Blushing Groom (8 April 1974 – 6 May 1992) was a French champion Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Blushing Groom
SireRed God
GrandsireNasrullah
DamRunaway Bride
DamsireWild Risk
SexStallion
Foaled8 April 1974
CountryFrance
ColourChestnut
BreederJohn McNamee Sullivan
OwnerHH Aga Khan IV
TrainerFrançois Mathet
Record10: 7-1-2
Earnings$407,153
Major wins
Prix Robert Papin (1976)
Prix Morny (1976)
Prix de la Salamandre (1976)
Grand Critérium (1976)
Prix de Fontainebleau (1977)
Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1977)
Awards
French Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1976)
European Champion 3-Year-Old Miler (1977)
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland (1988, 1995)
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland (1989)
Timeform rating: 136
Last updated on 12 July 2022

Background

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He was bred by American businessman John McNamee Sullivan and was raced by HH Aga Khan IV. A descendant of Nearco, Blushing Groom was sired by Red God and out of the mare Runaway Bride. He was trained by François Mathet in France.

Racing record

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Blushing Groom raced six times in 1976 at age two. He finished third in his debut, then won the next five races, including four Group One events, capturing the Prix Robert Papin, Prix Morny, Prix de la Salamandre, and Grand Critérium. His performances earned him French Champion Two-Year-Old honors.

As a three-year-old, Blushing Groom extended his win streak to seven, winning the 1977 Prix de Fontainebleau and the GI Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Sent to England to compete in The Derby, he faced a 1½ mile challenge, a distance fifty per cent longer than he had ever run before. He finished third to winner The Minstrel, a son of Northern Dancer. In his final race, Blushing Groom finished second in France's GI Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Stud record

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Although Blushing Groom met with considerable success in racing, he became an even greater as a sire. He was sent to stand at stud at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he sired winners at major tracks in Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong. Like his sire Red God, Blushing Groom had been a champion miler but many of his offspring are renowned for their stamina and have been able to win consistently at longer distances.[1]

Blushing Groom has sired 92 stakes winners. Some of his notable progeny includes:

Among others, Blushing Groom is the grandsire of Tawrrific, Let's Elope, Cherokee Run, Silic, Subordination, Congaree, Leroidesanimaux, Tie the Knot, Swain, Dreaming of Anna, Bago and 2006 World Champion, Invasor. He is also the damsire of Awesome Again, Kahyasi, Lammtarra, Mayano Top Gun, 2000 Japanese Horse of the Year T M Opera O, and Goldikova.

Blushing Groom died in 1992 and is buried at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Blushing Groom (FR), chestnut stallion, 1974
Sire
Red God (USA)
Ch. 1954
Nasrullah (IRE)
1940
Nearco (ITY) Pharos
Nogara
Mumtaz Begum (FR) Blenheim
Mumtaz Mahal
Spring Run
1948
Menow Pharamond
Alcibiades
Boola Brook Bull Dog
Brookdale
Dam
Runaway Bride (GB)
1962
Wild Risk (FR)
1940
Rialto Rabelais
La Grelee
Wild Violet Blandford
Wood Violet
Aimee
1957
Tudor Minstrel (IRE) Owen Tudor
Sansonnet
Emali Umidwar
Eclair (Family: 22-d)[1]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ "Blushing Groom (FR)". Australian Stud Book. Australian Turf Club Limited and Victoria Racing Club Limited. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
Sources