Con Brio II had enough ability to run a good second to eventual 1964 St. Leger Stakes winner Indiana in the Chester Vase while conceding that rival 4 pounds, but his difficult temperament made it had to get the best from him on the race course. Like a fair number of other well-bred but disappointing runners of the mid-20th century, he ended up being exported to Argentina. There, he did well at stud as both a sire and a broodmare sire.
Race record
10 starts, 2 wins
1963:
1964:
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16.1 hands, Con Brio II was hampered from showing whatever talent he had by an erratic, idiosyncratic temperament.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Con Brio II sired 70 winners (26.0%) and 30 stakes winners (11.2%) from 269 named foals. Statistics from his record in Argentina may be incomplete. He was particularly known as a sire of good fillies.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per “Argentine Genetic Giants” (from Dr. Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
Notable progeny
Acertijo (ARG), Bastonero (ARG), Bola de Cristal (ARG), Cawston’s Pride (GB), Contraventora (ARG), Ustaritz (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Charlatan (ARG), Festin (ARG), La Charlatana (ARG), Latencia (ARG), Lord At War (ARG), Maria Candela (CHI), Miss Brio (ARG), Slew Briosa (ARG), Solinus (GB)
Connections
Con Brio II was bred by Moyns Park Stud. Following his racing career, he was sold for export to Argentina in 1967 and stood at Eduardo Solveyra Tomkinson’s Haras Don Yayo. His last registered foals arrived in 1983.
Pedigree notes
Con Brio II is inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris and the excellent matron Scapa Flow through the full brothers Pharos and Fairway; he carries an additional fifth-generation cross of Phalaris as the sire of his fourth dam. He is a half brother to Paddy’s (by Astec), a multiple stakes winner in Italy, and to Shelahnu (by Dike), a stakes-winning hurdler in Italy. He is also a half brother to Damara (by Aggressor II), dam of French Group 2 winner Marson (by Jefferson).
Con Brio II’s dam Petronella was stakes-placed as a juvenile and is a half sister to 1954 Chester Vase winner Blue Rod (by Blue Peter) and 1955 Craven Stakes winner Cardington Court (by Court Martial). Sired by 1948 Eclipse Stakes winner Petition, she is also a half sister to Minstinguette (by My Babu), dam of the stakes-winning hurdler Paddy Bouler (by Tiepolo II) and third dam of multiple Norwegian Group 3 winner Amber Melody.
Petronella and her siblings were produced from English stakes winner Danse d’Espoir (by 1934 Champion Stakes winner Umidwar), a half sister to 1956 Chester Cup winner Golovine (by Precipitation) and English stakes winner Forester (by Bois Roussel). Also a half sister to Dancing Sunbeam (by Hyperion), dam of English stakes winner Heat Haze (by Nimbus) and second dam of 1966 Japanese champion 3-year-old filly Hard It and 1965 Gladness Stakes winner Western Wind, and to Hora, second dam of 1962 Victoria Derby and Caulfield Guineas winner Coppelius and Australian Group 2 winner Latin Tempo, Danse d’Espoir is out of Coppelia, a half sister to 1946 Ebor Handicap winner Foxtrot (by Foxhunter) and a daughter of the great stamina influence Son-in-Law.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 15, 2024
Race record
10 starts, 2 wins
1963:
- Won Champion Trophy (ENG, Ripon)
1964:
- Won Brighton Derby Trial Stakes (ENG, Brighton)
- 2nd Chester Vase (ENG, about 12.5FT, Chester)
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16.1 hands, Con Brio II was hampered from showing whatever talent he had by an erratic, idiosyncratic temperament.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Con Brio II sired 70 winners (26.0%) and 30 stakes winners (11.2%) from 269 named foals. Statistics from his record in Argentina may be incomplete. He was particularly known as a sire of good fillies.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the Argentine general sire list in 1979; 5th in 1974; 6th in 1976; 10th in 1978;
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1983
Per “Argentine Genetic Giants” (from Dr. Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
- 2nd on the Argentine general sire list in 1979; 5th In 1974; 6th in 1976; 10th in 1978.
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1983; 6th in 1985, 1987, and 1988; 8th in 1986 and 1989; 10th in 1990.
Notable progeny
Acertijo (ARG), Bastonero (ARG), Bola de Cristal (ARG), Cawston’s Pride (GB), Contraventora (ARG), Ustaritz (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Charlatan (ARG), Festin (ARG), La Charlatana (ARG), Latencia (ARG), Lord At War (ARG), Maria Candela (CHI), Miss Brio (ARG), Slew Briosa (ARG), Solinus (GB)
Connections
Con Brio II was bred by Moyns Park Stud. Following his racing career, he was sold for export to Argentina in 1967 and stood at Eduardo Solveyra Tomkinson’s Haras Don Yayo. His last registered foals arrived in 1983.
Pedigree notes
Con Brio II is inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris and the excellent matron Scapa Flow through the full brothers Pharos and Fairway; he carries an additional fifth-generation cross of Phalaris as the sire of his fourth dam. He is a half brother to Paddy’s (by Astec), a multiple stakes winner in Italy, and to Shelahnu (by Dike), a stakes-winning hurdler in Italy. He is also a half brother to Damara (by Aggressor II), dam of French Group 2 winner Marson (by Jefferson).
Con Brio II’s dam Petronella was stakes-placed as a juvenile and is a half sister to 1954 Chester Vase winner Blue Rod (by Blue Peter) and 1955 Craven Stakes winner Cardington Court (by Court Martial). Sired by 1948 Eclipse Stakes winner Petition, she is also a half sister to Minstinguette (by My Babu), dam of the stakes-winning hurdler Paddy Bouler (by Tiepolo II) and third dam of multiple Norwegian Group 3 winner Amber Melody.
Petronella and her siblings were produced from English stakes winner Danse d’Espoir (by 1934 Champion Stakes winner Umidwar), a half sister to 1956 Chester Cup winner Golovine (by Precipitation) and English stakes winner Forester (by Bois Roussel). Also a half sister to Dancing Sunbeam (by Hyperion), dam of English stakes winner Heat Haze (by Nimbus) and second dam of 1966 Japanese champion 3-year-old filly Hard It and 1965 Gladness Stakes winner Western Wind, and to Hora, second dam of 1962 Victoria Derby and Caulfield Guineas winner Coppelius and Australian Group 2 winner Latin Tempo, Danse d’Espoir is out of Coppelia, a half sister to 1946 Ebor Handicap winner Foxtrot (by Foxhunter) and a daughter of the great stamina influence Son-in-Law.
Fun facts
- "Con brio" is a musical term indicating that a passage should be played with spirit or liveliness.
Last updated: April 15, 2024