Lyphard (USA)
May 10, 1969 – June 10, 2005
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Goofed (USA), by Court Martial (GB)
Family 17-b
May 10, 1969 – June 10, 2005
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Goofed (USA), by Court Martial (GB)
Family 17-b
A small bay horse who was virtually a replica of his sire, Lyphard disappointed badly in the Derby Stakes at Epsom after blowing the turn at Tattenham Corner. Trainer Alec Head attributed at least part of the colt's difficulty to an undescended testicle which he believed was causing pain when the horse was asked to turn left at speed. The testicle later descended to the normal position and Lyphard redeemed himself with two Group 1 victories in France, gaining a reputation as a first-rate miler. Following his racing career, Lyphard became an excellent sire in France and the United States.
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$202,332 (converted from earnings in France and England)
1971:
1972:
Assessments
Lyphard was ranked at 6 pounds below top-rated Hard to Beat on the French Free Handicap for juveniles of 1971.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A 15.2 hand bay horse, Lyphard had much of the cocky attitude of his sire but loved human attention and was kindly to handle. He was muscular, athletic and well-balanced with strong hindquarters and had exceptional finishing speed.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Lyphard with 504 winners (59.8%) and 112 stakes winners (13.3%) from 843 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Lyphard with 115 stakes winners (13.6%). Lyphard is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Alzao (USA), Au Point (USA), Cadeaux d'Amie (USA), Chain Bracelet (USA), Dahar (USA), Dancing Brave (USA), Dancing Maid (FR), Durtal (IRE), Elliodor (FR), Ends Well (USA), Ensconse (USA), Esprit du Nord (USA), Ghadeer (FR), Goldmark (USA), Jolypha (USA), Lydian (FR), Lyphard's Wish (FR), Manila (USA), Monteverdi (IRE), Pearl Bracelet (USA), Pharly (FR), Queens Court Queen (USA), Rainbows for Life (CAN), Reine de Saba (FR), Riviere d'Or (USA), Sabin (USA), Sangue (IRE), Ski Paradise (USA), Three Troikas (FR), Vallee Dansante (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bering (GB), Bubble Gum Fellow (JPN), Cee's Tizzy (USA), Claire Marine (IRE), Common Grounds (GB), Filago (USA), Gildoran (IRE), Gold Splash (USA), Groom Dancer (USA), Hatoof (USA), Heritage of Gold (USA), Indy Five Hundred (USA), Intimiste (USA), Irish Prize (USA), Jam Alley (AUS), Lycius (USA), Lypharita (FR), Marwong (AUS), Occupandiste (IRE), Passinetti (USA), Prophecy (IRE), Regal State (USA), Serra Lake (USA), Sikeston (USA), Skimming (USA), Thunder Rumble (USA), Tight Spot (USA), Treble (USA), Valiant Nature (USA), Wince (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Lyphard was bred by Mrs. J. O. Burgwin. He was sold to Irish horseman Tim Rogers for US$35,000 at Keeneland and sent to England, where he was entered into the Newmarket yearling sales. From there, he sold for 15,000 guineas to Madame Germaine Wertheimer, widow of House of Chanel owner Pierre Wertheimer. He was trained by Alec Head. He entered stud in 1973 at Haras d'Etreham, France. Following the 1977 breeding season, Lyphard transferred to Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained for the rest of his stud career. He was pensioned in 1996 and was humanely destroyed June 10, 2005, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Lyphard is inbred 5x5 to two-time English leading sire Phalaris and the important broodmare Scapa Flow through the full brothers Pharos and Fairway, both champion sires. Lyphard is also inbred 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. He is a half brother to Nobiliary (by Vaguely Noble), winner of the 1975 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) and Washington, D.C., International (USA-G1), and to multiple Grade 2 winner Barcas (by Sailor). Lyphard is also a half brother to Dumfries (by Reviewer), second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Urbane,1989 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-G1) winner No Review, 1992 Californian Stakes (USA-G1) winner Another Review, and multiple Grade 2 winner Dance Colony. Another half sister to Lyphard, stakes-placed Anya Ylina (by Bold Reasoning), is the second dam of Peruvian Group 3 winner Dancing Action and Irish Group 3 winners Major Force and Quality Team. In addition, Lyphard is a half brother to Tertiary (by Vaguely Noble), dam of English Group 3 winner Kefaah (by Blushing Groom) and English listed stakes winner Tertian (by Danzig), and to French Group 3-placed Barb's Bold (by Bold Forbes), second dam of 1998 Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G1) winner Seeking the Pearl and multiple Australian Group 1 winner Magical Miss.
Lyphard's dam Goofed won the 1963 Ladies Handicap and New York Handicap. She is a half sister to Bambar (by Ambehaving), dam of Grade 3 winner Far Out East (by Raja Baba) and stakes winnner Bunka Bunka (by Raja Baba), in turn the dam of stakes winner Hunka Hunka Lori Z (by Colonial Affair). Goofed and Bambar were produced from the Formor mare Barra II, whose full sister Azalee produced French stakes winner Perolita (by Pink Horse). Barra II is also a half sister to Roxelane (by Foxhunter), dam of the fine stayer Le Loup Garou (by Prince Bio; winner of the 1958 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and 1960 Prix du Cadran) and three other stakes winners.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: October 7, 2023
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$202,332 (converted from earnings in France and England)
1971:
- Won Prix Herod (FR-L, 1600mT, Evry)
1972:
- Won Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Jacques le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix Daru (FR-G2, 2100mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Lagrange (FR, Maisons-Laffitte)
- 2nd Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
Assessments
Lyphard was ranked at 6 pounds below top-rated Hard to Beat on the French Free Handicap for juveniles of 1971.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A 15.2 hand bay horse, Lyphard had much of the cocky attitude of his sire but loved human attention and was kindly to handle. He was muscular, athletic and well-balanced with strong hindquarters and had exceptional finishing speed.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Lyphard with 504 winners (59.8%) and 112 stakes winners (13.3%) from 843 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Lyphard with 115 stakes winners (13.6%). Lyphard is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1986.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1986.
