Brigadier Gerard (horse)
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| Brigadier Gerard | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Queen's Hussar |
| Grandsire | March Past |
| Dam | La Paiva |
| Damsire | Prince Chevalier |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1968 |
| Country | Great Britain  |
| Colour | Brown |
| Breeder | John L. Hislop |
| Owner | Mrs. John L. Hislop |
| Trainer | Dick Hern |
| Record | 18: 17-1-0 |
| Earnings | £253,024.70 |
| Major Racing Wins, Awards and Honours | |
| Major Racing Wins | |
| Middle Park Stakes (1970) 2,000 Guineas (1971) St. James's Palace Stakes (1971) Sussex Stakes (1971) Goodwood Mile (1971) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1971 & 1972) Champion Stakes (1971 & 1972) Lockinge Stakes (1972) Prince of Wales's Stakes (1972) Eclipse Stakes (1972) King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1972) |
|
| Racing Awards | |
| British Champion Miler (1971) British Horse of the Year (1972) |
|
| Honours | |
| Timeform rating: 144 (jointly ranked second with Tudor Minstrel and only behind Sea Bird) Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park |
|
| Infobox last updated on: September 27, 2006. | |
Brigadier Gerard (1968 - 1989) was one of the best and most popular British Thoroughbred race horses of the 20th century, and won 17 of his 18 races.
Bred by John Hislop in England and foaled March 5, 1968, Brigadier Gerard was a son of the modest stallion Queen's Hussar and the non-winning mare La Paiva, a daughter of Prince Chevalier. On his female side he traced back to the brilliant fillies' Triple Crown winner Pretty Polly. This beautifully balanced bay colt was named after Arthur Conan Doyle's swashbuckling hero.
Debuting on the racecourse in late June 1970, Brigadier Gerard finished his first season unbeaten in four races, including the prestigious Middle Park Stakes. Even so, he was rated below the more experienced Mill Reef and My Swallow on the year-end handicap.
He entered the season's first classic, the 2,000 Guineas without a preparatory race and won convincingly by three lengths from Mill Reef and My Swallow. Brigadier Gerard followed that victory with wins in the St. James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes by five lengths, Goodwood Mile by ten lengths, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes by eight lengths, and Champion Stakes. He was kept out of the Epsom Derby, partly to protect him from a difficult race early in the season and partly because they were unsure how far he would stay, as his pedigree was more that of a miler than a true classic-distance horse (Mill Reef won the race). At the end of his three-year-old season, he was unbeaten in 10 races, at distances between five furlongs and a mile and a quarter.
At four, Brigadier Gerard ran his unbeaten streak to 15 with wins in the Lockinge Stakes, Westbury Stakes, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Then came the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup. Brigadier Gerard raced against the 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto and runner-up, Rheingold. The 3-year-old Roberto had run poorly in his previous start and was not considered the main threat. Ridden by the American jockey Braulio Baeza, Roberto ran the race of his life to win, beating Brigadier Gerard by three lengths while lowering the York Racecourse record in the process.
Brigadier Gerard closed out his career with two more wins in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Champion Stakes. He retired at the end of his four-year-old season, a winner of 17 races from 18 starts, with total earnings of £253,024.70.
He stood at stud first at the Egerton Stud and later at his owner's East Woodhay Stud. Brigadier Gerard was not a success as a sire but he did get a classic winner in Light Cavalry who won the St. Leger.
Brigadier Gerard died in 1989.
[edit] Pedigree
| Sire Queen's Hussar |
March Past | Petition | Fair Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Paper | |||
| Marcelette | William of Valence | ||
| Permavon | |||
| Jojo | Vilmorin | Gold Bridge | |
| Queen of the Meadows | |||
| Fairy Jane | Fair Trial | ||
| Light Tackle | |||
| Dam La Paiva |
Prince Chevalier | Prince Rose | Rose Prince |
| Indolence | |||
| Chevalerie | Abbot's Speed | ||
| Kassala | |||
| Brazen Molly | Horus | Papyrus | |
| Lady Peregrine | |||
| Molly Adare | Phalaris | ||
| Molly Desmond |
