By far the best horse ever sired by the disappointing stallion Vienna, Vaguely Noble was the top European stayer of his generation, easily defeating a high-class field that included the brilliant Sir Ivor in the 1968 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. European breeders had reason to grumble when the colt became yet another of John R. Gaines' importations to the United States, following in the hoof prints of Ribot and Sea-Bird, as he did not fit the profile of the speedier types believed to have the best chance of success in the American market. Vaguely Noble did well in his adopted country, but like his predecessors, had his best successes with runners based in Europe. He was the last Hyperion-line stallion to be a major sire in North America.
Race record
9 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$366,647 (converted from English and French earnings)
1967:
1968:
Honors
French champion 3-year-old male (1968)
Assessments
Vaguely Noble received a Timeform rating of 140 pounds as a 3-year-old, the top rating for any European runner of 1968 and tied for eighth among European runners of the 20th century.
As an individual
A tall, strong bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Vaguely Noble had a commanding presence but was free of coarseness. He had a deep shoulder and exceptionally strong hindquarters with a straight hind leg. He had an exceptional turn of foot on the race course. He had a kindly disposition.
As a stallion
Vaguely Noble led the English/Irish general sire list in 1973 and 1974 and was also runner-up in 1976 and fifth in 1975. He was among the top 10 French general sires six times, peaking at third in 1975. According to Thoroughbred Times' rankings, he was fifth on the American general sire list in 1982. He led the English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1982 and was fourth in 1988. He was among the top 10 French broodmare sires three times, peaking at fourth in 1987, and Thoroughbred Times ranked him as seventh among American broodmare sires in 1987 and 1988. His daughters did particularly well with Northern Dancer and his sons.
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Vaguely Noble sired 350 winners (46.5%) and 65 stakes winners from 752 named foals (8.6%). Thoroughbred Times credited him with 70 stakes winners. He typically transmitted his own size, scope and stamina but also tended to transmit upright pasterns. Vaguely Noble is a Classic/Professional chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Ace of Aces (USA), Dahlia (USA), Duke of Marmalade (USA), El Cuite (USA), Empery (USA), Estrapade (USA), Exceller (USA), Friendswood (USA), Gay Mecene (USA), Gonzales (USA), Inkerman (USA), Jet Ski Lady (USA), Lemhi Gold (USA), Mississippian (USA), Nobiliary (USA), Noble Bijou (USA), Noble Decree (USA), Noble Fighter (USA), Noble Saint (USA), Reine Mathilde (USA), Rosedale (USA), Royal and Regal (USA), Semenenko (USA), Terreno (IRE), Val d'Arno (USA)
Connections
Vaguely Noble was bred by Major Lionel B. Holliday. He was owned by the Major's son, Brook Holliday, who inherited the colt on his father's death in 1965. He was trained as a juvenile by Walter Wharton.
Following the colt's juvenile season, Brook Holliday sent him to the 1967 Newmarket December sales as part of the process of settling his father's estate. Vaguely Noble sold for 136,000 guineas to Nelson Bunker Hunt and Dr. & Mrs. Franklyn. He was then transferred to the yard of Paddy Prendergast but did not start again before moving on to the yard of Etienne Pollet for a French campaign. On Vaguely Noble's retirement, John R. Gaines purchased a 25 percent interest in the colt, who entered stud in 1969 at Gaines' Gainesway Farm near Lexington. Vaguely Noble died at Gainesway in 1989.
Pedigree notes
Vaguely Noble is inbred 3x4 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion, 4x4 to undefeated 1935 English Triple Crown winner Bahram, 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris and 5x5 to two-time English champion broodmare sire Chaucer and to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. Sired by 1962 Prix d'Harcourt winner Vienna, whose sire Aureole was a champion son of Hyperion, he is out of 1959 Lancashire Oaks winner Noble Lassie and is a full brother to Vive La Reine, dam of English Group II winner R B Chesne (by Brigadier Gerard), second dam of Group II winners Lead On Time and Great Commotion and third dam of English Group III winner Mixed Blessing. Vaguely Noble is also a full brother to Viennese Rose, second dam of Grade III winner Radiant Megan and third dam of two-time Canadian champion turf female Inish Glora.
