Charlottesville (horse)

Charlottesville was a bay colt bred by Aga Khan III and foaled in 1957. He was sired by Prince Chevalier who won the Prix du Jockey Club in 1946 and was later Champion sire in France.[1] His dam, Noorani, was a daughter of the undefeated Grand Prix de Paris winner Nearco.[2] After Aga Khan III's death in 1957 he was owned by his son Prince Aly Khan (who also died in 1960) and grandson (and successor) Aga Khan IV.

In 1959 Charlottesville won the Prix de Saint-Patrick.[3] In 1960 he won the Prix Vivienne and then took the Prix Lupin, with Mincio finishing second and Atrax third.[4] Ridden by George Moore he won the Prix du Jockey Club by three lengths from Night and Day, who was just ahead of Bonjour.[5] On 26 June Charlottesville contested the 3000 metre Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in front of 100,000 people. He was entered for the Derby but was scratched.[6] Ridden again by Moore, he was in third place as the field turned into the finishing straight and in the straight he pulled away to win by five lengths.[7] Kires finished second and Eranchild third.[8] He then won the Prix du Prince d'Orange,[9] before finishing sixth behind winner Puissant Chef in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.[10]

Timeform rated Charlottesville at 135 in 1960, making him the top three-year-old the season, and equal with Floribunda as the highest-rated horse of any age.[11]

Charlottesville was retired in November 1960 and first stood at the Aga Khan's Ballymany Stud in County Kildare, Ireland for an 8,000 guinea fee.[12] He became a successful stallion and was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1966.[13] He sired Charlottown who won The Derby and Coronation Cup. He also sired Irish Oaks winner Gaia, Grosser Preis von Baden and Gran Premio di Milano winner Stratford and Derby Italiano winner Bonconte di Montefeltro.[3] Charlottesville died on 1 February 1972 at age 15 of heart failure.[14]

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut