*La Troienne's principal rival among top American broodmares between the World Wars was William Woodward Sr.'s Marguerite. Although *La Troienne produced five stakes winners to Marguerite's four, it was not until *La Troienne's daughters and granddaughters began to produce champion after champion in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s that a clear winner could be discerned.

Bred by Arthur B. Hancock at Claiborne Farm in 1920, Marguerite was bred on the classic James R. Keene pattern, by a Domino-line sire-Keene-bred Celt-out of a well-bred imported mare, *Fairy Ray, by Radium.

Marguerite was injured in her only start at two and ran last all the way, but her first foal, Petee-Wrack, by *Wrack, developed into a high-class middle-distance horse, winning the 1928 Travers Midsummer Derby (now Stakes) at three, the Metropolitan Handicap at four, and the Suburban Handicap at five.

Woodward, Hancock's most important client, acquired Marguerite before she raced, and the New York banker was also one of four men who financed the importation of *Sir Gallahad III to Claiborne in 1925.

Winner of the French equivalent of the Two Thousand Guineas and conqueror of the great *Epinard, *Sir Gallahad III covered Marguerite in his first season at stud in the United States in 1926. The result was Gallant Fox, second winner of the American Triple Crown and best horse in America in 1930.

Marguerite visited *Sir Gallahad III every year for the rest of her life, producing six full siblings to Gallant Fox. Two of them were first-class racehorses. Fighting Fox, her 1935 colt, duplicated his brother's win in the Wood Memorial Stakes but did not stay the distance in the 1938 Kentucky Derby, finishing sixth as the 7-to-5 favorite behind Lawrin. Fighting Fox later won six other stakes from six to nine furlongs.

Foxbrough, her 1936 colt, was rated the best two-year-old in England in 1938 when he won the Middle Park Stakes and the Hopeful Stakes. Also a nonstayer, Foxbrough later won two stakes in New York.

Woodward generally did not believe in racing his fillies hard; of Marguerite's five daughters, including four by *Sir Gallahad III, only Lucky Pledge managed so much as a stakes placing, running second in the 1937 Pimlico Oaks. They did much better as broodmares, however.

Succeed as broodmares

Maraschino, by *Sir Gallahad III, produced two stakes winners and is grandam of 1963 champion steeplechaser Amber Diver. Her full sister Marigal produced three stakes winners, including the high-class stayer Lone Eagle, by *Isolater. The honor of carrying on Marguerite's female line, however, fell primarily to her next-to-last foal, her 1938 daughter Marguery, by *Sir Gallahad III.

Marguery never raced, but as a full sister to three brilliant runners she was given every opportunity to succeed in the breeding shed. She did rather well, producing Whirling Fox, by Whirlaway, and Marullah, by *Nasrullah-both the equivalent of modern graded winners-for William Woodward and his son, William Woodward Jr.

After the younger Woodward was shot and killed by his wife, Anne, on October 30, 1955, the Woodward estate sold all of the family's Belair Stud bloodstock privately. Margaret Woolwine and partners, buyers of the broodmares and yearlings, offered them for sale at Keeneland in January 1956 at what amounted to a Belair Stud dispersal.

That sale proved to be one of the most spectacular in American history up to that time, with Nashua's dam, Segula, setting a world record for a broodmare on a $126,000 bid from Humphrey Finney on behalf of Stavros Niarchos. Greentree Stud also purchased future Foundation Mare Natasha for $45,000.

Marguery was not one of the most highly prized broodmares at the sale, and Ernest H. Woods paid only $22,000 for the 18-year-old sister to Gallant Fox, then in foal to *Nasrullah. The resulting foal, however, proved to be a far more influential broodmare than the *Nasrullah filly Segula was carrying at the time of the sale, Stavroula (fourth dam of Louis Quatorze).

Named Russ-Marie, Marguery's daughter was a modest racehorse, but the blood of Marguerite coursed so strongly through the veins of her descendants that she has become an important 20th century Foundation Mare.

*Nasrullah mare

In the second half of the 20th century, only Northern Dancer has equaled or surpassed *Nasrullah's influence on the modern Thoroughbred. From the first crop of the unbeaten Nearco, *Nasrullah won the Coventry Stakes at two and was rated the best colt in an English two-year-old crop dominated by fillies.

*Nasrullah very likely would have been the best three-year-old in England in 1943 as well, had he been willing to show it. He was certainly the most frustrating. The high-tempered colt became extremely difficult to train, often refusing to gallop and on more than one occasion holding up the start before his races with disgraceful displays of temperament.

After condescending to win his first start, *Nasrullah was tried in blinkers in the Two Thousand Guineas, but he threw his head in the air as soon as he took the lead and finished fourth. *Nasrullah almost certainly should have won the New Derby Stakes. The strapping colt took the lead at the bushes but then swerved to the right, hampering two other runners. Soon passed by Straight Deal and Umiddad, *Nasrullah was rallying again approaching the post but finished third. Rider Gordon Richards finally figured out that *Nasrullah was only a genuine racehorse as long as he was behind, and he unleashed his brilliant turn of foot only in the final furlong to win the Champion Stakes in October.

Sold to stand at the Irish National Stud, *Nasrullah sired six crops in Ireland that included classic winners Musidora, Nearula, Belle of All, and Never Say Die. It was 1948 Epsom Derby third-place finisher *Noor, however, who advertised *Nasrullah to American breeders, beating Citation in a series of exciting races in 1950 and earning champion older male honors. *Noor's obvious ability led Arthur B. "Bull" Hancock Jr. to purchase *Nasrullah for a syndicate that included Woodward Sr. in 1950.

His first American crop included the great Nashua, as well as good runners Delta, Flying Fury, Blue Ruler, and Lea Lane, and Foundation Mare Courtesy. Seven subsequent American crops included such brilliant runners or influential sires as Bold Ruler, Never Bend, Fleet Nasrullah, Bald Eagle, Jaipur, On-and-On, and Nadir. *Nasrullah led the English sire list in 1951 and the American list in 1955-'56, 1959-'60, and '62. In the 22-year period from 1955-'76, *Nasrullah, his sons, or grandsons led the American sire list on 16 occasions.

Although he never led the list of leading sires of broodmares, *Nasrullah was also a great broodmare sire. His daughters produced, among others, the top-class runners Boucher, Creme dela Creme, Drumtop, Fiddle Isle, Handsome Boy, Hornbeam, *Lacquer, *Montaval, Natashka, *Sovereign II, Talking Picture, Tell, and Turkish Trousers.

Modest ability

Russ-Marie made her first start in the silks of Ernest Woods's frequent partner, John L. Greer, on July 8, 1958, in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race at Arlington Park. Seventh in tight quarters early, she finished steadily, closing some ground to gain fourth, beaten four lengths by Call Sign. The *Nasrullah filly showed modest promise again for trainer Moody Jolley in her second start, running ninth early in a similar race on July 17 and then closing for third as the 3.10-to-1 favorite.

Russ-Marie was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by Lucy Locket in that second start, however, and actually came closer to winning on her third try, finishing fifth while beaten 2 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong maiden race at Arlington on August 19. Tenth early, she was again closing ground steadily at the finish.

Belmont Park's straight Widener course was not designed for come-from-behind runners, and Russ-Marie show