Fanfreluche (CAN)
April 9, 1967 – July 1999
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Ciboulette (CAN), by Chop Chop (USA)
Family 4-g
"GENETIC GEM"
April 9, 1967 – July 1999
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Ciboulette (CAN), by Chop Chop (USA)
Family 4-g
"GENETIC GEM"
A member of Northern Dancer's second crop, Fanfreluche helped cement her sire's reputation as a sire of top-class horses that could compete with the best anywhere in the world. She also became a highly successful broodmare in spite of a bizarre horsenapping which is still the subject of speculation as to its motives.
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 6 seconds 2 thirds, US$238,688
1969:
1970:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1969, 6 pounds below champion juvenile filly Fast Attack.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1969, 7 pounds below overall highweight and champion juvenile filly Tudor Queen.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1970, 1 pound below co-champion Office Queen.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1970, 3 pounds below champion male Almoner but topweighted among fillies.
As an individual
A typical Northern Dancer in size and overall make, Fanfreluche was a muscular, close-coupled filly standing 15.3 hands. She had good bone but could be faulted for sickle hocks and rather coarse ankles. She was retired prior to a planned 4-year-old campaign after rupturing a tendon sheath. Her disposition was typically described as pleasant and cooperative.
As a producer
Fanfreluche was named Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1978; she is also a Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker. From 18 named foals, she was represented by 16 starters, of which 14 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Fanfreluche was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque, a prominent racing man from Quebec. She was initially trained by J. Dumas, later passing to the care of Joseph "Yonnie" Starr. When she was stolen from Claiborne Farm in June 1977, it was suspected that her abductors were either seeking a ransom or were Quebec separatists wanting to punish Lévesque for his support of continued Canadian unity. According to her obituary in the July 29, 1999 edition of the New York Times, however, William Michael McCandless of Paducah, Ky., was eventually convicted of stealing the mare, though his motives remain a mystery. Fanfreluche was recovered in December 1977 after turning up at Larry McPherson's farm near Tompkinsville, Kentucky, where she had been cared for after being found running loose in the area. Fanfreluche was pensioned from broodmare duty at age 24 and died as a pensioner at Big Sink Farm, Midway, Ky., at the ripe old age of 32. At the time of her death, she was owned by Bertram Firestone, who had paid US$1.3 million (then a world record for a broodmare) for her after the horsenapping incident and the birth of the Secretariat foal she had been carrying at the time.
Pedigree notes
Fanfreluche is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to stakes winner Barachois and to Night Shift, a successful sire in Europe. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Coco La Terreur (by Northern Dancer's sire Nearctic) and to stakes-placed Somfas (by What a Pleasure), dam of three Group stakes winners in Europe. Fanfreluche's dam Ciboulette (by Chop Chop) is a stakes winner and a half sister to 1966 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Cool Reception (by Nearctic) and stakes winner Breezy Answer (by Bull Page; dam of Arctic Blizzard, a top Canadian juvenile of 1967).
Books and media
Fanfreluche is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 2, 2024
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 6 seconds 2 thirds, US$238,688
1969:
- Won Princess Elizabeth Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Natalma Stakes (CAN, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
- Won Fleur de Lys Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Blue Bonnets)
- 2nd Mazarine Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Greenwood)
1970:
- Won Manitoba Centennial Derby (CAN, 9FD, Assiniboia Downs)
- Won Quebec Derby (CAN, 9FD, Blue Bonnets)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Benson & Hedges Invitational Handicap (CAN, 12FD, Woodbine; new track record 2:31-4/5)
- Won Bison City Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Fort Erie)
- Won Selene Stakes (CAN, 7FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Queen's Plate (CAN, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Canadian Oaks (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Spinster Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Wonder Where Stakes (CAN, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Gazelle Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Star Shoot Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Fort Erie)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1981)
- Canadian Horse of the Year (1970)
- American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1970)
- Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (1970)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Broodmare of the Year (1978)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1969, 6 pounds below champion juvenile filly Fast Attack.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1969, 7 pounds below overall highweight and champion juvenile filly Tudor Queen.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1970, 1 pound below co-champion Office Queen.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1970, 3 pounds below champion male Almoner but topweighted among fillies.
As an individual
A typical Northern Dancer in size and overall make, Fanfreluche was a muscular, close-coupled filly standing 15.3 hands. She had good bone but could be faulted for sickle hocks and rather coarse ankles. She was retired prior to a planned 4-year-old campaign after rupturing a tendon sheath. Her disposition was typically described as pleasant and cooperative.
As a producer
Fanfreluche was named Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1978; she is also a Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker. From 18 named foals, she was represented by 16 starters, of which 14 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- L'Enjoleur (1972, by Buckpasser) was Canadian champion 2-year-old male and Horse of the Year in 1974. He repeated as Canadian Horse of the Year in 1975, picking up his second divisional title as well. He was moderately successful at stud.
- L'Extravagante (1973, by Le Fabuleux) was stakes-placed on the track. She is the dam of Irish Group 2 winner Montelimar (by Alleged) and French stakes winner L'Extra Honor (by Hero's Honor). L'Extra Honor, in turn, is the dam of 2007 Sun Chariot Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Majestic Roi (by Street Cry) and English Group 3 winner Black Spirit (by Black Minnaloushe).
