Blushing Groom (8 April 1974 – 6 May 1992) was a French champion

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. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse and

sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" ...

Background

He was bred by American businessman John McNamee Sullivan and was raced by HH Aga Khan IV. A descendant of

Nearco Nearco (January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957) 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 ...

, Blushing Groom was sired by Red God and out of the mare Runaway Bride. He was trained by

François Mathet François Mathet ( at Vesoul – at Neuvy-le-Barrois) trained racehorses, specialising in flat racing. In France he is well-remembered for being one of the best equestrian trainers in the country's history. Early life Mathet was th ...

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 Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern race system introduce ...

events, capturing the Prix Robert Papin, Prix Morny, Prix de la Salamandre, and

Grand Critérium Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and commu ...

. 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 The Prix de Fontainebleau is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Long ...

and the GI Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Sent to England to compete in The 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 The Minstrel (11 March 1974 – 3 September 1990) was a Canadian-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred in Ontario, he was sold as a yearling and exported to Europe, where he was campaigned in Ireland and the United K ...

, 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

. He was sent to stand at stud at Gainesway Farm in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County. By population, it is the second-largest city in Kentucky and 57th-largest city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 28th-largest ...

, 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 distance

Blushing Groom has sired 92 stakes winners. Some of his notable progeny includes: * Arazi (horse), Arazi – won three GI races in France in 1991 plus the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, voted 1991 European Horse of the Year and United States Champion 2-Year-Old Colt * Baillamont – won Prix Jean Prat, Prix Ganay, Prix d'Ispahan *

Blush With Pride Blush With Pride (June 5, 1979 – August 16, 2005) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A winner of the Kentucky Oaks, Blush With Pride won graded stakes races on both dirt and turf during her racing career. She later went on to become an imp ...

– won the Kentucky Oaks * Blushing John – won Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Hollywood Gold Cup, 1989 U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse *

Candy Stripes Candy Stripes (April 12, 1982 – February 28, 2007) was an American thoroughbred race horse and sire. A descendant of the great Nearco through his sire, Blushing Groom, he was out of the mare Bubble Company, a granddaughter of the 20th Century's ...

– sire of 2005 American Champion Male Turf Horse,

Leroidesanimaux Leroidesanimaux (September 27, 2000 – May 27, 2016) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in Brazil and was an Eclipse Award winner in the United States. Background His name was four French-language words combined. ''Le roi des animaux'' ...

, and 2006 American Horse of the Year, Invasor * Crystal Glitters – won Prix d'Ispahan (1983 & 1984) * Digamist – won Phoenix Stakes *

Gold Splash Gold Splash (foaled 23 January 1990) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in France when she won the Prix Marcel Boussac on her third appearance ...

– won Coronation Stakes, Prix Marcel Boussac * Groom Dancer – won

Prix Lupin The Prix Lupin was a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it was scheduled to take place each yea ...

, sired Groom Tesse, Egerton * Nashwan – in 1989 won

2,000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year ...

, Eclipse Stakes,

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surre ...

, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, sire of Bago,

Swain Swain, Swains or Swain's may refer to: Places * Swain Islands, Antarctica * Swain's Island (Newfoundland and Labrador), Canada * Swains Island, an atoll in the Tokelau chain, American Samoa * Swain County, North Carolina, United States * Swai ...

Nassipour Nassipour (1980 – 7 May 1994) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Australia. He was bred in Kentucky by the Aga Khan. His sire, Blushing Groom, was the 1977 European Champion Three-Year-old and the 1989 Leading sire in ...

– won

Canadian International Stakes The Canadian International Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up on Turf. It is held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The current purse is Since its creat ...

, sired

Let's Elope Let's Elope (20 November 1987 – 11 September 2016) was a Champion Thoroughbred racehorse in Australia. Background Bred by Highview Stud in Hamilton, New Zealand, Let's Elope was a giant chestnut mare who in 1991 became the first ma ...

, Tie the Knot *

Rahy Rahy (February 18, 1985 – September 22, 2011) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in England and the United States. Background Bred by Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington, Rahy was a son of the very important sire Blushing Groom and out o ...

– sire of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee

Serena's Song Serena's Song (foaled April 4, 1992) is an American Thoroughbred race horse. She won 17 graded stakes races, including 11 Grade I (some against males and older mares), in three seasons for $3,286,388 in earnings. Background Serena's Song is a ...

, 2001 European Horse of the Year, Fantastic Light, Mariah's Storm,

Noverre Noverre (May 2, 1998 – 2012) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Background Noverre was a bay horse bred by Darley Stud and raced by a sister operation, Godolphin Racing. He was sired by Rahy, out of th ...

, Champion 3 yr old in England, and Dreaming of Anna, 2006 U.S. 2-Year-Old Champion Filly & Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner *

Rainbow Quest ''Rainbow Quest'' (1965–66) was a U.S. television series devoted to folk music and hosted by Pete Seeger. It was videotaped in black-and-white and featured musicians playing in traditional American music genres such as traditional folk music, ...

– won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,

Coronation Cup The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards (2 ...

, the

Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland The list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prize money won during the year in Great Britain and Ireland by racehorses that were foaled by a daught ...

in 2003 & 2004 * Runaway Groom –

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 to honour those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and Thoroughbred horse racing in Canada. It is located at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The ...

* Sky Beauty – 1993 United States' Filly Triple Crown winner voted 1994 Champion Older Female *

Snow Bride Snow Bride (1986 in Kentucky – 2009) was a British Thoroughbred race horse and broodmare. Background Snow Bride was a chestnut mare bred in the United States by Darley Stud Management Co. Ltd. She was sired by Blushing Groom. Racing car ...

– won Epsom Oaks Among others, Blushing Groom is the grandsire of

Tawrrific Tawrrific (1984–1999) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who is best remembered for winning the 1989 Melbourne Cup. Trained by Lee Freedman and ridden by Shane Dye, he won in the then record time of three minutes and 17.1 seconds. Early career Af ...

, Cherokee Run, Silic, Subordination, Congaree,

, Tie the Knot,

, Dreaming of Anna, Bago and 2006 World Champion, Invasor. He is also the damsire of Awesome Again,

Kahyasi Kahyasi (2 April 1985 – 2008) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the first five races of his seven-race career, including the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby as a three-year-old in 1988. Background Kahyasi ...

Lammtarra Lammtarra (2 February 1992 7 July 2014) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was undefeated in his career and won three Group One races in 1995, in which year he was voted the Cartier Three-Year-Old European Champi ...

, 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

Pedigree

References

;Notes {{Reflist ;Sources
Official website for Blushing Groom at AgaKhanStuds.com
1974 racehorse births 1992 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in France Racehorses trained in France British Champion Thoroughbred Sires British Champion Thoroughbred broodmare sires Thoroughbred family 22-d Chefs-de-Race