Probably the best racehorse sired by Dancer’s Image, Lianga had the pedigree on paper to be good at least up through intermediate distances but turned out to be pure speed in an iron-gray package. The best sprinter in France and one of the best in Europe as a 4-year-old, she was rather disappointing as a broodmare, but her influence through her daughters and granddaughters has been considerable.
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, US$287,424 (converted from French earnings)
1973:
1974:
1975:
Honors
Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly (1973)
Assessments
Rated second among French-raced juvenile fillies of 1973 on the Handicap Optional, 3 pound below Hippodamia.
Earned a Timeform rating of 120 pounds as a 2-year-old,10 pounds below the top-rated filly, Hippodamia.
Rated 14 pounds below champion Comtesse de Loir on the Handicap Optional for French-raced 3-year-old fillies of 1975.
Earned a Timeform rating of 116 pounds as a 3-year-old, 14 pounds below the similarly sired Saritamer in the sprint category and 15 pounds below the top miler, Nonoalco.
Earned a Timeform rating of 133 pounds as a 4-year-old, the highest rating awarded that year to any European female 4 years old or older and second by 1 pound to Flirting Around in the sprint category and by 1 pound to Bolkonski in the miler category.
Highweighted among English older females of 1975, 3 pounds above Dahlia.
As an individual
A strongly-made gray mare, Lianga was compact and muscular with full, powerful hindquarters. She possessed an excellent constitution and was thoroughly game as a racehorse. She won Group stakes at up to 1600 meters (approximately one mile) but was probably better at shorter distances, winning over a mile on speed and class.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Lianga produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Lianga was bred by Mrs. Bruce M. Donaldson. She was owned by Daniel Wildenstein. She was initially trained by Albert Klimscha, later moving to the care of Angel Penna Sr. As a broodmare, she produced her first two foals for Dayton Limited. The remainder were bred by Wildenstein’s Allez France Stables, excepting Darling Misty, whose breeder of record is Calumet Farm. Lianga produced her last foal, the Spend a Buck gelding Langeais, in 1988.
Pedigree notes
Lianga is inbred 5x5 to John P. Grier, rated second to Man o’ War among American 3-year-old males of 1920 and a useful sire of speed. She is a half sister to 1977 National Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Diamonds Are Trump (by Bold Bidder) and to Classical Suite (by Graustark), second dam of 1998 American champion sprinter Reraise. Lianga and her siblings, in turn, are out of the winning Sailor mare Leven Ones, whose half sister Fiorita (by Princequillo) is the dam of stakes winners Villager (by Chateaugay) and Liberal (by Arts and Letters). Another half sister to Leven Ones, Pesty Nanette (by Brookfield), produced the minor stakes winners Pesty Jay (by Clandestine) and Miss Gunflint (by Gunflint).
Leven Ones and her sisters are out of the stakes-winning Olympia mare Olympia Dell, whose stakes-placed half sister War Starlet (by War Admiral) is the dam of 1970 Washington Park Handicap winner Doc’s T. V. (by T. V. Lark). Olympia Dell, in turn, is out of the winning Rhodes Scholar mare Star Student (by Rhodes Scholar), a half sister to 1951 Kentucky Derby winner Count Turf (by Count Fleet) and multiple minor stakes winner Golden Briar (by Centime). Star Student is also a half sister to Very Near (by War Admiral), dam of multiple minor stakes winner Old Rivers (by Gold Capitol).
Star Student and her siblings were produced from Delmarie, a daughter of 1925 American champion 2-year-old male Pompey. Delmarie’s dam Charming Note (Polymelian x Alburn, by Alcantara II) is a half sister to 1924 Great American Stakes winner Swope (by Fair Play) and to Watch Out (by Swope), dam of Canadian stakes winner Broom’s Sentry (by Brooms).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 11, 2023
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, US$287,424 (converted from French earnings)
1973:
- Won Prix Robert Papin (FR-G1, 1000mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- Won Prix du Bois (FR, 1000mT, Longchamp)
1974:
- Won Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G3, 1300mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix Imprudence (FR, 1400mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- 2nd Prix du Rond-Point (FR-G3. 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
1975:
- Won Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won July Cup (ENG-G2, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (FR-G2, 1000mT, Longchamp)
- Won Vernons Sprint Cup (ENG-G2, 6FT, Haydock)
- 2nd Prix de la Porte Maillot (FR-G3, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Goodwood)
- 3rd Prix du Rond-Point (FR-G3, 1600mT, Longchamp)
Honors
Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly (1973)
Assessments
Rated second among French-raced juvenile fillies of 1973 on the Handicap Optional, 3 pound below Hippodamia.
Earned a Timeform rating of 120 pounds as a 2-year-old,10 pounds below the top-rated filly, Hippodamia.
Rated 14 pounds below champion Comtesse de Loir on the Handicap Optional for French-raced 3-year-old fillies of 1975.
