Sometimes dismissed by racing historians as a “handicapper,” Pharos was actually a high-quality colt who may have been unlucky to lose the Derby Stakes of his year to Papyrus even though 12 furlongs was probably a little beyond his best trip; a number of contemporary observers felt that a better ride might have made the difference. While he certainly was not the equal of his full brother Fairway as a racehorse, he was if anything even more influential as a stallion and stands at the head of the most successful branch of the great Phalaris sire line.
Race record
30 starts, 14 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, £15,694
1922:
1923:
1924:
1925:
Assessments
Ranked fourth among English juvenile males of 1922 on the Free Handicap but 10 pounds below the top.
Racing historian Abram S. Hewitt estimated that, based on the form Pharos displayed when fourth in the 1923 Cambridgeshire Handicap, he was 5 to 7 pounds below Classic standard in an average year. Nonetheless, Pharos was widely considered the best 10-furlong horse of his time in England.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown standing 16 hands, Pharos was a neat, compact horse with good shoulders and quarters; he could be faulted for being slightly back at the knee and slightly sickle-hocked. He had a kind temperament and had his sire's gameness.
As a stallion
According to the Australian Bloodhorse Review's 2006 reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World, Pharos sired at least 35 stakes winners. He is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per The Great Stallion Book (1986, Richard Ulbrich):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Ad Astra (FR), Bernina (ITY), Bozzetto (ITY), Brueghel (ITY), Cameronian (GB), El Greco (ITY), En Fraude (FR), Firdaussi (GB), Mary Tudor II (FR), Nearco (ITY), Pharis II (FR), Phideas (GB), Rhodes Scholar (GB), Semiramide (FR), Shining Tor (FR), The Nile (FR)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ambiorix (FR), Blue Bear (FR), Corteira (FR), Galcador (FR), Galgala (FR), Oil Capitol (USA), Owen Tudor (GB)
Connections
Pharos was bred and owned by the 17th Earl of Derby. He was trained by George Lambton. He stood three seasons at Lord Derby's Woodlands Stud before being moved to Haras d'Ouilly in France, where he stood until his death on April 30, 1937.
Pedigree notes
Pharos is inbred 4x3 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to three-time English champion Fairway, a four-time champion sire and two-time champion broodmare sire on the English/Irish lists. He is also a full brother to Fair Isle, winner of the 1930 One Thousand Guineas and dam of the good stakes winner St. Magnus (by Sansovino), a good sire in Australia. In addition, Pharos is a half brother to Spithead (by John o' Gaunt), a winner of the Chester Cup.
Scapa Flow, the dam of Pharos and his siblings, was a late-maturing staying filly who won the 1917 Scarborough Stakes at Newmarket (a minor event) as a 3-year-old. She is a half sister to Rothesay Bay (by Bayardo), dam of 1925 Yorkshire Oaks winner Brodick Bay (by Swynford), who in turn is the dam of Eclipse Stakes winner Miracle (by Manna). Through another daughter, stakes-placed Pladda (by Phalaris), Rothesay Bay is also the second dam of Coronation Cup winner Plassy (by Bosworth). In addition, Rothesay Bay produced Sayani Hill (by Sayani), whose daughter Sugihime (by Hindostan) won the 1961 Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas).
Scapa Flow's dam Anchora was a rugged, late-maturing, rather coarse mare best described as a mid-level staying handicapper. She was sired by the 1896 Ascot Gold Cup winner Love Wisely from the non-winner Eryholme (by Hazlehatch) and was a half sister to Flying Home (by Flying Orb), dam of three stakes winners.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: January 27, 2022
Race record
30 starts, 14 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, £15,694
1922:
- Won Bedford Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Newmarket)
- Won Chesham Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- Won Mersey Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Liverpool)
- Won Lambton Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Stockton)
- Won Great 2-Year-Old Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Hurst)
- 2nd Chesterfield Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd Houghton Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
1923:
- Won Hastings Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- Won March Stakes (ENG, 10FT. Newmarket)
- Won Royal Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newbury)
- 2nd Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
- 2nd Select Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Pontefract Stakes (ENG, Pontefract)
- 3rd Liverpool Autumn Cup (ENG, 10FT, Liverpool)
1924:
- Won Liverpool Summer Cup (ENG, 10FT, Liverpool)
- Won North Sea Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Redcar)
- Won Duke of York Handicap (ENG, 10FT, Kempton)
- Won Champion Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
1925:
- Won Duke of York Handicap (ENG, 10FT, Kempton)
- 2nd Champion Stakes (Eng, 10FT, Newmarket; 2nd of 2)
- 3rd March Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Liverpool Summer Cup (ENG, 10FT, Liverpool)
- 3rd Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG, 5FT, York)
Assessments
Ranked fourth among English juvenile males of 1922 on the Free Handicap but 10 pounds below the top.
