Charlottesville (horse)

Charlottesville
Sire	Prince Chevalier
Grandsire	Prince Rose
Dam	Noorani
Damsire	Nearco
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1957
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Aga Khan III Prince Aly Khan
Owner	Prince Aly Khan Aga Khan IV
Trainer	Alec Head
Record	9 starts 6 wins
Major wins
Prix Lupin (1960) Prix du Jockey Club (1960) Grand Prix de Paris (1960) Prix du Prince d'Orange (1960)
Awards
Timeform rating: 135 Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland (1966)

Charlottesville (1957 – 1 February 1972) was a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In 1960 he won the Prix Lupin, Prix du Jockey Club and Grand Prix de Paris. After retiring from racing he became Champion sire in Great Britain in 1966, the year his son Charlottown won the Epsom Derby. Charlottesville was owned by Aga Khan IV and trained by Alec Head.

Background

Charlottesville was a bay colt bred by Aga Khan III and foaled in 1957. He was sired by Prince Chevalier who won the Prix du Jockey Club in 1946 and was later Champion sire in France.^[1] His dam, Noorani, was a daughter of the undefeated Grand Prix de Paris winner Nearco.^[2] After Aga Khan III's death in 1957 he was owned by his son Prince Aly Khan (who also died in 1960) and grandson (and successor) Aga Khan IV.

Racing career

In 1959 Charlottesville won the Prix de Saint-Patrick.^[3] In 1960 he won the Prix Vivienne and then took the Prix Lupin, with Mincio finishing second and Atrax third.^[4] Ridden by George Moore he won the Prix du Jockey Club by three lengths from Night and Day, who was just ahead of Bonjour.^[5] On 26 June Charlottesville contested the 3000 metre Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in front of 100,000 people. He was entered for the Derby but was scratched.^[6] Ridden again by Moore, he was in third place as the field turned into the finishing straight and in the straight he pulled away to win by five lengths.^[7] Kires finished second and Eranchild third.^[8] He then won the Prix du Prince d'Orange,^[9] before finishing sixth behind winner Puissant Chef in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.^[10]

Assessment

Timeform rated Charlottesville at 135 in 1960, making him the top three-year-old the season, and equal with Floribunda as the highest-rated horse of any age.^[11]

Stud career

Charlottesville was retired in November 1960 and first stood at the Aga Khan's Ballymany Stud in County Kildare, Ireland for an 8,000 guinea fee.^[12] He became a successful stallion and was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1966.^[13] He sired Charlottown who won the Epsom Derby and Coronation Cup. He also sired Irish Oaks winner Gaia, Grosser Preis von Baden and Gran Premio di Milano winner Stratford and Derby Italiano winner Bonconte di Montefeltro.^[3] Charlottesville died on 1 February 1972 at age 15 of heart failure.^[14]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Charlottesville, bay stallion, 1957^[2]

Sire Prince Chevalier (FR) b. 1943	Prince Rose (GB) b. 1928	Rose Prince b. 1919	Prince Palatine
			Eglantine
		Indolence b. 1920	Gay Crusader
			Barrier
	Chevalerie (FR) b. 1933	Abbot's Speed br. 1923	Abbots Trace
			Mary Gaunt
		Kassala b. 1926	Cylgad
			Farizade
Dam Noorani ch. 1950	Nearco (ITY) br. 1935	Pharos b. 1920	Phalaris
			Scapa Flow
		Nogara b. 1928	Havresac II
			Catnip
	Empire Glory b. 1933	Singapore ch. 1922	Gainsborough
			Tetrabbazia
		Skyglory ch. 1922	Sky-Rocket
			Simone

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut

References

1. "Leading Sires of France". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
2. "Charlottesville (GB) pedigree". equineline.com. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
3. "Charlottesville". Aga Khan Studs. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
4. "PRIX LUPIN". Galop.courses-france.com. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
5. "PRIX DU JOCKEY-CLUB". Galop.courses-france.com. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
6. "Aga Khan's colt wins French Derby". The Times. Issue 54796; col F. 13 Jun 1960. p. 14.
7. "Charlottesville Wins at Paris". The Spokesman-Review. 27 July 1960.
8. "Late Khan's Horse Wins at Longchamp". Milwaukee Sentinel. 27 July 1960.
9. "All the races". France-galop.com. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
10. Robert Daley (10 October 1960). "AGA KHAN'S ENTRY FINISHES FAR BACK". New York Times. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
11. "Timeform All-time Highweights". Chef-de-race.com. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
12. "Charlottesville for Irish Stud". The Irish Times. 29 November 1960.
13. "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
14. The General Stud-book v. 37, part 2. London: Weatherbys. 1974. p. 1633.