Caro (IRE)
April 11, 1967 – October 6, 1989
Fortino II (FR) x Chambord (GB), by Chamossaire (GB)
Family 3-o
April 11, 1967 – October 6, 1989
Fortino II (FR) x Chambord (GB), by Chamossaire (GB)
Family 3-o
Caro proved no match for the year-younger Mill Reef when the two faced off in the 1971 Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1), and he inherited his Classic win in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French Two Thousand Guineas) via disqualification. Nonetheless, he was a first-rate racehorse at distances from 1600 meters to 2100 meters and proved an important sire following his retirement. He is the primary American conduit for the Grey Sovereign branch of the Nasrullah sire line. Caro also had some influence as a broodmare sire, particularly through his maternal grandsons Maria's Mon (1995 American champion 2-year-old male; a good but short-lived sire) and Unbridled's Song (a multiple Grade 1 winner and sire of over 100 stakes winners).
Race record
19 starts, 6 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$372,802 (converted from earnings in England and France)
1969:
1970:
1971:
Honors
French champion older male (1971)
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 127 pounds at 3 and 133 pounds at 4.
As an individual
A gray horse, Caro stood 16.3 hands. He was lengthy and strong with a long hip and had better legs than most horses from the Grey Sovereign male line.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Caro sired 380 winners (61.5%) and 77 stakes winners (12.5%) from 618 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credits him with 78 stakes winners. Caro passed on a powerful build to his progeny but was also known for passing on a difficult temperament, and his foals were often gangly and backward as youngsters, needing time to mature. Caro is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Carwhite (IRE), Cast Party (USA), Cozzene (USA), Croda Alta (GB), Crystal Palace (FR), Dr. Carter (USA), Gabina (USA), Galetto (FR), Golden Pheasant (USA), Grand Flotilla (USA), Kaldoun (FR), Madelia (FR), Miss Carina (USA), Nebos (GER), Padua (USA), Parade Marshal (USA), Ringaro (USA), Siberian Express (USA), Smuggly (USA), Tejano (USA), Theia (FR), Turgeon (USA), Winning Colors (USA), With Approval (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Al Nasr (FR), Almeria (FR), Ensconse (USA), Exactly Sharp (USA), Great Normand (USA), Maria's Mon (USA), Mendez (FR), Moonlight Dance (USA), Red Bullet (USA), Sarafan (USA), Sir Beaufort (USA), Sur La Tete (USA), Tactical Cat (USA), Tayasu Tsuyoshi (USA), Unbridled's Song (USA), Urgent Request (IRE), Yankee Victor (USA)
Connections
Caro was bred and owned by Countess Margit Batthyany. He was trained by Albert Klimscha. Syndicated for £360,000, he entered stud in France in 1972 at Countess Batthyany's Haras du Bois Roussel, but was imported to the USA in late summer 1977 and was re-syndicated for US$4.6 million. He died of heart failure in 1989 at Spendthrift Farm, where he had stood since his importation.
Pedigree notes
Caro is inbred 5x5 to 1924 Champion Stakes winner Pharos, a champion sire in both England (1931) and France (1939). He is a half brother to stakes-placed Cocarde II (by Red God), dam of French stakes winner Edward French (by Jim French) and Hong Kong Derby winner Top Gain (by Filiberto) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 1986 Italian and Irish champion 2-year-old male Sanam, German Group 2 winner Carlton, South African Group 2 winner Shaybani and German Group 3 winner Cassis. Cocarde II is also the third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Medicean and 2006 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G1) winner Almerita. Caro is also a half brother to Cayenne (by Hornbeam), dam of Irish stakes winner Peadar Piper (by Red Alert) and second dam of Australian stakes winner Whilodge; to Cesarina (by Milesian), dam of Grade 3 winner Dictina (by Dictus); to Charlotte Bronte (by Red God), second dam of multiple Spanish champion Dom Alain; and to Gryndalythe (by Ballymoss), third dam of 1993 Premio Pamplona (PER-G1) winner Noble Sharon, Peruvian Group 2 winner Mufasa and Peruvian Group 3 winners Farmax and Skaxia.
Caro's dam Chambord was a good staying filly who won the 1958 Newmarket Oaks and placed in that year's Park Hill Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks. She is a half sister to European stakes winners Krakatao (by Nearco) and Daneshill (by Dante). She is also a half sister to Samminiato (by Dante), dam of 1961 Belmont Stakes winner Sherluck (by Correspondent). Chambord was produced from Life Hill (by Solario), a full sister to English stakes winner Northern Lights.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: December 26, 2023
Race record
19 starts, 6 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$372,802 (converted from earnings in England and France)
1969:
- 2nd Prix Eclipse (FR, 1200mT, Saint-Cloud)
- 2nd Prix d'Arenberg (FR, 1000mT, Longchamp)
1970:
- Won Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (FR, 1600mT, Longchamp; by disqualification of Faraway Son)
- Won Prix d'Ispahan (FR, 1850mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix Eugene Adam (FR, 2000mT, Saint-Cloud)
- 3rd Prix du Jockey Club (FR, 2400mT, Longchamp)
1971:
- Won Prix Ganay (FR-G1, 2100mT, Longchamp; new course record)
- Won Prix Dollar (FR-G2, 1950mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix d'Harcourt (FR-G2, 2000mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1, 10FT, Sandown)
- 2nd Prix Foy (FR-G3, 2200mT, Longchamp)
Honors
French champion older male (1971)
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 127 pounds at 3 and 133 pounds at 4.
