Wilkes (horse)
Encyclopedia
Wilkes was an French
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who became a leading sire
in Australia
. He had two victories, over 1,500 metres in the Prix Sans Souci at Maisons-Laffitte and the 2,000 metres Prix Edgard de la Charm at Saint-Cloud, for 1,446,200 francs (equivalent of $A2,780) in stakes.
, his dam Sans Tares (GB) was by Sind from Tara (FR) by Teddy
. Wilkes was a half-brother to two Washington, D.C. International Stakes winners in Mahan and Worden II who was also a good sire. Sans Tares was a half-sister to Norseman, a stakes-winner and sire of stakes-winners. Like Northern Dancer, Wilkes was a great-great-grandson in the sire-line of Phalaris
.
Wilkes was a tall, long-barrelled chestnut with a prominent white blaze and one white sock that was said to resemble that of his sire Court Martial and his paternal grandsire Fair Trial
.
Wilkes did not start as a two-year-old, but had two wins, in the Prix Sans Souci and the Prix Edgard de la Charm (1,027,000 francs) at Saint-Cloud, for a total of 1,446,200 francs (equivalent of $A2,780) in stakes as a three-year-old from three race starts.
in Australia. Wilkes commenced stud duties here in 1956 and was an immediate sire success from first foal crop, which produced nine winners including the champion mare Wenona Girl
(won 22 principal races, 15 of which were later designated group one (G1) races.). He also sired three winners of the Golden Slipper Stakes, Vain (1969), John's Hope (1972) and Vivarchi (1976).http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/Australia/goldenslipper.html
His progeny included 45 stakeswinners for 121 stakeswins, including the following:
Wilkes was humanely destroyed at the age of 24 years on 20 May 1976 after developing a bladder infection. A 21st season of 18 specially selected mares had been nominated at a fee of $6,000 with a live foal guarantee.
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 became a leading sire
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He had two victories, over 1,500 metres in the Prix Sans Souci at Maisons-Laffitte and the 2,000 metres Prix Edgard de la Charm at Saint-Cloud, for 1,446,200 francs (equivalent of $A2,780) in stakes.
Breeding
He was by the successful English sire Court MartialCourt Martial (horse)
Court Martial was a Thoroughbred racehorse bred and raced by Lord Astor best known for defeating two exceptional colts in Dante and Royal Charger for the Classic 2,000 Guineas Stakes and as a two-time Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland.He was a chestnut horse sired by the leading sire Fair...
, his dam Sans Tares (GB) was by Sind from Tara (FR) by Teddy
Teddy (horse)
Teddy was a French racehorse and an influential sire, especially for lines in Italy, France, and the United States. He is considered one of the most influential sires in the 20th century.-Racing career:...
. Wilkes was a half-brother to two Washington, D.C. International Stakes winners in Mahan and Worden II who was also a good sire. Sans Tares was a half-sister to Norseman, a stakes-winner and sire of stakes-winners. Like Northern Dancer, Wilkes was a great-great-grandson in the sire-line of Phalaris
Phalaris (horse)
Phalaris was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse, later a Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland and a Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland...
.
Wilkes was a tall, long-barrelled chestnut with a prominent white blaze and one white sock that was said to resemble that of his sire Court Martial and his paternal grandsire Fair Trial
Fair Trial
Fair Trial was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire. He was bred and raced by John Arthur Dewar who also bred and raced Tudor Minstrel....
.
Wilkes did not start as a two-year-old, but had two wins, in the Prix Sans Souci and the Prix Edgard de la Charm (1,027,000 francs) at Saint-Cloud, for a total of 1,446,200 francs (equivalent of $A2,780) in stakes as a three-year-old from three race starts.
Stud record
John William Kelly purchased Wilkes for £5,000 sterling in 1956 and imported him to stand at his Newhaven Park Stud, Boorowa, New South WalesBoorowa, New South Wales
Boorowa is a farming town in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Boorowa had a population of 1,070 people. It is located in a valley 243 km west of Sydney and 487 m above sea-level...
in Australia. Wilkes commenced stud duties here in 1956 and was an immediate sire success from first foal crop, which produced nine winners including the champion mare Wenona Girl
Wenona Girl
Wenona Girl was a leading Australian Thoroughbred racemare that had 27 wins over distances ranging from 4½ furlongs to 1½ miles. She won 22 principal races, 15 of which were later designated group one races...
(won 22 principal races, 15 of which were later designated group one (G1) races.). He also sired three winners of the Golden Slipper Stakes, Vain (1969), John's Hope (1972) and Vivarchi (1976).http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/Australia/goldenslipper.html
His progeny included 45 stakeswinners for 121 stakeswins, including the following:
- Attentive (AJC Gimcrack Stakes, VATC Debutante Stakes)
- Anjudy (1972 AJC Champagne Stakes),
- Blue Roc (1966 Queensland Oaks),
- Bogan Road (1962 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes, AJC Champagne Stakes),
- Bye Bye (1969 AJC Doncaster Handicap),
- Emblem (1961 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes),
- Farnworth (1964 AJC Champagne Stakes)
- John's Hope (1972 STC Golden Slipper Stakes, VATC Blue Diamond Stakes),
- Mansingh, won 1974 New Zealand DerbyNew Zealand DerbyThe New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/NewZealand/NZDerby.html - Nebo Road (1967 VRC Newmarket Handicap in 1 min. 9.3 sec.),
- Pardon Me (1964 VATC Oakleigh Plate),
- Skyjack (1974 VRC George Adams Handicap, VRC Sires' Produce Stakes),
- The Tempest (1964 BATC Doomben Ten Thousand),
- VainVain (horse)Vain was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse that dominated Australian sprint racing in the period 1968–70, when he won 12 of the 14 races he contested and ran second in the other two...
, an exceptional sprinter in Australia, winning 12 of his 14 starts and the leading sire in Australia in 1984. - Vivarchi (foaled when Wilkes was 22 years old, and winner Golden Slipper Stakes and AJC Champagne Stakes in race-record time of 1 min. 35.2 sec. for 1,600 metres),
- Young Brolga (1961 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes in permanent race-record time of 1 min. 22.8 sec. for seven furlongs).
Wilkes was humanely destroyed at the age of 24 years on 20 May 1976 after developing a bladder infection. A 21st season of 18 specially selected mares had been nominated at a fee of $6,000 with a live foal guarantee.