Allez France (24 May 1970 – 11 December 1989) was an American-bred, French-trained
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
and
broodmare
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...
. Winner of the
French 1000 Guineas, the
French Oaks and the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...
, she was one of the greatest-ever fillies in European flat racing.
Background
Allez France was a bay mare
bred in Kentucky by Bieber-Jacobs Stable. She became his first important horse owned by the
French art dealer
An art dealer is a person or company that buys and sells works of art, or acts as the intermediary between the buyers and sellers of art.
An art dealer in contemporary art typically seeks out various artists to represent, and builds relationsh ...
Daniel Wildenstein
Daniel Leopold Wildenstein (11 September 1917 – 23 October 2001) was a French art dealer, historian and owner-breeder of thoroughbred and standardbred race horses. He was the third member of the family to preside over Wildenstein & Co., one of ...
and the spur for his substantial investment in racehorses and bloodstock. For his horses in France, Wildenstein operated Dayton Investments Limited. For those in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, he owned the Allez France Stables.
Racing career
During her racing career from age two to five, Allez France was the pre-eminent filly in France, rivaled only by
Dahlia
''Dahlia'' ( , ) is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico and Central America. Dahlias are members of the Asteraceae (synonym name: Compositae) family of dicotyledonous plants, its relatives include the sun ...
(in six meetings however, Allez France was never beaten by Dahlia). In 1974, under new trainer
Angel Penna, Sr., she went undefeated and won the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...
, France's most prestigious horse race. She was crowned French Horse of the Year. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl0Q-Kqa1Qk.
As a six-year-old, Allez France was sent to race in the United States but, as was the case in other races outside France, she did not do well. In 1976, she was retired as a broodmare to
Lane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm is a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army general. The land was later boug ...
in
Versailles, Kentucky.
Achievement and assessment
Her Timeform rating of 136 places Allez France joint first all time for European fillies.
Breeding record
Allez France was the dam of the successful sire Air De France (1984–2004), who sired 11 stakes winners with a total of 34 stakes wins.
ASB - Air De France
Retrieved on 2009-7-7
*1980 Ave France (USA) : Bay filly by Seattle Slew (USA) - unraced
*1984 Air de France (USA) : Brown colt, foaled 7 March, by Seattle Slew (USA) - won 1 race from two starts in France, successful sire in Australia
*1985 Action Francaise (USA) : Brown filly by Nureyev (USA) - won two races including the G3 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly from 4 starts in France and England 1988
After her death, Allez France was honored by being buried next to Man O' War and other greats at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...
.
Pedigree
See also
* List of racehorses
References
External links
Allez France's pedigree and partial racing stats
{{Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Winners
1970 racehorse births
1989 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in Kentucky
Racehorses trained in France
Arc winners
Thoroughbred family 1-x