As an individual
A gray horse, Caro stood 16.3 hands. He was lengthy and strong with a long hip and had better legs than most horses from the Grey Sovereign male line.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Caro sired 380 winners (61.5%) and 77 stakes winners (12.5%) from 618 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credits him with 78 stakes winners. Caro passed on a powerful build to his progeny but was also known for passing on a difficult temperament, and his foals were often gangly and backward as youngsters, needing time to mature. Caro is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1989.
- Led the French general sire list in 1977; 4th in 1978; 5th in 1980; 7th in 1979; 9th in 1989; 10th in 1976.
- 10th on the French broodmare sire list in 1992.
Notable progeny
Carwhite (IRE), Cast Party (USA), Cozzene (USA), Croda Alta (GB), Crystal Palace (FR), Dr. Carter (USA), Gabina (USA), Galetto (FR), Golden Pheasant (USA), Grand Flotilla (USA), Kaldoun (FR), Madelia (FR), Miss Carina (USA), Nebos (GER), Padua (USA), Parade Marshal (USA), Ringaro (USA), Siberian Express (USA), Smuggly (USA), Tejano (USA), Theia (FR), Turgeon (USA), Winning Colors (USA), With Approval (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Al Nasr (FR), Almeria (FR), Ensconse (USA), Exactly Sharp (USA), Great Normand (USA), Maria's Mon (USA), Mendez (FR), Moonlight Dance (USA), Red Bullet (USA), Sarafan (USA), Sir Beaufort (USA), Sur La Tete (USA), Tactical Cat (USA), Tayasu Tsuyoshi (USA), Unbridled's Song (USA), Urgent Request (IRE), Yankee Victor (USA)
Connections
Caro was bred and owned by Countess Margit Batthyany. He was trained by Albert Klimscha. Syndicated for £360,000, he entered stud in France in 1972 at Countess Batthyany's Haras du Bois Roussel, but was imported to the USA in late summer 1977 and was re-syndicated for US$4.6 million. He died of heart failure in 1989 at Spendthrift Farm, where he had stood since his importation.
Pedigree notes
Caro is inbred 5x5 to 1924 Champion Stakes winner Pharos, a champion sire in both England (1931) and France (1939). He is a half brother to stakes-placed Cocarde II (by Red God), dam of French stakes winner Edward French (by Jim French) and Hong Kong Derby winner Top Gain (by Filiberto) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 1986 Italian and Irish champion 2-year-old male Sanam, German Group 2 winner Carlton, South African Group 2 winner Shaybani and German Group 3 winner Cassis. Cocarde II is also the third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Medicean and 2006 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G1) winner Almerita. Caro is also a half brother to Cayenne (by Hornbeam), dam of Irish stakes winner Peadar Piper (by Red Alert) and second dam of Australian stakes winner Whilodge; to Cesarina (by Milesian), dam of Grade 3 winner Dictina (by Dictus); to Charlotte Bronte (by Red God), second dam of multiple Spanish champion Dom Alain; and to Gryndalythe (by Ballymoss), third dam of 1993 Premio Pamplona (PER-G1) winner Noble Sharon, Peruvian Group 2 winner Mufasa and Peruvian Group 3 winners Farmax and Skaxia.
Caro's dam Chambord was a good staying filly who won the 1958 Newmarket Oaks and placed in that year's Park Hill Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks. She is a half sister to European stakes winners Krakatao (by Nearco) and Daneshill (by Dante). She is also a half sister to Samminiato (by Dante), dam of 1961 Belmont Stakes winner Sherluck (by Correspondent). Chambord was produced from Life Hill (by Solario), a full sister to English stakes winner Northern Lights.
Books and media
- Caro 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.
- Caro is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Fun facts
- Caro means “dear” or “darling” in Italian, perhaps something of a misnomer considering the disposition Caro often bequeathed to his progeny.
- Caro was imported to the United States just ahead of a ban on equine importations from Europe due to an outbreak of contagious equine metritis. Other stallions imported at the same time included Blushing Groom and The Minstrel. Unfortunately, Caro proved to be infected in spite of having tested negative prior to his importation and had to miss part of the 1978 breeding season while the infection cleared up.
Last updated: December 26, 2023