Elegant Prince (15 March 1974 - 2000) was a Thoroughbred racehorse sold for a world-record $715,000 ($4 million inflation adjusted) in 1975. He never raced nor had success as a breeding stallion.

Elegant Prince
SireRaise a Native
GrandsireNative Dancer
DamGay Hostess
DamsireRoyal Charger
SexStallion
Foaled15 March 1974[1]
Died2000
CountryUnited States
ColourChestnut
BreederLeslie Combs II and Frank McMahon
OwnerFranklin Groves
RecordUnraced

Background

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Elegant Prince was a chestnut horse with a white blaze[2] bred in Kentucky by Leslie Combs II of Spendthrift Farm and Canadian oilman Frank McMahon. He was sired by Raise a Native, an American racehorse who was unbeaten in four races and was named American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt by Turf and Sports Digest in 1963. Elegant Prince's dam Gay Hostess was a highly-successful broodmare, having produced Majestic Prince and Crowned Prince (Dewhurst Stakes) from two previous coverings by Raise a Native. Her other descendants have included Real Quiet, Caracolero and The Derby winner Secreto.[3]

At the Keeneland Sales in July 1975 the yearling was sold for a then world-recond price of $715,000, with Franklin Groves winning the auction ahead of the Canadian Ted Burnett.[4][5] He broke the record set a year earlier by another Spendthrift graduate Kentucky Gold.[6] Both Majestic Prince and Crowned Prince had previously held the record.[7]

Racing career

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Elegant Prince was trained in the United States and was later transferred to Ireland. He did not race in either country.[7]

Stud record

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Elegant Prince was retired to stud in 1979 but had little success as a sire of winners. He died in 2000.[6]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Elegant Prince, chestnut stallion, 1974[1]
Sire
Raise a Native (USA)
1961
Native Dancer (USA)
1950
Polynesian Unbreakable
Black Polly
Geisha Discovery
Miyako
Raise You (USA)
1946
Case Ace Teddy
Sweetheart
Lady Glory American Flag
Beloved
Dam
Gay Hostess (USA)
1957
Royal Charger (GB)
1942
Nearco Pharos
Nogara
Sun Princess Solario
Mumtaz Begum
Your Hostess (USA)
1949
Alibhai Hyperion
Teresina
Boudoir II Mahmoud
Kampala (Family 4-d)[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Elegant Prince pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2015-01-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Manganese – Family 4-d".
  4. ^ "$715,000 paid for colt". Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. July 22, 1975. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "When Keeneland's July sale was king". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b Mary Marshall (2008). Great Breeders and Their Methods. Russell Meerdink. p. 35. ISBN 9780929346823. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  7. ^ a b Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third ed.). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
Records
Preceded by Most expensive Thoroughbred colt yearling
July 1975 – July 1976
Next:
Canadian Bound