Gallant Bloom (USA)
May 22, 1966 – June 1991
Gallant Man (GB) x Multiflora (USA), by Beau Max (USA)
Family 4-d
May 22, 1966 – June 1991
Gallant Man (GB) x Multiflora (USA), by Beau Max (USA)
Family 4-d
Gallant Bloom didn't look like anything special off the track, but on it she was a top-class competitor worthy of her sire. She benefited from a patient approach by trainer Max Hirsch to remain at or near the top of her generation for three consecutive years. Her best year was at three, when she was unbeaten in eight starts and was a unanimous choice as champion 3-year-old filly despite Shuvee's having swept the Triple Tiara, Alabama Stakes, and Ladies Handicap that year. Sadly, Gallant Bloom became infertile early in her broodmare career and was unable to reproduce her own class.
Race record
22 starts, 16 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$535,739
1968:
1969:
1970:
Honors
Gallant Bloom was rated #79 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was 15th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Topweighted with Process Shot and Shuvee at 118 pounds among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fiillies of 1969, 4 pounds above second-rated Shuvee.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1970, 1 pound below champion Shuvee
As an individual
A lightly built bay filly, Gallant Bloom stood 15.3 hands. She was generally well-made and had short cannons, complemented by good length from hip to hock, but was slightly sickle-hocked and had somewhat rough ankles. She possessed extreme speed but stayed intermediate distances well after Hirsch taught her to rate behind horses. She had a gentle disposition but was utterly game on the track although she was somewhat delicate in constitution. She was forced into retirement by an ankle chip.
As a producer
Gallant Bloom produced six named foals, of which two started and one won. After producing four foals in her first four seasons as a broodmare, she managed to produce only two more foals during the remaining 17 years of her life as she failed to cycle regularly for unknown reasons. Her only foal of any importance is her 1973 daughter Rare Flower (by Graustark), the second dam of multiple Peruvian Group 2 winner Kiyo Amy and Brazilian Group 2 winner Hericoaquara.
Connections
Gallant Bloom was bred and owned by Robert Kleberg Jr.'s King Ranch and trained by Max Hirsch at 2. At 3, she was turned over to Hirsch's son W. J. “Buddy” Hirsch after the senior Hirsch died in April. Gallant Bloom died of natural causes in 1991. She is buried at Old Frankfort Place on land that was formerly part of the King Ranch's Kentucky division.
Pedigree notes
Gallant Bloom is inbred 3x4 to Mahmoud, 4x4x5 to Mah Mahal, and 4x5 to Plucky Liege. She is a full sister to Orchid Vale, dam of Australian Group 3 winner Lady's Slipper (by Dancer's Image), Irish Group 3 winner Misty Valley (by Majestic Light), and multiple Malaysian stakes winner Batman (by Godswalk) and second dam of three-time Scandinavian champion Valley Vale. In addition, Gallant Bloom is a half sister to Asoka (by Youth), dam of South African stakes winner Harpy (by Storm Bird).
Gallant Bloom's dam Multiflora is a full sister to 1965 Benjamin F. Lindheimer Handicap winner Brambles and a half sister to 1956 Delaware Handicap winner Flower Bowl (by Alibhai), dam of American two-time champion filly Bowl of Flowers (by Sailor; dam of Grade 2 winner Spruce Bouquet, by Big Spruce, and the useful sire Whiskey Road, by Nijinsky II); the stakes winners and important sires Graustark and His Majesty (both by Ribot); and Yetive (also by Ribot), third dam of Grade 3 winner Flags Waving. Multiflora is also a half sister to 1957 Bellerose Handicap winner Floral Park (by Alibhai), second dam of 1989 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rootentootenwooten and third dam of 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori, Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent, and Grade 3 winner Kukulcan. In addition, Multiflora is a half sister to Green Finger (by Better Self), dam of Grade 2 winner Free Hand (by Gallant Man) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Blandford Park (by Little Current) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Our Poetic Prince, 1987 Queensland Elders Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Dancing Poet, and multiple Grade 3 winner Take Me Out..
