El Centauro (ARG)
September 1, 1959 – September 17, 1981
Sideral (ARG) x Planetaria (ARG), by Penny Post (ARG)
Family 3-o
September 1, 1959 – September 17, 1981
Sideral (ARG) x Planetaria (ARG), by Penny Post (ARG)
Family 3-o
A rather slow-maturing horse, El Centauro developed into the best Argentine older male of the 1963/64 season. His signature win was in Argentina’s most important race for horses aged 3 and up, the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, which he won by 9 lengths over Niarkos (himself a champion in Argentina and a high-class stakes winner in the United States). El Centauro was a successful sire in Argentina but was less successful in the United States (where he stood in 1973 under the name of “El Centauro II”) and in Japan after being imported there in 1974.
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, 13,770,892 Argentine pesos
1962:
1963:
Honors
Argentine champion older male (1963/64)
As an individual
A smoothly-made bay horse, El Centauro had an excellent shoulder; a strong, muscular body; powerful hindquarters, and straight hind legs.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, El Centauro sired 65 winners (29.5%) and 21 stakes winners (9.5%) from 220 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, www.haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers)
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
Notable progeny
Cipol (ARG), Circinus (ARG), Duncan (ARG), Martinet (ARG), Nichido Taro (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alaton (ARG), Austerlitz (ARG), Campero (ARG), Duero (ARG), Gallop Dyna (JPN), Miss Saudade (CHI)
Miss Saudade raced in Chile under the name “Mocita Gloriosa.”
Connections
El Centauro was bred by Haras Comalal. He was owned by Caballeriza Riqui. He stood in the United States in 1973. He was exported to Japan in 1974 and died there in September 1981.
Pedigree notes
El Centauro is inbred 5x4 to 1914 Goodwood Cup winner and two-time English champion sire Son-in-Law (a notable stamina influence) and 5x5x5 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris, considered the best English sprinter of his day. He is a full brother to stakes winner Spaceman II and a half brother to 1990 Argentine Broodmare of the Year Cephei (by Cambremont), dam of 1990 Argentine Horse of the Year Algenib (by Oak Dancer) and of dual Group 1 winner Nortak (by Fitzcarraldo), whose major wins included the 1998 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (Argentine One Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1). Cephei is also the second dam of 1993 Gran Premio Gran Criterium (ARG-G1) winner Alphard and Argentine Group 2 winners Norhein and Silver Planet and is the third dam of 2011 Uruguayan Horse of the Year Alcazar, 2011 Gran Premio Miguel Alfredo Martinez de Hoz (ARG-G1) winner Send in the Clowns, Grade/Group 2 winners Out of Control and Princessa Carina, and Brazilian Group 3 winner Notre Dame.
El Centauro is out of Premio Miguel Angel y Tomas Juarez Celman winner Planetaria, whose half brother Silver Moon III (by Seductor) was a stakes winner in Argentina and a champion sire and broodmare sire in Chile. Planetaria is also a half sister to Lunaria (by Seductor), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner El Quimico and third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Moon Parade. In addition, Planetaria is a half sister to stakes-placed Rheita (by Sideral), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Sumbeam and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Syzygy, 1998 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (ARG-G1) winner Coalsack, and Argentine Group 3 winner Aludra. Another half sister to Planetaria, Moonrise (by Sideral), is the dam of 1981 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Hechizado (by Cambremont), multiple Argentine stakes winner Menguante (by Immortality), and the high-class steeplechaser Moonstruck (by Northern Baby); the second dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Don Salustiano and Argentine Group 3 winner Fullmoon; and the third dam of 2002 Argentine champion 2-year-old male Petit Club, 2009 Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (ARG-G1) winner Pick Out, and Argentine Group 3 winners Mond and Post Atomic. Finally, Planetaria is a half sister to stakes-placed Moonshine (by Court Harwell), dam of Argentine stakes winner Fra Mauro (by Cipol) and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 3 winner Ultrasonico, and to Lunaison (by Seductor), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Atractivo.
Planetaria and her siblings are out of Crescent (by Rustom Pasha), whose wins include the Premio Suipacha, one of Argentina’s most important sprint races. A half sister to Matyoka (by Winterhalter), whose great-granddaughter Lola Montes III won the 1962 Premio Miguel Angel y Tomas Juarez Celman and whose great-grandson Moron won the 1978 Premio General Belgrano (ARG-G2), Crescent is out of Sickle Moon (by Sickle), whose half sister Pale Ale (by Mannamead) is the dam of 1958 Irish Oaks winner Amante (by Tehran) and multiple English and French stakes winner Skyraider (by Airborne) and is the second dam of 1960 English champion 2-year-old filly Opaline II and French Group 3 winner Kirmiz. Sickle Moon, in turn, is out of the White Eagle mare Compromise, a half sister to 1913 St. Leger Stakes winner Night Hawk (by Gallinule).