- 8th on the US broodmare sire list in 2001.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1986.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1991; 6th in 1992; 8th in 1994 and 2001; 9th in 1999; 10th in 2000.
- 3rd on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1986.
- 5th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1993.
- Led the French general sire list in 1978 and 1979; 2nd in 1977; 3rd in 1980 and 1986; 8th in 1982 and 1987; 9th in 1983.
- Led the French broodmare sire list in 1985 and 1986; 2nd in 1989, 1992-1995, and 1997; 3rd in 1987 and 1995; 4th in 1988, 1999, and 2000; 5th in 1984 and 1991; 7th in 1990 and 1998; 8th in 2001
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1986.
- Led the French general sire list in 1978 and 1979.
Notable progeny
Alzao (USA), Au Point (USA), Cadeaux d'Amie (USA), Chain Bracelet (USA), Dahar (USA), Dancing Brave (USA), Dancing Maid (FR), Durtal (IRE), Elliodor (FR), Ends Well (USA), Ensconse (USA), Esprit du Nord (USA), Ghadeer (FR), Goldmark (USA), Jolypha (USA), Lydian (FR), Lyphard's Wish (FR), Manila (USA), Monteverdi (IRE), Pearl Bracelet (USA), Pharly (FR), Queens Court Queen (USA), Rainbows for Life (CAN), Reine de Saba (FR), Riviere d'Or (USA), Sabin (USA), Sangue (IRE), Ski Paradise (USA), Three Troikas (FR), Vallee Dansante (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bering (GB), Bubble Gum Fellow (JPN), Cee's Tizzy (USA), Claire Marine (IRE), Common Grounds (GB), Filago (USA), Gildoran (IRE), Gold Splash (USA), Groom Dancer (USA), Hatoof (USA), Heritage of Gold (USA), Indy Five Hundred (USA), Intimiste (USA), Irish Prize (USA), Jam Alley (AUS), Lycius (USA), Lypharita (FR), Marwong (AUS), Occupandiste (IRE), Passinetti (USA), Prophecy (IRE), Regal State (USA), Serra Lake (USA), Sikeston (USA), Skimming (USA), Thunder Rumble (USA), Tight Spot (USA), Treble (USA), Valiant Nature (USA), Wince (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Lyphard was bred by Mrs. J. O. Burgwin. He was sold to Irish horseman Tim Rogers for US$35,000 at Keeneland and sent to England, where he was entered into the Newmarket yearling sales. From there, he sold for 15,000 guineas to Madame Germaine Wertheimer, widow of House of Chanel owner Pierre Wertheimer. He was trained by Alec Head. He entered stud in 1973 at Haras d'Etreham, France. Following the 1977 breeding season, Lyphard transferred to Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained for the rest of his stud career. He was pensioned in 1996 and was humanely destroyed June 10, 2005, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Lyphard is inbred 5x5 to two-time English leading sire Phalaris and the important broodmare Scapa Flow through the full brothers Pharos and Fairway, both champion sires. Lyphard is also inbred 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. He is a half brother to Nobiliary (by Vaguely Noble), winner of the 1975 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) and Washington, D.C., International (USA-G1), and to multiple Grade 2 winner Barcas (by Sailor). Lyphard is also a half brother to Dumfries (by Reviewer), second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Urbane,1989 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-G1) winner No Review, 1992 Californian Stakes (USA-G1) winner Another Review, and multiple Grade 2 winner Dance Colony. Another half sister to Lyphard, stakes-placed Anya Ylina (by Bold Reasoning), is the second dam of Peruvian Group 3 winner Dancing Action and Irish Group 3 winners Major Force and Quality Team. In addition, Lyphard is a half brother to Tertiary (by Vaguely Noble), dam of English Group 3 winner Kefaah (by Blushing Groom) and English listed stakes winner Tertian (by Danzig), and to French Group 3-placed Barb's Bold (by Bold Forbes), second dam of 1998 Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G1) winner Seeking the Pearl and multiple Australian Group 1 winner Magical Miss.
Lyphard's dam Goofed won the 1963 Ladies Handicap and New York Handicap. She is a half sister to Bambar (by Ambehaving), dam of Grade 3 winner Far Out East (by Raja Baba) and stakes winnner Bunka Bunka (by Raja Baba), in turn the dam of stakes winner Hunka Hunka Lori Z (by Colonial Affair). Goofed and Bambar were produced from the Formor mare Barra II, whose full sister Azalee produced French stakes winner Perolita (by Pink Horse). Barra II is also a half sister to Roxelane (by Foxhunter), dam of the fine stayer Le Loup Garou (by Prince Bio; winner of the 1958 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and 1960 Prix du Cadran) and three other stakes winners.
Books and media
- Lyphard 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.
- Lyphard is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
- Lyphard is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
Fun facts
- Lyphard is named for the ballet dancer Serge Lifar. The change in spelling is deliberate and was done to avoid conflict with Lifar's family over the use of the name.
- In the breeding shed, Lyphard had the habit of nickering just before covering a mare and would not try to mount his mate until he had sounded off.
- The Lyphard Stakes is a race for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares aged 3 and up at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. As of 2018, it is carded at 8.5 furlongs on turf.
Last updated: October 7, 2023