Multiflora is out of Flower Bed (by Beau Pere), a half sister to 1950 Santa Anita Derby winner Your Host (by Alibhai) and stakes-placed Your Hostess (by Alibhai), dam of four stakes winners and second dam of dual Classic winner Majestic Prince and 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince. Flower Bed is also a half sister to Bowl of Roses (by Alibhai), second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Nichido Arashe, and to Caluria (by Heliopolis), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Yamolai. The next dam in Gallant Bloom's tail-female line, Boudoir II (by Mahmoud) was second in the 1941 Irish One Thousand Guineas and is a half sister to Dark Justice (by Fair Trial), dam of 1962 American Derby winner Black Sheep (by Nigromante).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 30, 2021
Race record
22 starts, 16 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$535,739
1968:
- Won National Stallion Stakes (Fillies) (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Gardenia Trial (2nd div) (USA, 8f+70yD, Garden State)
- Won Gardenia Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Frizette Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
1969:
- Won Liberty Belle Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Post-Deb Stakes (USA, 8f+70yD, Monmouth)
- Won Monmouth Oaks (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Matchmaker Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Atlantic City)
- Won Spinster Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
1970:
- Won Santa Maria Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Nassau County Stakes (USA. 9FD, Belmont)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1977)
- American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1968)
- American champion 3-year-old filly (1969)
- American co-champion handicap female (1969)
Gallant Bloom was rated #79 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was 15th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Topweighted with Process Shot and Shuvee at 118 pounds among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fiillies of 1969, 4 pounds above second-rated Shuvee.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1970, 1 pound below champion Shuvee
As an individual
A lightly built bay filly, Gallant Bloom stood 15.3 hands. She was generally well-made and had short cannons, complemented by good length from hip to hock, but was slightly sickle-hocked and had somewhat rough ankles. She possessed extreme speed but stayed intermediate distances well after Hirsch taught her to rate behind horses. She had a gentle disposition but was utterly game on the track although she was somewhat delicate in constitution. She was forced into retirement by an ankle chip.
As a producer
Gallant Bloom produced six named foals, of which two started and one won. After producing four foals in her first four seasons as a broodmare, she managed to produce only two more foals during the remaining 17 years of her life as she failed to cycle regularly for unknown reasons. Her only foal of any importance is her 1973 daughter Rare Flower (by Graustark), the second dam of multiple Peruvian Group 2 winner Kiyo Amy and Brazilian Group 2 winner Hericoaquara.
Connections
Gallant Bloom was bred and owned by Robert Kleberg Jr.'s King Ranch and trained by Max Hirsch at 2. At 3, she was turned over to Hirsch's son W. J. “Buddy” Hirsch after the senior Hirsch died in April. Gallant Bloom died of natural causes in 1991. She is buried at Old Frankfort Place on land that was formerly part of the King Ranch's Kentucky division.
Pedigree notes
Gallant Bloom is inbred 3x4 to Mahmoud, 4x4x5 to Mah Mahal, and 4x5 to Plucky Liege. She is a full sister to Orchid Vale, dam of Australian Group 3 winner Lady's Slipper (by Dancer's Image), Irish Group 3 winner Misty Valley (by Majestic Light), and multiple Malaysian stakes winner Batman (by Godswalk) and second dam of three-time Scandinavian champion Valley Vale. In addition, Gallant Bloom is a half sister to Asoka (by Youth), dam of South African stakes winner Harpy (by Storm Bird).
Gallant Bloom's dam Multiflora is a full sister to 1965 Benjamin F. Lindheimer Handicap winner Brambles and a half sister to 1956 Delaware Handicap winner Flower Bowl (by Alibhai), dam of American two-time champion filly Bowl of Flowers (by Sailor; dam of Grade 2 winner Spruce Bouquet, by Big Spruce, and the useful sire Whiskey Road, by Nijinsky II); the stakes winners and important sires Graustark and His Majesty (both by Ribot); and Yetive (also by Ribot), third dam of Grade 3 winner Flags Waving. Multiflora is also a half sister to 1957 Bellerose Handicap winner Floral Park (by Alibhai), second dam of 1989 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rootentootenwooten and third dam of 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori, Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent, and Grade 3 winner Kukulcan. In addition, Multiflora is a half sister to Green Finger (by Better Self), dam of Grade 2 winner Free Hand (by Gallant Man) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Blandford Park (by Little Current) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Our Poetic Prince, 1987 Queensland Elders Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Dancing Poet, and multiple Grade 3 winner Take Me Out..
Multiflora is out of Flower Bed (by Beau Pere), a half sister to 1950 Santa Anita Derby winner Your Host (by Alibhai) and stakes-placed Your Hostess (by Alibhai), dam of four stakes winners and second dam of dual Classic winner Majestic Prince and 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince. Flower Bed is also a half sister to Bowl of Roses (by Alibhai), second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Nichido Arashe, and to Caluria (by Heliopolis), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Yamolai. The next dam in Gallant Bloom's tail-female line, Boudoir II (by Mahmoud) was second in the 1941 Irish One Thousand Guineas and is a half sister to Dark Justice (by Fair Trial), dam of 1962 American Derby winner Black Sheep (by Nigromante).
Fun facts
- The Gallant Bloom Handicap was inaugurated in 1994. It is currently a Grade 2 race for fillies and mares aged 3 and up over 6½ furlongs on dirt at Belmont Park.
- In Gallant Bloom's last victory, the 1970 Santa Margarita Handicap, she was assigned 129 pounds and conceded 12 to 21 pounds to her rivals. Because of the sloppy conditions, she came back to the scale carrying four more pounds than she had started with; the difference was the mud clinging to the silks and tack of jockey John Rotz.
Last updated: December 30, 2021