Sir Gallahad III (FR)
1920 – July 8, 1949
Teddy (FR) x Plucky Liege (GB), by Spearmint (GB)
Family 16-a
1920 – July 8, 1949
Teddy (FR) x Plucky Liege (GB), by Spearmint (GB)
Family 16-a
A good stakes winner at 2, 3, and 4 in a better-than-average French crop, Sir Gallahad III could carry his speed effectively over 10 furlongs but was better at shorter distances. Imported to the United States by a syndicate assembled by Claiborne Farm's Arthur Hancock, he proved ideally suited to American conditions. He was the first truly great sire to stand at Claiborne and the beginning of its reputation as one of the world's foremost stallion stations. His importation is also held to mark the beginning of the modern era of stallion syndication.
Race record
24 starts, 11 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds
1922:
1923:
1924:
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Sir Gallahad III stood 16.1 hands. He had a good shoulder and hip and sound legs and feet. He was generally said to have had a good temperament. He had a white-ringed eye similar to that of his son Gallant Fox.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sir Gallahad III sired 336 winners (60.3%) and 56 stakes winners (10.1%) from 557 named foals. The Thoroughbred Heritage website states that he sired 64 stakes winners from 567 foals, or 11.3 percent, while Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World credits Sir Gallahad III with 65 stakes winners. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) lists Sir Gallahad III as having sired 60 stakes winners from 567 foals. Sir Gallahad III is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Bold Irishman (USA), Escutcheon (USA), Fenelon (USA), Fighting Fox (USA), Foxbrough (USA), Gallahadion (USA), Gallant Fox (USA), Gallette (USA), Good Morning (USA), Hadagal (USA), Happy Gal (USA), High Quest (USA), Hoop, Jr. (USA), Insco (USA), La France (USA), Privileged (USA), Roman (USA), Tintagel (USA), Vagrancy (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Armageddon (USA), Atalanta (USA), Aurelius (GB), Beaugay (USA), Boswell (GB), Black Tarquin (USA), Blue Grass (USA), Challedon (USA), County Delight (USA), Galatea (FR), Gallorette (USA), Jacola (USA), Jet Pilot (USA), Johnstown (USA), Manassa Mauler (USA), Mars Shield (USA), Marullah (USA), Merry Lassie (USA), Miss Keeneland (USA), Pasteurized (USA), Prince Simon (USA), Royal Native (USA), Sky Larking (USA), Stir Up (USA), Up the Hill (USA), Vienna (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Haras de Fitz-James, Sir Gallahad III was bred and owned by Captain Jefferson Davis Cohn. He was trained by Robert Denman. After one season at Cohn's stud in France, he was sold for US$125,000 and imported to the United States in December 1925 by a syndicate headed by Arthur B. Hancock, Sr., of Claiborne Farm, where the stallion stood his entire American career. He was found dead in his paddock on July 8, 1949, and was buried on Claiborne Farm's Marchmont Farm division next to Marguerite (dam of his best son, Gallant Fox).
Pedigree notes
Sir Gallahad III is inbred 5x4 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner and three-time leading English sire Galopin. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1863 St. Leger Stakes winner Lord Clifden, the leading English sire of 1876, and 5x5 to 1863 dual Classic winner Macaroni, probably the best English broodmare sire of his time. He is a full brother to French stakes winner Bull Dog, a leading sire and leading broodmare sire in the United States; to Quatre Bras II, a stakes winner in France and America; and to Marguerite de Valois, dam of 1939 Acorn Stakes winner Hostility (by Man o' War) and ancestress of the top racers or sires Roman Brother, Dr. Patches, Fappiano, Quiet American, Ogygian, and Honour and Glory. He is also a half brother to 1934 Grand Prix de Paris winner Admiral Drake (by Craig an Eran), a Classic sire in England and France; to 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel (by Vatout), also a sire of Classic winners; and to French stakes winner Bel Aethel (by Teddy's son Aethelstan II).
