A filly who consistently met with less than ideal trips during her racing career, Gaily managed one big score in the 1974 Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) and placed in two other Group 1 events. As a broodmare, she produced a Group 3 winner but, more importantly, produced four daughters who bred on well.
Race record
9 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$72,203 (converted from French and Irish earnings)
1974:
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 102 pounds as a 2-year-old and 121 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, well-made bay mare, Gaily was tough, consistent, and courageous as a racehorse.
As a producer
Gaily produced nine named foals, of which five started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky in 1971, Gaily was bred by Warner L. Jones, Jr. and was sold through the 1972 Keeneland Summer yearling sale for US$120,000. She was owned by Michael Sobell and Arthur Weinstock (later Baron Weinstock) and was trained by Dick Hern. She spent her broodmare career in the broodmare band of Lord Weinstock’s Ballymacoll Stud. She produced her last foal, the Ela-Mana-Mou colt Glad Man, in 1986.
Pedigree notes
Gaily is inbred 4x4 to unbeaten Italian champion and two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco and 5x4 to the important broodmare Mumtaz Begum. She is also inbred 5x5x5 to Nearco’s sire Pharos, a champion sire in both England and France. She is a half sister to 1973 Carter Handicap (USA-G2) winner and good sire King’s Bishop (by Round Table), to 1984 Royal Whip Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Empire Glory (by Nijinsky II), and to stakes winner Crown the Prince (by Damascus). Gaily is also a half sister to Sainte Croix (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple French listed stakes winner Saintry (by Groom Dancer) and Norwegian listed stakes winner Royal Crusade (by Diesis) and third dam of four-time Austrian champion Sure Danzig.
Gaily and her siblings were produced from 1966 Hollywood Oaks winner Spearfish, whose full brother Gummo won the 1965 Swaps Handicap and was a good regional sire in California. Spearfish, in turn, is out of Alabama Gal, a tiny daughter of Determine who never advanced beyond cheap claiming races as a racehorse.
Alabama Lass was produced from the Priam II mare Trojan Lass, who produced seven winners from seven starters but nothing of any class. Trojan Lass is a half sister to Miss Berea (by Mr. Trouble), dam of 1966 Florida Derby winner Williamston Kid (by Piet), and to Intense (by Intent), second dam of Grade 3 winners First Intent and Gundaghia. The next dam in the tail-female line, the Bull Dog mare Rompers, is a full sister to 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora, dam of 1945 American champion juvenile male Star Pilot (by Sickle).
Last updated: June 4, 2026
Race record
9 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$72,203 (converted from French and Irish earnings)
1974:
- Won Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1, 8FT, The Curragh)
- 2nd Irish Guineas Oaks (IRE-G1, 12FT, The Curragh)
- 3rd Prix Vermeille (FR-G1, 2400mT, Longchamp)
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 102 pounds as a 2-year-old and 121 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, well-made bay mare, Gaily was tough, consistent, and courageous as a racehorse.
As a producer
Gaily produced nine named foals, of which five started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Gay Milly (1977, by Mill Reef) won one of her two starts. She is the dam of Group 3-placed Italian stakes winner Gay Captain (by Ela-Mana-Mou) and the second dam of 1997 European champion older male Pilsudski, 2002 Japanese champion 3-year-old filly Fine Motion, and Group 3 winner Glowing Ardour. Her more distant descendants include multiple Group 1 winner Youmzain and 2008 Lockinge Stakes winner Creachadoir; Group 2 winners Crypto Force and Lumosty; and Grade/Group 3 winners Luminous Eyes, New Endeavour, Palmilla, Shreyas, and Yoka Yoka.
- Glad Tidings (1979, by Pharly) won two of her seven starts. She is the dam of French listed stakes winner Stop Press (by Sharpen Up) and the second dam of 2001 Japanese champion juvenile filly Tamuro Cherry and multiple German Group 3 winner Street Poker. Her more distant descendants include Japanese Group 3 winner Miraieno Tsubasa.
- Gay Hellene (1982, by Ela-Mana-Mou) won the 1985 Prix de Flore (FR-G3). She is the dam of listed stakes winner Nash Terrace (by Nashwan); the second dam of 2016 Metropolitan Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Sir John Hawkwood, 2008 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Naaqoos, and Group 3 winners Barastraight, Greek Renaissance, and Side Saddle; and the third dam of Group 3 winner Mazameer. Gay Hellene’s more distant descendants include Group 3 winner Vue Fantastique.
- Gay Fantastic (1983, by Ela-Mana-Mou) never raced but is the dam of 2002 King Edward Breeders’ Cup Handicap (CAN-G2) winner Moon Solitaire (by Night Shift), 1998 Gordon Richard Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Germano (by Generous), French listed stakes winner Fantastic Bid (by Auction Ring), and restricted stakes winner Fantastic Don (by Sovereign Dancer). She is also the second dam of multiple New Zealand Group 2 winner Keyora.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky in 1971, Gaily was bred by Warner L. Jones, Jr. and was sold through the 1972 Keeneland Summer yearling sale for US$120,000. She was owned by Michael Sobell and Arthur Weinstock (later Baron Weinstock) and was trained by Dick Hern. She spent her broodmare career in the broodmare band of Lord Weinstock’s Ballymacoll Stud. She produced her last foal, the Ela-Mana-Mou colt Glad Man, in 1986.
Pedigree notes
Gaily is inbred 4x4 to unbeaten Italian champion and two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco and 5x4 to the important broodmare Mumtaz Begum. She is also inbred 5x5x5 to Nearco’s sire Pharos, a champion sire in both England and France. She is a half sister to 1973 Carter Handicap (USA-G2) winner and good sire King’s Bishop (by Round Table), to 1984 Royal Whip Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Empire Glory (by Nijinsky II), and to stakes winner Crown the Prince (by Damascus). Gaily is also a half sister to Sainte Croix (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple French listed stakes winner Saintry (by Groom Dancer) and Norwegian listed stakes winner Royal Crusade (by Diesis) and third dam of four-time Austrian champion Sure Danzig.
Gaily and her siblings were produced from 1966 Hollywood Oaks winner Spearfish, whose full brother Gummo won the 1965 Swaps Handicap and was a good regional sire in California. Spearfish, in turn, is out of Alabama Gal, a tiny daughter of Determine who never advanced beyond cheap claiming races as a racehorse.
Alabama Lass was produced from the Priam II mare Trojan Lass, who produced seven winners from seven starters but nothing of any class. Trojan Lass is a half sister to Miss Berea (by Mr. Trouble), dam of 1966 Florida Derby winner Williamston Kid (by Piet), and to Intense (by Intent), second dam of Grade 3 winners First Intent and Gundaghia. The next dam in the tail-female line, the Bull Dog mare Rompers, is a full sister to 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora, dam of 1945 American champion juvenile male Star Pilot (by Sickle).
Last updated: June 4, 2026