Caerleon (USA)
March 27, 1980 – February 2, 1998
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Foreseer (USA), by Round Table (USA)
Family 1-x
March 27, 1980 – February 2, 1998
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Foreseer (USA), by Round Table (USA)
Family 1-x
One of the best European-based colts of his generation, Caerleon was a good 2-year-old but was better at 3, earning a Classic win in France and defeating his elders in the 1983 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (ENG-I), albeit against a subpar field. He proved a very good sire in Europe and was among several sire sons whose careers suggest that Nijinsky II was underrated as a sire of sires.
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$345,550 (converted from English, French and Irish earnings)
1982:
1983:
Honors
French champion 3-year-old male (1983)
Assessments
Rated second on the Free Handicap for Irish-based juveniles of 1982, 5 pounds below his stablemate Danzatore.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, medium-sized, rather compact bay with a deep girth, Caerleon was game and determined on the race course. He won on soft going but did not care for it.
As a stallion
Caerleon led the English/Irish general sire list in 1988 and 1991 and was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires on another eight occasions. He led the Italian general sire list in 1989 and was runner-up there in 1988 and 1992. In addition, he was fifth on the French general sire list in 2002. He led the English/Irish juvenile sire list in 1988 and 1989 and was also a good sire of broodmares. He was not a prepotent sire, his progeny coming in all shapes and sizes, but his runners generally stayed well. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Caerleon sired 613 winners (59.8%) and 120 stakes winners (11.7%) from 1025 named foals, Thoroughbred Times credited Caerleon with 128 stakes winners (12.5%).
Notable progeny
Atoll (IRE), Caerlina (IRE), Caerwent (IRE), Cape Verdi (IRE), Generous (IRE), Grape Tree Road (GB), In a Tiff (IRE), Kostroma (IRE), Lady Carla (GB), Marienbard (IRE), Moonax (IRE), Mukhalif (IRE), Only Royale (IRE), Preseli (IRE), Shake the Yoke (GB), Shinko Lovely (IRE), Tenby (GB), Volga (IRE), Warrsan (IRE), Welsh Guide (IRE), Zenno El Cid (IRE)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Caerleon was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was owned by Robert Sangster, who purchased him for US$800,000 from the 1981 Keeneland July yearling sale. Caerleon was trained by Vincent O'Brien. The colt entered stud in 1984 at Coolmore Stud's Irish headquarters in County Tipperary.
Pedigree notes
Caerleon is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1984 Secretariat Stakes (USA-IT) winner Vision; to 1988 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (FR-II) winner Merce Cunningham; to stakes-placed Far, dam of multiple Grade II winner Yonder (by Seattle Slew) and listed stakes winner Ago (by Danzig); and to Video, dam of multiple Grade I winner Scan (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of Grade/Group III winners The Leopard and Just Pretending. Caerleon is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Palmistry (by Forli), second dam of French Group III winner Bonaire and third dam of multiple Grade/Group II winner Lundy's Liability, and to Larceny (by Private Account), third dam of 2009 Grande Prêmio Margarida Polak Lara (BRZ-I) winner Talenta.
Caerleon's dam Foreseer is a stakes-placed full sister to multiple Grade I winner Royal Glint. She is a half sister to Glisk (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade II winner Glow (by Northern Dancer) and listed stakes winner Lustra (by Danzig) and third dam of South African Group II winner Gleaming Sky, and to Pucheca (by Tom Rolfe), dam of Norwegian Group II winner Trendy Gent (by Nijinsky II) and multiple stakes winner Buckbean (by Buckfinder) and second dam of multiple Grade I winner Scuffleburg. Foreseer is also a half sister to Idle Gleam (by Pronto), second dam of Grade III winner Middlefork Rapids and third dam of Grade III winner Michigan Bluff.
Foreseer's dam Regal Gleam (by Hail to Reason) is a half sister to Miz Seabird (by Sea-Bird), dam of stakes winners Graustark Lad (by Graustark) and Ton Wa Ka Wa Ma Ni (by Hatchet Man). Regal Gleam, in turn, is out of Miz Carol (by Stymie), a half sister to 1967 American champion handicap female Straight Deal (by Hail to Reason). Straight Deal is the dam of 1977 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-I) winner Desiree (by Raise a Native; dam of Grade I winner Adored, by Seattle Slew), multiple stakes winner Reminiscing (by Never Bend; dam of three stakes winners including Grade II winner Persevered, by Affirmed), and stakes winner Belonging (by Exclusive Native; dam of multiple Grade III winner and good sire Belong to Me, by Danzig). Straight Deal also produced So Endearing (by Raise a Native), dam of 1986 Del Mar Futurity (USA-I) winner Qualify (by Danzig) and second dam of Grade III winner Notoriety, and Affirmatively (by Affirmed), dam of stakes winner Mais Oui (by Lyphard) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 2010 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-IT) winner Dangerous Midge and 2001 Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-I) winner Scorpion.