Vaguely Noble's half sister Regal Lady (by Relko) is the dam of French Group II winner Regency (by Dancing Brave) and stakes winner Britannia's Rule (by Blakeney; dam of four stakes winners and second dam of English Group III winner Name of Love). She is also the third dam of 1999 Goodwood Handicap (AUS-I) winner French Clock and 2010 Racing Post Trophy Stakes (ENG-I) winner Casamiento. Vaguely Noble is also a half brother to Fervent (by French Beige), dam of French stakes winner French School (by Artaius) and of multiple stakes producer Noble Girl (by Be Friendly), and to Glitter Gold (by Gratitude), third dam of Peruvian Group III winner Gran Chuncho.
Noble Lassie is out of Belle Sauvage, a winning daughter of Big Game, and is a half sister to stakes winnera Pandour (by Petition) and Naturalist (by Narrator). She is also a half sister to Promised Lady (by Prince Chevalier), dam of two-time German Horse of the Year Lombard (by Agio), German Group III winner Lepanto (by Priamos) and German stakes winner Logos (by Priamos). In addition, she is a half sister to Forest Friend (by Linacre), dam of French Group II winner Moss Trooper; to Mear-Aille (by Hard Ridden), dam of the stakes-winning hurdler Pollardstown (by Lord Gayle); and to Marabelle (by Miralgo), dam of stakes winner Verruca (by Delta Judge) and second dam of 1985 Grand Premio de Potrillos (ARG-I) winner Sings, 1983 Gran Premio San Isidro (ARG-I) winner Bleding, Argentine Group III winners Flibless and Blue Bles and Australian multiple Group III winner Blue Boss. Another half sister to Noble Lassie, Wild Trump (by Major Portion), is the second dam of 1991 Grande Prêmio Major Suckow (BRZ-I) winner Mate Bueno.
Fun facts
Race record
9 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$366,647 (converted from English and French earnings)
1967:
- Won Sandwich Stakes (ENG, 7FT, Ascot)
- Won Observer Gold Cup (ENG, 8FT, Doncaster)
1968:
- Won Prix de Guiche (FR, 1850mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix de Chantilly (FR, 2200mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix du Lys (FR, 2400mT, Chantilly)
- 3rd Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (FR, 2500mT, Saint-Cloud)
Honors
French champion 3-year-old male (1968)
Assessments
Vaguely Noble received a Timeform rating of 140 pounds as a 3-year-old, the top rating for any European runner of 1968 and tied for eighth among European runners of the 20th century.
As an individual
A tall, strong bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Vaguely Noble had a commanding presence but was free of coarseness. He had a deep shoulder and exceptionally strong hindquarters with a straight hind leg. He had an exceptional turn of foot on the race course. He had a kindly disposition.
As a stallion
Vaguely Noble led the English/Irish general sire list in 1973 and 1974 and was also runner-up in 1976 and fifth in 1975. He was among the top 10 French general sires six times, peaking at third in 1975. According to Thoroughbred Times' rankings, he was fifth on the American general sire list in 1982. He led the English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1982 and was fourth in 1988. He was among the top 10 French broodmare sires three times, peaking at fourth in 1987, and Thoroughbred Times ranked him as seventh among American broodmare sires in 1987 and 1988. His daughters did particularly well with Northern Dancer and his sons.
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Vaguely Noble sired 350 winners (46.5%) and 65 stakes winners from 752 named foals (8.6%). Thoroughbred Times credited him with 70 stakes winners. He typically transmitted his own size, scope and stamina but also tended to transmit upright pasterns. Vaguely Noble is a Classic/Professional chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Ace of Aces (USA), Dahlia (USA), Duke of Marmalade (USA), El Cuite (USA), Empery (USA), Estrapade (USA), Exceller (USA), Friendswood (USA), Gay Mecene (USA), Gonzales (USA), Inkerman (USA), Jet Ski Lady (USA), Lemhi Gold (USA), Mississippian (USA), Nobiliary (USA), Noble Bijou (USA), Noble Decree (USA), Noble Fighter (USA), Noble Saint (USA), Reine Mathilde (USA), Rosedale (USA), Royal and Regal (USA), Semenenko (USA), Terreno (IRE), Val d'Arno (USA)
Connections
Vaguely Noble was bred by Major Lionel B. Holliday. He was owned by the Major's son, Brook Holliday, who inherited the colt on his father's death in 1965. He was trained as a juvenile by Walter Wharton.
