Greatest Racehorses: Vaguely Noble 6h225w

Pedigree Details

Sire: Vienna

Dam: Noble Lassie

Dam's Sire: Nearco

Breeder: Major Lionel Holliday

Foaled: May 1965

Race Record & Factfile

Races: 9

Wins: 6

Owners: Brook Holliday; Mrs Wilma Franklyn and Nelson Bunker Hunt

Trainers: Walter Wharton; Etienne Pollet

Profile

Bred by Major Lionel Holliday, Vaguely Noble was by the St Leger third Vienna out of the Lancashire Oaks winner Noble Lassie. "As an individual", said Racehorses of 1968, "Vaguely Noble looked a thoroughbred of the highest class, having commanding size and great strength without any of the coarseness that often accompanies such qualities. In full flight he was truly magnificent to watch. He gave the impression he could gallop forever, and no-one who saw him is likely to forget the manner in which he powered his way up the straight at Longchamp on his final appearance."

Vaguely Noble was the subject of one racing’s biggest and most successful gambles, though rather than in the betting ring, it was executed in the sale ring. Following the death of Major Holliday just months after Vaguely Noble was foaled, the colt raced for Holliday’s son Brook as a two-year-old before being sent to the December Sales in order to pay off death duties. As he was a late foal, Vaguely Noble had not been given any classic entries which restricted the opportunities for any buyer to recoup the price Vaguely Noble was bound to fetch as one of the best two-year-olds of his generation.

Not only did Vaguely Noble smash all existing auction records, he became the best horse in Europe at a mile and a half, winning his new owners the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before retiring to stud with a valuation of more than £2 million.  

Two-year-old season (1967)

Trained initially by Walter Wharton, Vaguely Noble did not make his debut until late-August and finished second on his first two starts at Newcastle and Doncaster’s St Leger meeting. But on his third outing, in the Sandwich Stakes at Ascot on soft ground, he thrashed a big field when winning by 12 lengths which earned him a place in the Observer Gold Cup at Doncaster (nowadays the Futurity Trophy). In similar conditions, despite being badly pocketed two furlongs out, Vaguely Noble followed up with a seven-length win over Doon.

The appearance of a top two-year-old at public auction ensured a packed ring at Tattersalls in December. The existing record price for a thoroughbred dated back to 1932 when the stallion Solario, winner of the St Leger and Gold Cup in his racing days, was sold for 47,000 guineas. Bidding on Vaguely Noble began at 80,000 guineas before he was knocked down to a Californian couple, Robert and Wilma Franklyn, for 136,000 guineas. Vaguely Noble was first sent to Ireland to be trained by Paddy Prendergast but just days after the sale, one of America’s biggest owners, Nelson Bunker Hunt, who had been the under-bidder, persuaded the Franklyns to sell him a half-share. As a result, Vaguely Noble was sent to and ed Sea-Bird’s trainer Etienne Pollet with the main objective of winning the Arc.

Major races won

• Observer Gold Cup, Doncaster

Three-year-old season (1968)

As Racehorses pointed out, whereas the 1968 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was worth almost £100,000 to the winner, the best race open to Vaguely Noble in Britain, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was worth less than £25,000. "The disparity in the amount of prize money available in English and French racing, and more particularly the enormous difference in the amount of prize money to be won by a top horse lacking classic engagements in the two countries, made it virtually inevitable, unfortunately, that Vaguely Noble would not be seen in England in 1968…And as Vaguely Noble could pick up about £7,000 a time for little more than an exercise gallop in smaller races – as he did in the Prix de Guiche and the Prix du Lys – why should he waste his time in England?"

Those two races were his first as a three-year-old, and after an easy win in the Guiche in April over just short of a mile and a quarter at Longchamp, Vaguely Noble stepped up to a mile and a half for the first time to win the Prix du Lys at Chantilly by eight lengths. But Vaguely Noble’s progress met with a setback on his next start when taking on older horses for the first time in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, a race that’s no longer open to three-year-olds. Timeform felt that Vaguely Noble had a valid excuse in being given far too much to do by his jockey Jean Deforge. Vaguely Noble ran on for third behind the four-year-olds Hopeful Venture and Minamoto. The Queen’s Hopeful Venture had previously won the Hardwicke Stakes, while the runner-up had been second in the previous season’s Prix du Jockey Club.

For Vaguely Noble’s last two races he was reunited with Bill Williamson who had partnered him to his two successes as a two-year-old. He faced no easy task in his prep race for the Arc which was the Prix de Chantilly at Longchamp over 11 furlongs. Also on trial for the Arc, to see if he’d stay the longer trip, was Zeddaan, an eight-length winner of the Prix d’Ispahan and successful earlier in the French 2000 Guineas. Zeddaan led on the home turn but Vaguely Noble soon took over and ran on strongly to win, ea, by four lengths from the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Felicio who was receiving 7 lb.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe pitched Vaguely Noble against another top-class three-year-old, the Vincent O’Brien-trained Sir Ivor, winner of the 2000 Guineas and Derby, though he had been beaten on his last three starts, including in just a week before the Arc. Vaguely Noble therefore started the 5/2 favourite in a high-class field of 17 with several still holding chances turning for home as described by Racehorses:

"…any one of them could have won from here, but little more than a furlong later (over two furlongs out) Vaguely Noble had galloped his way to the front, pursued by a Sir Ivor trying desperately to keep in close enough touch to get in a challenge before the post. By the distance Vaguely Noble led by three lengths from Sir Ivor, who was the same distance in front of Luthier and Roseliere, and the margin between the first two stayed the same to the finish. Sir Ivor quickened appreciably under pressure, but as he did so Vaguely Noble lengthened his tremendous stride in answer, giving the impression that the last furlong found him no weaker than the first. Whereas Sir Ivor felt the whip, Vaguely Noble only had to be pushed out vigorously with hands and heels – that was the difference between the two horses on the day; that and three lengths."

Whereas Sir Ivor went on to win the Champion Stakes and Washington International, Vaguely Noble was retired to stud after the Arc. Connections reportedly didn’t want to risk him around the sharp turns of Laurel Park in the International, though Timeform described his retirement as "an enormous waste of talent" and were of the opinion that Vaguely Noble could have won another Arc had he remained sound. At the time, he was rated the third-best Arc winner behind Sea-Bird and Ribot in Timeform’s experience. However, the commercial pressures on his owners were also acknowledged, and with Gainesway Farm in Kentucky taking a quarter share in him for $1.25m, Vaguely Noble had more to lose than to gain from any further races.

Major races won                                       

• Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp

Vaguely Noble at stud

Vaguely Noble enjoyed a very successful stud career of his own, though his influence in pedigrees has not proved to be a lasting one. Although based in Kentucky, like Sea-Bird and Ribot who also stood in the USA, some of Vaguely Noble’s offspring remained true to their heritage with major successes in Europe. Vaguely Noble’s part-owner Nelson Bunker Hunt, who had extensive racing interests in , won the 1976 Derby with his son Empery and also campaigned one of the best mares in Timeform’s experience, Dahlia (rated 135), whose victories included two wins in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Also successful in North America, including in the Washington D. C. International, Dahlia was named champion turf horse and set a new record for earnings by a mare. Another of Vaguely Noble’s foals Exceller was similarly successful at the top level for Hunt on both sides of the Atlantic, his wins in Europe including the Coronation Cup, while in the States he proved effective on dirt as well as turf.

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