NEWS
Marvelous Marguerite's line
Posted: Saturday, April 21, 2001
Granddaughter Russ-Marie,
by *Nasrullah, proves worthy heir
of Woodward's greatest mare
*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 showed nothing in her next start down the Widener chute, running 14th, beaten 19 lengths by Golden Sari. She ran poorly in her last two starts at two, running seventh and last at seven furlongs at Belmont and eighth, beaten 13 lengths over six furlongs at Keeneland Race Course.
Russ-Marie had shown little sign of the brilliance frequently found in *Nasrullah's two-year-olds, and she did not improve markedly at three. She showed nothing in her first start at Keeneland in April 1959, running seventh over 6 1/2 furlongs and well beaten by the speedy Draego. Jolley tried to shake her up by putting her on the lead in her next start at Belmont, and Russ-Marie set fractions of :23 1/5 and :47 4/5 before folding to finish fifth, beaten four lengths. Jolley tried one more remedy, more distance, but Russ-Marie ran last of seven, beaten more than 25 lengths by Aesthetic in a mile Belmont maiden on May 26.
Russ-Marie was clearly not good enough to win on the sport's premier circuit, so Greer and Woods shipped her to the minor leagues at River Downs. She finished third for trainer S. Griffin in a six-furlong maiden on June 16, finishing well, beaten three lengths by Common Man.
Russ-Marie finally found a field she could beat and track conditions she liked in her 11th career start on June 23, leading from halfway and winning by 6 1/2 lengths. Russ-Marie ran the six furlongs over a heavy River Downs track in 1:15 2/5.
Russ-Marie had found her level, but that was as good as she was. She ran seventh, beaten 12 lengths in an entry-level allowance on July 4, and then third in a one-mile turf allowance a week later. Too valuable as a broodmare to be risked in a claimer, there was little choice but to retire Russ-Marie to the breeding shed.
Turf stars
Russ-Marie may have been slow, but her pedigree demanded an opportunity at the court of the mighty. Although she did not race in 1961, there is no record of a covering that year. She produced her first foal, a dark bay filly by the great English racehorse *Tulyar, in 1962. Named Margarethen, the filly raced in Woods's name and was slow to mature, but once she switched to grass racing, she became a formidable opponent.
Margarethen won 16 of 64 starts from two to six, earning $162,933 in an era when opportunities for turf mares were extremely limited. Winner of two editions of the Beverly Handicap at Arlington Park and three other stakes, Margarethen was one of the best turf mares at a time when such ability brought little respect.
Nelson Bunker Hunt, however, valued racing ability above all else in broodmare prospects, and he paid $95,000 for Margarethen, in foal to Prince John, when Woods dispersed his bloodstock at Keeneland in 1970. Hunt made few better bargains in his highly successful career as a breeder.
Margarethen's second foal for Hunt was Margravine, a handsome Hail to Reason filly who was just short of top class. Like many Hunt homebreds, Margravine began her racing career in France and won the 1974 Prix du Calvados at two.
She finished second to Oak Hill in the Criterium des Pouliches (Fr-G1) but did not fulfill the expectations created by that form at three, placing in stakes in France and the United States. Margravine produced the stakes-placed filly Margie Belle, dam and grandam of stakes winners, but her branch of the family has not hit the heights.
Margarethen's fifth foal, however, did. The filly was sold for $90,000 as a yearling to Hunt's friend Edward L. Stephenson, but Hunt bought back an interest before she raced. A massive, coarse, masculine full sister to Margravine, Trillion did not race at two but developed rapidly early in her three-year-old season, winning the 1977 Prix de Minerve (Fr-G3) and running second in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1).
As a four-year-old, Trillion had grown into her massive frame and became the best horse trained in France, beating colts in the 1978 Prix Ganay (Fr-G1) and running second to Alleged in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).
Not quite as good at five, Trillion was still formidable in the best company and was voted champion turf mare in the U.S. despite finishing second in four of her six American starts, all against males. Trillion was also rated champion older mare at both four and five in France and won nine of 32 starts, earning $957,413.
Trillion's daughter by Riverman, Triptych, was if anything an even better racemare. Tall but more elegant and feminine than her mother, Triptych came to hand much earlier, winning the 1984 Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (Fr-G1) at two, when she was rated the best two-year-old filly in France. Like her dam, Triptych trained on into a globe- trotting champion, winning Group 1s in England, France, and Ireland among her 14 wins in 41 starts for earnings of $2,318,946. Triptych died in a paddock accident in early 1989 before producing a foal.
