Pharos

Pharos, born 1920, died 1937

Pharos stood first in England, in 1926 but moved to France in 1929 and remained there until his death in 1937, at the age of 17. He was the leading sire in England in 1931, and the leading sire of France in 1939. His most important son was the Italian bred Nearco, one of the great racehorses of his century, and at stud, twice leading sire of England.
The Nearco son, Chief has been a useful sire in Germany. His son, Wiesenklee who finished third in the Germany Derby is the sire of Elan, the sire of Ex Libris (now standing in Australia) – Wiesenklee was also the sire of the licensed stallion, Troublemaker xx, who stood in Holland and in Oldenburg. Chief’s grandson, Feuerfunke xx is described by German breeding expert, Claus Schridde as ‘one of the younger generation of Thoroughbreds that have been able to establish themselves in contemporary warmblood breeding in Westphalia through diversely utilizable horses.’ Chief’s daughter Nagaika produced the beautiful Thoroughbred sire, Narew, who produced three approved sons, Nagano, Nurejew and Nariston. According to Claus Schridde: Narew xx has ‘proven to be a transmitter of dark offspring imprinted by their bloodstock, of modern type and demonstrating a wealth of jumping talent.’ Nagaika also produced Noble Roi xx (Private Stallion, Oldenburg) and Nouveau Roi xx (Warendorf State Stud).
Chief was the sire of Abajo xx, Schützenkonig xx and Furka xx (Hanover), Massud xx (Westphalia) and Karim xx (Bavaria).
The Thoroughbred, Cardinal (by Off Key by Nearco by Pharos) was an important private stallion in Germany especially through his son, Cavalier – for information, see the directory entry; Cardinal.
As a result of World War II, the line was spread even more strongly into Germany, when Hitler’s invading army confiscated Pharis, considered one of the greatest French-bred racehorses of the C20. Pharis stood at the German National Stud from 1940 to 1945.