Gilles de Retz (horse)
Gilles de Retz | |
---|---|
Sire | 2000 Guineas (1956) Coronation Stakes (1957) |
Awards | |
Timeform rating 132 |
Gilles de Retz (1953–1969) was a British
Background
Gilles de Retz was a dark-coated bay horse with no white markings[1] bred by his owner, Anthony Samuel at his Eveton Stud. His sire, Royal Charger was a successful sprinter and miler who was trained by Jack Jarvis to win the Queen Anne Stakes and the Ayr Gold Cup in 1946. He made a promising start to his stud career in Ireland and went on to greater success after being exported to the United States in 1953. Gilles de Retz was the first foal of Ma Soeur Anne, a French-bred mare who was a half sister to Bagheera, the winner of the Prix de Diane and the Grand Prix de Paris.[2]
During his racing career, Gilles de Retz was officially trained by Charles Jerdein and then by
Racing career
1955: two-year-old season
Gilles de Retz began his racing career in the spring of 1955 when he finished third in a race at
1956: three-year-old season
Gilles de Retz prepared for the 2000 Guineas by finishing unplaced in the
Despite his physical problems, Gilles de Retz contested the Derby at
1957: four-year-old season
In 1957 the licence at Blewbury was passed from Charles Jerdein to Helen Johnson Houghton's twenty-three-year-old cousin, Peter Walwyn. Gilles de Retz began his third season at Sandown Park Racecourse where he contested the Coronation Stakes, a race now known as the Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Ridden by Barlow, the colt won easily at odds of 100/6, showing his best form for the first time in almost a year. He then finished fourth behind the French-trained five-year-old Fric in both the Coronation Cup and the Hardwicke Stakes and ended his career with a defeat in the Midsummer Stakes.[5]
Assessment and honours
As a three-year-old in 1956, Gilles de Retz was given a rating of 132 by the independent Timeform organisation, making him the equal top-rated three-year-old in Europe alongside the Prix du Jockey Club winner Philius.[10] In their book, A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris were more sceptical, rating Gilles de Retz an "inferior" winner of the 2000 Guineas.[11]
Stud record
Gilles de Retz made little impact as a stallion in Europe and was exported to Japan in 1964. The best of his offspring was probably Chitose O, whose wins included the
Pedigree
Sire Royal Charger (GB) 1942 |
Nearco (ITY) 1935 |
Pharos | Phalaris |
---|---|---|---|
Scapa Flow | |||
Nogara | Havresac | ||
Catnip | |||
Sun Princess (GB) 1937 |
Solario | Gainsborough | |
Sun Worship | |||
Mumtaz Begum | Blenheim | ||
Mumtaz Mahal | |||
Dam Ma Soeur Anne (FR) 1947 |
Majano (FR) 1937 |
Deiri | Aethelstan |
Desra | |||
Madgi Moto | Ksar | ||
Groseille a Maquereau | |||
Grande Soeur (FR) 1930 |
Grand Guignol | Rabelais | |
Grignouse | |||
Soeur Gaby | Gorgos | ||
Scammonnee (Family:5-g)[2] |
References
- ^ "Gilles de Retz photograph". sporthorse-data. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Skypeeper - Family 5-g". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^ a b "Helen Johnson Houghton obituary". Telegraph. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ISBN 9780714682921. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^ ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^ "Outsider wins race classic". Calgary Herald. 2 May 1956. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- Montreal Gazette. 3 May 1956. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^ "Why do they hesitate to try for the double?". The Bulletin (Glasgow). 26 May 1956. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
- ISBN 978-1-901570-15-1.
- ^ "Gilles de Retz pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-06-29.