Sir Gallahad III is out of Plucky Liege, a speedy juvenile who did not train on at 3. She is a half sister to Garron Lass (by Roseland), whose Friar Marcus filly Friar's Daughter produced the undefeated 1935 English Triple Crown winner Bahram (by Blandford), 1932 Irish Derby winner Dastur, 1941 Durban July Handicap winner Sadri II (by Solario; registered in England under the name Sadruddin prior to his export to South Africa) and French stakes winner Fille de Salut (by Sansovino). Plucky Liege's dam Concertina never raced but was sired by the great English stallion St. Simon from Comic Song (by Petrarch), whose dam Frivolity (by Macaroni) won the 1869 Middle Park Plate.
Books and media
Last updated: August 11, 2023
Race record
24 starts, 11 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds
1922:
- Won Prix Eclipse (FR, 1300mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won Prix de la Mediterannee (FR, 900mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won Prix du Petit Couvert (FR, 1000mT, Longchamp)
1923:
- Won Poule d'Essai des Poulains (FR, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Edgard de la Charme (FR, 2000mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won Prix Daphnis (FR, 1600mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- Won Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR, 1600mT, Deauville)
- 2nd Prix Royal-Oak (FR, 3100mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix des Marettes (FR, 1200mT, Deauville)
- 2nd Prix de la Forêt (FR, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix du Jockey Club (FR, 2400mT, Chantilly)
- 3rd Prix du Petit Couvert (FR, 1000mT)
1924:
- Won Lincolnshire Handicap (ENG, 8FT, Doncaster)
- Won Prix Boiard (FR, 2000mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won Prix Daphnis (FR, 1800mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- Won Prix Edgard de la Charme (FR, 2000mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won match race with Épinard (FR, 1300mT, Saint-Cloud)
- 2nd Prix du Gros Chene (FR, 1000mT, Chantilly)
- 3rd Prix des Sablons (FR, 2000mT, Longchamp)
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Sir Gallahad III stood 16.1 hands. He had a good shoulder and hip and sound legs and feet. He was generally said to have had a good temperament. He had a white-ringed eye similar to that of his son Gallant Fox.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sir Gallahad III sired 336 winners (60.3%) and 56 stakes winners (10.1%) from 557 named foals. The Thoroughbred Heritage website states that he sired 64 stakes winners from 567 foals, or 11.3 percent, while Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World credits Sir Gallahad III with 65 stakes winners. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) lists Sir Gallahad III as having sired 60 stakes winners from 567 foals. Sir Gallahad III is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1930, 1933, 1934, and 1940; 2nd in 1939 and 1956; 3rd in 1935; 5th in 1943; 8th in 1937; 9th in 1945.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1939, 1943-1952, and 1955; 2nd in 1953; 3rd in 1954; 5th in 1960; 7th in 1937.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1935.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1930, 1933, 1934, and 1940; 2nd in 1939 and 1941; 3rd in 1935; 5th in 1932; 8th in 1936 and 1937; 9th in 1943 and 1945.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1939, 1943-1952, and 1955; 2nd in 1953 and 1956; 3rd in 1938, 1942, and 1954; 4th in1940; 5th in 1937, 1942, and 1958-1960; 7th in 1941.
- Led the American juvenile sire list by number of winners in 1933.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1930, 1933, 1934, and 1940; 2nd in 1939 and 1941; 3rd in 1935; 5th in 1932 and 1942; 8th in 1936 and 1937; 9th in 1943 and 1945.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1939, 1943-1952, and 1955; 2nd in 1953 and 1956; 3rd in 1938, 1942, and 1954; 4th in 1940; 5th in 1937 and 1958-1960; 7th in 1941; 9th in 1957.
- 3rd on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1939; 6th in 1948; 8th in 1961; 10th in 1949.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1930, 1933, 1934, and 1940.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1939, 1943-1952, and 1955.
