British Empire was a very good 2-year-old in his native England but ran a race too bad to be true in his only start at 3 and was exported to Argentina before receiving any further opportunity to demonstrate whether he could improve on his 2-year-old form. In his new country, he became an excellent sire, successfully continuing the line of his paternal grandsire, 1925 Derby Stakes winner Manna (by Phalaris).
Race record
7 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, £5,623
1939:
Assessments
Rated co-second on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1939 with Stardust, the beneficiary of his disqualification in the National Produce Stakes.
As an individual
A handsome bay horse with prominent withers and a high head carriage, British Empire had a deep girth and a strong hind leg.
As a stallion
British Empire sired at least 40 stakes winners and was particularly effective with daughters of Hunter's Moon. British Empire is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers);
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Earshot (ARG), Eglantine (ARG), Endeavour II (ARG), Endless (ARG), Eneide (ARG), Ensueño (ARG), Equator (ARG), Equinox (ARG), Estacion (ARG), Estampido (ARG), Estuardo (ARG), Et Bien! (ARG), Good News (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bogotana (CHI), Empiric (ARG), Enea (ARG), Escorial (BRZ), Eurreko (ARG), Eutropio (ARG), Pour Epater (URU), Tabac (ARG), Trousseau (ARG)
Connections
British Empire was bred and owned by William James Tatem, 1st Baron Glanely. After the colt finished last of 14 in the Craven Stakes, Lord Glanely sold him to Jorge Atucha, master of the important Argentine stud Haras El Pelado. British Empire stood at Haras El Pelado throughout his stud career, dying there in 1960.
Pedigree notes
British Empire is outcrossed through five generations. He is by the 1934 Two Thousand Guineas winner Colombo out of Rose of England, winner of the 1930 Oaks Stakes, making him a full brother to Rose of Kandy, dam of two-time City and Suburban Handicap winner Sunny Brae (by Torbido) and Gainsborough Stakes winner Sun Prince (by Prince Chevalier). British Empire is a half brother to 1937 St. Leger Stakes winner Chulmleigh (by Singapore) and to 1938 Newmarket Oaks winner Fairie Queene (by Solario), dam of stakes winner Strong i'th' Arm (by Nearco), second dam of the useful stakes winners Arabian Night (the 1954 Derby Stakes runner-up) and King's Own and of the great Argentina-based broodmare Fallow, and third dam of 1955 Prix la Rochette winner Belle Epoque. British Empire is also a half brother to stakes winners Rosegain (by Gainsborough) and Coastal Traffic (by Hyperion) and to Eastern Rose (by Singapore), dam of stakes winner Exotic (by Colombo) and third dam of 1965 Norsk Derby winner Romeo and 1963 Queen Mary Stakes winner Lerida.
Rose of England is a half sister to 1941 Coronation Cup winner Winterhalter (by Gainsborough) and to 1933 Yorkshire Oaks winner Star of England (by Gainsborough). The siblings are out of Perce-Neige (by Neil Gow) a half sister to the good handicapper and useful sire Winalot (by Son-in-Law). The next dam in British Empire's tail-female line, Gallenza (by Gallinule) is a full sister to the speedy stakes winner Glasgerion and a half sister to 1911 July Stakes winner Ambassador IV (by Dark Ronald), who met with some success as a sire in the United States in spite of subnormal fertility.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 26, 2022
Race record
7 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, £5,623
1939:
- Won July Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Chesham Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- Won Lavant Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Goodwood)
- Won Warwickshire Breeders Foal Plate (ENG, 5FT, Birmingham)
- 2nd First Spring Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Newmarket)
- Also finished first in the National Produce Stakes (ENG, Sandown) but was disqualified for interference.
Assessments
Rated co-second on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1939 with Stardust, the beneficiary of his disqualification in the National Produce Stakes.
As an individual
A handsome bay horse with prominent withers and a high head carriage, British Empire had a deep girth and a strong hind leg.
As a stallion
British Empire sired at least 40 stakes winners and was particularly effective with daughters of Hunter's Moon. British Empire is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers);
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1947 and 1954; 2nd in 1946 and 1949; 3rd in 1948; 4th in 1950, 1951, and 1955; 5th in 1952; 6th in 1953, 1956, and 1958; 10th in 1957.
- Led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1959 and 1960; 2nd in 1966; 3rd in 1961 and 1963; 4th in 1958 and 1962.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1947 and 1954.
Notable progeny
Earshot (ARG), Eglantine (ARG), Endeavour II (ARG), Endless (ARG), Eneide (ARG), Ensueño (ARG), Equator (ARG), Equinox (ARG), Estacion (ARG), Estampido (ARG), Estuardo (ARG), Et Bien! (ARG), Good News (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bogotana (CHI), Empiric (ARG), Enea (ARG), Escorial (BRZ), Eurreko (ARG), Eutropio (ARG), Pour Epater (URU), Tabac (ARG), Trousseau (ARG)
Connections
British Empire was bred and owned by William James Tatem, 1st Baron Glanely. After the colt finished last of 14 in the Craven Stakes, Lord Glanely sold him to Jorge Atucha, master of the important Argentine stud Haras El Pelado. British Empire stood at Haras El Pelado throughout his stud career, dying there in 1960.
Pedigree notes
British Empire is outcrossed through five generations. He is by the 1934 Two Thousand Guineas winner Colombo out of Rose of England, winner of the 1930 Oaks Stakes, making him a full brother to Rose of Kandy, dam of two-time City and Suburban Handicap winner Sunny Brae (by Torbido) and Gainsborough Stakes winner Sun Prince (by Prince Chevalier). British Empire is a half brother to 1937 St. Leger Stakes winner Chulmleigh (by Singapore) and to 1938 Newmarket Oaks winner Fairie Queene (by Solario), dam of stakes winner Strong i'th' Arm (by Nearco), second dam of the useful stakes winners Arabian Night (the 1954 Derby Stakes runner-up) and King's Own and of the great Argentina-based broodmare Fallow, and third dam of 1955 Prix la Rochette winner Belle Epoque. British Empire is also a half brother to stakes winners Rosegain (by Gainsborough) and Coastal Traffic (by Hyperion) and to Eastern Rose (by Singapore), dam of stakes winner Exotic (by Colombo) and third dam of 1965 Norsk Derby winner Romeo and 1963 Queen Mary Stakes winner Lerida.
Rose of England is a half sister to 1941 Coronation Cup winner Winterhalter (by Gainsborough) and to 1933 Yorkshire Oaks winner Star of England (by Gainsborough). The siblings are out of Perce-Neige (by Neil Gow) a half sister to the good handicapper and useful sire Winalot (by Son-in-Law). The next dam in British Empire's tail-female line, Gallenza (by Gallinule) is a full sister to the speedy stakes winner Glasgerion and a half sister to 1911 July Stakes winner Ambassador IV (by Dark Ronald), who met with some success as a sire in the United States in spite of subnormal fertility.
Fun facts
- British Empire was not named until after his juvenile season (a practice permissible in England at that time) and raced as the “Rose of England Colt” as a 2-year-old.
- British Empire's first winner, Union Jack, dropped dead shortly after passing the winning post. Fortunately for Argentine breeding, Jorge Atucha ignored what some might have seen as an evil omen and kept using the stallion.
Last updated: April 26, 2022