Racing historian Abram S. Hewitt estimated that, based on the form Pharos displayed when fourth in the 1923 Cambridgeshire Handicap, he was 5 to 7 pounds below Classic standard in an average year. Nonetheless, Pharos was widely considered the best 10-furlong horse of his time in England.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown standing 16 hands, Pharos was a neat, compact horse with good shoulders and quarters; he could be faulted for being slightly back at the knee and slightly sickle-hocked. He had a kind temperament and had his sire's gameness.
As a stallion
According to the Australian Bloodhorse Review's 2006 reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World, Pharos sired at least 35 stakes winners. He is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1931; 3rd in 1936; 4th in 1932; 8th in 1938.
- 4th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1950; 5th in 1941.
- Led the French general sire list in 1939; 2nd in 1935 and 1936; 3rd in 1934 and 1938; 8th in 1933 and 1937.
- 2nd on the French broodmare sire list in 1946 and 1947; 3rd in 1948; 4th in 1950; 6th in 1945; 10th in 1940.
- 2nd on the Italian general sire list in 1938.
Per The Great Stallion Book (1986, Richard Ulbrich):
- Led the English general sire list in 1931; 3rd in 1936; 4th in 1932; 8th in 1938.
- 5th on the English broodmare sire list in 1941.
- Led the French general sire list in 1939; 2nd in 1935 and 1936; 3rd in 1934 and 1938; 8th in 1933 and 1937.
- 2nd on the Italian general sire list in 1938; 8th in 1937.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1931.
- Led the French general sire list in 1939.
- Led the Irish general sire list in 1937
Notable progeny
Ad Astra (FR), Bernina (ITY), Bozzetto (ITY), Brueghel (ITY), Cameronian (GB), El Greco (ITY), En Fraude (FR), Firdaussi (GB), Mary Tudor II (FR), Nearco (ITY), Pharis II (FR), Phideas (GB), Rhodes Scholar (GB), Semiramide (FR), Shining Tor (FR), The Nile (FR)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ambiorix (FR), Blue Bear (FR), Corteira (FR), Galcador (FR), Galgala (FR), Oil Capitol (USA), Owen Tudor (GB)
Connections
Pharos was bred and owned by the 17th Earl of Derby. He was trained by George Lambton. He stood three seasons at Lord Derby's Woodlands Stud before being moved to Haras d'Ouilly in France, where he stood until his death on April 30, 1937.
Pedigree notes
Pharos is inbred 4x3 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to three-time English champion Fairway, a four-time champion sire and two-time champion broodmare sire on the English/Irish lists. He is also a full brother to Fair Isle, winner of the 1930 One Thousand Guineas and dam of the good stakes winner St. Magnus (by Sansovino), a good sire in Australia. In addition, Pharos is a half brother to Spithead (by John o' Gaunt), a winner of the Chester Cup.
Scapa Flow, the dam of Pharos and his siblings, was a late-maturing staying filly who won the 1917 Scarborough Stakes at Newmarket (a minor event) as a 3-year-old. She is a half sister to Rothesay Bay (by Bayardo), dam of 1925 Yorkshire Oaks winner Brodick Bay (by Swynford), who in turn is the dam of Eclipse Stakes winner Miracle (by Manna). Through another daughter, stakes-placed Pladda (by Phalaris), Rothesay Bay is also the second dam of Coronation Cup winner Plassy (by Bosworth). In addition, Rothesay Bay produced Sayani Hill (by Sayani), whose daughter Sugihime (by Hindostan) won the 1961 Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas).
Scapa Flow's dam Anchora was a rugged, late-maturing, rather coarse mare best described as a mid-level staying handicapper. She was sired by the 1896 Ascot Gold Cup winner Love Wisely from the non-winner Eryholme (by Hazlehatch) and was a half sister to Flying Home (by Flying Orb), dam of three stakes winners.
Books and media
- Pharos 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.
- Pharos is profiled in Chapter 18 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
- Pharos took his name from the Egyptian island of Pharos, once the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
- Pharos was actually Federico's second choice as a mate for his prized mare Nogara in 1934. Tesio had originally intended to breed Nogara to Pharos' full brother Fairway but was turned away on the grounds that Fairway's book was already full. Tesio had used Pharos before for other mares with good success, so the match was hardly one of desperation, but the mating of Nogara to Pharos proved particularly fortuitous as the result was Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the track, a two-time champion sire in England, and the male-line progenitor of most modern Thoroughbreds.
Last updated: January 27, 2022