Caucasus (USA)
May 14, 1972 – c. 1992
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Quill (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 5-g
May 14, 1972 – c. 1992
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Quill (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 5-g
A younger half brother to 1971 Canadian champion turf horse One for All, Caucasus was similar in his racing proclivities but was quicker to reach the top level, winning the classic Irish St. Leger (then limited to 3-year-olds) in 1975. He won Grade 1 events in California at ages 4 and 5 but, thanks to his likings for turf and distance, was never a particularly popular stallion.
Race record
22 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$448,633 (includes converted Irish earnings)
1975:
1976:
1977:
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old in Ireland, 10 pounds less than the 137 assigned to the top European 3-year-old of 1975, Grundy.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1976, 5 pounds below highweighted King Pellinore and 2 pounds below the official divisional champion, Youth (a 3-year-old).
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf horses of 1977, 1 pound below highweighted Majestic Light and 2 pounds above the official divisional champion, Johnny D. (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A bay horse, Caucasus stood 15.3 hands. While rather one-paced by European standards, he proved able to summon a closing burst of speed racing over routes in the United States.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Caucasus sired 178 winners (50.1%) and 15 stakes winners (4.2%) from 355 named foals.
Notable progeny
Lake Country (CAN), Videogenic (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Air Express (IRE), Hulastrike (NZ), John the Magician (CAN), Unshaded (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Caucasus was bred by Cragwood Estates and raced in the silks of Jane Engelhard (née Reiss), who had become the owner of Cragwood on the death of her husband, Charles W. Engelhard, in 1971. In Ireland, the colt was trained by Vincent O’Brien and was ridden to his Classic score by Lester Piggott. He was sold to Fred Sahadi’s Cardiff Stock Farm after his 3-year-old season and was sent back to the United States, where he was trained by Charlie Whittingham. Caucasus entered stud at Windfield Farms in Maryland in 1978 and later moved to California.
Pedigree notes
Caucasus is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Euryanthe, dam of 1992 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G2) winner Barkerville (by Mr. Prospector; a sire of some importance in Chile), 1982 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Air Distingue (by Sir Ivor), and 1983 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Eastern Dawn (by Damascus); second dam of 1995 Dubai Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Vettori and multiple Grade 2 winner Hero’s Tribute; and third dam of 2007 Uruguayan champion 3-year-old filly Ancona. He is a half brother to 1971 Canadian champion turf horse One for All (by Nijinsky II’s sire Northern Dancer) and to 1982 Musidora Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Last Feather (by Vaguely Noble), dam of multiple listed stakes winners Ruznama (by Forty Niner) and Precious Feather (by Gone West), second dam of 2010 American champion 2-year-old filly Awesome Feather and third dam of 2013 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) winner Bajista and multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Belarusa. Caucasus is also a half brother to First Feather (by First Landing), dam of 1971 American champion turf horse Run the Gantlet (by Tom Rolfe), 1972 Everglades Stakes winner Head of the River (by Crewman), multiple Grade 3 winner Music of Time (by Northern Dancer), and listed stakes winner Lightning Leap (by Nijinsky II); second dam of 1986 Man o’ War Stakes (USA-G1) winner Dance of Life and English Group 2 winner English Spring; and third dam of South African Group 2 winner Moroccan and Grade/Group 3 winners Espinosa, Fragrant Hill, and Timeless Answer. In addition, Caucasus is a half brother to Shill (by Buckpasser), dam of 1976 Japanese champion 2-year-old male Maruzensky and third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Let’s Go Kirishima, and to Twill (by Swaps), second dam of 1986 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sumptious.
