The best French-based juvenile of his year, Ambiorix trained on well but was not quite up to classic distances, at least in Europe. Nonetheless, his combination of precocious speed with the ability to stay up to 2100 meters and a strong pedigree appealed to Claiborne Farm's Arthur “Bull” Hancock, who put together a syndicate to purchase Ambiorix and transfer him to the United States. Ambiorix justified Hancock's judgment, leading the American general sire list in 1961, but failed to establish a lasting male line in North America. He had better fortune in Argentina, where his son Sheet Anchor and grandson Mountdrago were both champion sires.
Race record
7 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
1948:
1949:
Honors
French champion 2-year-old male (1948)
Assessments
Highweighted at 60 kilograms on the 1948 Handicap Optional for French juveniles, 1 kilogram above second-place Amour Drake.
As an individual
An attractive dark bay horse, Ambiorix had a good shoulder, well sprung ribs and strong hindquarters but had his hocks somewhat out behind him, a persistent characteristic of his male line.
As a stallion
Ambiorix's progeny generally improved with maturity. According to Jockey Club records, Ambiorix sired 291 winners (68.1%) and 51 stakes winners (11.9%) from 427 named foals. His daughters formed an effective cross with the great Claiborne sire Bold Ruler.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Ambehaving (USA), Ambiopoise (USA), High Voltage (USA), Make Sail (USA), Pleasure Seeker (USA), Rash Statement (USA). Sarcastic (USA), Sheet Anchor (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Captain's Gig (USA), Impressive (USA), Poleax (USA), Ragusa (GB), Trojan Bronze (USA), Vitriolic (USA)
Connections
Ambiorix was bred and owned by Marcel Boussac. He was trained by Charles Semblat. He was imported to the USA by a syndicate headed by A. B. "Bull" Hancock at a price of US$250,000. Ambiorix entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1950 and stood there throughout his career as a stallion. He was pensioned in 1972 and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in 1975. He is buried in the Claiborne equine cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Ambiorix is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon. He is a half brother to Perfume II (by Badruddin), dam of 1937 English champion 2-year-old male My Babu (by Djebel; an important sire), the high-class miler Sayani (by Fair Copy) and stakes winners Marco Polo II (by Le Pacha) and Reprimand II (by Court Martial). He is also a half brother to Source Sucree (by Admiral Drake), dam of the high-class racer and important sire Turn-to (by Royal Charger), multiple stakes winner Cagire II (by Tourbillon) and Rope Yarn Sunday (by Royal Charger), dam of multiple stakes winner Sea Eagle (by Bald Eagle).
Ambiorix is out of the Pharos mare Lavendula, whose full sister Fragrance produced stakes winner Redolent (by Hyperion). Lavendula is also a half sister Kalmia (by Kantor), dam of 1955 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Klairon (by Clarion), and is a granddaughter of the notable English foundation mare Marchetta.
Books and media
Ambiorix is profiled in Chapter 62 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
Last updated: May 15, 2025
Race record
7 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
1948:
- Won Grand Criterium (FR, 1600mT, Longchamp)
1949:
- Won Prix Lupin (FR, 2100mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Greffulhe (FR, 2100mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix Hocquart (FR, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix du Jockey Club (FR, 2400mT, Chantilly)
Honors
French champion 2-year-old male (1948)
Assessments
Highweighted at 60 kilograms on the 1948 Handicap Optional for French juveniles, 1 kilogram above second-place Amour Drake.
As an individual
An attractive dark bay horse, Ambiorix had a good shoulder, well sprung ribs and strong hindquarters but had his hocks somewhat out behind him, a persistent characteristic of his male line.
As a stallion
Ambiorix's progeny generally improved with maturity. According to Jockey Club records, Ambiorix sired 291 winners (68.1%) and 51 stakes winners (11.9%) from 427 named foals. His daughters formed an effective cross with the great Claiborne sire Bold Ruler.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1961; 2nd in 1960; 6th in 1962; 8th in 1959; 9th in 1955.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1961; 2nd in 1960; 6th in 1962; 8th in 1959; 9th in 1955.
- 7th on the American broodmare sire list in 1966, 1967, 1970, and 1971; 10th in 1969.
- Led the English/Irish combined broodmare sire list in 1963
Notable progeny
Ambehaving (USA), Ambiopoise (USA), High Voltage (USA), Make Sail (USA), Pleasure Seeker (USA), Rash Statement (USA). Sarcastic (USA), Sheet Anchor (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Captain's Gig (USA), Impressive (USA), Poleax (USA), Ragusa (GB), Trojan Bronze (USA), Vitriolic (USA)
Connections
Ambiorix was bred and owned by Marcel Boussac. He was trained by Charles Semblat. He was imported to the USA by a syndicate headed by A. B. "Bull" Hancock at a price of US$250,000. Ambiorix entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1950 and stood there throughout his career as a stallion. He was pensioned in 1972 and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in 1975. He is buried in the Claiborne equine cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Ambiorix is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon. He is a half brother to Perfume II (by Badruddin), dam of 1937 English champion 2-year-old male My Babu (by Djebel; an important sire), the high-class miler Sayani (by Fair Copy) and stakes winners Marco Polo II (by Le Pacha) and Reprimand II (by Court Martial). He is also a half brother to Source Sucree (by Admiral Drake), dam of the high-class racer and important sire Turn-to (by Royal Charger), multiple stakes winner Cagire II (by Tourbillon) and Rope Yarn Sunday (by Royal Charger), dam of multiple stakes winner Sea Eagle (by Bald Eagle).
Ambiorix is out of the Pharos mare Lavendula, whose full sister Fragrance produced stakes winner Redolent (by Hyperion). Lavendula is also a half sister Kalmia (by Kantor), dam of 1955 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Klairon (by Clarion), and is a granddaughter of the notable English foundation mare Marchetta.
Books and media
Ambiorix is profiled in Chapter 62 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
- In history, Ambiorix was a prince of the Eburones, a Belgic tribe conquered by the Romans under Julius Caesar. Ambiorix was later considered a Belgian national hero.
- In addition to his laurels as a sire of Thoroughbreds, the equine Ambiorix was also accredited as a sire of warmbloods and had several sons similarly accredited.
- In Europe, Ambiorix was known as “Ambiorix II” to distinguish him from a 1940 son of Tourbillon of the same name.
Last updated: May 15, 2025