Country France Breeder John McNamee Sullivan Species Equus caballus Owner Aga Khan IV Earnings 407,153 USD | Foaled April 8, 1974 Colour Chestnut Record 10: 7-1-2 Parents Red God Damsire Wild Risk | |
 | ||
Blushing Groom (April 8, 1974 – May 6, 1992) was a French Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.
Contents
Background
He was bred by American businessman John McNamee Sullivan and was raced by HH Aga Khan IV. A descendant of Nearco, Blushing Groom was sired by Red God and out of the mare Runaway Bride. He was trained by Francois Mathet in France.
Racing record
Blushing Groom raced six times in 1976 at age two. He finished third in his debut, then won the next five races, including four Group One events, capturing the Prix Robert Papin, Prix Morny, Prix de la Salamandre, and Grand Critérium. His performances earned him French Champion Two-Year-Old honors.
As a three-year-old, Blushing Groom extended his win streak to seven, winning the 1977 Prix de Fontainebleau and the GI Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Sent to England to compete in the Epsom Derby, he faced a 1½ mile challenge, a distance fifty percent longer than he had ever run before. He finished third to winner The Minstrel, a son of Northern Dancer. In his final race, Blushing Groom finished second in France's GI Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Stud record
Although Blushing Groom met with considerable success in racing, he became an even greater as a sire. He was sent to stand at stud at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he sired winners at major tracks in Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong. Like his sire Red God, Blushing Groom had been a champion miler but many of his offspring are renowned for their stamina and have been able to win consistently at longer distances.[1]
Blushing Groom has sired 92 stakes winners. Some of his notable progeny includes:
Among others, Blushing Groom is the grandsire of Tawrrific, Let's Elope, Cherokee Run, Silic, Subordination, Congaree, Leroidesanimaux, Tie the Knot, Swain, Dreaming of Anna, Bago, Wekiva Springs, multiple European Champion March Groom and 2006 World Champion, Invasor. He is also the damsire of Awesome Again, Kahyasi, Lammtarra, Mayano Top Gun, 2000 Japanese Horse of the Year T M Opera O, and Goldikova.
Blushing Groom died in 1992 and is buried at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