Caucasus and his siblings are out of 1958 American champion 2-year-old filly Quill, whose full sister to Quilting is the dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Hunka Papa (by Dr. Fager) and the second dam of 1990 Donn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Primal. Quill is a half sister to 1961 Narragansett Special Handicap winner Count Amber (by Ambiorix) and to 1956 Frizette Stakes winner Capelet (by Bolero), dam of 1963 Hopeful Stakes winner Traffic (by Traffic Judge) and second dam of 1975 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-G1) winner Gay Style, 1992 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zoonaqua, and Grade 3 winner Royal Suite. Capelet is also the third dam of 1993 Panamanian Horse of the Year El Catedratico; 1983 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Spit Curl; Group 2 winners Air Marshall, Secret Haunt, and Tokai Trick; and Grade/Group 3 winners Break Bread, Diver, Elegance, and Smart Style. Returning to Quill, she is also a half sister to stakes winner Sorceress (by Slide Rule) and to Noble Touch (by Crafty Admiral), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Island Charm and third dam of 1983 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Qualique and French Group 2 winner Nerio.
Quill and her siblings are out of the winning Count Fleet mare Quick Touch, whose dam Alms (by 1931 Whitney Stakes winner St. Brideaux) won the 1939 Pimlico Oaks and is a half sister to 1931 American Horse of the Year Twenty Grand (by St. Brideaux’s sire St. Germans). The next dam in Caucasus’s tail-female line, Bonus (by the Persimmon horse All Gold), is a stakes-placed half sister to 1930 Clark Handicap winner Stars and Bars (by Pennant) and Canadian stakes winner Token (by Pennant). Produced from Remembrance (by Hamburg or Broomstick), Bonus is also a half sister to Wendy (by Peter Pan), dam of 1929 Gazelle Stakes winner March Hare (by Mad Hatter), multiple stakes winner Elf (by Chicle), and juvenile stakes winner Zelide (by Mad Hatter); to Memento (by Pennant), dam of 1931 New Orleans Handicap winner Jimmy Moran (by Lucky Hour), 1937 Rockingham Park Handicap winner Memory Book (by St. Germans), and stakes winner Bring Back (by Memory Lane); and to to Afterthought (by Mad Hatter), dam of claiming stakes winner Reminding (by St. Germans).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 15, 2022
Race record
22 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$448,633 (includes converted Irish earnings)
1975:
- Won Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1, 14FT, The Curragh)
- Won Ulster Harp Derby (IRE, 12F+56yT, Down Royal)
1976:
- Won Sunset Handicap (USA-G1T, 12FT, Hollywood)
- Won Manhattan Handicap (USA-G2,11FT, Belmont)
- Won South Bay Handicap (USA, 11FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Hollywood Invitational Handicap (USA-G1T, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd American Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Hollywood)
1977:
- Won San Luis Rey Handicap (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Arcadia Handicap (USA-G3, 10FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Hollywood Invitational (USA-G1, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, about 14FT, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old in Ireland, 10 pounds less than the 137 assigned to the top European 3-year-old of 1975, Grundy.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1976, 5 pounds below highweighted King Pellinore and 2 pounds below the official divisional champion, Youth (a 3-year-old).
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf horses of 1977, 1 pound below highweighted Majestic Light and 2 pounds above the official divisional champion, Johnny D. (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A bay horse, Caucasus stood 15.3 hands. While rather one-paced by European standards, he proved able to summon a closing burst of speed racing over routes in the United States.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Caucasus sired 178 winners (50.1%) and 15 stakes winners (4.2%) from 355 named foals.
Notable progeny
Lake Country (CAN), Videogenic (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Air Express (IRE), Hulastrike (NZ), John the Magician (CAN), Unshaded (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Caucasus was bred by Cragwood Estates and raced in the silks of Jane Engelhard (née Reiss), who had become the owner of Cragwood on the death of her husband, Charles W. Engelhard, in 1971. In Ireland, the colt was trained by Vincent O’Brien and was ridden to his Classic score by Lester Piggott. He was sold to Fred Sahadi’s Cardiff Stock Farm after his 3-year-old season and was sent back to the United States, where he was trained by Charlie Whittingham. Caucasus entered stud at Windfield Farms in Maryland in 1978 and later moved to California.
