Mountdrago (ARG)
August 23, 1977 – December 14, 2004
Sheet Anchor (USA) x Atbara (ARG), by Tobago (FR)
Family 7
August 23, 1977 – December 14, 2004
Sheet Anchor (USA) x Atbara (ARG), by Tobago (FR)
Family 7
The last horse from the male line of Tourbillon (in turn, the last major branch of the Herod line) to lead the general sire list in Argentina, Mountdrago was a high-class racehorse as well. His victories included the first two legs of the Argentine Triple Crown, and he was talented and consistent enough to be recognized as both the Argentine champion 3-year-old male of 1980 and the Argentine Horse of the Year of that year. Unfortunately, none of his sons proved capable of succeeding him.
Race record
22 starts, 9 wins, 7 seconds, 4 thirds
1980:
1981:
Honors
As an individual
A bay horse, Mountdrago was tough and durable enough to race 19 times during 1980. He could produce a sharp burst of speed when asked.
As a stallion
As a stallion, Mountdrago was hampered by inconsistent fertility. According to the Stud Book Argentino, he sired 233 winners (39.1%) and 14 stakes winners (2.5%) from 570 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, www.haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Monte Pirata (ARG), Monte Ruiseñor (ARG), Monte Silvestre (ARG), Monte Simon (ARG), Montubio (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bat Marsico (ARG), Big Board (ARG), Chloris (ARG), Mac Toss (ARG), Manicomio Tom (ARG), Mechon Tom (ARG), Montañez Tom (ARG), Refinado Tom (ARG)
Connections
According to the Stud Book Argentino, Mountdrago was bred by Haras La Biznaga. He raced in the colors of Caballeriza Toqui and was ridden throughout his career by Jorge Sandro Caro Araya. He stood at Haras La Biznaga until 2000, when he was pensioned after failing to impregnate either of his two mates that year. He died in December 2004.
Pedigree notes
Mountdrago is inbred 4x5 to Pharos. He is a full brother to 1981 Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Almira, third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Fixador. He is also a full brother to Sextina, dam of 1987 Grande Prêmio Guilherme Ellis (BRZ-G3) winner Empress Sextina (by Telescópico) and second dam of 2002 Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul (Brazilian Derby, BRZ-G1) winner Gigli and Brazilian Group 2 winners M’Afrodite and Only Yesterday. In addition, he is a half brother to Judy Jones (by Judgmatic), dam of 1991 J. G. Hollis Futurity Plate (SAF-G3) winner Judgemental (by Elevation) and third dam of South African Group 2 winner Festive Occasion and South African Group 3 winner Supper Club; to Panansiada (by Crest Pan), third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Kill Me Now; and to Art Nouveau (by Juez de Pan), dam of 1995 Vaal Stayers Handicap (SAF-G3) winner Secret Brother (by Del Sarto).
Mountdrago and his siblings are out of Atbara, whose sire Tobago (by Silnet) won the 1960 Prix d’Ispahan. Atbara is a half sister to Silvara (by Sind), dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Sylphide (by Kasteel), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner El Vistobueno, and third dam of two-time Argentine champion Valenti and Argentine Group 3 winner Valdemosa.
Atbara and Silvina were produced from Eritrea, whose sire Avestruz (by Congreve) won the 1943 Gran Premio Nacional. The next dam in Mountdrago’s tail-female line, Parisienne, is by Foxglove (winner of several important staying races in England) out of La Mome (by Congreve). A full sister to stakes winner Bimba, the dam of Argentine champion Bambuca (by Rustom Pasta) and of stakes winner A. G. Lucho (by Rustom Pasha), La Mome is out of Gran Premio 25 de Mayo winner Juventas (by Botafogo).
Books and media
Footage of Mountdrago’s win in the 1980 Gran Premio Jockey Club can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jgtbco95fw.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 9, 2025
Race record
22 starts, 9 wins, 7 seconds, 4 thirds
1980:
- Won Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) (ARG-G1, 1600mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Jockey Club (ARG-G1, 2000mT, San Isidro)
- Won Gran Premio Stud Book Argentino (ARG-G1, 1600mT, San Isidro)
- Won Premio Coronel Miguel Martinez de Hoz (ARG-G2, 1800mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio C. de Pr. Presidente de Brasil J B Figueired (ARG-G2, San Isidro)
- Won Premio Miguel Cane (ARG-G3, 1600mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio Agustin B. Gambier (ARG-G3, 1200mD, La Plata)
- Won Premio General Lavalle (ARG-G3, 1000mD, Palermo)
- 2nd Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby) (ARG-G1, 2500mD, Palermo)
- 2nd Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (ARG-G1, 2400mT, San Isidro)
- 2nd Gran Premio Montevideo (ARG-G1, 1500mD, Palermo)
- 2nd Premio Eduardo Casey (ARG-G2, 2200mD, Palermo)
- 2nd Premio Old Man (ARG-G3, 1400mD, Palermo)
- 2nd Premio Teodoro Varela (ARG-G3, 1200mD, La Plata)
- 3rd Gran Premio Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jocley Clubs (URU-G1, 2400mD, Montevideo)
- 3rd Gran Premio Santiago Luro (ARG-G1, 1200mD, Palermo)
- 3rd Gran Premio Raul y Raul E. Chevalier (ARG-G1, 1400mT, San Isidro)
- 3rd Premio Dos Mil Guineas (ARG-G2, 1600mT, San Isidro)
1981:
- 2nd Premio Jose P. Ramirez (ARG-G2, 1700mD, Palermo)
Honors
- Pellegrini Award, Argentine Horse of the Year (1980)
- Pellegrini Award, Argentine champion 2-year-old male (1980)
- Pellegrini Award, Argentine champion 3-year-old male (1980)
As an individual
A bay horse, Mountdrago was tough and durable enough to race 19 times during 1980. He could produce a sharp burst of speed when asked.
