Riverman (USA)
March 22, 1969 – July 31, 1999
Never Bend (USA) x River Lady (USA), by Prince John (USA)
Family 10-a
March 22, 1969 – July 31, 1999
Never Bend (USA) x River Lady (USA), by Prince John (USA)
Family 10-a
Sometimes known as “Never Bend's other son,” Riverman was not the equal of the similarly sired Mill Reef but was nonetheless a fine racehorse. Gifted with a withering burst of speed, he was probably most effective at a mile but ran quite creditably over longer trips against top competition. He became a good stallion as well, establishing himself as a top sire in France and later in the United States. While he failed to establish a lasting male line, his daughters did more than enough to maintain his name in pedigrees in spite of the fact that several of his best racing daughters died without issue.
Race record
8 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$636,641
1971:
1972:
Assessments
Rated third at 130 pounds on the French Free Handicap for 2-year-olds of 1971, 2 pounds below highweighted Hard to Beat.
Earned a Timeform rating of 131 pounds as a 3-year-old.
Rated at 136 pounds on the French Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1972, 4 pounds below highweighted San San (the French champion 3-year-old filly).
As an individual
A dark bay standing 15.3 hands, Riverman was handsome and deep-bodied, standing over a lot of ground. He was slightly back at the knees and tended to transmit this trait.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Riverman sired 556 winners (56.2%) and 125 stakes winners (12.6%) from 990 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credited him with 128 stakes winners (12.9%). Riverman is an Intermediate/Classic 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):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
All At Sea (USA), Bahri (USA), Detroit (FR), Dowsing (USA), Gold River (FR), Hailsham (CAN), Houseproud (USA), Irish River (FR), Lahib (USA), Latin American (USA), Loup Savage (USA), Pillaster (USA), Policeman (FR), Qirmazi (USA), River Flyer (USA), River Lady (IRE), River Memories (USA), River Special (USA), Rivlia (USA), Rousillon (USA), Treble (USA), Triptych (USA), Virginia Rapids (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Anabaa Blue (GB), Baiser Vole (USA), Balbonella (FR), Bosra Sham (USA), Carnegie (IRE), Cudas (USA), Erhaab (USA), Erimo Excel (JPN), Hector Protector (USA), Helen Street (GB), Highest Honor (FR), Makybe Diva (GB), My Big Boy (USA), Pontal Lass (AUS), Rainbow Dancer (FR), River North (IRE), Riviere d’Or (USA), Rosedale (USA), Royal Rebel (GB), Saint Cyrien (FR), Shanghai (USA), Silvermine (FR), Six Perfections (FR), Spinning World (USA), Talinum (USA), Toledo (AUS), Vaudeville (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Riverman was bred by Captain Harry F. Guggenheim. He was owned by Germaine Wertheimer, wife of the noted French owner-breeder Pierre Wertheimer, who made his fortune in the perfume industry. A $41,000 weanling from the 1969 Keeneland November mixed sale, Riverman was trained by Alec Head. He initially stood in France at Haras du Quesnay in 1973–1979 and afterward was transferred to Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He was humanely destroyed July 31, 1999, due to complications of colic.
Pedigree notes
Riverman is inbred 5x5 to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur. He is a half brother to the stakes-winning steeplechaser Tell Harmall (by Guillaume Tell) and to Push a Button (by Bold Lad [IRE]), dam of Irish stakes winner Outside Pressure (by Shernazar); second dam of 2002 European Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar, Australian Group 3 winner Offenbach and Grade 3 winner Deploy Venture; and third dam of 2016 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Intricately, New Zealand Group 2 winner Spanish Whisper and Irish Group 3 winner Precious Gem. Riverman is also a half brother to Friendly Finance (by Auction Ring), dam of Japanese stakes winner Kei Woman (by Last Tycoon; dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Monte Kris S, by Symboli Kris S, and Japanese stakes winner Machikane Kirara, by Sunday Silence).
Riverman was the first foal produced from his winning dam River Lady, whose stakes-placed half sister Up Oars (by Turn-to) produced stakes winner Scull (by Droll Role). River Lady is also a half sister to Lily of the Nile (by Never Bend), dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Aswan (by Northern Taste) and third dam of 2010 Yasuda Kinen (JPN-G1) winner Showa Modern and Japanese Group 3 winner Yumeno Shirushi.
River Lady, in turn, is out of the stakes-winning Roman mare Nile Lily, a half sister to stakes winner Kingmaster (by One-Eyed King) and to Easter Flower (by Easton), dam of stakes winner Flower's Boy (by Sky Clipper). Nile Lily's dam Azalea (by Sun Teddy) failed to win but is a half sister to 1944 American champion 2-year-old male Pavot (by Case Ace) and to 1946 Choice Stakes winner Lovat (by Jamestown).
Books and media
Last updated: July 29, 2023
Race record
8 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$636,641
1971:
- Won Prix Yacowlef (FR, 1000mT, Deauville)
- 2nd Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (FR-II, 1400mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
1972:
- Won Poule d'Essai des Poulains (FR-I, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix d'Ispahan (FR-I, 2100mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Jean Prat (FR-II, 1800mT, Chantilly)
- Won Prix Montenica (FR, Saint-Cloud)
- 2nd Champion Stakes (ENG-I, 10FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ENG-I, 12FT, Ascot)
Assessments
Rated third at 130 pounds on the French Free Handicap for 2-year-olds of 1971, 2 pounds below highweighted Hard to Beat.
