What a Pleasure (USA)
April 24, 1965 – March 13, 1983
Bold Ruler (USA) x Grey Flight (USA), by Mahmoud (USA)
Family 5-f
April 24, 1965 – March 13, 1983
Bold Ruler (USA) x Grey Flight (USA), by Mahmoud (USA)
Family 5-f
Like his dam Grey Flight, What a Pleasure was a speedy juvenile. Unlike her, he seemed to lose his interest in racing after his 2-year-old season. Sent to stud in Florida, he became the first son of Bold Ruler to earn a sire championship in the United States but has had less long-term influence than his status as a two-time champion sire might lead one to expect.
Race record
18 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$164,935
1967:
1968:
Assessments
Ranked at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1967, 5 pounds below champion Vitriolic.
As an individual
An attractive chestnut horse, What a Pleasure was strong and muscular when seen from the side but was narrow-bodied when viewed from the front. According to Richard Ulbrich (Peerage of Racehorses), he wrenched a hip following the Hopeful Stakes, perhaps accounting for his failure to train on, but he had a less than reliable temperament as well. He stood 16.1-1/2 hands.
As a stallion
According to records kept by the Jockey Club, What a Pleasure sired 300 winners (60.2%) and 50 stakes winners (10.0%) from 498 named foals. He is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Fairway Phantom (USA), Foolish Pleasure (USA), For the Moment (USA), Honest Pleasure (USA), Jedina (USA), Let Me Linger (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Clabber Girl (USA), Flip's Pleasure (USA), Gilded Time (USA), Is Your Pleasure (USA), Sweet Diane (USA), Tasso (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, What a Pleasure was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. He entered stud at Florida's Waldemar Farm in 1969 and died there of an apparent heart attack in March 1983.
Pedigree notes
What a Pleasure is inbred 4x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 4x4 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal through the three-quarters sister and brother Mumtaz Begum (dam of Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah) and Mahmoud. He is one of nine stakes winners produced from the excellent matron Grey Flight. His full sister Bold Princess won the 1962 Schuylerville Stakes and proved a first-rate producer in her own right, her foals including 1976 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Intrepid Hero (by Forli), 1969 Selima Stakes winner Predictable (by Tatán), and the good sire Sovereign Dancer (by Northern Dancer). What a Pleasure is also a full brother to 1964 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Bold Queen; to Clear Ceiling, dam of 1980 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Quick as Lightning (by Buckpasser) and ancestress of American champions Inside Information, Kona Gold, and Smuggler; and to Pleasant Flight, dam of Grade 2 winner Flitalong (by Herbager).
Grey Flight also produced two-time American champion Misty Morn (by Princequillo), the 1963 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and stakes winners Full Flight (by Ambiorix), Gray Phantom (by Ambiorix), Misty Flight (by Princequillo), Misty Day (by Nasrullah), and Signore (by Ribot). She is a half sister to Just-a-Minute (by Can't Wait), dam of 1950 Del Mar Futurity winner Patch (by Dogpatch), 1956 Las Flores Handicap winner On the Move (by Mafosta), and 1953 La Jolla Handicap winner Threesome (by Dogpatch). She is also a half sister to Planetrix (by Ambiorix), dam of the minor stakes winner Son Duke (by Marcador) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Soft Victory and Grade 3 winner He's Vivacious.
Grey Flight's dam Planetoid (by Ariel) is one of four stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare La Chica (by Sweep). A full sister to 1940 Tremont Stakes winner Chicuelo and to stakes producer La Rhumba, she is a half sister to 1938 American champion 2-year-old male El Chico (by John P. Grier) and to 1937 Autumn Day Stakes winner Miyako (by John P. Grier), dam of the good steeplechaser Columbus (by Discovery) and second dam of the great Native Dancer. Planetoid is also a half sister to Chelita (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of stakes winners Travertine (by Nordlicht) and Scansion (by Heliodorus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Misty Bend, and to La Chicuela (by Blenheim II), dam of 1957 Firenze Handicap winner Gay Life (by Eight Thirty).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 4, 2024
Race record
18 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$164,935
1967:
- Won National Stallion Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Sapling Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
1968:
- 3rd Gotham Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
Assessments
Ranked at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1967, 5 pounds below champion Vitriolic.
