix Hocquart
The Prix Hocquart is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
.
Stud record
Retired from racing, Marcel Boussac believed Ambiorix would have more value as a sire in the United States where the vast majority of race distances suited his record best. As such, he was sold for US$United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
250,000 to a syndicate led by Bull Hancock who brought him to stand at stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
in time for the 1950 season at his Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
near Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
.
Ambiorix would spend the rest of his life at Claiborne Farm where he sired fifty-one stakes race winners and was the Leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
in 1961. His best offspring included:
- High VoltageHigh Voltage (horse)High Voltage was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1954. Bred and raced by Gladys Mills Phipps' Wheatley Stable, High Voltage was conditioned for racing by legendary U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons...
(1952) - American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, won Matron Stakes, Coaching Club American OaksCoaching Club American OaksThe Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010.... - Hitting Away (1958) - won Withers StakesWithers StakesThe Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
, Dwyer StakesDwyer StakesThe Dwyer Stakes is an American Grade II stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York. Run in early July, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced over a distance of 1 1/16-miles on dirt...
, Bernard Baruch HandicapBernard Baruch HandicapThe Bernard Baruch Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early to mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is for three year olds and up willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf and carries a purse of $200,000...
, Royal Palm Handicap (2x) - Ambiopoise (1958) - won Jersey DerbyJersey DerbyThe Jersey Derby is a $100,000 American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in late July/early August at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Since 1993 it has been raced on grass at a distance of 1 1/16 miles....
, Gotham StakesGotham StakesThe Gotham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Grade III event with a purse of $250,000, it is set at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt...
, Discovery HandicapDiscovery HandicapThe Discovery Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
, sire of Faraway Son - Count Amber (1957) - won Narragansett SpecialNarragansett SpecialThe Narragansett Special was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Narragansett Race Track in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. At the time of its inaugural running in 1935, the Narragansett Special offered a purse of $25,000 making it New England's richest horse race Open to horses age three...
, sire of AmberoidAmberoidAmberoid was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1966 American Classic, the Belmont Stakes.... - Amber Morn (1956) - won Bowling Green HandicapBowling Green HandicapThe Bowling Green Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annualkly at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Raced on turf, the Grade II event is open to three-year-olds and up who are willing to race the one and three-eighths miles distance...
, Autumn HandicapAutumn Stakes (Canada)The Autumn Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in mid November, it is open to horses aged three and older. It was raced on dirt until 2006 when the track's owners installed the new synthetic Polytrack surface...
, sire of Queen's PlateQueen's PlateThe Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
winners Royal ChocolateRoyal ChocolateRoyal Chocolate was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by Jack Stafford's Stafford Farms of King City, Ontario, he was out of the mare Rocket Shot, a granddaughter of the influential sire, Princequillo who was a seven-time Leading broodmare sire in North America...
and Amber Herod - Make Sail, winner of the Kentucky OaksKentucky OaksThe Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
.
Through his daughter Fantan II, Ambiorix was the damsire of Ragusa
Ragusa (horse)
Ragusa was a Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by American Harry Guggenheim who owned his dam Fantan II, he was sired by Ribot. Sold at the Ballsbridge Sales for 3,800 guineas, Ragusa was purchased by trainer Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast for owners James R...
who was a major factor in him earning Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:*...
honors in 1963.
After being pensioned, Ambiorix died at age twenty-nine in January 1975 at Claiborne Farm and is buried the farm's equine cemetery.