Nearco

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Nearco
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Sire:	Pharos
Grandsire:	Phalaris
Dam:	Nogara
Damsire:	Havresac
Sex:	Stallion
Foaled:	1935
Country:	Italy
Colour:	Brown
Breeder:	Federico Tesio
Owner:	Federico Tesio
Trainer:	Federico Tesio
Record:	14: 14-0-0
Earnings:	$86,328
Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards
Major Racing Wins
Gran Criterium (1937) Derby Italiano (1938) Italian 2000 Guineas (1938) Gran Premio di Milano (1938) Gran Premio d'Italia (1938) Grand Prix de Paris (1938)
Racing Awards
Leading sire in GB & Ireland (1947, 1949)
Infobox last updated on: December 22, 2006.

Nearco (1935-1957) was an Italian thoroughbred race horse by Pharos out of Nogara. A brown horse, he was bred by Federico Tesio, who also bred Ribot. One of the most important sires of the 20th century, Nearco's legacy comes from three of his sons: Nasrullah, Nearctic and Royal Charger.

Thoroughbred Heritage says that Nearco was "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century". [1]

Nearco retired undefeated after fourteen races and was sold to the British bookmaker Martin Benson for £60,000. He was then sent to the Beech House stud farm in England where he became an outstandingly prepotent sire, eclipsed only by his grandson Northern Dancer. In addition to siring Nimbus II, the 1949 Epsom Derby and Thousand Guineas winner, among his descendants are Secretariat, Ballymoss, Arkle, Never Say Die, Mr. Prospector, Nasrullah, Nijinsky II (winner of the UK Triple Crown), Royal Palace, Fort Marcy and Sir Ivor.

Nearco died at Beech House stud farm on June 27, 1957.

According to France Galop, from 1994 through 2006 the male bloodline of every Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner goes back to Nearco, his son Nasrullah, and his grandson Northern Dancer.