458:) and named him the season's best middle-distance horse. In the official International Classification he was rated the best horse trained in France and equal-second among all European racehorses, level with Ela-Mana-Mou and one pound below Moorestyle. In the following year he was given a rating of 129 by Timeform and was rated six pounds behind the top-rated older horse
386:. Zilber expressed his confidence before the race, describing the colt as "a champion ... he has everything". Starting the 2.4/1 favourite, Argument raced in mid-division before moving forward approaching the final turn. He accelerated into the lead a furlong from the finish and won by almost two lengths from the American mare
405:
took over as
Argument's jockey in 1981 and rode him to success in his first two races. On his seasonal debut at Longhcamp in April he produced a strong finish to win the 2000m Prix d'Harcourt by a head from Katowice, with Detroit in fourth. Argument started favourite for the Group One Prix Ganay at
362:, the independent Timeform organisation described him as an unlucky loser who would have won had he not been given so much ground to make up. After his run in the Arc, Argument was bought privately (for a sum reported to be "in excess of $ 1 million"), by the partnership of
406:
the same course on 3 May, and produced an impressive performance, sprinting clear of the field and winning by three lengths from
Armistice Day and In Fijar. Argument never won again. He failed in two races at Saint-Cloud, being disqualified after finishing third in the
658:
453:
In the official French rating for two-year-olds in 1979, Argument was rated ten pounds inferior to the top-rated Dragon, a colt he had beaten in the Prix la
Rochette. In the following year, Timeform rated Argument on 133 (four pounds below the sprinter
470:
Argument was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion in the United States, before later returning to France. He was not a success, siring few winners, none of them in the highest class. His last reported foals were born in 1997.
354:. Under a vigorous ride from Desaint, Argument made rapid progress in the last 400 metres, overtaking horse after horse before catching Ela-Mana-Mou in the final strides to finish second, half a length behind the filly
429:. Argument's final European race came in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on 4 October when he started at odds on 34/1 and made steady progress in the straight to finish sixth in a field of twenty-four runners behind
203:. In his early racing career he showed consistent form and was placed in several important races, but showed marked improvement in the autumn of 1980. He was considered an unlucky loser when narrowly beaten in the
243:. He was one of at least five winners produced by the mare Arantelle. The colt raced in the colours of his breeders' wife and was sent into training with John Cunnington Jr. at Chantilly.
882:
822:
795:
768:
877:
30:
343:
in which he finished fifth behind Nebos: Desaint was fined by the local racecourse stewards for his riding performance in a rough and slowly run race.
683:
271:
on 2 September. Ridden by Jean-Claude
Desaint, he started the 9/4 second favourite and finished second, beaten a neck by Un Reitre, with the future
276:
311:
over 2100m at
Longchamp on 18 May. He started a 21/1 outsider and finished second, beaten half a length by Belgio, with In Fijar in third. In the
350:
over 2400m at
Longchamp. Desaint employed exaggerated waiting tactics and Argument turned into the straight fifteen lengths behind the leader
307:
and
Ruscelli, but was promoted to third when Ruscelli was disqualified for causing interference. Argument was moved up in distance for the
595:
411:
319:
on 8 June, Argument produced his worst effort of the season as he finished last of the fourteen runners behind the 54/1 outsider
965:
208:
153:
231:
on his right hind foot bred in France by Pierre Ribes. Argument was by far the best horse sired by
Kautokeino, who won the
219:
but his form deteriorated thereafter and he was beaten in his remaining six races. He made no impact as a sire of winners.
904:
960:
970:
861:
752:
720:
211:. At the end of the year he was officially the best racehorse trained in France. In the following spring he won the
955:
375:
434:
300:
346:
On 5 October, Argument started a 74/1 outsider in a field of twenty for France's most prestigious race, the
347:
204:
687:
433:. For his final two races, Argument competed in North America, finishing fourth behind Open Call in the
332:
331:
and won the race by two lengths from
Dhausli and Strong Gale. He returned to France in August for the
415:
324:
773:
340:
228:
421:
On 30 August, Argument was sent to
Chicago to represent France in the inaugural running of the
407:
379:
296:
148:
928:
316:
268:
8:
312:
442:
430:
426:
212:
158:
391:
284:
272:
857:
748:
716:
422:
320:
236:
335:
over 2000m in which he was beaten a head by Glenorum, to whom he was conceding nine
800:
555:
540:
264:
235:
on his debut before his racing career was ended by injury when finishing third to
535:
355:
374:. His new owners accepted an invitation for the colt to represent France in the
615:
383:
371:
128:
232:
949:
402:
299:
in April. He was then moved up to Group One class for the first time for the
260:
on his racecourse debut, Argument was moved up in class and distance for the
240:
438:
387:
363:
351:
336:
280:
200:
196:
193:
116:
367:
283:
away in third place. Two weeks later he started second favourite for the
261:
112:
92:
295:
Argument began his second season by winning the Prix Mary over 1600m at
455:
425:, then the world's most valuable horse race, and finished sixth behind
308:
304:
287:
over the same course and distance but finished fourth behind In Fijar.
