Coup de Genie (USA)
May 7, 1991 – c. 2012
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Coup de Folie (USA), by Halo (USA)
Family 2-d
May 7, 1991 – c. 2012
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Coup de Folie (USA), by Halo (USA)
Family 2-d
A full sister to 1989 French champion juvenile male Machiavellian, Coup de Genie emulated his success on the race course by being rated the best French juvenile filly of her crop. She likewise emulated her brother's success in the paddocks, producing four stakes winners and becoming the first and second dam of champions.
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$410,843 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1993:
1994:
Assessments
Highweighted among French juvenile fillies of 1993.
Rated at 117 pounds on the International Classification for European juveniles of 1993. 1 pound below the top-rated filly, Lemon Souffle (the European champion 2-year-old filly).
Earned a Timeform rating of 112 pounds.
As an individual
An angular, rather lightly made bay mare, Coup de Genie had a history of respiratory bleeding.
As a producer
Coup de Genie produced 11 named foals, of which five started and four were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Coup de Genie was bred by Flaxman Holdings Ltd., the American breeding operation of her owner Stavros Niarchos and his family. She was trained by François Boutin. Her last named foal, the Galileo filly Transhumance, was produced in 2012.
Pedigree notes
Coup de Genie is inbred 3x4 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. She is a full sister to 1989 French champion juvenile male Machiavellian, an important sire. She is also a full sister to French Group 3 winner Ocean of Wisdom; to Houdini's Honey, dam of 2010 Gotham Stakes (USA-G3) winner Awesome Act (by Awesome Again) and stakes winner Fastest Magician (by Johannesburg); and to Rafina, dam of 2006 Royal Lodge Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Admiralofthefleet (by Danehill). In addition, Coup de Genie is a half sister to 1992 Prix du Haras de Fresnay Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1) winner Exit to Nowhere (by Irish River); to French Group 2 winner Hydro Calido (by Nureyev), dam of French stakes winner Esperero (by Forty Niner) and Japanese stakes winner Shinko Calido (by Silver Hawk) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Bran and Group 3 winners Lord Charming and Supido; and to Salchow (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1998 Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Way of Light (by Woodman), second dam of Grade 2 winner Waltzing Matilda and third dam of 2014 Canadian champion male sprinter Calgary Cat.
Coup de Genie and her siblings are out of 1984 Prix d'Aumale (FR-G3) winner Coup de Folie, whose full sister Madam North is the second dam of South African Group 3 winner River Crossing. Coup de Folie is also a half sister to Bonita Francita (by Halo's champion son Devil's Bag), dam of 1998 Prix Morny (FR-G1) winner and Argentine champion sire Orpen (by Lure), Grade 3 winner and Brazilian champion sire Jules (by Forty Niner) and stakes winner Etterby Park (by Silver Hawk); second dam of 2000 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Bluemamba; and third dam of French Group 3 winner Beautiful Heroine. In addition, Coup de Folie is a half sister to Nutcase (by Forest Wildcat), dam of Grade and Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Nutello (by Lemon Drop Kid).
Coup de Folie is out of Raise the Standard (Hoist the Flag x Natalma, by Native Dancer), a half sister to the racetrack champion and epochal sire Northern Dancer (by Nearctic) and to stakes winners Native Victor (by Victoria Park), Regal Dancer (by Grey Monarch) and Born a Lady (by Tentam). The last-named mare is the dam of Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Arrowtown (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Antonio Barows and the third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Tagano Azaghal. Raise the Standard is also a half sister to Spring Adieu (by Buckpasser), second dam of nine stakes winners including 1989 Ladbroke Sprint Cup (ENG-G1) winner Danehill, who won a total of 14 general sire championships in Australia (9), England/Ireland (3) and France (2); Grade 2 winner Eagle Eyed; and Grade/Group 3 winners Harpia and Shibboleth. Spring Adieu is also the third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Diatribe, multiple South African Group 3 winner Queen's Bay and Group 3 winners Al Samer and Dundonnell.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 10, 2026
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$410,843 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1993:
- Won Prix Morny (FR-G1, 1200mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix de la Salamandre (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix de Cabourg (FR-G3, 1200mT, Deauville)
1994:
- Won Prix Imprudence (FR-L, 1400mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- 3rd Madagans One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
Assessments
Highweighted among French juvenile fillies of 1993.
Rated at 117 pounds on the International Classification for European juveniles of 1993. 1 pound below the top-rated filly, Lemon Souffle (the European champion 2-year-old filly).
Earned a Timeform rating of 112 pounds.
As an individual
An angular, rather lightly made bay mare, Coup de Genie had a history of respiratory bleeding.
