Tourbillon (horse)

Tourbillon, whose name means "whirlwind" in French, was bred and raced by the greatest French breeder of thoroughbreds of the twentieth century, Marcel Boussac.^[1][2] Tourbillon was sired by Ksar, a back-to-back winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Leading sire in France in 1931 whose own sire, Bruleur, won the 1913 Grand Prix de Paris and was the Leading sire in France in 1921, 1924, and 1929.^[3] Tourbillon's dam, Durban, was an outstanding runner who won several top races in France which are now Group One events. Damsire, Durbar won England's Epsom Derby in 1914.

Tourbillon was a winner of the Prix du Jockey Club at three, and the Prix Lupin at age three.

Tourbillon became the foundation stallion for Marcel Boussac's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard at Neuvy-au-Houlme in Lower Normandy. A sire of sires, Tourbillon was the Leading sire in France in 1940, 1942, 1945. Among his progeny were:

• Goya (1934) – Gimcrack Stakes, St. James's Palace Stakes, Prix Boiard, two-time Leading sire in France
• Djebel (1937) – 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, two-time Leading sire in France
• Coaraze (b. 1942) -Prix du Jockey Club, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Prix d'Ispahan (2×)
• Caracalla (1942) – Grand Prix de Paris, Prix Royal Oak, Ascot Gold Cup, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
• Ambiorix (1946) – Grand Critérium, Prix Lupin

Some of Tourbillon's offspring, particularly through his grandson, My Babu, were successful competitors in show jumping, dressage, and three-day event disciplines.