Apalachee (USA)
February 8, 1971 – June 19, 1996
Round Table (USA) x Moccasin (USA), by Nantallah (USA)
Family 5-h
February 8, 1971 – June 19, 1996
Round Table (USA) x Moccasin (USA), by Nantallah (USA)
Family 5-h
Apalachee was one of those horses that prove that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for contemporaries' descriptions of him range from “big and imposing” (Richard Ulbrich) to “an outlandish physical specimen” (John Sparkman). He displayed marked talent as a juvenile but failed to train on as expected, reportedly due to a respiratory ailment contracted prior to the 1974 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1). The best sire son of Round Table, he was a good but not exceptional sire and failed to get a son capable of succeeding him.
Race record
5 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$17,824
1973:
1974:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 137 pounds by Timeform as a 2-year-old.
Highweighted at 133 pounds on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1973, 5 pounds more than second-rated Mississippian.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Apalachee at #21 among English and Irish-based juveniles of the 20th century.
As an individual
A big, powerful bay horse, Apalachee had a long stride and excellent action. He had an excellent temperament but was flawed by sickle hocks.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Apalachee sired 483 winners (61.6%) and 49 stakes winners (6.3%) from 784 named foals. Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) credits him with 56 stakes winners (7.1%). Apalachee is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Notable progeny
Apalachee Honey (USA), Dance for Donna (CAN), High Counsel (USA), K One King (USA), Lubicon (CAN), Up the Apalachee (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Apalachee was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was owned by John Mulcahy and was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Apalachee entered stud in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm near Lexington in 1975. He was pensioned in 1996 and died later that year.
Pedigree notes
Apalachee is inbred 4x5 to the speed influence The Boss. Produced from 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-American Horse of the Year Moccasin, he is a full brother to Irish Group 3 winner Brahms and stakes winner Indian. He is a half brother to 1982 Irish champion sprinter and older male Belted Earl (by Damascus), Irish Group 3 winner Nantequos (by Tom Rolfe), and multiple stakes winner Scuff (by Forli), dam of Grade 2 winner Ebros (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of 2008 Ascot Vale Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Northern Meteor. Apalachee is also a half brother to Aztec (by Tom Rolfe), dam of stakes winner Toltec (by L'emigrant), and to multiple stakes winner Flippers (by Coastal), dam of 1990 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Hail Atlantis (by Seattle Slew), second dam of the good sire Stormy Atlantic, and third dam of Puerto Rican champion Dr. Arbatach, 2005 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bandini, French Group 2 winner Incanto Dream, Australian Group 2 winner Gold Water, Grade 2 winner Atlando and English Group 3 winner Discourse.
Produced from the great Claiborne Farm matron Rough Shod II, Moccasin is a full sister to 1961 American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan, the good stakes winner Lt. Stevens, and stakes-placed Thong, dam of 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1973 English champion sprinter Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table), and 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell (by Forli), dam of 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland (by Sadler's Wells). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of Nureyev and the third dam of Sadler's Wells and Fairy King, all by Northern Dancer and all champion sires in at least one major racing nation. Moccasin is also a half sister to multiple stakes winner Gambetta (by My Babu), dam of three-time champion filly Gamely (by Bold Ruler) and second dam of 1973 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini, 1975 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place, and the crack turf mare Drumtop, all by Round Table.
Fun facts
Last updated: November 16, 2020
Race record
5 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$17,824
1973:
- Won Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1, 8FT, Doncaster)
1974:
- Won Gladness Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT, The Curragh)
- 3rd Two Thousand Guineas Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
Honors
- English champion 2-year-old male (1973)
- Irish champion 2-year-old male (1973)
- Timeform co-Horse of the Year (1973) with Rheingold
Assessments
Rated at 137 pounds by Timeform as a 2-year-old.
Highweighted at 133 pounds on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1973, 5 pounds more than second-rated Mississippian.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Apalachee at #21 among English and Irish-based juveniles of the 20th century.
As an individual
A big, powerful bay horse, Apalachee had a long stride and excellent action. He had an excellent temperament but was flawed by sickle hocks.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Apalachee sired 483 winners (61.6%) and 49 stakes winners (6.3%) from 784 named foals. Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) credits him with 56 stakes winners (7.1%). Apalachee is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Notable progeny
Apalachee Honey (USA), Dance for Donna (CAN), High Counsel (USA), K One King (USA), Lubicon (CAN), Up the Apalachee (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Apalachee was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was owned by John Mulcahy and was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Apalachee entered stud in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm near Lexington in 1975. He was pensioned in 1996 and died later that year.
Pedigree notes
Apalachee is inbred 4x5 to the speed influence The Boss. Produced from 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-American Horse of the Year Moccasin, he is a full brother to Irish Group 3 winner Brahms and stakes winner Indian. He is a half brother to 1982 Irish champion sprinter and older male Belted Earl (by Damascus), Irish Group 3 winner Nantequos (by Tom Rolfe), and multiple stakes winner Scuff (by Forli), dam of Grade 2 winner Ebros (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of 2008 Ascot Vale Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Northern Meteor. Apalachee is also a half brother to Aztec (by Tom Rolfe), dam of stakes winner Toltec (by L'emigrant), and to multiple stakes winner Flippers (by Coastal), dam of 1990 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Hail Atlantis (by Seattle Slew), second dam of the good sire Stormy Atlantic, and third dam of Puerto Rican champion Dr. Arbatach, 2005 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bandini, French Group 2 winner Incanto Dream, Australian Group 2 winner Gold Water, Grade 2 winner Atlando and English Group 3 winner Discourse.
Produced from the great Claiborne Farm matron Rough Shod II, Moccasin is a full sister to 1961 American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan, the good stakes winner Lt. Stevens, and stakes-placed Thong, dam of 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1973 English champion sprinter Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table), and 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell (by Forli), dam of 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland (by Sadler's Wells). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of Nureyev and the third dam of Sadler's Wells and Fairy King, all by Northern Dancer and all champion sires in at least one major racing nation. Moccasin is also a half sister to multiple stakes winner Gambetta (by My Babu), dam of three-time champion filly Gamely (by Bold Ruler) and second dam of 1973 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini, 1975 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place, and the crack turf mare Drumtop, all by Round Table.
Fun facts
- The Apalachee are a Native American people who originally inhabited the Florida panhandle. Their survivors now live in Louisiana, but the name lives on in Florida's Apalachee Bay.
Last updated: November 16, 2020