Pietermaritzburg proved well below Classic standard when sent against the best of his peers in the 1901 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes but improved as the year progressed. He was at his best at Newmarket, where he won the prestigious Jockey Club Stakes in the fall. He showed promise as a young sire in England before being exported to Argentina, where he stood only two seasons. His premature death was a great loss as the relatively few foals he left behind earned him a posthumous title as Argentina's champion sire. He also left two good sire sons in Amsterdam and Pioneer.
Race record
1901:
As an individual
A bay horse, Pietermaritzburg had great power and substance but was considered too coarse by some observers.
As a stallion
Pietermaritzburg sired at least 12 stakes winners in England and Argentina.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Amsterdam (ARG), Brasil (ARG), Hirondelle (ARG), Locandiera (ARG), Mouchette (ARG), Pietra (ARG), Pioneer (FR), Pirita (ARG), Saint Marceaux (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Gaulois (ARG), Papusa (ARG)
Connections
Pietermaritzburg was owned by George Faber. In 1906, Santiago Luro purchased Pietermaritzburg as a replacement for his aging champion sire Kendal for a price variously reported as 10,000 guineas, 15,000 guineas or £20,000. Pietermaritzburg became a successful sire at Luro's Haras Ojo de Agua, Argentina, but died in early 1908.
Pedigree notes
Pietermaritzburg is inbred 4x5 to the great Irish-based runner Harkaway, a two-time champion sire in his native land, and to the great 19th-century matron Pocahontas. He is also inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Birdcatcher.
Pietermaritzburg's dam Sea Air was produced from Re-Echo (by Reverberation), making her a half sister to Retort (by Rosebery), whose grandson Thrush won the 1906 July Cup and King's Stand Stakes and was widely regarded as the best sprinter of his day. Re-Echo is also a half sister to Listen (by Charibert), second dam of the extremely fast sprinter Scherzo and the third dam of the similar runner Stingo.
Re-Echo's dam Mabille (by 1861 Ascot Gold Vase winner Parmesan) is a full sister to Cremorne, a top-flight horse who won the 1872 Derby Stakes and Grand Prix de Paris and the 1873 Ascot Gold Cup. In addition to Re-Echo, Mabille produced Eglentyne (by Hermit), dam of 1888 One Thousand Guineas winner Briar-Root and ancestress of five-time German champion sire Prunus, 1913 English champion 2-year-old male and 1919 English/Irish champion sire The Tetrarch and 1928 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Easter Stockings. Another daughter of Mabille, Mazurka (by See Saw), was a juvenile stakes winner, produced three minor stakes winners, and is the second dam of 1907 American champion 3-year-old male Peter Pan and of 1905 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) winner Clyde.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 30, 2021
Race record
1901:
- Won Jockey Club Stakes (ENG, 14FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Princess of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
As an individual
A bay horse, Pietermaritzburg had great power and substance but was considered too coarse by some observers.
As a stallion
Pietermaritzburg sired at least 12 stakes winners in England and Argentina.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1911; 2nd in 1912; 6th in 1910; 10th in 1913.
- 3rd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1920.
- 3rd on the Chilean general sire list in 1911/1912.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in1911.
Notable progeny
Amsterdam (ARG), Brasil (ARG), Hirondelle (ARG), Locandiera (ARG), Mouchette (ARG), Pietra (ARG), Pioneer (FR), Pirita (ARG), Saint Marceaux (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Gaulois (ARG), Papusa (ARG)
Connections
Pietermaritzburg was owned by George Faber. In 1906, Santiago Luro purchased Pietermaritzburg as a replacement for his aging champion sire Kendal for a price variously reported as 10,000 guineas, 15,000 guineas or £20,000. Pietermaritzburg became a successful sire at Luro's Haras Ojo de Agua, Argentina, but died in early 1908.
Pedigree notes
Pietermaritzburg is inbred 4x5 to the great Irish-based runner Harkaway, a two-time champion sire in his native land, and to the great 19th-century matron Pocahontas. He is also inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Birdcatcher.
Pietermaritzburg's dam Sea Air was produced from Re-Echo (by Reverberation), making her a half sister to Retort (by Rosebery), whose grandson Thrush won the 1906 July Cup and King's Stand Stakes and was widely regarded as the best sprinter of his day. Re-Echo is also a half sister to Listen (by Charibert), second dam of the extremely fast sprinter Scherzo and the third dam of the similar runner Stingo.
Re-Echo's dam Mabille (by 1861 Ascot Gold Vase winner Parmesan) is a full sister to Cremorne, a top-flight horse who won the 1872 Derby Stakes and Grand Prix de Paris and the 1873 Ascot Gold Cup. In addition to Re-Echo, Mabille produced Eglentyne (by Hermit), dam of 1888 One Thousand Guineas winner Briar-Root and ancestress of five-time German champion sire Prunus, 1913 English champion 2-year-old male and 1919 English/Irish champion sire The Tetrarch and 1928 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Easter Stockings. Another daughter of Mabille, Mazurka (by See Saw), was a juvenile stakes winner, produced three minor stakes winners, and is the second dam of 1907 American champion 3-year-old male Peter Pan and of 1905 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) winner Clyde.
Fun facts
- Pietermaritzburg is the capital of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. During the Second Boer War (October 11, 1899 – May 31, 1902), it was used as a concentration camp for Boer women and children.
- Pietermaritzburg's early death in 1908 sent Santiago Luro on another shopping trip to England. This time his choice of a new stallion fell on 1899 Ascot Gold Cup winner Cyllene, already the sire of a Derby Stakes winner in Cicero (1905) but still not particularly fashionable. English breeders had cause to repent of the stallion's sale, for Cyllene led the English/Irish general sire list in 1909 and 1910 and left behind the additional Derby winners Minoru (1909), Lemberg (1910) and Tagalie (1912), as well as the important sire Polymelus. Attempts to repatriate Cyllene failed, as Luro flatly stated, “Cyllene has no price.”
Last updated: September 30, 2021