Niigon (CAN)
March 4, 2001 – October 14, 2012
Unbridled (USA) x Savethelastdance (USA), by Nureyev (USA)
Family 3-g
March 4, 2001 – October 14, 2012
Unbridled (USA) x Savethelastdance (USA), by Nureyev (USA)
Family 3-g
A rather inconsistent runner, Niigon had one big day in his career when he took Canada’s premier Classic, the Queen’s Plate. He was a moderately successful sire in Ontario before his premature death from injury at the age of 11.
Race record
22 starts, 4 wins, 7 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,096,532
2003:
2004:
2005:
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Niigon was masculine with good substance and had an intelligent look to him.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Niigon sired 97 winners (51.3%) and seven stakes winners (3.7%) from 189 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Nipissing (CAN)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Niigon was bred and owned by Chiefswood Stable. He was trained by Eric Coatrieux and was ridden to his Queen’s Plate win by Robert Landry. He entered stud in Ontario in 2007 at Colebrook Farms Stallon Station. He fractured a femur in a still accident in October 2012 and was euthanized.
Pedigree notes
Niigon is inbred 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a half brother to Sue’s Last Dance (by Forty Niner), dam of 2004 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) winner Island Sand (by Tabasco Cat) and 2006 Mexican champion 2-year-old male Pozo de Luna (by Famous Again) and third dam of 2022 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mo Donegal.
Niigon was produced from Savethelastdance, a stakes-placed half sister to three-time Canadian champion Eternal Search (by Northern Answer), who was the second dam of Grade 2 winners Smokey Fire and Frumious and Grade 3 winners Jiggs Coz and Mrs. Barbara and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Daddy Is a Legend and Volcat; to Australian Group 3 winner Raslaan (by Shareef Dancer); and to multiple stakes winner Gone to Royalty (by Royal Chocolate). Savethelastdance is also a half sister to Vevila (by The Minstrel), second dam of 2011 Canadian champion older female Embur’s Song and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Exaggerator (whose victories include the 2016 Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes) and 2011 Ecuadorean champion 3-year-old male Villa Madrid. In addition, Savethelastdance is a half sister to Finally Found (by Lord Durham), dam of 2002 Jamaica Handicap (USA-G2) winner Finality (by Dehere) and 1991 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G3) winner Stolen Beauty (by Deputy Minister), second dam of Grade 2 winner This Ones for Phil, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Giant Moon.
Savethelastdance and her siblings are out of unraced Bon Debarras, a daughter of 1972 Manhattan Handicap winner Ruritana (by Graustark). The next dam in Niigon’s tail-female line, the winner Chou Fleur, is by 1960 Canadian Horse of the Year Victoria Park out of the Nearctic mare Orchestrina and is a winning half sister to 1971 Prince of Wales Stakes winner No Pro Escar (by New Providence) and to stakes-placed Gay Prelude (by Dr. Fager), second dam of 1987 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G1) winner Joe’s Tammie.
Books and media
Footage of Niigon’s win in the 2004 Queen’s Plate can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekTj6326SkA.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 29, 2025
Race record
22 starts, 4 wins, 7 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,096,532
2003:
- 3rd Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes (CAN-G2, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
2004:
- Won Queen's Plate (CAN-R, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Prince of Wales Stakes (CAN-R, 9.5FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Plate Trial Stakes (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga; moved up from fourth by disqualification)
2005:
- 2nd Dominion Day Handicap (CAN-G3, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Woodbine Slots Cup Handicap (CAN-G3, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Durham Cup Handicap (CAN-G3, 9FD, Woodbine)
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Niigon was masculine with good substance and had an intelligent look to him.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Niigon sired 97 winners (51.3%) and seven stakes winners (3.7%) from 189 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 2nd on the Canadian general sire list in 2012; 6th in 2013; 8th in 2015 and 2016; 9th in 2014 and 2018; 10th in 2017.
Notable progeny
Nipissing (CAN)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Niigon was bred and owned by Chiefswood Stable. He was trained by Eric Coatrieux and was ridden to his Queen’s Plate win by Robert Landry. He entered stud in Ontario in 2007 at Colebrook Farms Stallon Station. He fractured a femur in a still accident in October 2012 and was euthanized.
Pedigree notes
Niigon is inbred 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a half brother to Sue’s Last Dance (by Forty Niner), dam of 2004 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) winner Island Sand (by Tabasco Cat) and 2006 Mexican champion 2-year-old male Pozo de Luna (by Famous Again) and third dam of 2022 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mo Donegal.
Niigon was produced from Savethelastdance, a stakes-placed half sister to three-time Canadian champion Eternal Search (by Northern Answer), who was the second dam of Grade 2 winners Smokey Fire and Frumious and Grade 3 winners Jiggs Coz and Mrs. Barbara and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Daddy Is a Legend and Volcat; to Australian Group 3 winner Raslaan (by Shareef Dancer); and to multiple stakes winner Gone to Royalty (by Royal Chocolate). Savethelastdance is also a half sister to Vevila (by The Minstrel), second dam of 2011 Canadian champion older female Embur’s Song and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Exaggerator (whose victories include the 2016 Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes) and 2011 Ecuadorean champion 3-year-old male Villa Madrid. In addition, Savethelastdance is a half sister to Finally Found (by Lord Durham), dam of 2002 Jamaica Handicap (USA-G2) winner Finality (by Dehere) and 1991 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G3) winner Stolen Beauty (by Deputy Minister), second dam of Grade 2 winner This Ones for Phil, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Giant Moon.
Savethelastdance and her siblings are out of unraced Bon Debarras, a daughter of 1972 Manhattan Handicap winner Ruritana (by Graustark). The next dam in Niigon’s tail-female line, the winner Chou Fleur, is by 1960 Canadian Horse of the Year Victoria Park out of the Nearctic mare Orchestrina and is a winning half sister to 1971 Prince of Wales Stakes winner No Pro Escar (by New Providence) and to stakes-placed Gay Prelude (by Dr. Fager), second dam of 1987 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G1) winner Joe’s Tammie.
Books and media
Footage of Niigon’s win in the 2004 Queen’s Plate can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekTj6326SkA.
Fun facts
- Niigon was the first Queen’s Plate winner to be sired by a Kentucky Derby winner since Peteski (by Affirmed) in 1993. The only other Kentucky Derby winner to have sired a Queen’s Plate winner was Foolish Pleasure, whose son Market Control won the Queen’s Plate in 1987.
Last updated: May 29, 2025