Habitat (USA)
May 4, 1966 – June 23, 1987
Sir Gaylord (USA) x Little Hut (USA), by Occupy (USA)
Family 4-r
May 4, 1966 – June 23, 1987
Sir Gaylord (USA) x Little Hut (USA), by Occupy (USA)
Family 4-r
Officially the best miler in England in 1969, Habitat was widely considered to be the best miler anywhere in Europe after he scored a decisive victory in the 1969 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. At stud, he proved a tremendous influence for speed and precocity. Like his half brother Northfields, he was a great sire of broodmares but was even more successful, probably because of the greater quality of mates that he received.
Race record
8 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, £40,840
1969:
Honors
English champion miler (1969)
Assessments
Awarded a Timeform rating of 134 lbs as a 3-year-old. This was one pound above the rating for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Levmoss, who nonetheless received honors as Timeform's Horse of the Year.
As an individual
A big, powerful, rather heavy-topped bay horse standing 16.1 hands, Habitat had bad knees and slightly upright pasterns but had extremely powerful hindquarters and was completely courageous on the race course. He did not race at two due to a bruised foot. As a stallion he was characterized as “a gentleman.” He disliked cold weather.
As a stallion
Habitat was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires seven times, including four runner-up finishes (1975, 1979, 1981 and 1981). He led the English/Irish juvenile sire list in 1973-1975 and 1979. He led the English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1987, 1994 and 1996 and was among the top 10 English/Irish maternal grandsires on another 12 occasions, including four runner-up finishes. He was also among the top 10 French broodmare sires eight times, including a runner-up finish in 1990. According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Habitat sired 403 winners (55.6%) and 90 stakes winners (12.4%) from 725 named foals.
Habitat is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system. While he stayed some runners capable of getting 10 furlongs in top company, most wanted a mile or less. His typical runner was a good 2-year-old that trained on well. Habitat tended to pass on his own bad knees but often transmitted his own pleasant disposition as well.
Notable progeny
Bassenthwaite (GB), Bitty Girl (GB), Brocade (GB), Distant Relative (IRE), Double Form (IRE), Flying Water (FR), Habat (IRE), Habibti (IRE), Habitony (IRE), Hittite Glory (GB), Hot Spark (IRE), Marling (IRE), Petipa (FR), Rose Bowl (USA), Sigy (FR), Steel Heart (IRE), Steinlen (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Habitat was bred by the Nuckols Brothers. He raced in the silks of Charles Engelhard, who purchased the colt for US$105,000 from the 1967 Keeneland sales. He was trained by Fulke Johnson Houghton. Just before the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Tim Rogers made a deal to purchase Habitat for US$1 million conditional on his winning the race. He stood at Rogers' Grangewilliam Stud in Ireland as the property of a syndicate. He was humanely destroyed in June 1987 due to laminitis.
Pedigree notes
Habitat is inbred 5x4 to the great broodmare Plucky Liege. He is a full brother to Doubledoor, third dam of 1990 St. Leger Italiano (ITY-III) winner Parting Moment.He is a half brother to 1992 English/Irish champion broodmare sire Northfields (by Northern Dancer), an influential sire in Europe and South Africa. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Hardware (by Royal Serenade) and to 1968 Betsy Ross Handicap winner Guest Room (by Hail to Reason), dam of Irish stakes winner Lady Guest (by Forli). In addition, he is a half brother to Summer Hut (by Summer Tan), dam of multiple Grade III winner Architect (by Mr. Leader) and third dam of 1989 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-I) winner Western Playboy and multiple Grade III winner Bungalow and to stakes-placed Lodge (by Bold Lad), dam of multiple stakes winner Guinevere's Folly (by Round Table), second dam of 1982 German co-champion 2-year-old filly Shicklah and third dam of multiple Group I winner Suave Dancer, 2007 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-I) winner Cry ad Catch Me, 2012 Fillies' Mile Stakes (ENG-I) winner Certify, Grade/Group II winners Muqtarib and Dancing and Grade III winner Academic Angel.
Little Hut, the dam of Habitat, is a half sister to 1953 Santa Susana Handicap winner Femme Fatale (by Discovery), dam of Canadian stakes winner Salon (by Occupy) and second dam of three stakes winners. The sisters are out of the Challenger II mare Savage Beauty, winner of the 1937 New England Oaks and a full sister to 1940 Bowie Handicap winner Aethelwold and to Little Sphinx, dam of 1960 Polly Drummond Stakes winner Glad (by General Staff) and two other stakes winners and second dam of disqualified 1968 Kentucky Derby winner Dancer's Image, 1967 American champion steeplechaser Quick Pitch and 1966 Canadian Oaks winner Northern Minx. Produced from the Kai-Sang mare Khara, Savage Beauty is also a full sister to Chalara, dam of juvenile stakes winner The Pimpernel (by Pavot), and to Kharessa, dam of stakes winner Hume Road (by Bernborough).