Triptych's full sister Barger was not as talented, winning the 1986 Prix Vanteaux (Fr-G3), but produced 1993 Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3) winner Baya, by Nureyev, who also ran second in the Prix de Diane.
Trillion's first foal, Trevilla, by Lyphard, produced a good Riverman filly in Treble, winner of the 1991 Prix Saint Alary (Fr-G1). Trevilla also is grandam of England's champion three-year-old sprinter of 1998, Tamarisk (Ire), by Green Desert, winner of the Sprint Cup (Eng-G1).
Seven daughters
Of Margarethen's eight foals, seven were fillies. Her best producer was not Trillion but the unraced Doff the Derby, by Master Derby, Margarethen's last foal. Purchased by David Nagle's Barronstown Stud after producing her first foal, California stakes winner Windy Triple K, by Jaklin Klugman, Doff the Derby has produced five more stakes winners for Nagle and his partners, led by 1991 English Horse of the Year Generous, by Caerleon.
A big, handsome, long-striding horse, Generous was a very good two-year-old, winning the 1990 Three Chimneys Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-G1), but he finished fourth in the 1991 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1). Over 11Ú2 miles, however, Generous was unbeatable that summer, winning the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), Irish Derby (Eng-G1), and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-G1) by wide margins.
Although fast and precocious enough to win the most prestigious juvenile race in England, Generous was widely perceived as essentially a stayer, and when his first offspring did not immediately win as two-year-olds, he was quickly exported to Japan. He now stands at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Hokkaido.
In truth, Generous has not been a great success as a stallion in Europe.
Although he has sired 30 stakes winners from the 318 foals in his seven European crops, a healthy 9% strike rate, the best of them are the champion German filly Catella, European Group 2 winners Bahr (GB), Courteous (GB), Radevore (GB), Teapot Row, Capri, and 2001 San Luis Rey Handicap (G2) winner Blueprint (Ire).
Doff the Derby's son by Last Tycoon (Ire), Osumi Tycoon, was a high-class miler in Japan, and her stakes-winning daughter Strawberry Roan (Ire), by Sadler's Wells, ran second in the 1997 Airlie Coolmore Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1). Doff the Derby's most recent foal, Imagine, by Sadler's Wells, won the 2000 Park Stakes (Ire-G3) and is among the favorites for the Irish filly classics in 2001.
A third sister to Trillion and Margravine, Hail Maggie, produced Sabona, by Exclusive Native, who set a Hollywood Park track record of 1:464Ú5 in winning the 1989 1 1/8-mile Californian Stakes (G1). Sabona also ran second in that year's Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) but has not been a success at stud, siring 11 minor stakes winners from 176 foals (6%).
Margarethen's winning daughter Prix, by *Vaguely Noble, is also bidding to establish a successful branch of the family through her daughters Vintage, by Foolish Pleasure, and Milesime, by Riverman. Both have produced stakes winners.
Tim Tam ladies
Russ-Marie was barren in 1963, but her second foal, Dressy, a 1964 filly by Intent, was purchased for $12,500 by Michael Silver at the 1965 Keeneland July sale of selected yearlings. Dressy never made it to the races and produced only three foals. Russ-Marie's third foal, the 1965 Summer Tan colt No Silence, brought a $40,000 bid from agent Tom Gentry at the same sale in 1966 but won only one of 22 starts, earning $5,050.
Lady Marguery, her 1966 filly by the excellent broodmare sire Tim Tam, was listed as sold to Allen Mims for $51,000 at Saratoga the following year but was in fact bought back by Woods.
Lady Marguery placed only twice in 13 starts but was a much more successful broodmare for Catesby Clay's Runnymede Farm, which purchased her for $13,500 at the Woods dispersal. Lady Marguery's first foal, Bobby Murcer, by *Indian Chief II, was one of the best of that very disappointing sire's progeny. His full sister Redpath produced the high-class Sunny's Halo filly Race the Wild Wind, winner of the 1993 Santa Maria Handicap (G1) and earner of $458,250. Race the Wild Wind is dam of stakes-winning 2000 Irish juvenile King Charlemagne, by Nureyev.
Lady Marguery's best offspring was Partez, by Quack, winner of the 1980 Sunny Slope Stakes (G3). Partez is best remembered, though, as Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas's first runner in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he finished third in 1981.