Notable progeny
Bold Irishman (USA), Escutcheon (USA), Fenelon (USA), Fighting Fox (USA), Foxbrough (USA), Gallahadion (USA), Gallant Fox (USA), Gallette (USA), Good Morning (USA), Hadagal (USA), Happy Gal (USA), High Quest (USA), Hoop, Jr. (USA), Insco (USA), La France (USA), Privileged (USA), Roman (USA), Tintagel (USA), Vagrancy (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Armageddon (USA), Atalanta (USA), Aurelius (GB), Beaugay (USA), Boswell (GB), Black Tarquin (USA), Blue Grass (USA), Challedon (USA), County Delight (USA), Galatea (FR), Gallorette (USA), Jacola (USA), Jet Pilot (USA), Johnstown (USA), Manassa Mauler (USA), Mars Shield (USA), Marullah (USA), Merry Lassie (USA), Miss Keeneland (USA), Pasteurized (USA), Prince Simon (USA), Royal Native (USA), Sky Larking (USA), Stir Up (USA), Up the Hill (USA), Vienna (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Haras de Fitz-James, Sir Gallahad III was bred and owned by Captain Jefferson Davis Cohn. He was trained by Robert Denman. After one season at Cohn's stud in France, he was sold for US$125,000 and imported to the United States in December 1925 by a syndicate headed by Arthur B. Hancock, Sr., of Claiborne Farm, where the stallion stood his entire American career. He was found dead in his paddock on July 8, 1949, and was buried on Claiborne Farm's Marchmont Farm division next to Marguerite (dam of his best son, Gallant Fox).
Pedigree notes
Sir Gallahad III is inbred 5x4 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner and three-time leading English sire Galopin. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1863 St. Leger Stakes winner Lord Clifden, the leading English sire of 1876, and 5x5 to 1863 dual Classic winner Macaroni, probably the best English broodmare sire of his time. He is a full brother to French stakes winner Bull Dog, a leading sire and leading broodmare sire in the United States; to Quatre Bras II, a stakes winner in France and America; and to Marguerite de Valois, dam of 1939 Acorn Stakes winner Hostility (by Man o' War) and ancestress of the top racers or sires Roman Brother, Dr. Patches, Fappiano, Quiet American, Ogygian, and Honour and Glory. He is also a half brother to 1934 Grand Prix de Paris winner Admiral Drake (by Craig an Eran), a Classic sire in England and France; to 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel (by Vatout), also a sire of Classic winners; and to French stakes winner Bel Aethel (by Teddy's son Aethelstan II).
Sir Gallahad III is out of Plucky Liege, a speedy juvenile who did not train on at 3. She is a half sister to Garron Lass (by Roseland), whose Friar Marcus filly Friar's Daughter produced the undefeated 1935 English Triple Crown winner Bahram (by Blandford), 1932 Irish Derby winner Dastur, 1941 Durban July Handicap winner Sadri II (by Solario; registered in England under the name Sadruddin prior to his export to South Africa) and French stakes winner Fille de Salut (by Sansovino). Plucky Liege's dam Concertina never raced but was sired by the great English stallion St. Simon from Comic Song (by Petrarch), whose dam Frivolity (by Macaroni) won the 1869 Middle Park Plate.
Books and media
- Sir Gallahad III is profiled in Part One of Edward Bowen's Dynasties: Great Thoroughbred Stallions (2000, Eclipse Press).
- Sir Gallahad III is profiled in Chapter 66 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
- Sir Gallahad III 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.
- Prior to the official start of the Grand Prix de Paris (then contested at 3000 meters, or about 15 furlongs), Sir Gallahad III jumped off in a false start, dumped his rider and leaped into the infield lake, resulting in his withdrawal from the race. Considering that the horse had never shown that he wanted any part of such a distance, perhaps he was trying to tell his connections something.
- Racing historians have long suspected that Sir Gallahad III's poor showing in his first two races (he was fifth of six in the first and last of five in the second) was engineered to set up a betting coup for his owner in the Prix de la Mediteranee, which the colt won easily.
- Sir Gallahad III was named for the knight who achieved the quest of the Holy Grail in the legends of King Arthur.
- As the sire of Gallant Fox (1930), Gallahadion (1940) and Hoop, Jr. (1945), Sir Gallahad III is one of four stallions to have sired three Kentucky Derby winners. The others are Virgil, Falsetto and Bull Lea.
Last updated: August 11, 2023