Idle Hour (GB)
1959 – c. 1969
Persian Gulf (GB) x Dilettante (GB), by Dante (GB)
Family 8-c
1959 – c. 1969
Persian Gulf (GB) x Dilettante (GB), by Dante (GB)
Family 8-c
Although Idle Hour had some ability, he was far from being the best son of his sire Persian Gulf. Following the path of his paternal grandsire Bahram, he ended up in Argentina, where he proved a better sire than racer in a short stud career. The champion Argentine sire of 1972, he failed to get a top-class successor to continue his sire line.
Race record
21 starts, 5 wins
1962:
As an individual
A bay horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club (which may be incomplete), Idle Hour sired 21 winners (32.3%) and 14 stakes winners (21.5%) from 65 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Farm (ARG), Figonero (ARG), Fizz (ARG)
Connections
Idle Hour was bred and owned by the 18th Earl of Derby. In 1963, he was exported to Argentina, where he stood at Haras Argentino. His last registered foals were born in 1970.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1944 Coronation Cup winner Persian Gulf, Idle Hour is inbred 4x5 to 1910 St. Leger Stakes winner and 1911 English champion older male Swynford, who led the English/Irish general sire list in 1923. He was produced from 1956 Nassau Stakes winner Dilettante, whose sire Dante won the 1945 Derby Stakes. Produced from 1943 English champion 3-year-old filly Herringbone (by 1934 Eclipse Stakes winner King Salmon), Dilettante is a half sister to 1949 Princess of Wales’s Stakes winner and successful New Zealand sire Dogger Bank (by Fairway) and to 1955 Doncaster Cup winner Entente Cordiale (by Djebel).
Herringbone, in turn, is out of Schiaparelli (by Schiavoni x Aileen, by Nimbus), making her a half sister to 1948 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Swallow Tail (by Bois Roussel); to 1947 Newmarket St. Leger winner Masthead (by Blue Peter), a good sire in Australia; to Barley Corn (by Hyperion), sire of the good English stakes winner and important broodmare sire Shantung (by Sicambre); and to Cutaway (by Fairway), dam of the Irish Cesarewitch winner Strait-Jacket (by Straight Deal).
Last updated: December 16, 2023
Race record
21 starts, 5 wins
1962:
- Won Warren Stakes (ENG, Goodwood)
As an individual
A bay horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club (which may be incomplete), Idle Hour sired 21 winners (32.3%) and 14 stakes winners (21.5%) from 65 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1972; 2nd in 1970; 7th in 1968; 10th in 1969.
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1981.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1972.
Notable progeny
Farm (ARG), Figonero (ARG), Fizz (ARG)
Connections
Idle Hour was bred and owned by the 18th Earl of Derby. In 1963, he was exported to Argentina, where he stood at Haras Argentino. His last registered foals were born in 1970.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1944 Coronation Cup winner Persian Gulf, Idle Hour is inbred 4x5 to 1910 St. Leger Stakes winner and 1911 English champion older male Swynford, who led the English/Irish general sire list in 1923. He was produced from 1956 Nassau Stakes winner Dilettante, whose sire Dante won the 1945 Derby Stakes. Produced from 1943 English champion 3-year-old filly Herringbone (by 1934 Eclipse Stakes winner King Salmon), Dilettante is a half sister to 1949 Princess of Wales’s Stakes winner and successful New Zealand sire Dogger Bank (by Fairway) and to 1955 Doncaster Cup winner Entente Cordiale (by Djebel).
Herringbone, in turn, is out of Schiaparelli (by Schiavoni x Aileen, by Nimbus), making her a half sister to 1948 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Swallow Tail (by Bois Roussel); to 1947 Newmarket St. Leger winner Masthead (by Blue Peter), a good sire in Australia; to Barley Corn (by Hyperion), sire of the good English stakes winner and important broodmare sire Shantung (by Sicambre); and to Cutaway (by Fairway), dam of the Irish Cesarewitch winner Strait-Jacket (by Straight Deal).
Last updated: December 16, 2023