Noble Bijou (USA)
May 22, 1971 – November 1994
Vaguely Noble (IRE) x Priceless Gem (USA), by Hail to Reason (USA)
Family 1-x
May 22, 1971 – November 1994
Vaguely Noble (IRE) x Priceless Gem (USA), by Hail to Reason (USA)
Family 1-x
A half brother to the great Allez France, Noble Bijou never got the opportunity to prove that he had anything remotely close to the same level of ability. Nonetheless, his royal bloodlines won him a chance at stud in New Zealand, where he proved to be one of the best sires in the nation's history.
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A bay horse, Noble Bijou had upright pasterns and badly conformed hocks that precluded a racing career.
As a stallion
Noble Bijou was New Zealand's champion sire in 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84 and 1992/93 and led the combined Australian/New Zealand sire list in 1981/82. He was among New Zealand's top 10 general sires on another five occasions including a runner-up finish in 1980/81. He was New Zealand's champion broodmare sire in 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1997/98 and was among the top 10 maternal grandsires on another eight occasions, including a runner-up finish in 1998/99 and third-place seasons in 1995/96 and 2002/03. According to statistics kept by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Noble Bijou sired 65 stakes winners (8.2%) from 790 foals. Noble Bijou's runners were generally best at distances over a mile and usually improved with maturity. He appeared to work particularly well with mares by Mellay, who were responsible for six of his 10 Group I winners, but it should be remembered that Mellay was his predecessor as the premier sire at White Robe Lodge, making it a foregone conclusion that Noble Bijou would receive many of his daughters as mates.
Notable progeny
Alibhai (NZ), Allez Bijou (NZ), Be Noble (NZ), Lady Liberty (NZ), Lomondy (NZ), Our Sophia (NZ), Powley (NZ), Prince Majestic (NZ), The Phantom (NZ), The Phantom Chance (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Noble Bijou was bred by Mrs. Allen F. Manning, who had purchased his dam Priceless Gem from the 1970 Bieber-Jacobs Stable dispersal while she was carrying him. He was sent to France as a yearling and to Australia at age 3 but was unable to race in either country. He entered stud in 1975 in New Zealand at White Robe Lodge near Mosgiel, a satellite city of Dunedin on the South Island. He was pensioned in 1993 and died in 1994.
Pedigree notes
Noble Bijou is inbred 3x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the track. He is a half brother to 1974 French Horse of the Year Allez France (by Sea-Bird), dam of French Group III winner Action Francaise (by Nureyev) and second dam of six stakes winners including Group III winners Android (by Riverman) and Article Rare (by El Prado). He is also a half brother to Irish Group III-placed Lady Winborne (by Secretariat), dam of six stakes winners including 1987 John Henry Handicap (USA-IT) winner Al Mamoon (by Believe It), 1991 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-IT) winner La Gueriere (by Lord At War) and Grade III winner Lost Soldier (by Danzig). Lady Winborne is also the second dam of 2009 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-I) winner Icon Project, multiple Grade II winner Master Command and multiple Grade III winner Aurora Lights and the third dam of 2003 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (USA-IT) winner Honor in War; Grade/Group II winners Duntle, Apart and Munnings; and Grade III winners Castaway, Gamay Noir and Heathcote.
Noble Bijou is out of 1965 Futurity Stakes and Frizette Stakes winner Priceless Gem, whose other foals include the Vaguely Noble mares Priceless Countess, dam of 1996 Moet Champagne Stakes (USA-I) winner Ordway (by Salt Lake), and Sans Prix, dam of Grade II winner Special Price (by Bering). In addition, Priceless Gem is the dam of Crillion (by L'Enjoleur), dam of multiple French stakes winner Fik El Barraki (by Crystal Glitters). A full sister to 1964 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring and a half sister to three-time American champion Affectionately (by Swaps), Priceless Gem is out of National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame member Searching (by War Admiral).
Fun facts
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A bay horse, Noble Bijou had upright pasterns and badly conformed hocks that precluded a racing career.
As a stallion
Noble Bijou was New Zealand's champion sire in 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84 and 1992/93 and led the combined Australian/New Zealand sire list in 1981/82. He was among New Zealand's top 10 general sires on another five occasions including a runner-up finish in 1980/81. He was New Zealand's champion broodmare sire in 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1997/98 and was among the top 10 maternal grandsires on another eight occasions, including a runner-up finish in 1998/99 and third-place seasons in 1995/96 and 2002/03. According to statistics kept by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Noble Bijou sired 65 stakes winners (8.2%) from 790 foals. Noble Bijou's runners were generally best at distances over a mile and usually improved with maturity. He appeared to work particularly well with mares by Mellay, who were responsible for six of his 10 Group I winners, but it should be remembered that Mellay was his predecessor as the premier sire at White Robe Lodge, making it a foregone conclusion that Noble Bijou would receive many of his daughters as mates.
Notable progeny
Alibhai (NZ), Allez Bijou (NZ), Be Noble (NZ), Lady Liberty (NZ), Lomondy (NZ), Our Sophia (NZ), Powley (NZ), Prince Majestic (NZ), The Phantom (NZ), The Phantom Chance (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Noble Bijou was bred by Mrs. Allen F. Manning, who had purchased his dam Priceless Gem from the 1970 Bieber-Jacobs Stable dispersal while she was carrying him. He was sent to France as a yearling and to Australia at age 3 but was unable to race in either country. He entered stud in 1975 in New Zealand at White Robe Lodge near Mosgiel, a satellite city of Dunedin on the South Island. He was pensioned in 1993 and died in 1994.
Pedigree notes
Noble Bijou is inbred 3x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the track. He is a half brother to 1974 French Horse of the Year Allez France (by Sea-Bird), dam of French Group III winner Action Francaise (by Nureyev) and second dam of six stakes winners including Group III winners Android (by Riverman) and Article Rare (by El Prado). He is also a half brother to Irish Group III-placed Lady Winborne (by Secretariat), dam of six stakes winners including 1987 John Henry Handicap (USA-IT) winner Al Mamoon (by Believe It), 1991 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-IT) winner La Gueriere (by Lord At War) and Grade III winner Lost Soldier (by Danzig). Lady Winborne is also the second dam of 2009 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-I) winner Icon Project, multiple Grade II winner Master Command and multiple Grade III winner Aurora Lights and the third dam of 2003 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (USA-IT) winner Honor in War; Grade/Group II winners Duntle, Apart and Munnings; and Grade III winners Castaway, Gamay Noir and Heathcote.
Noble Bijou is out of 1965 Futurity Stakes and Frizette Stakes winner Priceless Gem, whose other foals include the Vaguely Noble mares Priceless Countess, dam of 1996 Moet Champagne Stakes (USA-I) winner Ordway (by Salt Lake), and Sans Prix, dam of Grade II winner Special Price (by Bering). In addition, Priceless Gem is the dam of Crillion (by L'Enjoleur), dam of multiple French stakes winner Fik El Barraki (by Crystal Glitters). A full sister to 1964 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring and a half sister to three-time American champion Affectionately (by Swaps), Priceless Gem is out of National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame member Searching (by War Admiral).
Fun facts
- Noble Bijou's name is a nod to those of his sire and dam as "bijou" is an old term for a jewel or trinket.
- Noble Bijou is the only horse to have led the New Zealand general sire and broodmare sire lists in the same year, a feat he accomplished in 1992/93.