Nearco (ITY)
January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957
Pharos (GB) x Nogara (ITY), by Havresac II (FR)
Family 4-r
January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957
Pharos (GB) x Nogara (ITY), by Havresac II (FR)
Family 4-r
Nearco was as close to the perfect horse as Federico Tesio ever bred and raced, yet he would not have come to be if Tesio had gotten his first choice of mate for his fine mare Nogara in 1934. Tesio had originally planned to breed Nogara to the Earl of Derby's champion Fairway, but was refused a nomination. Tesio's second choice was Fairway's full brother Pharos, also a champion sire but a smaller, blockier and more speed-oriented horse than Fairway. The result was a medium-sized colt of nearly perfect conformation and the highest of ability. After dominating Italian racing as a 3-year-old, Nearco proved himself in international competition by winning the 1938 Grand Prix de Paris effortlessly against a fine field, even though the distance was longer than he truly wanted. He was sold to Martin Benson to stand in England following his racing career and became a two-time champion sire in his adopted country. Through the male lines of his sons Nasrullah, Royal Charger and Nearctic, he is the direct male-line progenitor of the majority of the world's Thoroughbreds.
Race record
14 starts, 14 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$86,328 (converted from French and Italian earnings)
1937:
1938:
Honors
As an individual
A beautifully made dark bay or brown horse standing 16.0-1/2 hands, Nearco possessed nearly flawless conformation. He had a blistering turn of foot on the race course. He had a dominant, fiery disposition and considerable intelligence. He intensely disliked being handled or touched by any human except his longtime stud groom, Ernie Lee.
As a stallion
Nearco led the English/Irish general sire list in 1947 and 1948 and was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires on another 13 occasions including runner-up finishes in 1949 and 1951. He was also the English/Irish champion broodmare sire of 1952, 1955 and 1956; was the runner-up in 1951, 1958, 1960 and 1961, and was among the top 10 English/Irish maternal grandsires on another 10 occasions. In addition, Nearco led the French broodmare sire list in 1960 and was runner-up in 1959 and 1968. According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Nearco sired 273 winners (56.6%) and 87 stakes winners from 482 named foals (18.0%). He typically transmitted his own brilliance, but most of his progeny were not quite up to the European Classic distance of 12 furlongs. Nearco is a Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Admirable (IRE), Amerigo (GB), Chief (GB), Dante (GB), Hafiz (FR), Infatuation (GB), Lady Sybil (GB), Masaka (IRE), Mossborough (GB), Narrator (GB), Nasrullah (IRE), Nearctic (CAN), Neasham Belle (GB), Neolight (GB), Nilo (GB), Nimbus (GB), Noble Chieftain (IRE), Noory (GB), Royal Charger (GB), Sayajirao (GB), Star of Gujrath (GB)
Connections
Nearco was bred and owned by Federico Tesio (who also trained him) in partnership with the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta. Following his racing career, Tesio sold Nearco to Martin Benson for £60,000, then a record for a Thoroughbred stallion. Nearco entered stud at Martin's Beech House Stud in 1939 and died there of cancer in 1957.
Pedigree notes
Nearco is inbred 5x4x4x5 to nine-time English champion sire and unbeaten racehorse St. Simon, a horse whom Tesio greatly admired. He is a full brother to Italian stakes winner Namakuro. He is a half brother to 1941 Derby Italiano winner and 1950 Italian champion sire Niccolo dell'Arca (by Coronach) and to 1944 Oaks d'Italia winner Nervesa (by Ortello), whose daughter Navarra (by Orsenigo) was a multiple stakes producer and the second dam of 1962 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp winner Fortino II and French Group III winner Rakosi. Nervesa also produced Natalina Da Murano (by Orsenigo), dam of English stakes winner Pinturischio (by Pinza); Nerita (by Tenerani), dam of 1964 Gran Premio Citta di Napoli winner Nardini (by Prince Chevalier); Nishiyama (by Mieuxcé), second dam of 1980 Dansk Oaks (DEN-I) and Svenskt Oaks (SWE-I) winner Oline; and Natura Morta (by Alycidon), dam of Italian stakes winner Nigretta (by Ribot).
Regrettably, Nervesa was the only filly produced by the tiny (barely 15.1 hands) Nogara, whose other produce included Italian stakes winners Naucide (by Bellini) and Niccolo d'Arezzo (by Ortello). Nogara herself won the 1931 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas) and Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas) and was Italy's champion filly at both 2 and 3. She is out of Catnip, a weedy daughter of 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint and 1899 One Thousand Guineas winner Sibola whom Tesio purchased for just 75 guineas from the 1915 Newmarket December sales. Catnip's other produce included Nomellina (by St. Amant), winner of the 1921 Criterium Nazionale; multiple Italian stakes winner Nesiotes (by Hurry On); and Premio Chiusura winner Nera di Bicci (by Tracery), a great Italian foundation mare.
