Caerleon II
Encyclopedia
Caerleon was an Irish
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who was a Champion runner in France
and a two-time Champion sire in Great Britain & Ireland
. Bred by Seth Hancock at his famous Claiborne Farm
in Kentucky
, he was out of the mare Foreseer, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Round Table
. Caerleon's sire was the 1970 British Triple Crown
winner, Nijinsky
.
Caerleon was purchased at the Keeneland Yearling Sale
by leading British owner, Robert Sangster
. As a two-year-old, Caerleon made two starts at the Curragh Racecourse
in Ireland for trainer Vincent O'Brien
, earning wins in his debut and then in the Anglesey Stakes
. At age three he won the French Derby
at Chantilly Racecourse
in France and the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup Stakes
at York Racecourse
in England. Back at the Curragh, he ran second to Shareef Dancer
in the Irish Derby
duty for the 1984 season. An immediate success, he would become the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1988 and again in 1991. During his career at stud, Caerleon sired 101 stakes winners including:
Caerleon was also the damsire of:
Caerleon died at age eighteen on February 2, 1998 at Coolmore Stud
in Ireland.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Thoroughbred
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 was a Champion runner in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and a two-time Champion 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:...
. Bred by Seth Hancock at his famous 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:...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, he was out of the mare Foreseer, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee, Round Table
Round Table (horse)
Round Table was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He is considered the greatest turf horse in American racing history. He was foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, on the night of April 6, 1954...
. Caerleon's sire was the 1970 British Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
winner, Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
.
Caerleon was purchased at the Keeneland Yearling Sale
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
by leading British owner, Robert Sangster
Robert Sangster
Robert Edmund Sangster was a British businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. He was British flat racing Champion Owner five times and his horses won many major races, including two Epsom Derbys, four Irish Derbys, two French Derbys, three Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes and a Melbourne...
. As a two-year-old, Caerleon made two starts at the Curragh Racecourse
Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
in Ireland for trainer Vincent O'Brien
Vincent O'Brien
Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
, earning wins in his debut and then in the Anglesey Stakes
Anglesey Stakes
The Anglesey Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs and 63 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
. At age three he won the French Derby
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...
at Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
in France and the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup Stakes
International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York Racecourse
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
in England. Back at the Curragh, he ran second to Shareef Dancer
Shareef Dancer
Shareef Dancer was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse owned by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and based at his family's Godolphin Stables in England....
in the Irish Derby
A Champion sire
Caerleon was retired to studStud (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...
duty for the 1984 season. An immediate success, he would become the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1988 and again in 1991. During his career at stud, Caerleon sired 101 stakes winners including:
- Caerwent (b. 1985) - won G1 National Stakes
- Cape VerdiCape VerdiCape Verdi is a retired, Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. She was trained in England and Dubai during a racing career which consisted of eight races between May 1997 and July 1999. In 1998 she won the 1000 Guineas by five lengths and was the beaten favourite in the Epsom Derby. She was named the...
(b. 1995) - won G1 1000 Guineas - Corwyn Bay (b. 1986) - Anglesey StakesAnglesey StakesThe Anglesey Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs and 63 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, Cartier Million, Ancient Title Stakes - KostromaKostroma (horse)Kostroma was an Thoroughbred filly racehorse who competed successfully in Ireland as well as in the United States where she set a world record for a mile and an eighth on turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.-Breeding:...
(b. 1986) - multiple G1 winner in the U.S. who set a world recordWorld recordA world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for 1 1/8 miles on grass - Missionary Ridge (b. 1987) - won G1 Pacific Classic StakesPacific Classic StakesThe Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
, career earnings US$1,864,498 - GenerousGenerous (horse)Generous is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1991 won both Epsom and Irish Derbys. Sired by Caerleon, his grandsire was Nijinsky...
(b. 1988) - won 1991 EpsomEpsom DerbyThe Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and Irish Derbys - Only Royale (b. 1989) - won G1 Yorkshire OaksYorkshire OaksThe Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
(2x) - MoonaxMoonaxMoonax was an Irish-bred, English-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1994 Moonax became the first horse to win both the Classic St Leger and the Prix Royal-Oak and was named European Champion Stayer. He remains the only three year old to have been honoured in this way...
(b. 1991) - won G1s St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
, Prix Royal-OakPrix Royal-OakThe Prix Royal-Oak 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 3,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.-History:The event was established in 1861, and it was initially...