Fun facts
Race record
8 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, £40,840
1969:
- Won Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Quincey (FR, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won Wills Mile (ENG, 8FT, Goodwood)
- Won Lockinge Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Newbury)
- 2nd St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot)
Honors
English champion miler (1969)
Assessments
Awarded a Timeform rating of 134 lbs as a 3-year-old. This was one pound above the rating for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Levmoss, who nonetheless received honors as Timeform's Horse of the Year.
As an individual
A big, powerful, rather heavy-topped bay horse standing 16.1 hands, Habitat had bad knees and slightly upright pasterns but had extremely powerful hindquarters and was completely courageous on the race course. He did not race at two due to a bruised foot. As a stallion he was characterized as “a gentleman.” He disliked cold weather.
As a stallion
Habitat was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires seven times, including four runner-up finishes (1975, 1979, 1981 and 1981). He led the English/Irish juvenile sire list in 1973-1975 and 1979. He led the English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1987, 1994 and 1996 and was among the top 10 English/Irish maternal grandsires on another 12 occasions, including four runner-up finishes. He was also among the top 10 French broodmare sires eight times, including a runner-up finish in 1990. According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Habitat sired 403 winners (55.6%) and 90 stakes winners (12.4%) from 725 named foals.
Habitat is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system. While he stayed some runners capable of getting 10 furlongs in top company, most wanted a mile or less. His typical runner was a good 2-year-old that trained on well. Habitat tended to pass on his own bad knees but often transmitted his own pleasant disposition as well.
Notable progeny
Bassenthwaite (GB), Bitty Girl (GB), Brocade (GB), Distant Relative (IRE), Double Form (IRE), Flying Water (FR), Habat (IRE), Habibti (IRE), Habitony (IRE), Hittite Glory (GB), Hot Spark (IRE), Marling (IRE), Petipa (FR), Rose Bowl (USA), Sigy (FR), Steel Heart (IRE), Steinlen (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Habitat was bred by the Nuckols Brothers. He raced in the silks of Charles Engelhard, who purchased the colt for US$105,000 from the 1967 Keeneland sales. He was trained by Fulke Johnson Houghton. Just before the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Tim Rogers made a deal to purchase Habitat for US$1 million conditional on his winning the race. He stood at Rogers' Grangewilliam Stud in Ireland as the property of a syndicate. He was humanely destroyed in June 1987 due to laminitis.
Pedigree notes
Habitat is inbred 5x4 to the great broodmare Plucky Liege. He is a full brother to Doubledoor, third dam of 1990 St. Leger Italiano (ITY-III) winner Parting Moment.He is a half brother to 1992 English/Irish champion broodmare sire Northfields (by Northern Dancer), an influential sire in Europe and South Africa. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Hardware (by Royal Serenade) and to 1968 Betsy Ross Handicap winner Guest Room (by Hail to Reason), dam of Irish stakes winner Lady Guest (by Forli). In addition, he is a half brother to Summer Hut (by Summer Tan), dam of multiple Grade III winner Architect (by Mr. Leader) and third dam of 1989 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-I) winner Western Playboy and multiple Grade III winner Bungalow and to stakes-placed Lodge (by Bold Lad), dam of multiple stakes winner Guinevere's Folly (by Round Table), second dam of 1982 German co-champion 2-year-old filly Shicklah and third dam of multiple Group I winner Suave Dancer, 2007 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-I) winner Cry ad Catch Me, 2012 Fillies' Mile Stakes (ENG-I) winner Certify, Grade/Group II winners Muqtarib and Dancing and Grade III winner Academic Angel.
Little Hut, the dam of Habitat, is a half sister to 1953 Santa Susana Handicap winner Femme Fatale (by Discovery), dam of Canadian stakes winner Salon (by Occupy) and second dam of three stakes winners. The sisters are out of the Challenger II mare Savage Beauty, winner of the 1937 New England Oaks and a full sister to 1940 Bowie Handicap winner Aethelwold and to Little Sphinx, dam of 1960 Polly Drummond Stakes winner Glad (by General Staff) and two other stakes winners and second dam of disqualified 1968 Kentucky Derby winner Dancer's Image, 1967 American champion steeplechaser Quick Pitch and 1966 Canadian Oaks winner Northern Minx. Produced from the Kai-Sang mare Khara, Savage Beauty is also a full sister to Chalara, dam of juvenile stakes winner The Pimpernel (by Pavot), and to Kharessa, dam of stakes winner Hume Road (by Bernborough).
Fun facts
- An oddity of Habitat's stud career is that he settled few of his mares during the first half of the breeding season. Covers made after the weather warmed up were a different matter and he was highly fertile during the late spring.
