Ambiorix (horse)

Ambiorix
Ambiorix II (1946)
Sire	Tourbillon
Grandsire	Ksar
Dam	Lavendula
Damsire	Pharos
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1946
Country	France
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Owner	Marcel Boussac
Trainer	Charles Semblat
Record	7: 4-2-0
Earnings	₣4,638,600 + £832
Major wins
Selsey Stakes (1948) Grand Criterium (1948)
Awards
French Champion Two-Year-Old-Colt (1948) Leading sire in North America (1961) Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland (1963)
Last updated on 21 February 2010

Ambiorix (1946–1975) (also known as Ambiorix II to distinguish him from another Ambiorix [1940], also by Tourbillon) was a French Champion Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred racehorse who became a leading sire.

Bred by Marcel Boussac at his Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard in Orne, he was sired by Tourbillon whom Ambiorix II would help make the Leading sire in France in 1948. Tourbillon was a son of Ksar, a two-time winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Leading sire in France in 1931. The dam of Ambiorix II was Lavendula, a daughter of Pharos, the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1931 and Leading sire in France in 1939. Ambiorix was a half-brother to Source Sucree (dam of Turn-To), Perfume II (dam of My Babu and Sayani), Singadula and Wild Lavender II.

Trained by Charles Semblat and ridden by Roger Poincelet, Ambiorix proved to be a better runner at races around 8-10 furlongs in distance rather than the European Classic distance of 12 furlongs or more.

In 1948 Ambiorix made three starts. He finished off the board in his racing debut in the French Prix de Chatou and then easily won the Selsey Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in England. He followed this with a win in the most important race for two-year-olds in France, the Grand Criterium. His performances earned him the 1948 French Champion Two-Year-Old-Colt honors. Racing at age three in 1949, Ambiorix made four starts. Jockey Poincelet guided the colt to wins in the Prix Lupin at Longchamp Racecourse and the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, both of which were run at around ten furlongs. Ambiorix then earned seconds to Good Luck in the 1949 Prix du Jockey Club and to Val Drake in the Prix Hocquart.