Pedigree notes
Caucasus is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Euryanthe, dam of 1992 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G2) winner Barkerville (by Mr. Prospector; a sire of some importance in Chile), 1982 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Air Distingue (by Sir Ivor), and 1983 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Eastern Dawn (by Damascus); second dam of 1995 Dubai Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Vettori and multiple Grade 2 winner Hero’s Tribute; and third dam of 2007 Uruguayan champion 3-year-old filly Ancona. He is a half brother to 1971 Canadian champion turf horse One for All (by Nijinsky II’s sire Northern Dancer) and to 1982 Musidora Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Last Feather (by Vaguely Noble), dam of multiple listed stakes winners Ruznama (by Forty Niner) and Precious Feather (by Gone West), second dam of 2010 American champion 2-year-old filly Awesome Feather and third dam of 2013 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) winner Bajista and multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Belarusa. Caucasus is also a half brother to First Feather (by First Landing), dam of 1971 American champion turf horse Run the Gantlet (by Tom Rolfe), 1972 Everglades Stakes winner Head of the River (by Crewman), multiple Grade 3 winner Music of Time (by Northern Dancer), and listed stakes winner Lightning Leap (by Nijinsky II); second dam of 1986 Man o’ War Stakes (USA-G1) winner Dance of Life and English Group 2 winner English Spring; and third dam of South African Group 2 winner Moroccan and Grade/Group 3 winners Espinosa, Fragrant Hill, and Timeless Answer. In addition, Caucasus is a half brother to Shill (by Buckpasser), dam of 1976 Japanese champion 2-year-old male Maruzensky and third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Let’s Go Kirishima, and to Twill (by Swaps), second dam of 1986 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sumptious.
Caucasus and his siblings are out of 1958 American champion 2-year-old filly Quill, whose full sister to Quilting is the dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Hunka Papa (by Dr. Fager) and the second dam of 1990 Donn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Primal. Quill is a half sister to 1961 Narragansett Special Handicap winner Count Amber (by Ambiorix) and to 1956 Frizette Stakes winner Capelet (by Bolero), dam of 1963 Hopeful Stakes winner Traffic (by Traffic Judge) and second dam of 1975 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-G1) winner Gay Style, 1992 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zoonaqua, and Grade 3 winner Royal Suite. Capelet is also the third dam of 1993 Panamanian Horse of the Year El Catedratico; 1983 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Spit Curl; Group 2 winners Air Marshall, Secret Haunt, and Tokai Trick; and Grade/Group 3 winners Break Bread, Diver, Elegance, and Smart Style. Returning to Quill, she is also a half sister to stakes winner Sorceress (by Slide Rule) and to Noble Touch (by Crafty Admiral), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Island Charm and third dam of 1983 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Qualique and French Group 2 winner Nerio.
Quill and her siblings are out of the winning Count Fleet mare Quick Touch, whose dam Alms (by 1931 Whitney Stakes winner St. Brideaux) won the 1939 Pimlico Oaks and is a half sister to 1931 American Horse of the Year Twenty Grand (by St. Brideaux’s sire St. Germans). The next dam in Caucasus’s tail-female line, Bonus (by the Persimmon horse All Gold), is a stakes-placed half sister to 1930 Clark Handicap winner Stars and Bars (by Pennant) and Canadian stakes winner Token (by Pennant). Produced from Remembrance (by Hamburg or Broomstick), Bonus is also a half sister to Wendy (by Peter Pan), dam of 1929 Gazelle Stakes winner March Hare (by Mad Hatter), multiple stakes winner Elf (by Chicle), and juvenile stakes winner Zelide (by Mad Hatter); to Memento (by Pennant), dam of 1931 New Orleans Handicap winner Jimmy Moran (by Lucky Hour), 1937 Rockingham Park Handicap winner Memory Book (by St. Germans), and stakes winner Bring Back (by Memory Lane); and to to Afterthought (by Mad Hatter), dam of claiming stakes winner Reminding (by St. Germans).
Fun facts
- The Caucasus Mountains are the geological dividing point between Europe and Asia. The range runs from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea.
- After Caucasus defeated King Pellinore by a nose in the 1976 Sunset Handicap, owner Fred Sahadi was so impressed by the loser’s effort that he bought King Pellinore for his stable.
Last updated: June 15, 2022