Assagai took nine tries to break his maiden and managed only a single allowance win afterward while racing on the dirt. Switched to turf, he was a different animal, winning five stakes races on the grass in 1966 and finishing best of the American runners in that year’s Washington, D.C., International. He was somewhat less impressive at 4, winning two stakes events in the United States and failing to get a placing when taken to France for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. He was a much better racehorse than sire.
Race record
31 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$357,074
1966:
1967:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1966, 2 pounds above second-rated Knightly Manner (a 5-year-old).
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1967, 1 pound below highweighted War Censor but tied for second with official divisional champion Fort Marcy (a 3-year-old), Canadian Horse of the Year He's a Smoothie, and the fine stayer Niarkos.
As an individual
A smoothly-made dark bay or brown horse standing 16 hands at the end of his 3-year-old season, Assagai had excellent conformation marked by a deep chest, a lengthy pelvis, and a straight hind leg. He was inclined to be studdish and difficult at 2 but showed improved behavior with maturity. He had a low, skimming action.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club’s records, Assagai sired 195 winners (53.9%) and nine stakes winners (2.5%) from 362 named foals of racing age. His best runner was 1974 Century Handicap (USA-G1) winner Big Whippendeal.
Notable progeny
Big Whippendeal (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Assagai was bred by Robin F. Scully. He was owned by Cragwood Stable (Charles Engelhard), which purchased the colt for US$24,000 from the 1964 Saratoga yearling sales. Assagai was trained by Mack Miller. During his championship season, he scored most of his major victories under jockey Larry Adams. He entered stud in 1968 at Ocala Stud in Florida; later, he stood at Clear Creek Stud near Folsom, Louisiana. Assagai was euthanized in 1986 due to laminitis.
Pedigree notes
Assagai is inbred 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. He is a half brother to French stakes winner Primette (by Ribot).
Assagai is out of English-bred Primary II, a stakes-placed half sister to French stakes winner Orange Cap (by Red God), dam of 1981 Premio Lydia Tesio (ITY-G1) winner Oraston (by Morston) and French stakes winner The Abbott (by Sea Hawk II). Oraston, in turn, is the dam of English listed stakes winner Gymcrak Premiere (by Primo Dominie) and the second dam of multiple Group 2 winner Persian Punch and Group 3 winner Island Magic. Returning to Primary II, she is also a half sister to English stakes winners Factory Girl (by Fair Trial) and Karpathos (by Kythnos) and to Italian stakes winner Honduras (by Pampered King II). In addition, Primary II is a half sister to Susceptible (by Supreme Court), second dam of English Group 2 winner Nisnas (by Tap on Wood) and third dam of multiple Group 3 winner Lord of the Field (by Jalmood). Finally, Primary II is a half sister to stakes-placed Jenny (by Red God), dam of Irish stakes winner Sea Lore (by Sea Hawk II).
Primary II and her siblings are out of the Djebel mare Hymette, whose dam Kudos (by multiple English stakes winner Bonny Boy) is a half sister to 1932 One Thousand Guineas winner Kandy and to Kashiwade (by Fariman), dam of French stakes winner Kami (by Bonny Boy). The next dam in Assagai’s tail-female line is Kiao Tchau, by Alcantara II or Chouberski out of the top French race mare Kizil Kourgan and so a half sister to two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner and important sire Ksar (by Bruleur).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 16, 2022
Race record
31 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$357,074
1966:
- Won Man o' War Stakes (USA, 13FT, Belmont)
- Won Tidal Handicap (USA, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- Won United Nations Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- Won Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA, 8.5FT, Saratoga; new American record 1:40)
- Won Long Branch Stakes (USA, 8FT, Monmouth)
- 2nd Kelly-Olympic Handicap (USA, 9FT, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Washington D. C. International (USA, 12FT, Laurel)
1967:
- Won Round Table Handicap (USA, 9FT, Arlington Park)
- Won Long Island Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Aqueduct)
- 2nd United Nations Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- 2nd Bowling Green Handicap (USA, 13FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Seneca Handicap (USA, 13FT, Saratoga)
- 2nd Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA, 9FT, Saratoga)
Honors
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1977)
- American champion turf horse (1966)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1966, 2 pounds above second-rated Knightly Manner (a 5-year-old).
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1967, 1 pound below highweighted War Censor but tied for second with official divisional champion Fort Marcy (a 3-year-old), Canadian Horse of the Year He's a Smoothie, and the fine stayer Niarkos.
As an individual
A smoothly-made dark bay or brown horse standing 16 hands at the end of his 3-year-old season, Assagai had excellent conformation marked by a deep chest, a lengthy pelvis, and a straight hind leg. He was inclined to be studdish and difficult at 2 but showed improved behavior with maturity. He had a low, skimming action.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club’s records, Assagai sired 195 winners (53.9%) and nine stakes winners (2.5%) from 362 named foals of racing age. His best runner was 1974 Century Handicap (USA-G1) winner Big Whippendeal.
Notable progeny
Big Whippendeal (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Assagai was bred by Robin F. Scully. He was owned by Cragwood Stable (Charles Engelhard), which purchased the colt for US$24,000 from the 1964 Saratoga yearling sales. Assagai was trained by Mack Miller. During his championship season, he scored most of his major victories under jockey Larry Adams. He entered stud in 1968 at Ocala Stud in Florida; later, he stood at Clear Creek Stud near Folsom, Louisiana. Assagai was euthanized in 1986 due to laminitis.
Pedigree notes
Assagai is inbred 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. He is a half brother to French stakes winner Primette (by Ribot).
Assagai is out of English-bred Primary II, a stakes-placed half sister to French stakes winner Orange Cap (by Red God), dam of 1981 Premio Lydia Tesio (ITY-G1) winner Oraston (by Morston) and French stakes winner The Abbott (by Sea Hawk II). Oraston, in turn, is the dam of English listed stakes winner Gymcrak Premiere (by Primo Dominie) and the second dam of multiple Group 2 winner Persian Punch and Group 3 winner Island Magic. Returning to Primary II, she is also a half sister to English stakes winners Factory Girl (by Fair Trial) and Karpathos (by Kythnos) and to Italian stakes winner Honduras (by Pampered King II). In addition, Primary II is a half sister to Susceptible (by Supreme Court), second dam of English Group 2 winner Nisnas (by Tap on Wood) and third dam of multiple Group 3 winner Lord of the Field (by Jalmood). Finally, Primary II is a half sister to stakes-placed Jenny (by Red God), dam of Irish stakes winner Sea Lore (by Sea Hawk II).
Primary II and her siblings are out of the Djebel mare Hymette, whose dam Kudos (by multiple English stakes winner Bonny Boy) is a half sister to 1932 One Thousand Guineas winner Kandy and to Kashiwade (by Fariman), dam of French stakes winner Kami (by Bonny Boy). The next dam in Assagai’s tail-female line is Kiao Tchau, by Alcantara II or Chouberski out of the top French race mare Kizil Kourgan and so a half sister to two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner and important sire Ksar (by Bruleur).
Fun facts
- Assagai was named for a type of spear used by the Bantu-speaking peoples of Africa.
Last updated: May 16, 2022