Chef-de-Race: Reliance II b. h. 1962 (Tantieme-Relance III, by Relic)
(January 21, 2004)
by Steve Miller 

Introduction: The following is part of a continuing series of articles by Mr. Steve Miller on the selection of European-based chefs-de-race. Mr. Miller is a Thoroughbred owner and correspondent from the UK and an acknowledged pedigree authority.  Reliance II is assigned as the 201^st chef-de-race in the split Solid/Professional category.  

Dependable Influence for Stamina 

RELIANCE II (Fr) was by Solid chef-de-race Tantieme out of the Relic mare Relance III. He was put down suffering from a chronic sinus infection in August 1976. He was a full brother to Match III, Dalida II and Desirade and a half-brother to Relko (a Solid chef-de-race). 

Winner of five of his six career starts: The Prix des Marroniers, Prix Hocquart, Grand Prix de Paris (run at half a furlong short of two miles), Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) and Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). 

The incomparable Sea-Bird was the only racehorse to beat Reliance in the 1965 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Reliance came to the Arc the unbeaten winner of five races, but was no match for the Epsom Derby winner. Reliance was said to have trounced 18 of the world’s best horses in that race, while being trounced himself! Like Sea-Bird, Reliance did not resume his racing career at four. 

Timeform rated Reliance at 137 and said of him, regarding his second place to Sea-Bird in the Arc, “Runners up are usually soon forgotten, but Reliance… doesn’t deserve to be”. 

The Arc remains one of the few races of importance (especially at the distance) that progeny of Reliance’s dam Relance III have not won. These include the Epsom Derby, French Derby, Grand Prix de Paris, Washington DC International, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Coronation Cup, French 2000 Guineas, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and French St Leger.  

Reliance was not blessed with the most correct of forelegs, which deterred breeders, yet a number of his progeny stayed in training over a prolonged period and exhibited qualities of stamina and endurance. 

He sired some 24 stakes winners from 243 foals. 

The average winning distance of his winning progeny is 13.5 furlongs, which is exceptionally long for a horse with a significant winning sample. The distribution of this sample speaks for itself: 

5f, 0; 6f, 0; 7f, 4; 8f, 9; 9f, 0; 10f, 15; 11f, 5; 12f, 26; 13f, 10; 14&14f+, 73 

Just over half of his winning sample of 142 were at 14 furlongs or greater and almost 77% of his winners were at a mile-and-a-half or above. 

The influence he has exerted is surely prepotent and concentrated at the stamina end of the spectrum. 

His progeny include the likes of: Ady Endre (f), Bajan Sunshine (c), Pirogue (dam of Ascot Gold Cup winner Longboat), Pollenka (f), Proverb (c), winner of five races from 16 career starts including the Chester Vase, Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup (also runner up in the Ascot Gold Cup), Ready And Willing (dam of Persian Heights and Kufuma), Recupere (c), winner of 10 races including the Prix du Cadran, Snow Day (dam of Blue Stag), Doubly Sure (dam of Diesis, Keen and Kris – all by Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race Sharpen Up – and also dam of Presidium), El Mina (f), Surama (f), Tug Of War (c), winner of 10 of 28 career starts from 12 to 21 furlongs (including the Goodwood Cup), Glitter (f), Gold Reef (f), Guiding Star (dam of Moorestyle), River Craft (f), Loanda (f), Loch Nell (f) and Note (f).  

Although his record as a dam sire is not as unequivocal as his record as a sire, it nevertheless looks as if chef-de-race status for Reliance is long overdue. I would recommend that he be posthumously promoted from the Aptitudinal Guidelines list for non-chef-de-race sires (under dominant stamina) to a Solid/Professional chef-de-race designation. Although overdue, I believe it is nevertheless worth including him as he represents an important link in his line and consequently an important link in the Dosage system.

STEVE MILLER                                                           January 2004