, 1994 European Champion Stayer - Overbury (b. 1991) - won the Queen Elizabeth II CupQueen Elizabeth II CupThe Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres on turf. Prior to 1997 it was run at 2,200 metres...
in Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the G2 American DerbyAmerican DerbyThe American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at the city's old Washington Park race track and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed and the track demolished....
at Arlington ParkArlington ParkArlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... - Auriette (b. 1992) - won Honeymoon Handicap (1995), Santa Barbara HandicapSanta Barbara HandicapThe Santa Barbara Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event open to fillies and mares, age four and older, it is contested of turf over a distance of one and a quarter miles.Inaugurated in 1935, through...
(1996) - Grape Tree Road (b. 1993) - won G1 Grand Prix de ParisGrand Prix de ParisThe Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
- CorettaCorettaCoretta is a Thoroughbred racemare who competed in the United States. She was bred and raced by Gerald Leigh, proprietor of England's Eydon Hall Stud. Leigh owned and bred her dam, Free At Last, who was a daughter of the 1978 Epsom and Irish Derby winner, Shirley Heights...
(b.1994) - won La Prevoyante HandicapLa Prevoyante HandicapThe La Prevoyante Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida. The race is open to filles and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on turf...
(2x), Long Island HandicapLong Island HandicapThe Long Island Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York...
, Orchid HandicapOrchid HandicapThe Orchid Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Grade III turf race is open to fillies and mares, aged four and up... - MarienbardMarienbardMarienbard was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse bred by Saif Ali and raced by Godolphin Racing. Out of the mare Marienbad, he was sired by the French Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, Caerleon, a son of the 1971 British Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky....
(b. 1997) - Won G1s Prix de l'Arc de TriomphePrix de l'Arc de TriompheThe 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...
, Grosser Preis von BadenGrosser Preis von BadenThe Grosser Preis von Baden is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Baden-Baden over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early September.-History:The event was established in 1858, and it...
, Deutschland-PreisDeutschland-PreisThe Grosser Preis von Berlin, formerly known as the Deutschland-Preis, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older...
, career earnings £1,257,152 - WarrsanWarrsanWarrsan was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Ireland who competed in Europe and Asia. Owned and bred by Saeed Manana of the United Arab Emirates, he was sired by Caerleon, a son of the great Nijinsky, and out of the mare, Lucayan Princess.Conditioned by veteran trainer Clive Brittain, throughout...
(b. 1998) - won G1s Coronation CupCoronation CupThe Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
(2x) and Grosser Preis von BadenGrosser Preis von BadenThe Grosser Preis von Baden is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Baden-Baden over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early September.-History:The event was established in 1858, and it...
(2x). Career earnings of £1,654,749
Caerleon was also the damsire of:
- MutafaweqMutafaweqMutafaweq is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in England, Germany, and Canada.Raced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin Racing, Mutafaweq was a winner of four Group One races in three different countries before being retired from racing at the end of his 2001 campaign...
- wins include the St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
and Canadian InternationalCanadian International StakesThe Canadian International Stakes is a $2 million Grade I Canadian stakes race on Turf for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.... - Taiki ShuttleTaiki ShuttleTaiki Shuttle is a Japanese Thoroughbred race horse who was voted Japanese Horse of the Year in 1998. He was bred and owned by Taiki Farm and trained by Kazuo Fujisawa....
- 1998 Japanese Horse of the YearJapanese Horse of the YearThe Japanese Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in Japanese thoroughbred horse racing. It is awarded annually by the Japan Racing Association ....
and Japan Racing Association Hall of FameJapan Racing Association Hall of FameThe Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a Japanese horse racing memorial hall which was installed on September 2, 1985, in JRA Horse Racing Museum, Fuchu, Tokyo...
inductee - Nashoba's KeyNashoba's KeyNashoba's Key was a bay filly thoroughbred race horse by Silver Hawk out of Nashoba who went undefeated in her first six starts in the Southern California racing circuit, before placing 4th in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.Bred and owned by 79-year-old Warren B...
- multiple Grade 1 winner and 2007 California Horse of the YearCalifornia Horse of the YearThe California Horse of the Year is an American horse racing honor awarded annually since 1973 by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association to a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in the state of California.-Winners:...
Caerleon died at age eighteen on February 2, 1998 at Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
in Ireland.