As a producer
Coup de Genie produced 11 named foals, of which five started and four were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Moonlight's Box (1996, by Nureyev) never raced but produced 2004 European champion 3-year-old male Bago (by Nashwan), who was also rated the top French juvenile male of 2003. Moonlight's Box is also the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Maxios (by Monsun), Group 3-placed French stakes winner Beta (by Selkirk), and Hungarian listed stakes winner Blazing Comet (by Frankel). In addition, she is the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Coco Jamboo.
- Snake Mountain (1998, by A.P. Indy; a gelding) was a multiple Grade 3 winner at 4 and 5.
- Glia (1999, by A.P. Indy) was a listed stakes winner in both France and the United Stakes and was Grade 2-placed. She is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Emollient, of Japanese Group 3 winner Fan Dii Naa, and of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Courtier, a sire of some importance in Brazil. In addition, Glia is the third dam of 2024 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Laurel River, French Group 2 winner Raclette, and Grade 3 winners Marjoram and Spiced Up.
- Loving Kindness (2000, by Seattle Slew) won the 2002 Prix de Cabourg (FR-G3) and was Group 1-placed. She is the dam of French listed stakes winner Peace Camp (by Storm Cat).
- Denebola (2001, by Storm Cat) was the highweighted French 2-year-old filly of 2003 after winning the Prix Marcel Boussac (FR-G1). She is the second dam of 2017 Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, FR-G1) winner Senga, English Group 2 winner Pista, and French Group 2 winner Babylone.
- Fountain of Peace (2002, by Kris S.) never raced but is the second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Namura Clair.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Coup de Genie was bred by Flaxman Holdings Ltd., the American breeding operation of her owner Stavros Niarchos and his family. She was trained by François Boutin. Her last named foal, the Galileo filly Transhumance, was produced in 2012.
Pedigree notes
Coup de Genie is inbred 3x4 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. She is a full sister to 1989 French champion juvenile male Machiavellian, an important sire. She is also a full sister to French Group 3 winner Ocean of Wisdom; to Houdini's Honey, dam of 2010 Gotham Stakes (USA-G3) winner Awesome Act (by Awesome Again) and stakes winner Fastest Magician (by Johannesburg); and to Rafina, dam of 2006 Royal Lodge Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Admiralofthefleet (by Danehill). In addition, Coup de Genie is a half sister to 1992 Prix du Haras de Fresnay Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1) winner Exit to Nowhere (by Irish River); to French Group 2 winner Hydro Calido (by Nureyev), dam of French stakes winner Esperero (by Forty Niner) and Japanese stakes winner Shinko Calido (by Silver Hawk) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Bran and Group 3 winners Lord Charming and Supido; and to Salchow (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1998 Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Way of Light (by Woodman), second dam of Grade 2 winner Waltzing Matilda and third dam of 2014 Canadian champion male sprinter Calgary Cat.
Coup de Genie and her siblings are out of 1984 Prix d'Aumale (FR-G3) winner Coup de Folie, whose full sister Madam North is the second dam of South African Group 3 winner River Crossing. Coup de Folie is also a half sister to Bonita Francita (by Halo's champion son Devil's Bag), dam of 1998 Prix Morny (FR-G1) winner and Argentine champion sire Orpen (by Lure), Grade 3 winner and Brazilian champion sire Jules (by Forty Niner) and stakes winner Etterby Park (by Silver Hawk); second dam of 2000 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Bluemamba; and third dam of French Group 3 winner Beautiful Heroine. In addition, Coup de Folie is a half sister to Nutcase (by Forest Wildcat), dam of Grade and Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Nutello (by Lemon Drop Kid).
Coup de Folie is out of Raise the Standard (Hoist the Flag x Natalma, by Native Dancer), a half sister to the racetrack champion and epochal sire Northern Dancer (by Nearctic) and to stakes winners Native Victor (by Victoria Park), Regal Dancer (by Grey Monarch) and Born a Lady (by Tentam). The last-named mare is the dam of Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Arrowtown (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Antonio Barows and the third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Tagano Azaghal. Raise the Standard is also a half sister to Spring Adieu (by Buckpasser), second dam of nine stakes winners including 1989 Ladbroke Sprint Cup (ENG-G1) winner Danehill, who won a total of 14 general sire championships in Australia (9), England/Ireland (3) and France (2); Grade 2 winner Eagle Eyed; and Grade/Group 3 winners Harpia and Shibboleth. Spring Adieu is also the third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Diatribe, multiple South African Group 3 winner Queen's Bay and Group 3 winners Al Samer and Dundonnell.
Fun facts
- Coup de Genie's name means “stroke of genius” in French.
Last updated: May 10, 2026