Pharis
Encyclopedia
Pharis was a French
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century," according to Thoroughbred Heritage
. Named for the Sparta
n town of Pharis, he was owned and bred by leading French horseman, Marcel Boussac
.
who also sired "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century," Nearco
, from Carissima (three wins, second in French Oaks and dam of seven other winners) by Clarissimus.
trainer
Albert Swann, Pharis was sent to the track at age three. Ridden by English jockey Charlie Elliott, Pharis won all three races entered including the then most prestigious race in France, the Grand Prix de Paris
. His 1939 performances were such that a match race
was being organized against Blue Peter
, winner of England's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby
. However, on 3 September World War II
broke out and Pharis would never race again.
at his owner's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
in Neuvy-au-Houlme
in Orne
where he notably sired Ardan
in 1940 and whose 1944 performances would be the basis for Pharis earning that year's Leading sire in France
title. However, following the German occupation of France
the Nazis seized some of the best racehorses in the country including Pharis who was shipped to Germany
to be used for breeding at the German National Stud. Following the end of the War in 1945, Pharis was recovered by his owner and returned to stud duty at Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard.
Pharis was a very important and influential sire, producing at least 37 stakeswinners with 56 conditions race
wins. In addition to Ardan, who won the 1944 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
, some of the other offspring of Pharis includes Group One
winners Auriban, Palencia, Scratch, Philius, Talma (St Leger Stakes) and Corejada.
Sons, Ardan, Priam (10 wins and sire) and Cortil were exported to the US; Scratch went to Argentina; Brazil imported six sons, at least three stallions went to South Africa, Talma went to Peru, Damtar was in Australia, Gabador in New Zealand and other sons went to England, Columbia, Italy and Germany.
Pharis died on 27 February 1957.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century," according to Thoroughbred Heritage
National Sporting Library
The National Sporting Library & Museum The National Sporting Library and Museum, located in beautiful, historic Middleburg, Virginia, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the literature, art, and culture of horse and field sports...
. Named for the Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
n town of Pharis, he was owned and bred by leading French horseman, Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history....
.
Breeding
Pharis was sired by PharosPharos (horse)
Pharos was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Pedigree:Bred and raced by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, he was a brother to the stakeswinners, Fair Isle and Fairway who won 31 races and ₤71,635 between them...
who also sired "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century," Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
, from Carissima (three wins, second in French Oaks and dam of seven other winners) by Clarissimus.
Racing record
Conditioned by EnglishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
Albert Swann, Pharis was sent to the track at age three. Ridden by English jockey Charlie Elliott, Pharis won all three races entered including the then most prestigious race in France, the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
. His 1939 performances were such that a match race
Match race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
was being organized against Blue Peter
Blue Peter III
Blue Peter was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse whose career was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. He won the Epsom Derby and was later a Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland....
, winner of England's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
. However, on 3 September World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out and Pharis would never race again.
Stud record
Pharis stood at studHorse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at his owner's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard was a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Neuvy-au-Houlme in the Orne department in Lower Normandy purchased by Marcel Boussac in 1919. Widely respected, Marcel Boussac was called "the greatest of French breeders" by John P. Sparkman, an editor with Thoroughbred Times....
in Neuvy-au-Houlme
Neuvy-au-Houlme
Neuvy-Au-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.Neuvy-Au-Houlme is home to the historic Thoroughbred horse breeding farm, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard and the standardbred farm, Haras du Ribardon.-References:*...
in Orne
Orne
Orne is a department in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne.- History :Orne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Normandy and Perche.- Geography :Orne is in the region of...
where he notably sired Ardan
Ardan (horse)
Ardan was a French Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred and owned by Marcel Boussac, the very prominent French horseman and owner of fashion house, House of Dior. He was sired by Boussac's stallion Pharis, a horse that Thoroughbred Heritage says is "considered one of the greatest French-bred...
in 1940 and whose 1944 performances would be the basis for Pharis earning that year's Leading sire in France
Leading sire in France
The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of racehorses in France for each year since 1887. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the season .-----References:* -See also:*...
title. However, following the German occupation of France
German occupation of France in World War II
The Military Administration in France was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II. It remained in existence from May 1940 to December 1944. As a result of the defeat of France and its Allies in the Battle of France, the French cabinet sought a cessation...
the Nazis seized some of the best racehorses in the country including Pharis who was shipped to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to be used for breeding at the German National Stud. Following the end of the War in 1945, Pharis was recovered by his owner and returned to stud duty at Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard.
Pharis was a very important and influential sire, producing at least 37 stakeswinners with 56 conditions race
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
wins. In addition to Ardan, who won the 1944 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
, some of the other offspring of Pharis includes Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
winners Auriban, Palencia, Scratch, Philius, Talma (St Leger Stakes) and Corejada.
Sons, Ardan, Priam (10 wins and sire) and Cortil were exported to the US; Scratch went to Argentina; Brazil imported six sons, at least three stallions went to South Africa, Talma went to Peru, Damtar was in Australia, Gabador in New Zealand and other sons went to England, Columbia, Italy and Germany.
Pharis died on 27 February 1957.