Caracalla (also known as Caracalla II, 1942 – after 1955) was a French racehorse and sire. Unraced as a two-year-old and never competing at a distance shorter than 2,400 metres he was undefeated in eight races in a racing career which lasted from the spring of 1945 until October 1946. Caracalla excelled over extended distances, winning the Grand Prix de Paris and the Prix Royal Oak in France and the Ascot Gold Cup in Britain. On his final appearance he proved himself capable of beating top class opposition at middle distances when he won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was then retired to stud, where his record was disappointing.
Caracalla's dam was the highly successful broodmare Astronomie, whose other progeny included Marsyas, Arbar, and Asmena.[4] Caracalla's sire Tourbillon, also bred and raced by Boussac, won the Prix du Jockey Club in 1931 and became Leading sire in France on three occasions.[5] Tourbillon's success as a breeding stallion was largely responsible for the survival of the Byerley Turk sire line. Because of the presence of certain American bloodlines in Tourbillon's pedigree, his offspring were considered "half-bred" (non-Thoroughbred) by the General Stud Book.[6]
Caracalla raced in the Boussac colours of "orange, grey cap" and was trained by the former jockeyCharles Semblat.[1] According to Phil Bull, the colt demonstrated a high knee action, a low head carriage, and "an exceptionally long and powerful stride".[7]
Racing careeredit
1945: three-year-old seasonedit
Caracalla did not race as a two-year-old and began his racing career in the spring of 1945 with wins in the Prix Bay Middleton and the Prix Reiset.[8] On 9 July he contested France's most valuable and prestigious race for three-year-olds, the Grand Prix de Paris over 3000 metres at the recently re-opened Longchamp Racecourse. Caracalla started the 16/10 favourite and won by one and a half lengths from Chanteur.[9]
The colt did not appear again on the racecourse until the autumn. He would have been a leading contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2,400 metres,[7] but Boussac preferred to rely on the 1944 winner Ardan, who finished second to Nikellora, with Chanteur beaten less than a length in third. Caracalla was instead aimed at the Prix Royal Oak at the same course over 3000 metres. He completed an unbeaten season by winning from Basileus and Chanteur.[7]
1946: four-year-old seasonedit
In early 1946, Caracalla took his winning run to six by taking the Prix Edgard Gillois and the Prix de Dangu.[8] On his first and only appearance outside France, Caracalla was part of an exceptionally strong[10] team of French stayers sent to Royal Ascot in June. Ridden by the French-based English jockeyCharlie Elliott, he was made 4/9 favourite[11] in a field of seven runners for the meeting's premier event, the Ascot Gold Cup over two and a half miles. He won by two lengths from Chanteur,[12] with Basileus completing a clean sweep of the places for France by finishing third. At the same meeting, Caracalla's older brother Marsyas won the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Caracalla did not appear again until October, when he was allowed to take his chance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and was made the 3/10 favourite against eight opponents. Racing over a distance short of his best, he was outpaced in the early stages but finished strongly to catch Prince Chevalier in the final strides and won by a head.[7]
Assessmentedit
In their book A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Caracalla the seventeenth best French-trained horse of the 20th century, the best horse foaled in 1942, and the best horse in the world in 1946.[7]
Stud recordedit
Caracalla was retired to become a breeding stallion at his owner's stud in Normandy. He was not considered a success,[1] with the best of his progeny being the fillies Caralina (Prix de Pomone) and Caraida (Prix Fille de l'Air). He was also the damsire of Wolver Hollow who won the Eclipse Stakes and sired Wollow. Caracalla was eventually sold and exported to New Zealand.[6]
^ abcMortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN0-354-08536-0.
^. sporthorse-data.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-19.
