Targowice

Targowice
Sire	Round Table
Grandsire	Princequillo
Dam	Matriarch
Damsire	Bold Ruler
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	10 April 1970
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Kerr Stables
Owner	Germaine Wertheimer
Trainer	Alec Head
Record	8: 5-0-0
Earnings	£26,262
Major wins
Prix Eclipse(1972) Prix Thomas Bryon(1972) Prix Djebel(1973)
Awards
Top-rated French 2-y-o colt (1972) Timeform top-rated 2-y-o colt (1972) Timeform rating 130 (1972), 115 (1973)

Targowice(10 April 1970 – 2 April 1992) was an American-bred and French-trainedThoroughbredracehorse andsire.As a two-year-old, he was undefeated in three races including thePrix EclipseandPrix Thomas Bryon,and was rated the best colt of his age in Europe. In 1973 Targowice won thePrix Djebelon his seasonal debut but won only minor race from four subsequent starts. As a breeding stallion he was best known as the sire ofAll Alongwho won thePrix de l'Arc de Triompheand was namedAmerican Horse of the Yearin 1983.

Background

Targowice was a "most attractive"bay horse with a whitesockon his left foreleg bred in Kentucky by Kerr Stable. He was sold for $49,000 as a foaland acquired by theWertheimerfamily. He raced in the colours of Germaine, the widow ofPierre Wertheimer.The colt was sent to Europe and entered training withAlec Headin France and was ridden in most of his races by his trainer's sonFreddy.

He was sired byRound Tablea three-timeAmerican Turf Championwho was namedHorse of the Yearin 1958. He became a successful and influential breeding stallion who was namedLeading sire in North Americain 1972.He also had an impact in Europe, where his successful progeny includedBaldric,ApalacheeandArtaius.Targowice's dam Matriarch won three races and also produced Dona Ysidra, the dam ofManila.

Racing career

1972: two-year-old season

Targowice began his racing career by winning the Prix Fontenoy over 1600 metres. The colt was then dropped in distance for thePrix Eclipseover 1300 metres atSaint-Cloud Racecoursein October and won by fivelengthsfrom the filly Marschala. On 4 November he contested the Prix Thomas Bryon over 1500 metres at the same track and started the1.7/1favourite despite conceding weight to all eleven of his opponents. His most serious opponent appeared to beKalamoun,whilst the other runners included Abu Simnel (runner-up in thePrix Saint-Roman) and the British-trained Pitskelly. After struggling to obtain a clear run, Targowice finished strongly to catch Kalamoun in the closing stages and won by a neck with Pitskelly a length and a half away in third place.

1973: three-year-old season

On his first appearance of 1973 Targowice started 2/5 favourite for the Prix Djebel over 1400 metres atMaisons-Laffitte Racecourseon 30 March and won easily by one and a half lengths from Filitosa with four lengths back to El Rastro in third. He was then to England for the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile atNewmarket Racecourseon 5 May. He started second favourite in an eighteen-runner field but became agitated in the preliminaries and was reluctant to enter thestarting stalls.He never looked likely to win, began to struggle three furlongs out and finished tenth behind the 50/1 outsiderMon Fils.He was dropped in class for the Listed Prix de Pontarme atChantilly Racecoursein June and won by a length. Later that month he was matched against older horses in thePrix d'Ispahanover 1850 metres atLongchamp Racecourse.He started favourite but was badly hampered in the straight and finished seventh behind the four-year-old filly La Troublerie although he was promoted to the sixth after the disqualification of Bog Road. On 25 August he was dropped back in distance for thePrix Quinceyover 1600 metres atDeauville Racecourseand finished fourth behindAfrican Dancer.

Assessment

In 1972 the independentTimeformorganisation made Targowice the top-rated two-year-old colt in Europe. Although they named the British coltThe Go-Betweentheir best two-year-old colt on 129, they rated Targowice a pound higher on 130, level with theCritérium de Saint-CloudwinnerSimbirand three pounds behind the fillyJacinth.In the official French Free Handicap he was rated the best two-year-old of 1972, one pound ahead of Simbir and theGrand CritériumwinnerSatingo.In the following year he was rated 115 by Timeform, twenty-one pounds behind their top-rated three-year-old coltThatch.

Stud record

Targowice was retired from racing and began his stud career at a fee of £2000 at the Simmonstown Stud in Ireland.He later stood as a breeding stallion in France before being exported to Japan in 1980. After being exported his offspring began to make an impact in Europe: Prince Mab won thePrix de Cabourgin 1980, Ukraine Girl won thePoule d'Essai des Poulichesin 1981, and Tipperary Fixer won thePrix Kergorlayin 1981. By far the best of his offspring however was the outstanding racemareAll Alongwhose wins included thePrix Vermeille,Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,Turf Classic,Rothmans InternationalandWashington, D.C. International.In Japan he sired 255 winners includingLet's Go Tarquinwho won the autumn edition of theTenno Shoas a five-year-old. Targowice covered his last mares in 1992.He died on 2 April 1992.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Targowice (USA), bay stallion, 1970

Sire Round Table(USA) 1954	Princequillo(IRE) 1940	Prince Rose	Rose Prince
			Indolence
		Cosquilla	Papyrus
			Quick Thought
	Knight's Daughter (GB) 1941	Sir Cosmo	The Boss
			Hayn Ali
		Feola	Friar Marcus
			Aloe
Dam Matriarch (USA) 1964	Bold Ruler(USA) 1954	Nasrullah	Nearco
			Mumtaz Begum
		Miss Disco	Discovery
			Outdone
	Lyceum (USA) 1948	Bull Lea	Bull Dog
			Rose Leaves
		Colosseum	Ariel
			Arena (Family: 16-g)