Russ-Marie's 1967 filly by Summer Tan, Margalo, was a useful racehorse, winning seven of 33 starts, mostly in Northern California, and running second in the 1971 San Juan Bautista Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. Margalo died before producing a live foal.
Tim Marie, Russ-Marie's 1968 filly by Tim Tam, was listed as sold for $19,000 to Dr. Warren E. Perez at Keeneland July but showed even less talent than her full sister, Lady Marguery, going unplaced in four starts.
Produces Life's Hope
She was an even better broodmare, however. Purchased by Harbor View Farm, Tim Marie produced 1976 Jersey Derby (G1) and 1978 Amory L. Haskell Handicap (G1) winner Life's Hope to the cover of Exclusive Native. Life's Hope's three-quarter sister Little Happiness (by Exclusive Native's sire, Raise a Native) won two stakes and is dam of stakes winner Happy Bid, by Spectacular Bid. Little Happiness is also grandam of Australian Group 1 winner A Little Kiss (NZ), by Sackford, dam of Japanese stakes winner Gaily Funky, by Theatrical (Ire).
Little Happiness's full sister, Heart a Dancer, is also grandam of multiple Australian group winner Brave Warrior, by Cossack Warrior, who is proving to be a useful sire in Australia.
Barren in 1969, Russ-Marie produced her seventh foal, the *Noholme II colt Steven Would, in 1970. He was sound and durable, winning six of 64 starts, but his level of talent is clearly defined by his sole stakes placing, third in the Tondi Handicap at Fonner Park at age six.
Harry Isaacs's Brookfield Farm paid $35,000 for Russ-Marie, in foal to *Noholme II, at the Woods dispersal in 1970 and bred her eighth foal, I'm All, a 1971 filly. Though more talented than her stakes-placed full brother, I'm All never earned black type, winning five of 14 starts and earning $56,970. I'm All is grandam of stakes winner Wishful Nickle, by Plugged Nickle.
Russ-Marie was not bred in 1971, and Henry D. White, agent for Jack Dreyfus's Hobeau Farm, paid $55,000 for the 16-year-old mare in foal to *Grey Dawn II at the 1972 Keeneland November sale.
"She was a big, clean, good-looking mare, like all of those Hobeau mares," White said. "She wasn't here very long. She went on down to Florida to be bred to Beau Gar."
Russ-Marie's 1973 *Grey Dawn II filly, Inward Bound, was unplaced in three starts but produced the stakes-placed hurdler Bounden Duty, by His Majesty. Inward Bound is grandam of Bold Passion, by Persian Bold, who ran second in the 1990 Gran Premio d'Italia (Ity-G1).
Dreyfus bred Russ-Marie to his successful stallion Beau Gar, but the resulting 1974 filly, Beau Marie, never raced and produced nothing of note. Russ-Marie slipped to the same stallion in 1975 and died later that year.
Proud legacy
Russ-Marie was inbred 5x4 to the great broodmare sire Spearmint and carried four crosses of St. Simon in her first six generations. Margarethen, by far her best and most important daughter, was much more closely inbred, carrying a 4x4 cross of Nearco as well as a 5x5 cross to the great broodmare Plucky Liege, three crosses of Phalaris, three of Chaucer, and four of Spearmint.
Marguery foaled two other good producing daughters, one before and one after William Woodward Jr.'s death. Marullah, her 1954 *Nasrullah filly, won the Sorority Stakes at two and produced the high-class runners Handsome Boy and Blessing Angelica for Hobeau Farm to the cover of Beau Gar. Clearly that is the reason Hobeau was willing to pay what was then a handsome price for Marullah's 16-year-old full sister, Russ-Marie, in 1972.
Marguery's only other foal for Ernest Woods and John Greer, Russ Elaine, by Count Fleet, produced dual Tropical Park Handicap winner Mr. Brogann, by Ridan. Mr. Brogann's full sister, Ridell, is grandam of multiple graded winner Isayso, by Valid Appeal.
These two mares, good as they were, cannot match the achievements of Russ-Marie. Although the daughter of *Nasrullah possessed little racing ability, her daughter Margarethen returned the family to the heights it occupied in the 1930s, when the sons of Marguerite were among the best that American racing had to offer.
Trillion, Triptych, and Generous were all racehorses of the very highest class, and Sabona, Tamarisk, Treble, Race the Wild Wind, and A Little Kiss do not fall far wide of that mark.
It is a legacy of which the second best mare of her era, the great Marguerite, could be justly proud.
John P. Sparkman is bloodstock/sales editor of Thoroughbred Times.