Earned a Timeform rating of 116 pounds as a 3-year-old, 14 pounds below the similarly sired Saritamer in the sprint category and 15 pounds below the top miler, Nonoalco.
Earned a Timeform rating of 133 pounds as a 4-year-old, the highest rating awarded that year to any European female 4 years old or older and second by 1 pound to Flirting Around in the sprint category and by 1 pound to Bolkonski in the miler category.
Highweighted among English older females of 1975, 3 pounds above Dahlia.
As an individual
A strongly-made gray mare, Lianga was compact and muscular with full, powerful hindquarters. She possessed an excellent constitution and was thoroughly game as a racehorse. She won Group stakes at up to 1600 meters (approximately one mile) but was probably better at shorter distances, winning over a mile on speed and class.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Lianga produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- La Legende (1977, by Reviewer) won three of 12 starts and is the dam of stakes winner Aaron’s Concorde (by Super Concorde).
- Long Legend (1978, by Reviewer) raced in England, where she won four of her six starts but earned no black type. She is the dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Mr. Greeley, who was the runner-up in the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (USA-G1) and became a good if inconsistent sire. She is also the dam of listed stakes winner Majestic Legend (by His Majesty) and the second dam of 2010 Humana Distaff Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mona de Momma, Grade 3/Group 3 winner Tajaaweed, and Grade 3 winner Vestrey Lady. In addition, Long Legend is the third dam of 2006 American champion 2-year-old male and 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1) winner Street Sense, a good sire; of multiple Grade 1 winners Paradise Woods and Vekoma; and of multiple Grade 3 winner Ol’ Fashion Gal.
- Lettre d’Amour (1979, by Caro) never raced but is the dam of English listed stakes winner Swordsmith (by Diesis). She is the second dam of four stakes winners including multiple Group 1 winner Danehill Dancer, a champion sire in England and Ireland.
- Lady Lianga (1980, by Secretariat) placed four times from 13 starts but failed to win. She is the dam of French listed stakes winner Lost Prairie (by Lyphard) and French steeplechase stakes winner Largilliere (by Lyphard’s Wish). She is also the second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Tiger’s Eye and South African Group 3 winner Vettriano and the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Red Alto.
- Lacune (1981, by Seattle Slew) won twice in five starts. She is the dam of multiple Italian Group 3 winner Glen Jordan (by Shareef Dancer) and Italian listed stakes winner Rosolida (by Niniski).
- Darling Misty (1985, by Alydar) won the listed Prix Delahante as a juvenile but left no issue.
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Lianga was bred by Mrs. Bruce M. Donaldson. She was owned by Daniel Wildenstein. She was initially trained by Albert Klimscha, later moving to the care of Angel Penna Sr. As a broodmare, she produced her first two foals for Dayton Limited. The remainder were bred by Wildenstein’s Allez France Stables, excepting Darling Misty, whose breeder of record is Calumet Farm. Lianga produced her last foal, the Spend a Buck gelding Langeais, in 1988.
Pedigree notes
Lianga is inbred 5x5 to John P. Grier, rated second to Man o’ War among American 3-year-old males of 1920 and a useful sire of speed. She is a half sister to 1977 National Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Diamonds Are Trump (by Bold Bidder) and to Classical Suite (by Graustark), second dam of 1998 American champion sprinter Reraise. Lianga and her siblings, in turn, are out of the winning Sailor mare Leven Ones, whose half sister Fiorita (by Princequillo) is the dam of stakes winners Villager (by Chateaugay) and Liberal (by Arts and Letters). Another half sister to Leven Ones, Pesty Nanette (by Brookfield), produced the minor stakes winners Pesty Jay (by Clandestine) and Miss Gunflint (by Gunflint).
Leven Ones and her sisters are out of the stakes-winning Olympia mare Olympia Dell, whose stakes-placed half sister War Starlet (by War Admiral) is the dam of 1970 Washington Park Handicap winner Doc’s T. V. (by T. V. Lark). Olympia Dell, in turn, is out of the winning Rhodes Scholar mare Star Student (by Rhodes Scholar), a half sister to 1951 Kentucky Derby winner Count Turf (by Count Fleet) and multiple minor stakes winner Golden Briar (by Centime). Star Student is also a half sister to Very Near (by War Admiral), dam of multiple minor stakes winner Old Rivers (by Gold Capitol).
Star Student and her siblings were produced from Delmarie, a daughter of 1925 American champion 2-year-old male Pompey. Delmarie’s dam Charming Note (Polymelian x Alburn, by Alcantara II) is a half sister to 1924 Great American Stakes winner Swope (by Fair Play) and to Watch Out (by Swope), dam of Canadian stakes winner Broom’s Sentry (by Brooms).
Fun facts
- Lianga is the name of a municipality of the Surigao del Sur province of the Philippines
- Lianga was so dark a gray that, until she was a 4-year-old, she was often incorrectly listed as black.
Last updated: July 11, 2023