216:
163:
505:
459:
178:
66:
500:
390:. A protest lodged against the winner by The Very One's rider,
328:
303:. Starting at odds of 13/1 he finished fourth behind In Fijar,
257:
492:
40:
410:
and then sweating up badly before running unplaced behind
207:
and then traveled to the United States where he won the
382:
on 8 November when he was ridden for the first time by
878:"Thoroughbreds racing for $ 1,000,000 in prize money"
323:. On 21 July Argument was sent to Belgium for the
227:Argument was a dark-coated bay horse with a white
192:(7 February 1977 – after 1996) was a French
947:
653:
651:
851:
847:
845:
843:
742:
738:
736:
734:
732:
710:
706:
704:
480:Pedigree of Argument (FR), bay stallion, 1977
290:
648:
397:
251:
840:
729:
701:
394:, was rejected by the racecourse stewards.
796:"Argument favored in D. D. International"
948:
823:"Argument best horse in International"
339:. He then traveled to Germany for the
183:Timeform rating 133 (1980), 129 (1981)
462:in the International Classification.
370:and was transferred to the stable of
209:Washington, D.C. International Stakes
154:Washington, D.C. International Stakes
13:
16:French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse
14:
982:
181:best middle-distance horse (1980)
176:Top-rated French racehorse (1980)
246:
921:
897:
256:After winning a race over 1200
870:
815:
788:
761:
676:
465:
376:Washington, D.C. International
1:
641:
448:
435:Canadian International Stakes
222:
966:Racehorses trained in France
829:. Newburgh. 10 November 1980
7:
474:
291:1980: three-year-old season
10:
987:
398:1981: four-year-old season
301:Poule d'Essai des Poulains
961:Racehorses bred in France
931:. Racing Post. 2012-02-15
626:
611:
606:
591:
578:
573:
566:
551:
534:
529:
516:
499:
491:
484:
416:Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
348:Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
252:1979: two-year-old season
205:Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
175:
170:
147:
142:
134:
122:
106:
98:
88:
80:
72:
62:
54:
46:
36:
26:
21:
971:Thoroughbred family 12-b
774:Washington Afro-American
769:"Berry Gordy's argument"
333:Prix de la CĂ´te Normande
852:Timeform staff (1982).
743:Timeform staff (1981).
711:Timeform staff (1980).
341:Grosser Preis von Baden
929:"Argument Stud Record"
408:Prix Jean de Chaudenay
380:Laurel Park Racecourse
325:Grand Prix Prince Rose
297:Saint-Cloud Racecourse
149:Grand Prix Prince Rose
956:1977 racehorse births
905:"Argument Statistics"
883:Bonham Daily Favorite
684:"Argument photograph"
635:Doria (Family:12-b)
607:Neptune's Doll (FR)
317:Chantilly Racecourse
269:Longchamp Racecourse
659:"Argument pedigree"
481:
360:Racechorses of 1980
313:Prix du Jockey-Club
126:John Cunnington Jr.
854:Racehorses of 1981
777:. 11 November 1980
745:Racehorses of 1980
713:Racehorses of 1979
479:
443:Hollywood Turf Cup
358:. In their annual
804:. 8 November 1980
639:
638:
423:Arlington Million
187:
186:
978:
940:
939:
937:
936:
925:
919:
918:
916:
915:
901:
895:
894:
892:
891:
874:
868:
867:
849:
838:
837:
835:
834:
819:
813:
812:
810:
809:
801:Montreal Gazette
792:
786:
785:
783:
782:
765:
759:
758:
740:
727:
726:
708:
699:
698:
696:
695:
686:. Archived from
680:
674:
673:
671:
670:
655:
482:
478:
265:Prix La Rochette
19:
18:
986:
985:
981:
980:
979:
977:
976:
975:
946:
945:
944:
943:
934:
932:
927:
926:
922:
913:
911:
903:
902:
898:
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876:
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871:
864:
850:
841:
832:
830:
821:
820:
816:
807:
805:
794:
793:
789:
780:
778:
767:
766:
762:
755:
741:
730:
723:
709:
702:
693:
691:
682:
681:
677:
668:
666:
657:
656:
649:
644:
608:
575:
570:
569:Arantelle (FR)
568:
531:
530:Cranberry (GB)
496:
488:
487:Kautokeino (FR)
486:
477:
468:
451:
437:and seventh to
400:
392:Jorge Velásquez
293:
285:Prix des ChĂŞnes
273:Grand Critérium
254:
249:
225:
213:Prix d'Harcourt
182:
177:
162:
159:Prix d'Harcourt
157:
152:
127:
111:
76:7 February 1977
17:
12:
11:
5:
984:
974:
973:
968:
963:
958:
942:
941:
920:
896:
886:. 31 July 1981
869:
862:
839:
814:
787:
760:
753:
728:
721:
700:
675:
646:
645:
643:
640:
637:
636:
632:
631:
628:
624:
623:
619:
618:
616:Crafty Admiral
613:
610:
604:
603:
599:
598:
593:
589:
588:
584:
583:
580:
577:
572:
564:
563:
559:
558:
553:
549:
548:
544:
543:
538:
533:
527:
526:
522:
521:
518:
514:
513:
509:
508:
503:
498:
490:
476:
473:
467:
464:
450:
447:
399:
396:
384:Lester Piggott
372:Maurice Zilber
327:over 2200m at
292:
289:
267:over 1600m at
253:
250:
248:
245:
224:
221:
185:
184:
173:
172:
168:
167:
145:
144:
140:
139:
136:
132:
131:
129:Maurice Zilber
124:
120:
119:
108:
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100:
96:
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78:
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60:
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56:
52:
51:
48:
44:
43:
38:
34:
33:
28:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
983:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
953:
951:
930:
924:
910:
906:
900:
885:
884:
879:
873:
865:
863:0-900599-33-2
859:
855:
848:
846:
844:
828:
824:
818:
803:
802:
797:
791:
776:
775:
770:
764:
756:
754:0-900599-31-6
750:
746:
739:
737:
735:
733:
724:
722:0-900599-29-4
718:
714:
707:
705:
690:on 2013-12-02
689:
685:
679:
664:
660:
654:
652:
647:
634:
633:
629:
625:
621:
620:
617:
614:
605:
602:Semoule Fine
601:
600:
597:
594:
592:Semoule d'Or
590:
586:
585:
581:
574:Tapioca (FR)
565:
561:
560:
557:
554:
550:
546:
545:
542:
539:
537:
528:
524:
523:
519:
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463:
461:
457:
446:
444:
440:
436:
432:
428:
424:
419:
417:
413:
409:
404:
403:Alain Lequeux
395:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
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365:
361:
357:
353:
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344:
342:
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318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
288:
286:
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
263:
259:
247:Racing career
244:
242:
241:Prix La Force
238:
234:
230:
220:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
195:
191:
180:
174:
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97:
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91:
87:
83:
79:
75:
71:
68:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
42:
39:
35:
32:
29:
25:
20:
933:. Retrieved
923:
912:. Retrieved
908:
899:
888:. Retrieved
881:
872:
856:. Timeform.
853:
831:. Retrieved
827:Evening News
826:
817:
806:. Retrieved
799:
790:
779:. Retrieved
772:
763:
747:. Timeform.
744:
715:. Timeform.
712:
692:. Retrieved
688:the original
678:
667:. Retrieved
665:. 2012-05-08
662:
622:Timely Tune
469:
452:
439:Providential
420:
401:
388:The Very One
364:Bruce McNall
359:
352:Ela-Mana-Mou
345:
294:
255:
239:in the 1970
226:
194:Thoroughbred
189:
188:
117:Bruce McNall
110:Mrs P. Ribes
102:Pierre Ribes
466:Stud record
368:Berry Gordy
262:group Three
233:Prix Juigné
113:Berry Gordy
950:Categories
935:2013-11-27
914:2013-11-27
890:2013-10-26
833:2013-11-27
808:2013-11-27
781:2013-11-27
694:2013-11-27
669:2013-11-26
663:Equineline
642:References
562:Red Briar
552:Big Berry
512:La Divine
456:Moorestyle
449:Assessment
431:Gold River
427:John Henry
309:Prix Lupin
305:Moorestyle
223:Background
217:Prix Ganay
164:Prix Ganay
143:Major wins
31:Kautokeino
547:Angelola
321:Policeman
237:Sassafras
197:racehorse
138:20: 6-4-1
50:Arantelle
37:Grandsire
909:Equibase
630:Tornado
612:Neptune
596:Vatellor
587:Vanille
579:Vandale
556:Big Game
541:Hyperion
525:Polaire
517:Relance
506:Tantieme
475:Pedigree
460:Northjet
190:Argument
179:Timeform
67:Stallion
22:Argument
582:Plassy
536:Aureole
501:Tanerko
441:in the
414:in the
356:Detroit
281:lengths
275:winner
229:coronet
123:Trainer
99:Breeder
81:Country
58:Tapioca
55:Damsire
860:
751:
719:
627:Dzena
520:Relic
412:Akarad
337:pounds
329:Ostend
277:Dragon
258:metres
171:Awards
166:(1981)
161:(1981)
156:(1980)
151:(1980)
135:Record
115:&
89:Colour
84:France
73:Foaled
609:1960
576:1953
571:1966
532:1957
497:1960
493:Relko
489:1967
107:Owner
41:Relko
858:ISBN
749:ISBN
717:ISBN
495:(GB)
485:Sire
366:and
279:two
215:and
201:sire
199:and
27:Sire
567:Dam
378:at
315:at
93:Bay
63:Sex
47:Dam
952::
907:.
880:.
842:^
825:.
798:.
771:.
731:^
703:^
661:.
650:^
445:.
418:.
938:.
917:.
893:.
866:.
836:.
811:.
784:.
757:.
725:.
697:.
672:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.