His Majesty (USA)
April 15, 1968 – September 1995
Ribot (GB) x Flower Bowl (USA), by Alibhai (GB)
Family 4-d
April 15, 1968 – September 1995
Ribot (GB) x Flower Bowl (USA), by Alibhai (GB)
Family 4-d
A full brother to the brilliant Graustark, His Majesty lacked Graustark's raw speed but was more durable. Although Graustark was the more precocious and massively muscled of the two, the brothers were quite similar in underlying structure and balance and had surprisingly similar profiles as sires. His Majesty was the more successful as a sire of sires, passing the torch on to his sons Pleasant Colony and Cormorant. He also made a great contribution on the distaff side of pedigrees by siring Razyana, dam of the great international sire Danehill.
Race record
22 starts, 5 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$99,430
1971:
1972:
1973:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 6 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 20 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
As an individual
A bay horse, His Majesty was a handsome fellow with a feisty disposition. He was said to have borne a close resemblance to his sire Ribot. He stood 16.2 hands and was well balanced. He proved game and determined on the track but suffered repeated injuries during the course of his racing career, beginning with a chip in his right front ankle discovered after the colt had stumbled badly in the Bahamas Stakes and had been forced into the rail in the Flamingo Stakes two races later. The injury sidelined him for nine months. He suffered back and stifle injuries during a fall in his stall in the summer of his 4-year-old season and was out for another five months. Finally, he was forced into retirement in March of his 5-year-old season with a tendon injury.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club credit His Majesty with siring 380 winners (58.0%) and 56 stakes winners (8.5%) from 655 named foals. According to Thoroughbred Times and The Blood-Horse, His Majesty sired 59 stakes winners, 9.0 percent of his named foals. His Majesty is noted as a source of stamina and like Ribot generally begot horses that improved with maturity. His Majesty is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Record (later Thoroughbred Times):
Notable progeny
Andover Way (USA), Asaltante (USA), Cetewayo (USA), Chelsey Flower (USA), Cormorant (USA), Majesty's Prince (USA), Mehmet (USA), Obratztsovy (USA), Panjandrum (USA), Pi Phi Prince (USA), Pleasant Colony (USA), Razyana (USA), Tight Spot (USA), Valiant Nature (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, His Majesty raced as a homebred for Mr. and Mrs. John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm. He was trained by Lou Rondinello. Following his humane destruction due to the infirmities of old age in 1995, His Majesty was buried near the graves of Graustark and Ribot at Darby Dan.
Pedigree notes
His Majesty is inbred 5x4 to Tracery. He is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Graustark, a notable sire in his own right, and to Yetive, third dam of Grade III winner Flags Waving. He is also a half brother to two-time American champion filly Bowl of Flowers (by Sailor), dam of Grade 2 winner Spruce Bouquet (by Big Spruce) and of Whiskey Road (by Nijinsky II), a sire of some note in Australia.
One of the better American older females of 1956, His Majesty's dam Flower Bowl is a full sister to stakes winner Floral Park, second dam of 1989 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rootentootenwooten; third dam of 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori, Grade 3 winner Kukulcan, and Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent; and fourth dam of 2013 American champion female sprinter Groupie Doll. Flower Bowl is also a half sister to stakes winner Brambles (by Beau Max); to Multiflora (by Beau Max), dam of three-time American champion filly Gallant Bloom (by Gallant Man) and second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Lady's Slipper and Irish Group 3 winner Misty Valley; and to Green Finger (by Better Self), dam of Grade 2 winner Free Hand (by Gallant Man) and multiple stakes winner Blandford Park (by Little Current) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Our Poetic Prince and multiple Grade 3 winner Take Me Out.
Flower Bed, the second dam of His Majesty, is by Beau Pere out of the Mahmoud mare Boudoir II, making her a half sister to 1950 Santa Anita Derby winner Your Host (by Alibhai). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Your Hostess (by Alibhai), dam of 1974 Ladies Handicap (USA-G1) winner Corragioso (by Gallant Man), 1967 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner T. V. Commercial (by T. V. Lark), 1963 Schuylerville Stakes winner Gallatia (by Gallant Man), stakes winner Royal Clipper (by Royal Charger), and Gay Hostess (by Royal Charger), dam of 1969 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Majestic Prince and 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince. In further removes, Your Hostess is the ancestress of 1974 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner and French champion 3-year-old male Caracolero, 1984 Ever Ready Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Secreto, and 1998 American champion 3-year-old male Real Quiet.