Books and media
Caerleon is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Fun facts
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$345,550 (converted from English, French and Irish earnings)
1982:
- Won Tyros Stakes (IRE, 7FT, The Curragh)
- Won Ballsbridge-Tattersalls Anglesey Stakes (IRE-III, 6f+63yT, The Curragh)
1983:
- Won Prix du Jockey Club (FR-I, 2400mT, Chantilly)
- Won Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (ENG-I, about 10.5FT, York)
- 2nd Irish Sweeps Derby (IRE-I, 12FT, The Curragh)
Honors
French champion 3-year-old male (1983)
Assessments
Rated second on the Free Handicap for Irish-based juveniles of 1982, 5 pounds below his stablemate Danzatore.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, medium-sized, rather compact bay with a deep girth, Caerleon was game and determined on the race course. He won on soft going but did not care for it.
As a stallion
Caerleon led the English/Irish general sire list in 1988 and 1991 and was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires on another eight occasions. He led the Italian general sire list in 1989 and was runner-up there in 1988 and 1992. In addition, he was fifth on the French general sire list in 2002. He led the English/Irish juvenile sire list in 1988 and 1989 and was also a good sire of broodmares. He was not a prepotent sire, his progeny coming in all shapes and sizes, but his runners generally stayed well. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Caerleon sired 613 winners (59.8%) and 120 stakes winners (11.7%) from 1025 named foals, Thoroughbred Times credited Caerleon with 128 stakes winners (12.5%).
Notable progeny
Atoll (IRE), Caerlina (IRE), Caerwent (IRE), Cape Verdi (IRE), Generous (IRE), Grape Tree Road (GB), In a Tiff (IRE), Kostroma (IRE), Lady Carla (GB), Marienbard (IRE), Moonax (IRE), Mukhalif (IRE), Only Royale (IRE), Preseli (IRE), Shake the Yoke (GB), Shinko Lovely (IRE), Tenby (GB), Volga (IRE), Warrsan (IRE), Welsh Guide (IRE), Zenno El Cid (IRE)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Caerleon was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was owned by Robert Sangster, who purchased him for US$800,000 from the 1981 Keeneland July yearling sale. Caerleon was trained by Vincent O'Brien. The colt entered stud in 1984 at Coolmore Stud's Irish headquarters in County Tipperary.
Pedigree notes
Caerleon is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1984 Secretariat Stakes (USA-IT) winner Vision; to 1988 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (FR-II) winner Merce Cunningham; to stakes-placed Far, dam of multiple Grade II winner Yonder (by Seattle Slew) and listed stakes winner Ago (by Danzig); and to Video, dam of multiple Grade I winner Scan (by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of Grade/Group III winners The Leopard and Just Pretending. Caerleon is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Palmistry (by Forli), second dam of French Group III winner Bonaire and third dam of multiple Grade/Group II winner Lundy's Liability, and to Larceny (by Private Account), third dam of 2009 Grande Prêmio Margarida Polak Lara (BRZ-I) winner Talenta.
Caerleon's dam Foreseer is a stakes-placed full sister to multiple Grade I winner Royal Glint. She is a half sister to Glisk (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade II winner Glow (by Northern Dancer) and listed stakes winner Lustra (by Danzig) and third dam of South African Group II winner Gleaming Sky, and to Pucheca (by Tom Rolfe), dam of Norwegian Group II winner Trendy Gent (by Nijinsky II) and multiple stakes winner Buckbean (by Buckfinder) and second dam of multiple Grade I winner Scuffleburg. Foreseer is also a half sister to Idle Gleam (by Pronto), second dam of Grade III winner Middlefork Rapids and third dam of Grade III winner Michigan Bluff.
Foreseer's dam Regal Gleam (by Hail to Reason) is a half sister to Miz Seabird (by Sea-Bird), dam of stakes winners Graustark Lad (by Graustark) and Ton Wa Ka Wa Ma Ni (by Hatchet Man). Regal Gleam, in turn, is out of Miz Carol (by Stymie), a half sister to 1967 American champion handicap female Straight Deal (by Hail to Reason). Straight Deal is the dam of 1977 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-I) winner Desiree (by Raise a Native; dam of Grade I winner Adored, by Seattle Slew), multiple stakes winner Reminiscing (by Never Bend; dam of three stakes winners including Grade II winner Persevered, by Affirmed), and stakes winner Belonging (by Exclusive Native; dam of multiple Grade III winner and good sire Belong to Me, by Danzig). Straight Deal also produced So Endearing (by Raise a Native), dam of 1986 Del Mar Futurity (USA-I) winner Qualify (by Danzig) and second dam of Grade III winner Notoriety, and Affirmatively (by Affirmed), dam of stakes winner Mais Oui (by Lyphard) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 2010 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-IT) winner Dangerous Midge and 2001 Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-I) winner Scorpion.
Books and media
Caerleon is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Fun facts
- Caerleon is named for a village and archaeological site in Wales. Its hilltop has been fortified since at least Roman times and in legend was a stronghold of King Arthur and possibly his capital if one accepts the identification of Caerleon with Camelot.
- Caerleon met with one of the more unusual mishaps to befall a racehorse in the 1983 Rogers Gold Cup Ballymoss Stakes (IRE-II). After he finished eighth of 10 runners, post-race examination revealed that a clod of mud had somehow gotten stuck in one nostril during the running, cutting off his wind.
