Targowice (10 April 1970 – 2 April 1992) was an American-bred and French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old, he was undefeated in three races including the Prix Eclipse and Prix Thomas Bryon, and was rated the best colt of his age in Europe. In 1973 Targowice won the Prix Djebel on his seasonal debut but won only minor race from four subsequent starts. As a breeding stallion he was best known as the sire of All Along who won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and was named American Horse of the Year in 1983.

Background

Targowice was a "most attractive"^[2] bay horse with a white sock on his left foreleg bred in Kentucky by Kerr Stable. He was sold for $49,000 as a foal^[2] and acquired by the Wertheimer family. He raced in the colours of Germaine, the widow of Pierre Wertheimer. The colt was sent to Europe and entered training with Alec Head in France and was ridden in most of his races by his trainer's son Freddy.^[3]

He was sired by Round Table a three-time American Turf Champion who was named Horse of the Year in 1958. He became a successful and influential breeding stallion who was named Leading sire in North America in 1972.^[4] He also had an impact in Europe, where his successful progeny included Baldric, Apalachee and Artaius. Targowice's dam Matriarch won three races and also produced Dona Ysidra, the dam of Manila.^[5]

Racing career

Assessment

In 1972 the independent Timeform organisation made Targowice the top-rated two-year-old colt in Europe. Although they named the British colt The Go-Between their best two-year-old colt on 129, they rated Targowice a pound higher on 130, level with the Critérium de Saint-Cloud winner Simbir and three pounds behind the filly Jacinth. In the official French Free Handicap he was rated the best two-year-old of 1972, one pound ahead of Simbir and the Grand Critérium winner Satingo.^[3] In the following year he was rated 115 by Timeform, twenty-one pounds behind their top-rated three-year-old colt Thatch.^[2][7]

Stud record

Targowice was retired from racing and began his stud career at a fee of £2000 at the Simmonstown Stud in Ireland.^[2] He later stood as a breeding stallion in France before being exported to Japan in 1980. After being exported his offspring began to make an impact in Europe: Prince Mab won the Prix de Cabourg in 1980, Ukraine Girl won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in 1981, and Tipperary Fixer won the Prix Kergorlay in 1981. By far the best of his offspring however was the outstanding racemare All Along whose wins included the Prix Vermeille, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Turf Classic, Rothmans International and Washington, D.C. International.^[8] In Japan he sired 255 winners including Let's Go Tarquin who won the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho as a five-year-old. Targowice covered his last mares in 1992.^[9] He died on 2 April 1992.^[10]

Pedigree

References