Earned a Timeform rating of 131 pounds as a 3-year-old.
Rated at 136 pounds on the French Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1972, 4 pounds below highweighted San San (the French champion 3-year-old filly).
As an individual
A dark bay standing 15.3 hands, Riverman was handsome and deep-bodied, standing over a lot of ground. He was slightly back at the knees and tended to transmit this trait.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Riverman sired 556 winners (56.2%) and 125 stakes winners (12.6%) from 990 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credited him with 128 stakes winners (12.9%). Riverman is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 7th on the American general sire list in 1987.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1987; 10th in 1992.
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1994; 4th in 1997; 8th in 1996.
- 4th on the Australian broodmare sire list in 2004/2005; 10th in 2003/2004.
- 2nd on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1987; 5th in 1985; 6th in 1992; 8th in 1986 and 1995.
- 2nd on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1994; 4th in 1996; 10th in 1997.
- Led the French general sire list in 1980 and 1981; 2nd in 1978 and 1979; 4th in 1985; 5th in 1987; 6th in 1977, 1982, and 1986; 7th in 1983.
- Led the French broodmare sire list in 1994 and 1996; 2nd in 1988, 1995, and 2001; 3rd in 1986 and 1990-1993; 4th in 1997; 5th in 1987, 1988, and 1999; 9th in 1985; 10th in 1998.
- Led the French juvenile sire list in 1978 and 1982.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the French general sire list in 1980 and 1981.
Notable progeny
All At Sea (USA), Bahri (USA), Detroit (FR), Dowsing (USA), Gold River (FR), Hailsham (CAN), Houseproud (USA), Irish River (FR), Lahib (USA), Latin American (USA), Loup Savage (USA), Pillaster (USA), Policeman (FR), Qirmazi (USA), River Flyer (USA), River Lady (IRE), River Memories (USA), River Special (USA), Rivlia (USA), Rousillon (USA), Treble (USA), Triptych (USA), Virginia Rapids (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Anabaa Blue (GB), Baiser Vole (USA), Balbonella (FR), Bosra Sham (USA), Carnegie (IRE), Cudas (USA), Erhaab (USA), Erimo Excel (JPN), Hector Protector (USA), Helen Street (GB), Highest Honor (FR), Makybe Diva (GB), My Big Boy (USA), Pontal Lass (AUS), Rainbow Dancer (FR), River North (IRE), Riviere d’Or (USA), Rosedale (USA), Royal Rebel (GB), Saint Cyrien (FR), Shanghai (USA), Silvermine (FR), Six Perfections (FR), Spinning World (USA), Talinum (USA), Toledo (AUS), Vaudeville (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Riverman was bred by Captain Harry F. Guggenheim. He was owned by Germaine Wertheimer, wife of the noted French owner-breeder Pierre Wertheimer, who made his fortune in the perfume industry. A $41,000 weanling from the 1969 Keeneland November mixed sale, Riverman was trained by Alec Head. He initially stood in France at Haras du Quesnay in 1973–1979 and afterward was transferred to Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He was humanely destroyed July 31, 1999, due to complications of colic.
Pedigree notes
Riverman is inbred 5x5 to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur. He is a half brother to the stakes-winning steeplechaser Tell Harmall (by Guillaume Tell) and to Push a Button (by Bold Lad [IRE]), dam of Irish stakes winner Outside Pressure (by Shernazar); second dam of 2002 European Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar, Australian Group 3 winner Offenbach and Grade 3 winner Deploy Venture; and third dam of 2016 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Intricately, New Zealand Group 2 winner Spanish Whisper and Irish Group 3 winner Precious Gem. Riverman is also a half brother to Friendly Finance (by Auction Ring), dam of Japanese stakes winner Kei Woman (by Last Tycoon; dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Monte Kris S, by Symboli Kris S, and Japanese stakes winner Machikane Kirara, by Sunday Silence).
Riverman was the first foal produced from his winning dam River Lady, whose stakes-placed half sister Up Oars (by Turn-to) produced stakes winner Scull (by Droll Role). River Lady is also a half sister to Lily of the Nile (by Never Bend), dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Aswan (by Northern Taste) and third dam of 2010 Yasuda Kinen (JPN-G1) winner Showa Modern and Japanese Group 3 winner Yumeno Shirushi.
River Lady, in turn, is out of the stakes-winning Roman mare Nile Lily, a half sister to stakes winner Kingmaster (by One-Eyed King) and to Easter Flower (by Easton), dam of stakes winner Flower's Boy (by Sky Clipper). Nile Lily's dam Azalea (by Sun Teddy) failed to win but is a half sister to 1944 American champion 2-year-old male Pavot (by Case Ace) and to 1946 Choice Stakes winner Lovat (by Jamestown).
Books and media
- Riverman is one of 75 Thoroughbred stallions profiled by Tony Morris in Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
- Riverman 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.
Last updated: July 29, 2023