Wild Risk

Wild Risk (1940–1967) was a French-bred thoroughbred racehorse who became a leading sire and Professional Chef-de-race.

Background

Wild Risk was a medium-to-small horse. His right front hoof tended towards being a club foot, and his shoulders were a bit upright and narrow. He had long cannon bones and a very good temperament.^[1][2]

His sire Rialto won the Prix d'Ispahan and ran second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before becoming an important stallion.^[3]

Wild Violet, Wild Risk's dam, was a winner, sired by Blandford out of the good winner Wood Violet.^[1]

Racing career

Wild Risk raced in German-occupied France during the Second World War.^[4]

He broke his maiden as a two-year-old at odds of 100/1 after four poor prior starts.^[1]

Wild Risk was a good stakes winner on the flat and also performed well over jumps,^[3] winning the Grand Course de Haies d'Auteuil twice in 1944 and 1945. Despite this, he wasn't considered to be of the highest caliber of racehorse, at least on the flat.^[4] He was thought to be one of the best French hurdlers during the war.^[2]

Stud career

Wild Risk was considered to be a poor sire prospect when he was retired.^[1][4] He was among the leading sires in France multiple times, leading the list for flat sires 1961 and 1964 and the list for jumpers in 1966.^[1][2][5] He was named a Professional Chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller Dosage System.^[6] He sired 123 mares who went on to produce 633 foals, of which 152 (24%) were winners. His broodmare sire AEI was 1.58 and CI was 1.48.^[7] He died in 1967.^[1]

Notable progeny

• Balto, winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and Grand Prix de Paris^[3]
• Waldmeister, winner of the Prix du Cadran, La Coupe, and Prix Gladiateur; leading sire in Brazil^[3]
• Worden, winner of the Prix du Conseil Municipal and Washington D. C. International Stakes; Chef-de-race^[3]
• Le Fabuleux, winner of the Prix du Jockey Club, Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and Prix Lupin; Chef-de-race^[2][3]
• Vimy, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix Noailles^[2][4]
• Fils D'Eve, winner of the Derby Italiano^[2]
• Almyre, winner of the Prix Omnium^[2]
• Wild Miss, winner of the Prix Vermeille^[1]

Notable progeny of daughters

• Blushing Groom, winner of the Prix Robert Papin, Prix Morny, Prix de la Salamandre, Grand Criterium, Poule d'Essai des Poulains, etc.; Chef-de-race^[8]

Sire line tree

• Wild Risk^{[9][10][11][12]}
  • Worden
    • Bel Baraka
      • Dirham
        • Le Sauteur
    • Marino
      • Carvin
    • Trevieres
    • Widsun
      • Willipus
    • Devon
      • Camarthen
        • Piomares^[13]
        • Katko^[13]
      • Le Bavard
        • Perris Valley
        • Glebe Lad
      • Quart de Vin
        • Ucello^[13]
        • Granit d'Estreval
      • Fondeur^[13]
    • Armistice
      • Kemal
        • Rhyme 'n' Reason
    • Bon Mot
    • Bazin
      • Trapezio^[14]
    • Karabas
      • Heracleon
  • Fort National
    • Un Espoir
  • Mon Capitaine
    • Captain Christy
    • Bentom Boy
  • Vimy
    • Khalkis
  • Fils D'Eve
  • Balto
  • Le Fabuleux^[15]
    • Beau Charmeur
      • Biko
    • Bourbon
    • Schleswig
      • Rasputin
        • Depositante
    • Effervescing
    • Meneval
    • The Bart
    • Ben Fab
    • Dauphin Fabuleux
      • French King
  • Waldmeister
    • Sunset
      • Ego Trip
    • Apollon
    • Carteziano

References

1. ^ "L'histoire de DNA Pedigree: Wild Risk, un sauteur chef de race". France sire. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
2. ^ McLean, Ken (2005). Designing speed in the racehorse. Neenah, Wis: Russell Meerdink Co. ISBN 978-0-929346-80-9. OCLC ocm62782167
3. ^ "Rabelais". www.tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
4. ^ Mitchell, Frank (2024-01-04). "Bloodlines: Arc Winner Ace Impact And The Crooked Foal". Paulick Report | Shining Light on the Horse Industry. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
5. ^ "Leading Sires of France". www.tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
6. ^ "Chefs-de-Race as of October 2019 (listed alphabetically)". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
7. ^ "Wild Risk Horse Card". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
8. ^ Peters, Anne (2015-04-03). "The International Influence of Blushing Groom". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
9. ^ "Sire Line: Galopin". Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
10. ^ Darley Arabian Sire Line: St Simon Branch
11. ^ Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line
12. ^ Brazil: A leading country for "outcross" in international breeding.
13. ^ Image: Katko
14. ^ Image: Trapezio
15. ^ American Classic Pedigree: Le Fabuleux