Fun facts
Last updated: November 18, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, 13,770,892 Argentine pesos
1962:
- Won Gran Premio de Honor (ARG, 2500mD, Palermo)
1963:
- Won Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (ARG, 3000mD, San Isidro)
- Won Premio General Belgrano (ARG, 2500mD, Palermo)
Honors
Argentine champion older male (1963/64)
As an individual
A smoothly-made bay horse, El Centauro had an excellent shoulder; a strong, muscular body; powerful hindquarters, and straight hind legs.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, El Centauro sired 65 winners (29.5%) and 21 stakes winners (9.5%) from 220 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, www.haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
- 2nd on the Argentine general sire list in 1974; 3rd in 1970; 4th in 1972 and 1973; 8th in 1969.
- 8th on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1980.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers)
- 2nd on the Argentine general sire list in 1974; 3rd in 1970; 4th in 1973; 5th in 1969; 6th in 1972.
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
- 9th on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1989.
Notable progeny
Cipol (ARG), Circinus (ARG), Duncan (ARG), Martinet (ARG), Nichido Taro (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alaton (ARG), Austerlitz (ARG), Campero (ARG), Duero (ARG), Gallop Dyna (JPN), Miss Saudade (CHI)
Miss Saudade raced in Chile under the name “Mocita Gloriosa.”
Connections
El Centauro was bred by Haras Comalal. He was owned by Caballeriza Riqui. He stood in the United States in 1973. He was exported to Japan in 1974 and died there in September 1981.
Pedigree notes
El Centauro is inbred 5x4 to 1914 Goodwood Cup winner and two-time English champion sire Son-in-Law (a notable stamina influence) and 5x5x5 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris, considered the best English sprinter of his day. He is a full brother to stakes winner Spaceman II and a half brother to 1990 Argentine Broodmare of the Year Cephei (by Cambremont), dam of 1990 Argentine Horse of the Year Algenib (by Oak Dancer) and of dual Group 1 winner Nortak (by Fitzcarraldo), whose major wins included the 1998 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (Argentine One Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1). Cephei is also the second dam of 1993 Gran Premio Gran Criterium (ARG-G1) winner Alphard and Argentine Group 2 winners Norhein and Silver Planet and is the third dam of 2011 Uruguayan Horse of the Year Alcazar, 2011 Gran Premio Miguel Alfredo Martinez de Hoz (ARG-G1) winner Send in the Clowns, Grade/Group 2 winners Out of Control and Princessa Carina, and Brazilian Group 3 winner Notre Dame.
El Centauro is out of Premio Miguel Angel y Tomas Juarez Celman winner Planetaria, whose half brother Silver Moon III (by Seductor) was a stakes winner in Argentina and a champion sire and broodmare sire in Chile. Planetaria is also a half sister to Lunaria (by Seductor), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner El Quimico and third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Moon Parade. In addition, Planetaria is a half sister to stakes-placed Rheita (by Sideral), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Sumbeam and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Syzygy, 1998 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (ARG-G1) winner Coalsack, and Argentine Group 3 winner Aludra. Another half sister to Planetaria, Moonrise (by Sideral), is the dam of 1981 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Hechizado (by Cambremont), multiple Argentine stakes winner Menguante (by Immortality), and the high-class steeplechaser Moonstruck (by Northern Baby); the second dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Don Salustiano and Argentine Group 3 winner Fullmoon; and the third dam of 2002 Argentine champion 2-year-old male Petit Club, 2009 Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (ARG-G1) winner Pick Out, and Argentine Group 3 winners Mond and Post Atomic. Finally, Planetaria is a half sister to stakes-placed Moonshine (by Court Harwell), dam of Argentine stakes winner Fra Mauro (by Cipol) and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 3 winner Ultrasonico, and to Lunaison (by Seductor), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Atractivo.
Planetaria and her siblings are out of Crescent (by Rustom Pasha), whose wins include the Premio Suipacha, one of Argentina’s most important sprint races. A half sister to Matyoka (by Winterhalter), whose great-granddaughter Lola Montes III won the 1962 Premio Miguel Angel y Tomas Juarez Celman and whose great-grandson Moron won the 1978 Premio General Belgrano (ARG-G2), Crescent is out of Sickle Moon (by Sickle), whose half sister Pale Ale (by Mannamead) is the dam of 1958 Irish Oaks winner Amante (by Tehran) and multiple English and French stakes winner Skyraider (by Airborne) and is the second dam of 1960 English champion 2-year-old filly Opaline II and French Group 3 winner Kirmiz. Sickle Moon, in turn, is out of the White Eagle mare Compromise, a half sister to 1913 St. Leger Stakes winner Night Hawk (by Gallinule).
Fun facts
- “El Centauro” means “The Centaur” in English, alluding to the half-man, half-horse creature of Greek mythology. Continuing the astronomical theme found in the names of El Centauro's sire and dam, his name also alludes to the constellation Centaurus (“centaur” in Latin), one of the brightest in the skies of the Southern Hemisphere. Its stars include Alpha Centauri, the primary star of a triple-star system that is the closest star system to our own Solar System, and Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf companion to Alpha Centauri that is currently the closest star to the Sun.
Last updated: November 18, 2024