As an individual
An attractive chestnut horse, What a Pleasure was strong and muscular when seen from the side but was narrow-bodied when viewed from the front. According to Richard Ulbrich (Peerage of Racehorses), he wrenched a hip following the Hopeful Stakes, perhaps accounting for his failure to train on, but he had a less than reliable temperament as well. He stood 16.1-1/2 hands.
As a stallion
According to records kept by the Jockey Club, What a Pleasure sired 300 winners (60.2%) and 50 stakes winners (10.0%) from 498 named foals. He is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1975 and 1976; 10th in 1974.
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1985.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1974 and 1975.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1975 and 1976; 10th in 1974.
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1985.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1975 and 1976.
Notable progeny
Fairway Phantom (USA), Foolish Pleasure (USA), For the Moment (USA), Honest Pleasure (USA), Jedina (USA), Let Me Linger (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Clabber Girl (USA), Flip's Pleasure (USA), Gilded Time (USA), Is Your Pleasure (USA), Sweet Diane (USA), Tasso (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, What a Pleasure was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. He entered stud at Florida's Waldemar Farm in 1969 and died there of an apparent heart attack in March 1983.
Pedigree notes
What a Pleasure is inbred 4x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 4x4 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal through the three-quarters sister and brother Mumtaz Begum (dam of Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah) and Mahmoud. He is one of nine stakes winners produced from the excellent matron Grey Flight. His full sister Bold Princess won the 1962 Schuylerville Stakes and proved a first-rate producer in her own right, her foals including 1976 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Intrepid Hero (by Forli), 1969 Selima Stakes winner Predictable (by Tatán), and the good sire Sovereign Dancer (by Northern Dancer). What a Pleasure is also a full brother to 1964 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Bold Queen; to Clear Ceiling, dam of 1980 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Quick as Lightning (by Buckpasser) and ancestress of American champions Inside Information, Kona Gold, and Smuggler; and to Pleasant Flight, dam of Grade 2 winner Flitalong (by Herbager).
Grey Flight also produced two-time American champion Misty Morn (by Princequillo), the 1963 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and stakes winners Full Flight (by Ambiorix), Gray Phantom (by Ambiorix), Misty Flight (by Princequillo), Misty Day (by Nasrullah), and Signore (by Ribot). She is a half sister to Just-a-Minute (by Can't Wait), dam of 1950 Del Mar Futurity winner Patch (by Dogpatch), 1956 Las Flores Handicap winner On the Move (by Mafosta), and 1953 La Jolla Handicap winner Threesome (by Dogpatch). She is also a half sister to Planetrix (by Ambiorix), dam of the minor stakes winner Son Duke (by Marcador) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Soft Victory and Grade 3 winner He's Vivacious.
Grey Flight's dam Planetoid (by Ariel) is one of four stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare La Chica (by Sweep). A full sister to 1940 Tremont Stakes winner Chicuelo and to stakes producer La Rhumba, she is a half sister to 1938 American champion 2-year-old male El Chico (by John P. Grier) and to 1937 Autumn Day Stakes winner Miyako (by John P. Grier), dam of the good steeplechaser Columbus (by Discovery) and second dam of the great Native Dancer. Planetoid is also a half sister to Chelita (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of stakes winners Travertine (by Nordlicht) and Scansion (by Heliodorus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Misty Bend, and to La Chicuela (by Blenheim II), dam of 1957 Firenze Handicap winner Gay Life (by Eight Thirty).
Fun facts
- The What a Pleasure Stakes was a race for 2-year-olds at Florida's Calder Race Course (now Gulfstream Park West). Run at 8.5 furlongs on dirt, it was last contested in 2007.
Last updated: December 4, 2024