Siberian Express (USA)
January 25, 1981 – c. 1996
Caro (IRE) x Indian Call (USA), by Warfare (USA)
Family 13-c
January 25, 1981 – c. 1996
Caro (IRE) x Indian Call (USA), by Warfare (USA)
Family 13-c
A speedy but not entirely consistent colt, Siberian Express nonetheless became a Classic winner in France and might have fared better had he not had a strong preference for firm going (which is more commonly encountered in the United States than Europe). Equally inconsistent at stud, he made one important contribution through his wickedly fast son In Excess, who managed to pass on the male line of Caro to his son Indian Charlie and grandson Uncle Mo. Siberian Express also begot the Grade 1 winner and useful California sire Siberian Summer and Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas, ITY-G2) winner Ancestral Dancer and is the maternal grandsire of 2003 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Spoken Fur.
Race record
11 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 3 third, US$148,321 (converted from English and French earnings)
1983:
1984:
Assessments
Second-rated among French juveniles of 1983.
Earned a Timeform rating of 122 pounds as a juvenile.
Earned a Timeform rating of 125 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A big, strong, rangy horse standing at least 16.1 hands (one source gives his height as 16.2-1/2), Siberian Express had excellent bone and substance. He needed firm going to be at his best. A free-running horse, he generally took the lead from the start and tried to run his rivals into the ground but could not sustain his speed over soft going.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Siberian Express sired 176 winners (54.5%) and 10 stakes winners (3.1%) from 323 named foals.
Notable progeny
Ancestral Dancer (GB), In Excess (IRE), Siberian Summer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Mooner (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Siberian Express was bred by Spendthrift Farm. He was owned by Mahmoud Fustok, who purchased the colt from the 1984 Keeneland July sale for US$230,000 in the name of his Buckram Oak Farm. Siberian Express was initially trained by Mitri Saliba and was transferred to André Fabre at the beginning of his 3-year-old season. Following an unplaced finish in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1), Siberian Express was transferred to Roger Wojtowiez but showed no improvement in his last start of the season, the Prix de la Forêt, and was in yet another trainer’s care at 4, that of George Mikhalides. He entered stud in 1986 in England at Derisley Wood Stud near Newmarket and moved to the United States after the 1992 breeding season. He finished his stud career at Bridlewood Farm near Ocala, Florida, where he stood in 1993-1996.
Pedigree notes
Siberian Express is inbred 5x4 to unbeaten Nearco, a two-time leader of the combined English/Irish sire list. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Erwin Boy and stakes winner Dancing Partner (both by Exclusive Native). He is also a half brother to Cheyenne Birdsong (by Restless Wind), dam of Grade 3 winners Compelling Sound (by Seattle Slew) and Creston (by Flying Paster), of multiple listed stakes winner Shywing (by Wing Out), and of juvenile stakes winner Sequoyah (by Gummo), and the third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Maldivian. In addition, Siberian Express is a half brother to Play Around Honey (by Exclusive Native), dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Londrina (by Vice Regent) and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Halston and Brazilian Group 3 winner Daltiva.
Siberian Express and his siblings were produced from Indian Call, a daughter of 1959 American champion 2-year-old male Warfare and a half sister to multiple stakes winner Popular Demand (by Sensitivo) and 1967 Alcibiades Stakes winner Lady Tramp (by Sensitivo). The last-named mare is the third dam of 1999 Gran Premio Selección (ARG-G1) and 2001 Santa Margarita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Lovellon, the champion 3-year-old filly of 1999/2000 in Argentina, and of Grade 2 winner Notional.
Indian Call, in turn, is out of La Morlaye (by 1955 English champion miler Hafiz, a son of Nearco) out of the Count Fleet mare Manzana, whose dam is 1943 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Durazna. La Morlaye is a half sister to 1961 Alcibiades Stakes winner Journalette (by Summer Tan), dam of 1972 American champion handicap female Typecast (by Prince John) and 1971 Chrysanthemum Handicap winner Society Column (by Sir Gaylord) and second dam of 1980 Japanese champion older female Pretty Cast, 1985 Jefferson Smurfit Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Leading Counsel, and English Group 3 winner Sylph. Another half sister to La Morlaye, Melon (by Heliopolis), is the dam of English Group 2 winner Straight as a Die (by Never Bend) and multiple stakes winner Hand to Hand (by Warfare).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 1, 2023
Race record
11 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 3 third, US$148,321 (converted from English and French earnings)
1983:
- Won Prix Morny (FR-G1, 1200mT, Deauville)
- 2nd Prix de la Salamandre (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-G1, 7FT, Newmarket)
1984:
- Won Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix de Fontainebleau (FR-G3, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix Jacques le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
Assessments
Second-rated among French juveniles of 1983.