Books and media
His Majesty is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers
Fun facts
Last updated: May 17, 2024
Race record
22 starts, 5 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$99,430
1971:
- Won Everglades Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Bahamas Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
1972:
- 2nd Widener Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Seminole Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
1973:
- Set a new track record of 1:46-2/5 for 9 furlongs on dirt at Hialeah in an allowance race
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 6 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 20 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
As an individual
A bay horse, His Majesty was a handsome fellow with a feisty disposition. He was said to have borne a close resemblance to his sire Ribot. He stood 16.2 hands and was well balanced. He proved game and determined on the track but suffered repeated injuries during the course of his racing career, beginning with a chip in his right front ankle discovered after the colt had stumbled badly in the Bahamas Stakes and had been forced into the rail in the Flamingo Stakes two races later. The injury sidelined him for nine months. He suffered back and stifle injuries during a fall in his stall in the summer of his 4-year-old season and was out for another five months. Finally, he was forced into retirement in March of his 5-year-old season with a tendon injury.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club credit His Majesty with siring 380 winners (58.0%) and 56 stakes winners (8.5%) from 655 named foals. According to Thoroughbred Times and The Blood-Horse, His Majesty sired 59 stakes winners, 9.0 percent of his named foals. His Majesty is noted as a source of stamina and like Ribot generally begot horses that improved with maturity. His Majesty is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1982; 2nd in 1981.
- 7th on the American broodmare sire list in 1988.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1982.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1982; 2nd in 1981.
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 1988.
- 6th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1986.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1982.
Per Thoroughbred Record (later Thoroughbred Times):
- Led the American general sire list in 1982.
Notable progeny
Andover Way (USA), Asaltante (USA), Cetewayo (USA), Chelsey Flower (USA), Cormorant (USA), Majesty's Prince (USA), Mehmet (USA), Obratztsovy (USA), Panjandrum (USA), Pi Phi Prince (USA), Pleasant Colony (USA), Razyana (USA), Tight Spot (USA), Valiant Nature (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, His Majesty raced as a homebred for Mr. and Mrs. John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm. He was trained by Lou Rondinello. Following his humane destruction due to the infirmities of old age in 1995, His Majesty was buried near the graves of Graustark and Ribot at Darby Dan.
Pedigree notes
His Majesty is inbred 5x4 to Tracery. He is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Graustark, a notable sire in his own right, and to Yetive, third dam of Grade III winner Flags Waving. He is also a half brother to two-time American champion filly Bowl of Flowers (by Sailor), dam of Grade 2 winner Spruce Bouquet (by Big Spruce) and of Whiskey Road (by Nijinsky II), a sire of some note in Australia.
One of the better American older females of 1956, His Majesty's dam Flower Bowl is a full sister to stakes winner Floral Park, second dam of 1989 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rootentootenwooten; third dam of 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori, Grade 3 winner Kukulcan, and Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent; and fourth dam of 2013 American champion female sprinter Groupie Doll. Flower Bowl is also a half sister to stakes winner Brambles (by Beau Max); to Multiflora (by Beau Max), dam of three-time American champion filly Gallant Bloom (by Gallant Man) and second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Lady's Slipper and Irish Group 3 winner Misty Valley; and to Green Finger (by Better Self), dam of Grade 2 winner Free Hand (by Gallant Man) and multiple stakes winner Blandford Park (by Little Current) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Our Poetic Prince and multiple Grade 3 winner Take Me Out.
Flower Bed, the second dam of His Majesty, is by Beau Pere out of the Mahmoud mare Boudoir II, making her a half sister to 1950 Santa Anita Derby winner Your Host (by Alibhai). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Your Hostess (by Alibhai), dam of 1974 Ladies Handicap (USA-G1) winner Corragioso (by Gallant Man), 1967 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner T. V. Commercial (by T. V. Lark), 1963 Schuylerville Stakes winner Gallatia (by Gallant Man), stakes winner Royal Clipper (by Royal Charger), and Gay Hostess (by Royal Charger), dam of 1969 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Majestic Prince and 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince. In further removes, Your Hostess is the ancestress of 1974 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner and French champion 3-year-old male Caracolero, 1984 Ever Ready Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Secreto, and 1998 American champion 3-year-old male Real Quiet.
Books and media
His Majesty is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers
Fun facts
- His Majesty was raised on a nurse mare as his dam Flower Bowl died of a uterine hemorrhage the day after his birth.
- His Majesty's pasture buddy as a yearling was Good Counsel, who beat him by a nose in the 1972 Widener Handicap. Later, His Majesty and Good Counsel had neighboring stallion paddocks at Darby Dan Farm.
- His Majesty is the second American stakes winner and sire of that name in the 20th century; the other was a foal of 1910 sired by Ogden who appears as the sire of the second dam of the great Discovery.
Last updated: May 17, 2024