Blessed with a dazzling turn of foot and the stamina to go Classic distances, Gazala II was the best runner sired by 1953 Kentucky Derby winner, Dark Star. She was also a superb broodmare, earning 1976 Broodmare of the Year honors in both Kentucky and France. Unfortunately, her sons were all poor stallions, and only one of her daughters left any significant descendants.
Race record: 14 starts, 5 wins
1966:
1967:
Honors
French champion 3-year-old filly (1967)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A refined, delicate-looking brown mare with prominent withers, Gazala II had brilliant finishing speed.
As a producer
Gazala II produced 10 foals, of which six started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Gazala II was bred and owned by Nelson Bunker Hunt. She was trained by Jack Cunnington Jr.
Pedigree notes
Gazala II is inbred 4x4 to the great 20th-century matron Plucky Liege. She is a half sister to Kamakura II (by Faristan), dam of multiple minor stakes winner Kam Tam Kan (by Tentam). The sisters, in turn, are out of Belle Angevine (by the good French stakes winner L’Amiral), a winning half sister to 1956 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Burgos (by Maurepas) and 1959 Bowling Green Handicap winner Bell Hop (by Sunny Boy). Belle Angevine is also a half sister to Bellicosa (by Buisson d’Or), dam of Italian stakes winner Belmino (by Mincio).
Belle Angevine and her siblings were produced from Bella II (by the good French stakes winner Canot). The next dam in Youth’s tail-female line, Bayan Kara (by the important French-based sire Dark Legend), is a half sister to 1931 Grand Prix de Paris winner Barneveldt (by The Winter King). Produced from Black Domino (by 1914 St. Leger Stakes winner Black Jester), she is also a half sister to Barzine (by Admiral Drake), dam of multiple French stakes winner Le Paon (by Jock), and to Roman Mask (by Cicero), second dam of the high-class French steeplechaser Bouzoulou.
Fun facts
Last updated: January 22, 2022
Race record: 14 starts, 5 wins
1966:
- Won Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (FR,1400mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- 3rd Prix de la Forêt (FR, 1400mT, Longchamp)
1967:
- Won Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (FR, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (FR, 2100mT, Chantilly)
- Won Prix de la Grotte (FR, 1500mT, Longchamp)
Honors
French champion 3-year-old filly (1967)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A refined, delicate-looking brown mare with prominent withers, Gazala II had brilliant finishing speed.
As a producer
Gazala II produced 10 foals, of which six started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Mississipian (1971, by Vaguely Noble) was the French champion 2-year-old male of 1973. A poor stallion, he sired only five stakes winners from 360 named foals while standing in the United States and Japan.
- Youth (1973, by Ack Ack) was the 1976 French champion 3-year-old male and American champion turf male, his victories including the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1), the Canadian International Championship (CAN-G1), and the Washington, D. C., International (USA-G1). He sired 18 stakes winners from 516 named foals, headed by 1983 Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Teenoso, who was the English and French champion older male of 1984.
- Expediency (1976, by Vaguely Noble), was unraced but is the dam of Group 3 winners Bin Shaddad (by Riverman) and Oh So Risky (by Kris); the latter was also a stakes winner over jumps. She is the second dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Hard Buck.
- Gonzales (1977, by Vaguely Noble) won the 1980 Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) and two Group 2 races. He sired only one stakes winner from 195 named foals while standing in the United States and Germany.
- Silky Baby (1978, by What a Pleasure) won the 1981 Prix de Guiche (FR-G3). He sired two stakes winners from 174 named foals.
- Best of Both (1980, by J. O. Tobin) won the listed Santa Gertrudes Handicap as a 5-year-old and was Grade 1-placed. A regional sire in Minnesota, he sired five minor stakes winners from 152 named foals.
Connections
Gazala II was bred and owned by Nelson Bunker Hunt. She was trained by Jack Cunnington Jr.
Pedigree notes
Gazala II is inbred 4x4 to the great 20th-century matron Plucky Liege. She is a half sister to Kamakura II (by Faristan), dam of multiple minor stakes winner Kam Tam Kan (by Tentam). The sisters, in turn, are out of Belle Angevine (by the good French stakes winner L’Amiral), a winning half sister to 1956 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Burgos (by Maurepas) and 1959 Bowling Green Handicap winner Bell Hop (by Sunny Boy). Belle Angevine is also a half sister to Bellicosa (by Buisson d’Or), dam of Italian stakes winner Belmino (by Mincio).
Belle Angevine and her siblings were produced from Bella II (by the good French stakes winner Canot). The next dam in Youth’s tail-female line, Bayan Kara (by the important French-based sire Dark Legend), is a half sister to 1931 Grand Prix de Paris winner Barneveldt (by The Winter King). Produced from Black Domino (by 1914 St. Leger Stakes winner Black Jester), she is also a half sister to Barzine (by Admiral Drake), dam of multiple French stakes winner Le Paon (by Jock), and to Roman Mask (by Cicero), second dam of the high-class French steeplechaser Bouzoulou.
Fun facts
- “Gazala” means “gazelle” in Arabic; it can also be used as an adjective meaning “intelligent” or “charming.”
- Registered as “Gazala” in her native France, the daughter of Dark Star was registered as “Gazala II” in the American Stud Book on her importation to the United States to distinguish her from a daughter of Donatello II that had been imported earlier.
- Gazala II’s win in the 1967 Prix de Diane was one of the most stunning in the history of the race. Dead last in the early going, she ran down her entire field in the final 300 meters to win.
Last updated: January 22, 2022