It is hard to imagine, but the likes of Citation (Bull Lea), American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile), and Saturday’s G2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas hero Abashiri (Go Deputy) all carry the name of one of history’s greatest broodmares in their pedigrees, writes Sarah Whitelaw.
This is the mighty mare Plucky Liege (Spearmint), who produced four individual sons, who became important stallions and who were subsequently named chef-de race.
Citation, winner of the US Triple Crown in 1948 and widely regarded as one of three greatest horses ever to race in North America is a son of five times champion US sire, Bull Lea. The latter, in turn, is a son of Plucky Liege’s son, Bull Dog.
American Pharoah – Kentucky Derby winner
American Pharoah, who recently had his first mare test in foal, is a son of Pioneerof The Nile, who is a great grandson of the hugely influential sire, Fappiano (also male line ancestor of one of North America’s hottest stallions in Candy Ride).
G1 Met Handicap winning Fappiano (Mr Prospector) is a direct male line descendant of Plucky Liege, as is Fappiano’s inbred son, Quiet American. The latter has also made a name for himself at stud, with his offspring including dual US classic winning champion Real Quiet, whose dual G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winning son, Midnight Lute, has since become a highly successful sire. Quiet American is also broodmare sire of champions Saint Liam (Saint Ballado) and Bernardini (A P Indy), with the latter now one of North America’s most prolific sires of G1 horses.
Plucky Liege is also the ancestress of G1 Sword Dancer Handicap winner, Go Deputy (Deputy Minister), whose son Abashiri was such an authorative winner of Saturday’s Gauteng Guineas and who looks a natural contender for the South African Triple Crown this season. Interestingly, a number of high class South African performers are also descendants of Plucky Liege, most notably former G1 Vodacom Durban July winner, Hunting Tower (Fort Wood) and the fine broodmare, Mabola Plum, dam of top class fillies Mocachino (Silvano) and Mocha Java (National Assembly).
Go Deputy
Abashiri’s well bred sire, Go Deputy (whose 3yos this season also include stakes winner and recent G3 Vasco Prix Du Cap runner up, Flying Ice, as well as the promising pair of Rap Attack and Welsh Emperor) is himself a half brother to multiple G1 winner Dare And Go (Alydar), who ended the mighty Cigar’s winning streak when victorious in the G1 Pacific Classic of 1996. The pair trace back to Plucky Liege through Acorn Stakes winner Hostility (a granddaughter of Plucky Liege through her daughter Marguerite De Valois).
While a number of outstanding sires and producers are descendants of Plucky Liege herself, few, if any, can match their ancestor’s truly remarkable record at stud.
The mare, who was born in 1912, had four sons that were official champion sires/and or champion broodmare sires. Plucky Liege’s tally included Epsom Derby winner Bois Roussel (Vatout) and French 2000 Guineas winner, Sir Gallahad III (Teddy), as well as the latter’s own brother, Bull Dog.
Remarkably all three subsequently became champion sires and broodmare sires.
The Triple Crown connection to Plucky Liege is indeed a strong one –not only is Bull Dog grandsire of Triple Crown winner and champion Citation, but Sir Gallahad III is the sire of 1930 Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox, whose son Omaha won the US Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes) in 1935.
To date, Gallant Fox is the only US Triple Crown winner to sire a US Triple Crown winner. His sire, Sir Gallahad III, was also a superb broodmare sire, and ranks as one of the finest damsires of the 20th century –he headed the US Broodmare Sires List on no fewer than 11 occasions, and his brother Bull Dog was top broodmare sire three times.
California Chrome wins Transgulf Electromechanical Trophy (photo: Andrew Watkins)
Sir Gallahad III’s numerous high class daughters included Escutcheon (ancestress of such stars as Aptitude, Coastal, Free Eagle, Slew O Gold, Sleepytime and Trusted Partner), Betty Derr (ancestress of Arch, Bayern, Green Desert and California Chrome), Double Time (ancestress of Harlan’s Holiday, Boldnesian, Cryptoclearance, Equiano, Princessnesian, and Revidere), Vagrancy (ancestress of Dark Lomond, Natashka, Anees and Elusive Quality) and Marguery (ancestress of Generous, Imagine, Treve, Triptych, Tamarisk, and Moonlight Cloud).
He was also broodmare sire of the champions Gallorette (Challenger II) and Challedon (Challenger II), with the latter North America’s Horse Of The Year in both 1939 and 1940.
Their half brother, Bois Roussel, whose progeny included seven times champion Japanese sire and Irish Derby winner, Hindostan, made his mark as a broodmare sire of classic winners Petite Etoile and St Paddy (Aureole), among others.
Yet another leading sire son of Plucky Liege’s was Grand Prix de Paris winner, Admiral Drake (Craig An Eran), who was top sire in France in 1955. Admiral Drake, whose offspring included Epsom Derby winner Phil Drake and French 2000 Guineas winner, Amour Drake) left behind a truly outstanding daughter in Source Sucree, who produced the breed shaping sire Turn-To (Royal Charger) and who is ancestress of champion miler and leading sire and broodmare sire, Irish River (Riverman) as well as G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Cardmania (Cox’s Ridge). Source Sucree is also the ancestress of local Horse Of The Year and outstanding sire Dynasty (Fort Wood).
Truly, this is a phenomenal record for any mare, and Plucky Liege’s influence today can still be felt through the deeds of the numerous high class performers to have emerged from the Fappiano male line.
