Herbager (FR)
1956 – March 25, 1976
Vandale (FR) x Flagette (FR), by Escamillo (FR)
Family 16-c
1956 – March 25, 1976
Vandale (FR) x Flagette (FR), by Escamillo (FR)
Family 16-c
Although Herbager proved to be the dominant French male of his generation, he was a tall stayer who seemed better suited to serving at stud in his native land than in the speed-loving American market. Nonetheless, A. B. “Bull” Hancock of Claiborne Farm trusted his own judgment and imported Herbager. While the stallion did not achieve quite the success of another long-winded horse Hancock had managed earlier---Princequillo—he nonetheless did better than perhaps anyone but Hancock anticipated and was an important sire in both France and the United States.
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, 850,510 francs
1958:
1959:
Honors
French champion 3-year-old male (1964)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 136 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A tall, strong, masculine bay horse, Herbager stood 16.2-1/2 hands. He had an excellent shoulder but also had calf knees and somewhat upright pasterns, which he tended to transmit. He had excellent action. He fractured a pastern in his final start, the 1959 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Herbager sired 234 winners (43.0%) and 64 stakes winners (14.8%) from 433 named foals. Herbager is a Classic/Solid chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Anifa (USA), Appiani II (ITY), Bag of Tunes (USA), Ballade (USA), Big Spruce (USA), Coined Silver (USA), Dike (USA), Field Cat (USA), Grey Dawn II (FR), Land of Eire (USA), Loud (USA), Our Mims (USA), Sea Hawk II (FR), The Garden Club (USA), Tiller (USA), Yamanin (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Basie (USA), Bemissed (USA), Buckskin (FR), Chain Bracelet (USA), Devil's Bag (USA), Flying Chevron (USA), Glorious Song (CAN), Kabakan (VEN), Orsa Maggiore (IRE), Rainbow Quest (USA), Saint Ballado (CAN), Saraca (FR), Up the Flagpole (USA)
Connections
Herbager was bred by Madame Leopold Bara, who had purchased his dam while she was carrying the future champion. He was owned by Simone Del Duca, who bought Herbager for 3.9 million francs as a yearling. He was trained by Pierre Pelat. Herbager entered stud in France in 1960 at Haras de la Beauvoisiniere. He was sold to A. B. "Bull" Hancock, Jr., in December 1964 for US$700,000 and was syndicated following his importation to the USA, where he stood at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. He died of a heart attack on March 25, 1976.
Pedigree notes
Herbager is inbred 4x5x5 to Phalaris. His dam Flagette is out of the good French stakes winner Fidgette, a daughter of 1932 St. Leger Stakes winner Firdaussi, and is a half sister to 1950 Oaks d'Italia winner La Cadette (by Le Pacha), dam of 1956 Oaks d'Italia winner La Canea (by Vatellor), who in turn produced 1961 Derby Italiano winner Lauso (by Ocarina). Fidgette was produced from the minor French stakes winner Boxeuse (by Teddy) and is a half sister to 1948 Prix Chloe winner Lutteuse (by Le Pacha; dam of Italian stakes winner Lutecien, by Escamillo) and to Diseuse (by Diomedes), second dam of four-time New Zealand champion sire Le Filou.
Books and media
Herbager is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Photo credit
Herbager, taken by Joel Clyne Meadors at Claiborne Farm on June 20, 1967. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission.
Last updated: August 15, 2023
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, 850,510 francs
1958:
- Won Prix Seraphine (FR)
1959:
- Won Prix du Jockey Club (FR, 2400mT, Chantilly)
- Won Prix Greffulhe (FR, 2100mT, Longchamp)
- Won Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (FR, 2500mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won Prix du Prince d'Orange (FR, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Hocquart (FR, 2400mT, Longchamp)
Honors
French champion 3-year-old male (1964)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 136 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A tall, strong, masculine bay horse, Herbager stood 16.2-1/2 hands. He had an excellent shoulder but also had calf knees and somewhat upright pasterns, which he tended to transmit. He had excellent action. He fractured a pastern in his final start, the 1959 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Herbager sired 234 winners (43.0%) and 64 stakes winners (14.8%) from 433 named foals. Herbager is a Classic/Solid chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1972 and 1973; 5th in 1971 and 1974; 8th in 1970; 10th in 1978.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1972 and 1973; 5th in 1971 and 1974; 8th in 1970; 10th in 1978.
- 2nd on the French general sire list in 1966; 8th in 1964 and 1967.
- 4th on the French broodmare sire list in 1985; 5th in 1969.
Notable progeny
Anifa (USA), Appiani II (ITY), Bag of Tunes (USA), Ballade (USA), Big Spruce (USA), Coined Silver (USA), Dike (USA), Field Cat (USA), Grey Dawn II (FR), Land of Eire (USA), Loud (USA), Our Mims (USA), Sea Hawk II (FR), The Garden Club (USA), Tiller (USA), Yamanin (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Basie (USA), Bemissed (USA), Buckskin (FR), Chain Bracelet (USA), Devil's Bag (USA), Flying Chevron (USA), Glorious Song (CAN), Kabakan (VEN), Orsa Maggiore (IRE), Rainbow Quest (USA), Saint Ballado (CAN), Saraca (FR), Up the Flagpole (USA)
Connections
Herbager was bred by Madame Leopold Bara, who had purchased his dam while she was carrying the future champion. He was owned by Simone Del Duca, who bought Herbager for 3.9 million francs as a yearling. He was trained by Pierre Pelat. Herbager entered stud in France in 1960 at Haras de la Beauvoisiniere. He was sold to A. B. "Bull" Hancock, Jr., in December 1964 for US$700,000 and was syndicated following his importation to the USA, where he stood at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. He died of a heart attack on March 25, 1976.
Pedigree notes
Herbager is inbred 4x5x5 to Phalaris. His dam Flagette is out of the good French stakes winner Fidgette, a daughter of 1932 St. Leger Stakes winner Firdaussi, and is a half sister to 1950 Oaks d'Italia winner La Cadette (by Le Pacha), dam of 1956 Oaks d'Italia winner La Canea (by Vatellor), who in turn produced 1961 Derby Italiano winner Lauso (by Ocarina). Fidgette was produced from the minor French stakes winner Boxeuse (by Teddy) and is a half sister to 1948 Prix Chloe winner Lutteuse (by Le Pacha; dam of Italian stakes winner Lutecien, by Escamillo) and to Diseuse (by Diomedes), second dam of four-time New Zealand champion sire Le Filou.
Books and media
Herbager is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Photo credit
Herbager, taken by Joel Clyne Meadors at Claiborne Farm on June 20, 1967. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission.
Last updated: August 15, 2023