Earned a Timeform rating of 122 pounds as a juvenile.
Earned a Timeform rating of 125 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A big, strong, rangy horse standing at least 16.1 hands (one source gives his height as 16.2-1/2), Siberian Express had excellent bone and substance. He needed firm going to be at his best. A free-running horse, he generally took the lead from the start and tried to run his rivals into the ground but could not sustain his speed over soft going.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Siberian Express sired 176 winners (54.5%) and 10 stakes winners (3.1%) from 323 named foals.
Notable progeny
Ancestral Dancer (GB), In Excess (IRE), Siberian Summer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Mooner (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Siberian Express was bred by Spendthrift Farm. He was owned by Mahmoud Fustok, who purchased the colt from the 1984 Keeneland July sale for US$230,000 in the name of his Buckram Oak Farm. Siberian Express was initially trained by Mitri Saliba and was transferred to André Fabre at the beginning of his 3-year-old season. Following an unplaced finish in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1), Siberian Express was transferred to Roger Wojtowiez but showed no improvement in his last start of the season, the Prix de la Forêt, and was in yet another trainer’s care at 4, that of George Mikhalides. He entered stud in 1986 in England at Derisley Wood Stud near Newmarket and moved to the United States after the 1992 breeding season. He finished his stud career at Bridlewood Farm near Ocala, Florida, where he stood in 1993-1996.
Pedigree notes
Siberian Express is inbred 5x4 to unbeaten Nearco, a two-time leader of the combined English/Irish sire list. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Erwin Boy and stakes winner Dancing Partner (both by Exclusive Native). He is also a half brother to Cheyenne Birdsong (by Restless Wind), dam of Grade 3 winners Compelling Sound (by Seattle Slew) and Creston (by Flying Paster), of multiple listed stakes winner Shywing (by Wing Out), and of juvenile stakes winner Sequoyah (by Gummo), and the third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Maldivian. In addition, Siberian Express is a half brother to Play Around Honey (by Exclusive Native), dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Londrina (by Vice Regent) and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Halston and Brazilian Group 3 winner Daltiva.
Siberian Express and his siblings were produced from Indian Call, a daughter of 1959 American champion 2-year-old male Warfare and a half sister to multiple stakes winner Popular Demand (by Sensitivo) and 1967 Alcibiades Stakes winner Lady Tramp (by Sensitivo). The last-named mare is the third dam of 1999 Gran Premio Selección (ARG-G1) and 2001 Santa Margarita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Lovellon, the champion 3-year-old filly of 1999/2000 in Argentina, and of Grade 2 winner Notional.
Indian Call, in turn, is out of La Morlaye (by 1955 English champion miler Hafiz, a son of Nearco) out of the Count Fleet mare Manzana, whose dam is 1943 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Durazna. La Morlaye is a half sister to 1961 Alcibiades Stakes winner Journalette (by Summer Tan), dam of 1972 American champion handicap female Typecast (by Prince John) and 1971 Chrysanthemum Handicap winner Society Column (by Sir Gaylord) and second dam of 1980 Japanese champion older female Pretty Cast, 1985 Jefferson Smurfit Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Leading Counsel, and English Group 3 winner Sylph. Another half sister to La Morlaye, Melon (by Heliopolis), is the dam of English Group 2 winner Straight as a Die (by Never Bend) and multiple stakes winner Hand to Hand (by Warfare).
Fun facts
- A “Siberian express” is a meteorological phenomenon referring to a mass of frigid air originating in Siberia or over the Arctic Ocean and being pushed well down into the United States into areas that do not normally experience such extreme cold. The name appears to have been first used for this type of weather event in January 1982, when such an air mass was pushed into the United States and broke many existing records for cold temperatures across the country.
Last updated: June 1, 2023