caracalla, horse, caracalla, also, known, caracalla, 1942, after, 1955, french, racehorse, sire, unraced, year, never, competing, distance, shorter, than, metres, undefeated, eight, races, racing, career, which, lasted, from, spring, 1945, until, october, 1946. Caracalla also known as Caracalla II 1942 after 1955 was a French racehorse and sire Unraced as a two year old and never competing at a distance shorter than 2 400 metres he was undefeated in eight races in a racing career which lasted from the spring of 1945 until October 1946 Caracalla excelled over extended distances winning the Grand Prix de Paris and the Prix Royal Oak in France and the Ascot Gold Cup in Britain On his final appearance he proved himself capable of beating top class opposition at middle distances when he won the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe He was then retired to stud where his record was disappointing CaracallaSireTourbillonGrandsireKsarDamAstronomieDamsireAsterusSexStallionFoaled1942CountryFranceColourBayBreederMarcel BoussacOwnerMarcel BoussacTrainerCharles SemblatRecord8 8 0 0Major winsGrand Prix de Paris 1945 Prix Royal Oak 1945 Ascot Gold Cup 1946 Prix de l Arc de Triomphe 1946 Contents 1 Background 2 Racing career 2 1 1945 three year old season 2 2 1946 four year old season 3 Assessment 4 Stud record 5 Pedigree 6 See also 7 ReferencesBackground editCaracalla was an exceptionally good looking 1 bay horse with a narrow white blaze and white socks on his hind legs 2 bred by his owner Marcel Boussac at his Haras de Fresnay le Buffard in Neuvy au Houlme in Lower Normandy 3 Caracalla s dam was the highly successful broodmare Astronomie whose other progeny included Marsyas Arbar and Asmena 4 Caracalla s sire Tourbillon also bred and raced by Boussac won the Prix du Jockey Club in 1931 and became Leading sire in France on three occasions 5 Tourbillon s success as a breeding stallion was largely responsible for the survival of the Byerley Turk sire line Because of the presence of certain American bloodlines in Tourbillon s pedigree his offspring were considered half bred non Thoroughbred by the General Stud Book 6 Caracalla raced in the Boussac colours of orange grey cap and was trained by the former jockey Charles Semblat 1 According to Phil Bull the colt demonstrated a high knee action a low head carriage and an exceptionally long and powerful stride 7 Racing career edit1945 three year old season edit Caracalla did not race as a two year old and began his racing career in the spring of 1945 with wins in the Prix Bay Middleton and the Prix Reiset 8 On 9 July he contested France s most valuable and prestigious race for three year olds the Grand Prix de Paris over 3000 metres at the recently re opened Longchamp Racecourse Caracalla started the 16 10 favourite and won by one and a half lengths from Chanteur 9 The colt did not appear again on the racecourse until the autumn He would have been a leading contender for the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe over 2 400 metres 7 but Boussac preferred to rely on the 1944 winner Ardan who finished second to Nikellora with Chanteur beaten less than a length in third Caracalla was instead aimed at the Prix Royal Oak at the same course over 3000 metres He completed an unbeaten season by winning from Basileus and Chanteur 7 1946 four year old season edit In early 1946 Caracalla took his winning run to six by taking the Prix Edgard Gillois and the Prix de Dangu 8 On his first and only appearance outside France Caracalla was part of an exceptionally strong 10 team of French stayers sent to Royal Ascot in June Ridden by the French based English jockey Charlie Elliott he was made 4 9 favourite 11 in a field of seven runners for the meeting s premier event the Ascot Gold Cup over two and a half miles He won by two lengths from Chanteur 12 with Basileus completing a clean sweep of the places for France by finishing third At the same meeting Caracalla s older brother Marsyas won the Queen Alexandra Stakes Caracalla did not appear again until October when he was allowed to take his chance in the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe and was made the 3 10 favourite against eight opponents Racing over a distance short of his best he was outpaced in the early stages but finished strongly to catch Prince Chevalier in the final strides and won by a head 7 Assessment editIn their book A Century of Champions based on a modified version of the Timeform system John Randall and Tony Morris rated Caracalla the seventeenth best French trained horse of the 20th century the best horse foaled in 1942 and the best horse in the world in 1946 7 Stud record editCaracalla was retired to become a breeding stallion at his owner s stud in Normandy He was not considered a success 1 with the best of his progeny being the fillies Caralina Prix de Pomone and Caraida Prix Fille de l Air He was also the damsire of Wolver Hollow who won the Eclipse Stakes and sired Wollow Caracalla was eventually sold and exported to New Zealand 6 Pedigree editPedigree of Caracalla FR bay stallion 1942 13 SireTourbillon FR Ksar FR Bruleur ChouberskiBasse TerreKizil Kourgan OmniumKasbahDurban FR Durbar RabelaisArmeniaBanshee Irish LadFrizetteDamAstronomie FR Asterus FR Teddy AjaxRondeauAstrella VerdunSaint AstraLikka FR Sardanapale PrestigeGemmaDiane Mallory NimbusFerula Family 9 e 4 See also editList of leading Thoroughbred racehorsesReferences edit a b c Mortimer Roger Onslow Richard Willett Peter 1978 Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing Macdonald and Jane s ISBN 0 354 08536 0 Caracalla image sporthorse data com Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2013 01 19 Anne Peters Marcel Boussac Tbheritage com Retrieved 2013 01 19 a b Thoroughbred Bloodlines Maid Of Masham Family 9 e Bloodlines net Retrieved 2013 01 19 Leading Sires of France Tbheritage com Retrieved 2013 01 19 a b Anne Peters 1954 07 26 Tourbillon Tbheritage com Retrieved 2013 01 19 a b c d e Morris Tony Randall John 1999 A Century of Champions Portway Press ISBN 978 1 901570 15 1 a b Arc de Triomphe Winner Caracalla Chef de race com Retrieved 2013 01 19 Caracalla cops Paris Grand Prix Miami News 9 July 1945 Retrieved 2013 01 19 French horses sway in English racing Indian Express 4 November 1946 Retrieved 2013 01 19 Abelson Edward Tyrrel John 1993 The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records Breedon Books Publishing ISBN 978 1 873626 15 3 Royal Ascot at York Top 10 Gold Cup winning performances Racing Post 16 June 2005 Retrieved 2013 01 19 Caracalla pedigree Equineline 2012 05 08 Retrieved 2013 01 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caracalla horse amp oldid 1197203088, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
