Empery

Empery
Sire	Vaguely Noble
Grandsire	Vienna
Dam	Pamplona
Damsire	Postin
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1973
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Nelson Bunker Hunt
Owner	Nelson Bunker Hunt
Trainer	Maurice Zilber
Record	8: 2-2-1
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1976)
Awards
Timeform rating 128

Empery (foaled 1973 in Kentucky) was an American-bred, French-trained racehorse best known for winning the 1976 Epsom Derby. In a racing career which lasted from September 1975 until July 1976 he ran eight times and won two races. Empery showed some good form in France to be placed third in the Prix Lupin but appeared to be some way below the best colts in his own country. He comfortably defeated the best of the British colts in the Derby to give his jockey Lester Piggott a seventh win in the race. Empery finished second in his only subsequent start and was retired to a stud career of limited success.

Empery was a bay horse bred in Kentucky by his owner the Texas oil company executive Nelson Bunker Hunt. Empery's sire was Vaguely Noble, the winner of the 1968 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe who also sired Hunt's great racing mare, Dahlia. His grandsire Vienna was owned and raced by Sir Winston Churchill. Empery's dam Peruvian Triple Crown racemare Pamplona II, who had previously produced the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Pampered Miss. Hunt sent the colt to be trained in France by Maurice Zilber.

Empery made his racecourse debut in September 1975 when he won a maiden race over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. He was then moved up in class for the Grand Criterium but finished unplaced behind Manado. On his final start of the year he finished second to Arctic Tern in the Group Three Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint Cloud.

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