Pharis

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Pharis


caption =
sire = Pharos
grandsire = Phalaris
dam = Carissima
damsire = Clarissimus
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1936
country = France flagicon|France
colour = Black
breeder = Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
owner = Marcel Boussac
trainer = Albert Swann
record = 3: 3-0-0
earnings = $5,668,245
race = Prix Noailles (1939)
Prix du Jockey Club (1939)
Grand Prix de Paris (1939)
awards= Leading sire in France (1944)
honours =
updated= February 2, 2007

Pharis (1936-1957) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse whom Thoroughbred Heritage states is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century." Named for the Spartan town of Pharis, he was owned and bred by leading French horseman, Marcel Boussac. Out of the mare Carissima, Pharis was sired by Pharos who also sired "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century," Nearco. [http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Pharos.html]

Conditioned by English trainer Albert Swann, Pharis was sent to the track at age three. Ridden by English jockey Charlie Elliott, Pharis won all three races entered including the then most prestigious race in France, the Grand Prix de Paris. His 1939 performances were such that a match race was being organized against Blue Peter, winner of England's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby. However, on September 3 World War II broke out and Pharis would never race again.

Pharis stood at stud at his owner's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard in Neuvy-au-Houlme in Orne where he notably sired Ardan in 1940 and whose 1944 performances would be the basis for Pharis earning that year's Leading sire in France title. However, following the German occupation of France the Nazis seized some of the best racehorses in the country including Pharis who was shipped to Germany to be used for breeding at the German National Stud. Following the end of the War in 1945, Pharis was recovered by his owner and returned to stud duty at Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard.

Pharis was a very important and influential sire, producing numerous conditions race winners. In addition to Ardan, who won the 1944 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, some of the other offspring of Pharis includes Group One winners Auriban, Palencia, Scratch, Philius and Corejada.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/pharis Pharis' pedigree and racing stats]
* [http://www.pedigreepost.com/archives/BoussacAnnePeters.html Pharis at Pedigreepost.com]
* [http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Pharos.html Thoroughbred Heritage profile of Pharis]