Rousillon | |
---|---|
Sire | Riverman |
Grandsire | Never Bend |
Dam | Belle Dorine |
Damsire | Marshua's Dancer |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 10 April 1981 |
Country | United States |
Colour | Brown |
Breeder | William Stamps Farish III |
Owner | Khalid Abdulla |
Trainer | Guy Harwood |
Record | 13: 7-1-1 |
Major wins | |
2000 Guineas Trial Stakes (1984) Waterford Crystal Mile (1984) Queen Anne Stakes (1985) Sussex Stakes (1985) Prix du Moulin (1985) |
|
Awards | |
Timeform rating 124 (1983), 124§ (1984), 133 (1985) |
Rousillon (10 April 1981 – 26 October 2009) was an American bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A difficult, temperamental and unpredictable horse, he was a specialist over the one mile distance, winning seven of his thirteen race between August 1983 and November 1985. He won the 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes and the Waterford Crystal Mile as a three-year-old in 1984 before reaching his peak in the following season when he won the Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes and the Prix du Moulin. He was retired to stud after his four-year-old season and had some success as a sire of winners. He is the sire of champion thoroughbred Vintage Crop.
Rousillon was a dark bay or brown horse with no white markings bred in Kentucky by W. L. Jones and William Stamps Farish III. He was sired by Riverman an American-bred, French-trained who won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Prix Jean Prat in 1972. Riverman went on to become a highly successful stallion, whose offspring included Triptych, Irish River, Gold River and Bahri. Rousillon's dam Belle Dorine never won a race but was a half-sister to several winners..
As a yearling, Rousillon was sent to the Fasig-Tipton Summer sale where he was bought for $100,000 by representatives of the Saudi prince Khalid Abdulla. The colt was sent into training with Guy Harwood at Pulborough. At the time, Harwood was noted for his modern approach to training, introducing Britain to features such as artificial gallops and barn-style stabling.