Following the colt's juvenile season, Brook Holliday sent him to the 1967 Newmarket December sales as part of the process of settling his father's estate. Vaguely Noble sold for 136,000 guineas to Nelson Bunker Hunt and Dr. & Mrs. Franklyn. He was then transferred to the yard of Paddy Prendergast but did not start again before moving on to the yard of Etienne Pollet for a French campaign. On Vaguely Noble's retirement, John R. Gaines purchased a 25 percent interest in the colt, who entered stud in 1969 at Gaines' Gainesway Farm near Lexington. Vaguely Noble died at Gainesway in 1989.
Pedigree notes
Vaguely Noble is inbred 3x4 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion, 4x4 to undefeated 1935 English Triple Crown winner Bahram, 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris and 5x5 to two-time English champion broodmare sire Chaucer and to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. Sired by 1962 Prix d'Harcourt winner Vienna, whose sire Aureole was a champion son of Hyperion, he is out of 1959 Lancashire Oaks winner Noble Lassie and is a full brother to Vive La Reine, dam of English Group II winner R B Chesne (by Brigadier Gerard), second dam of Group II winners Lead On Time and Great Commotion and third dam of English Group III winner Mixed Blessing. Vaguely Noble is also a full brother to Viennese Rose, second dam of Grade III winner Radiant Megan and third dam of two-time Canadian champion turf female Inish Glora.
Vaguely Noble's half sister Regal Lady (by Relko) is the dam of French Group II winner Regency (by Dancing Brave) and stakes winner Britannia's Rule (by Blakeney; dam of four stakes winners and second dam of English Group III winner Name of Love). She is also the third dam of 1999 Goodwood Handicap (AUS-I) winner French Clock and 2010 Racing Post Trophy Stakes (ENG-I) winner Casamiento. Vaguely Noble is also a half brother to Fervent (by French Beige), dam of French stakes winner French School (by Artaius) and of multiple stakes producer Noble Girl (by Be Friendly), and to Glitter Gold (by Gratitude), third dam of Peruvian Group III winner Gran Chuncho.
Noble Lassie is out of Belle Sauvage, a winning daughter of Big Game, and is a half sister to stakes winnera Pandour (by Petition) and Naturalist (by Narrator). She is also a half sister to Promised Lady (by Prince Chevalier), dam of two-time German Horse of the Year Lombard (by Agio), German Group III winner Lepanto (by Priamos) and German stakes winner Logos (by Priamos). In addition, she is a half sister to Forest Friend (by Linacre), dam of French Group II winner Moss Trooper; to Mear-Aille (by Hard Ridden), dam of the stakes-winning hurdler Pollardstown (by Lord Gayle); and to Marabelle (by Miralgo), dam of stakes winner Verruca (by Delta Judge) and second dam of 1985 Grand Premio de Potrillos (ARG-I) winner Sings, 1983 Gran Premio San Isidro (ARG-I) winner Bleding, Argentine Group III winners Flibless and Blue Bles and Australian multiple Group III winner Blue Boss. Another half sister to Noble Lassie, Wild Trump (by Major Portion), is the second dam of 1991 Grande Prêmio Major Suckow (BRZ-I) winner Mate Bueno.
Fun facts
- Vaguely Noble's sire Vienna was owned by Sir Winston Churchill at the time Vaguely Noble was conceived. He was later exported to France and from there to Japan.
- The 136,000 guineas Vaguely Noble fetched at the 1967 Newmarket December sales was then a world record for a 2-year-old in training.
- Vaguely Noble's absence from the European Classic races of 1968 was not due to any illness or injury; he simply had not been nominated to them as a youngster.
- Vaguely Noble was syndicated at a total valuation of US$5 million on his retirement to stud, a world record at the time.