As a stallion
As a stallion, Mountdrago was hampered by inconsistent fertility. According to the Stud Book Argentino, he sired 233 winners (39.1%) and 14 stakes winners (2.5%) from 570 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, www.haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1988; 8th in 1987.
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1996; 4th in 1999; 7th in 2000; 8th in 1998; 9th in 1997; 10th in 2002 and 2003.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1988; 8th in 1987.
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1996; 4th in 1999.
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1996; 4th in 1999; 7th in 2000; 8th in 1998; 9th in 1997; 10th in 2002 and 2003.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1988.
Notable progeny
Monte Pirata (ARG), Monte Ruiseñor (ARG), Monte Silvestre (ARG), Monte Simon (ARG), Montubio (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bat Marsico (ARG), Big Board (ARG), Chloris (ARG), Mac Toss (ARG), Manicomio Tom (ARG), Mechon Tom (ARG), Montañez Tom (ARG), Refinado Tom (ARG)
Connections
According to the Stud Book Argentino, Mountdrago was bred by Haras La Biznaga. He raced in the colors of Caballeriza Toqui and was ridden throughout his career by Jorge Sandro Caro Araya. He stood at Haras La Biznaga until 2000, when he was pensioned after failing to impregnate either of his two mates that year. He died in December 2004.
Pedigree notes
Mountdrago is inbred 4x5 to Pharos. He is a full brother to 1981 Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Almira, third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Fixador. He is also a full brother to Sextina, dam of 1987 Grande Prêmio Guilherme Ellis (BRZ-G3) winner Empress Sextina (by Telescópico) and second dam of 2002 Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul (Brazilian Derby, BRZ-G1) winner Gigli and Brazilian Group 2 winners M’Afrodite and Only Yesterday. In addition, he is a half brother to Judy Jones (by Judgmatic), dam of 1991 J. G. Hollis Futurity Plate (SAF-G3) winner Judgemental (by Elevation) and third dam of South African Group 2 winner Festive Occasion and South African Group 3 winner Supper Club; to Panansiada (by Crest Pan), third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Kill Me Now; and to Art Nouveau (by Juez de Pan), dam of 1995 Vaal Stayers Handicap (SAF-G3) winner Secret Brother (by Del Sarto).
Mountdrago and his siblings are out of Atbara, whose sire Tobago (by Silnet) won the 1960 Prix d’Ispahan. Atbara is a half sister to Silvara (by Sind), dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Sylphide (by Kasteel), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner El Vistobueno, and third dam of two-time Argentine champion Valenti and Argentine Group 3 winner Valdemosa.
Atbara and Silvina were produced from Eritrea, whose sire Avestruz (by Congreve) won the 1943 Gran Premio Nacional. The next dam in Mountdrago’s tail-female line, Parisienne, is by Foxglove (winner of several important staying races in England) out of La Mome (by Congreve). A full sister to stakes winner Bimba, the dam of Argentine champion Bambuca (by Rustom Pasta) and of stakes winner A. G. Lucho (by Rustom Pasha), La Mome is out of Gran Premio 25 de Mayo winner Juventas (by Botafogo).
Books and media
Footage of Mountdrago’s win in the 1980 Gran Premio Jockey Club can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jgtbco95fw.
Fun facts
- Lord Mountdrago, an arrogant and entitled nobleman who finds himself haunted by dreams of finding himself the subject of embarrassment or ridicule after ruining the political career of a man of much humbler origins, is the title character of a short story by William Somerset Maugham. Whether the dreams are truly controlled by the other man (who appears to be aware of them all, in detail) or represent Mountdrago’s own guilt and paranoia is a question Maugham leaves open.
- The listing of Mountdrago as the Argentine champion juvenile male and Argentine champion 3-year-old male in 1980 is not in error; it is an artifact of the Argentine racing year, in which the important races for 2-year-olds are clustered in the last few months of their juvenile season (March through June) and the most important races for 3-year-olds are clustered in Argentina’s spring and early summer (September through December). Although 3-year-olds can and do race on in their own division until June 30 of the following calendar year (after which they become 4-year-olds by Southern Hemisphere reckoning), the top 3-year-olds usually get a break following the rich Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini card (which is loaded with important races for horses 3 and up) in December, and so the racing in September through December is used to decide the Pellegrini Awards for the sophomore championships.
Last updated: May 9, 2025