- Grand Luxe (1974, by Sir Ivor) won three stakes races and is the dam of stakes winner Smackover Creek and Grade 2-placed Lode, both by Mr. Prospector. The latter became a champion sire in Argentina. Grand Luxe is also the second dam of seven stakes winners including multiple Australian Group 1 winner and champion sire Flying Spur. In addition, she is the third dam of Australian Group 1 winner and champion sire Encosta de Lago and of 2015 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (FR-G1) and 2016 Pattison Canadian International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Erupt, among others of marked merit.
- La Voyageuse (1975, by Tentam) was a three-time Canadian champion. She produced multiple Grade 3 winner Time Bandit and stakes winner Innovative, both by Time for a Change, and is the second dam of Australian Group 2 winner French Braids, English Group 2 winner and 1998 champion 2-year-old filly Bint Allayl, English Group 3 winner Kheleyf and French Group 3 winner Laa Rayb. In addition, La Voyageuse is the third dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Emeral Fight.
- Medaille d'Or (1976, by Secretariat) was the Canadian champion 2-year-old male of 1978.
- D'Accord (1979, by Secretariat) won the 1981 Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2) and was a useful regional sire in New York.
- La Pepite (1985, by Mr. Prospector) produced English stakes winner Soldera (by Polish Numbers), dam in turn of 2010 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (USA-G2) winner Exhi and second dam of French Group 2 winner Alignement.
- L'On Vite (1986, by Secretariat) is the dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Holy Roman Emperor (by Danehill), Australian Group 3 winner Milanova (by Danehill), multiple European stakes winner Heart of Oak (by Woodman), and Japanese stakes winner Big Viking (by Theatrical). She is the second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Pretty Perfect and the third dam of 2020 New Zealand Derby (NZ-G1) winner Sherwood Forest.
- Slew and Easy (1987, by Slew o' Gold) is the dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Conserve (by Boundary). She is the third dam of 2020 Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Combatant, English Group 3 winner Long Lashes, and Irish Group 3 winner Without Words.
- Out on the Town (1988, by Spend a Buck) is the third dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Bear Tough Tiger.
- Red Luce (1990, by General Assembly) is the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Baccarat Baby.
Connections
Fanfreluche was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque, a prominent racing man from Quebec. She was initially trained by J. Dumas, later passing to the care of Joseph "Yonnie" Starr. When she was stolen from Claiborne Farm in June 1977, it was suspected that her abductors were either seeking a ransom or were Quebec separatists wanting to punish Lévesque for his support of continued Canadian unity. According to her obituary in the July 29, 1999 edition of the New York Times, however, William Michael McCandless of Paducah, Ky., was eventually convicted of stealing the mare, though his motives remain a mystery. Fanfreluche was recovered in December 1977 after turning up at Larry McPherson's farm near Tompkinsville, Kentucky, where she had been cared for after being found running loose in the area. Fanfreluche was pensioned from broodmare duty at age 24 and died as a pensioner at Big Sink Farm, Midway, Ky., at the ripe old age of 32. At the time of her death, she was owned by Bertram Firestone, who had paid US$1.3 million (then a world record for a broodmare) for her after the horsenapping incident and the birth of the Secretariat foal she had been carrying at the time.
Pedigree notes
Fanfreluche is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to stakes winner Barachois and to Night Shift, a successful sire in Europe. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Coco La Terreur (by Northern Dancer's sire Nearctic) and to stakes-placed Somfas (by What a Pleasure), dam of three Group stakes winners in Europe. Fanfreluche's dam Ciboulette (by Chop Chop) is a stakes winner and a half sister to 1966 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Cool Reception (by Nearctic) and stakes winner Breezy Answer (by Bull Page; dam of Arctic Blizzard, a top Canadian juvenile of 1967).
Books and media
Fanfreluche is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
- Fanfreluche's name means “trimming” in French; it was also the name of the title character from a children's show on the French-language section of the Canadian Broadcasting Network.
- At the time of her retirement, Fanfreluche was the leading female money-winner among Canadian-bred Thoroughbreds.
- Just a week before Fanfreluche's recovery, McPherson had turned down an offer of US$200 from a horse trader for the mare he knew only as “Brandy.” At the time of her abduction, Fanfreluche was valued at US$500,000.
- The foal Fanfreluche carried during her abduction and recovery was appropriately named “Sain et Sauf”—French for “safe and sound.”
- Fanfreluche's pasture buddy during her retirement was multiple Grade 1 winner Optimistic Gal, who died a couple of weeks prior to her longtime friend. The two mares were buried side by side.
- The Fanfreluche Stakes was inaugurated in 1981 at Woodbine Racetrack, Ontario, Canada. It is currently a 6-furlong race over the Polytrack main course for 2-year-old fillies bred in Ontario.
- Fanfreluche is one of two mares to earn honors as both a Horse of the Year and a Broodmare of the Year in North America. The other is Dance Smartly, who was Canadian Horse of the Year in 1991 and Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 2001.
Last updated: September 2, 2024