Fun facts
Race record
14 starts, 14 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$86,328 (converted from French and Italian earnings)
1937:
- Won Criterium Nazionale (ITY, 1200mT, San Siro)
- Won Gran Criterium (ITY, 1500mT, San Siro)
- Won Premio Tevere (ITY, 1600mT, Capannelle)
- Won Premio Chiusura (ITY, 1400mT, San Siro)
- Won Premio Menaggio (ITY, 1000mT, San Siro)
- Won Premio Colico (ITY, 1000mT, San Siro)
- Won Premio Vimercate (ITY, 1200mT, San Siro)
1938:
- Won Gran Premio del Re Imperatore (Italian Derby, 2400mT, Capannelle)
- Won Premio Paroili (ITY, 1600mT, Capannelle)
- Won Gran Premio di Milano (ITY, 3000mT, San Siro)
- Won Grand Prix de Paris (FR, 3000mT, Longchamp)
- Won Gran Premio d'Italia (ITY, 2400mT, San Siro)
- Won Premio Emanuele Filiberto (ITY, 2000mT, San Siro)
- Won Premio del Ministero del l'Agricultore (ITY, 1400mT, Pisa)
Honors
- Italian Horse of the Year (1938)
- Italian champion 2-year-old male (1937)
- Italian champion 3-year-old male (1938)
As an individual
A beautifully made dark bay or brown horse standing 16.0-1/2 hands, Nearco possessed nearly flawless conformation. He had a blistering turn of foot on the race course. He had a dominant, fiery disposition and considerable intelligence. He intensely disliked being handled or touched by any human except his longtime stud groom, Ernie Lee.
As a stallion
Nearco led the English/Irish general sire list in 1947 and 1948 and was among the top 10 English/Irish general sires on another 13 occasions including runner-up finishes in 1949 and 1951. He was also the English/Irish champion broodmare sire of 1952, 1955 and 1956; was the runner-up in 1951, 1958, 1960 and 1961, and was among the top 10 English/Irish maternal grandsires on another 10 occasions. In addition, Nearco led the French broodmare sire list in 1960 and was runner-up in 1959 and 1968. According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Nearco sired 273 winners (56.6%) and 87 stakes winners from 482 named foals (18.0%). He typically transmitted his own brilliance, but most of his progeny were not quite up to the European Classic distance of 12 furlongs. Nearco is a Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Admirable (IRE), Amerigo (GB), Chief (GB), Dante (GB), Hafiz (FR), Infatuation (GB), Lady Sybil (GB), Masaka (IRE), Mossborough (GB), Narrator (GB), Nasrullah (IRE), Nearctic (CAN), Neasham Belle (GB), Neolight (GB), Nilo (GB), Nimbus (GB), Noble Chieftain (IRE), Noory (GB), Royal Charger (GB), Sayajirao (GB), Star of Gujrath (GB)
Connections
Nearco was bred and owned by Federico Tesio (who also trained him) in partnership with the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta. Following his racing career, Tesio sold Nearco to Martin Benson for £60,000, then a record for a Thoroughbred stallion. Nearco entered stud at Martin's Beech House Stud in 1939 and died there of cancer in 1957.
Pedigree notes
Nearco is inbred 5x4x4x5 to nine-time English champion sire and unbeaten racehorse St. Simon, a horse whom Tesio greatly admired. He is a full brother to Italian stakes winner Namakuro. He is a half brother to 1941 Derby Italiano winner and 1950 Italian champion sire Niccolo dell'Arca (by Coronach) and to 1944 Oaks d'Italia winner Nervesa (by Ortello), whose daughter Navarra (by Orsenigo) was a multiple stakes producer and the second dam of 1962 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp winner Fortino II and French Group III winner Rakosi. Nervesa also produced Natalina Da Murano (by Orsenigo), dam of English stakes winner Pinturischio (by Pinza); Nerita (by Tenerani), dam of 1964 Gran Premio Citta di Napoli winner Nardini (by Prince Chevalier); Nishiyama (by Mieuxcé), second dam of 1980 Dansk Oaks (DEN-I) and Svenskt Oaks (SWE-I) winner Oline; and Natura Morta (by Alycidon), dam of Italian stakes winner Nigretta (by Ribot).
Regrettably, Nervesa was the only filly produced by the tiny (barely 15.1 hands) Nogara, whose other produce included Italian stakes winners Naucide (by Bellini) and Niccolo d'Arezzo (by Ortello). Nogara herself won the 1931 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas) and Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas) and was Italy's champion filly at both 2 and 3. She is out of Catnip, a weedy daughter of 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint and 1899 One Thousand Guineas winner Sibola whom Tesio purchased for just 75 guineas from the 1915 Newmarket December sales. Catnip's other produce included Nomellina (by St. Amant), winner of the 1921 Criterium Nazionale; multiple Italian stakes winner Nesiotes (by Hurry On); and Premio Chiusura winner Nera di Bicci (by Tracery), a great Italian foundation mare.
Fun facts
- According to Peter Willett in Makers of the Modern Thoroughbred (1986, The University Press of Kentucky), Tesio actually tried to sell Nearco after the colt's 2-year-old season because he was convinced that a horse with the intense speed Nearco had shown could not stay well enough for the Classics. Fortunately for Tesio, he failed to find a buyer.
- Nearco was considered so valuable that during World War II, he had his own bomb shelter to protect him from German air raids. The horse was said to have learned to go into the shelter on his own when he heard the sound of an air raid siren, remaining within until his groom gave him the “all-clear.”
- Nearco's temperament was so difficult as a young stallion that he reportedly went through 10 stud grooms in 10 months before Ernie Lee was assigned to him. Lee soon won the volatile horse's trust and was his caretaker for the rest of the stallion's life.
- In the last months of Nearco's life, Lee kept his old friend alive in spite of a digestive ailment by hand-feeding him a special mash of hay and grain. After Nearco was humanely destroyed due to a cancerous tumor in his hip, his devastated groom walked away from the horse industry, never to return.
- The Col d'Orcia winery of Montalcino, Italy, produces a red wine named “Nearco.” The wine blends juice from Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah grapes.
- The Esperia Group, a bicycle manufacturer, produces a top-end mountain bicycle named after Nearco.
