Gray Phantom (1953) racing achievements

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Jorge
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Gray Phantom (1953) racing achievements

Postby Jorge » Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:10 pm

A friend of mine and I were analyzing Gray Phantom (gray H 1953 by Ambiorix -- Grey Flight) as a very good influence in the lower half of some pedigrees. We soon discovered that his extended racing record was very solid and versatile. Wow what a versatile great horse he was!
What stories do you know about him?

Thanks in advance for your participation.

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Jorge
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Postby Jorge » Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:12 pm

I also posted a topic on his breeding influence at:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/forum/view ... hp?t=30445

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Bast
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Re: Gray Phantom (1953) racing achievements

Postby Bast » Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:24 pm

Jorge wrote:A friend of mine and I were analyzing Gray Phantom (gray H 1953 by Ambiorix -- Grey Flight) as a very good influence in the lower half of some pedigrees. We soon discovered that his extended racing record was very solid and versatile. Wow what a versatile great horse he was!
What stories do you know about him?

Thanks in advance for your participation.


He sired some durable progeny!

There is another stallion of about the same vintage who shows up in the bottom of pedigree more often than you would expect based upon his total number of progeny--Rasper (1952).
May 2013: Plan ahead now for the Phalaris/Teddy Centennial!
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A horse gallops with his lungs
Perseveres with his heart
And wins with his character. --Tesio

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Postby Jorge » Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:29 am

I have been asking myself why a horse with such top-notch bloodlines and early achievements was kept running for so many years and starts in risk of losing him without having the opportunity to see his progeny. Who knows if he would have sired a super horse within his first three years at stud to achieve an application of the text that reads:

Psalm 127:3 Lo children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (4) As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. (5) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Looks out of context to you? Think of the great deal of sires who achieve their best progeny during their first 3 years at stud. The list is too numerous to cite, for horses like Secretariat, who are born at the end of their sires' production line are the exception, not the norm, regardless the fact that Secretariat is SECRETARIAT. Yet Gray Phantom was such a gem as a stallion that he even sired a good number of stakes winners during his twenties.