Bred by Evelyn Boscawen (1819-1889), 6th Viscount Falmouth, at Mereworth, his dam, Hurricane (b f 1859 Wild Dayrell) won the One Thousand Guineas for Lord Falmouth in 1861. Hurricane also produced the minor winner Atlantis (ch f 1867 Thormanby), from whom descend numerous good winners in Australia and New Zealand, and Whirlwind (b f 1876 Kingcraft), from whom descend even more good winners in Argentina.

Atlantic was described as "rather a light-framed horse with good shoulders; but his back was long and weak, and he stood somewhat straight on his pasterns". His racing performances were said to "denote speed rather than stamina". His Derby was thought to have been sent sideways by an injury to his knee whilst boarding the train for Epsom and some thought he would have otherwise won.

Said to be "a pronounced blood vessel breaker" he was sold to Baron Arthur de Schickler (1828-1919) after his turf career and sent to Schickler's Chateau Martinvast stud, south of Cherbourg, in 1874.

In the stud, despite being bred mainly to Martinvast mares, and thus possibly limited by opportunity, he got several runners including the Prix Noailles winner Cherbourg (ch c 1892). His most important son was without doubt Le Sancy (gr c 1884) through whom the Byerley Turk sire line continued to The Tetrarch (gr c 1911 Roi Herode) and beyond.

Pedigree

Atlantic Thormanby Windhound Pantaloon Phryne Alice Hawthorn Muley Moloch Rebeccca Hurricane Wild Dayrell Ion Ellen Middleton Midia Scutari Marinella

Race Record

In 1873 he won the 100 sovs each Ham Produce Stakes at Goodwood, beating M Lefevre's future Grand National Steeple Chase winner Regal (bl c 1871 Saunterer) and Mr Launde's future One Thousand Guineas, Oaks and St Leger winner Apology (ch f 1873 Adventurer) by three lengths "easily". Finished 2nd to Tipster (b c 1871 Adventurer) by a head for the 10 sovs each Convivial Produce Stakes at York. Walked over for the 300 sovs each Buckenham Post Produce Stakes at Newmarket. Was among the field for the 50 sovs each Prendergast Stakes at Newmarket, won by M Lefevre's Feu d'Amour (b c 1871 Monarque) and finished 2nd by a "short head" for the 100 sovs each Glascow Stakes at Newmarket, won by M Lefevre's Minister (b c 1871 Prime Minister).

In 1874 he walked over for a 100 sovs each sweepstakes at Newmarket Craven. Walked over for another 100 sovs each sweepstakes at the same meeting. Won the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes at Newmarket First Spring, beating Col Carleton's Reverberation (ch c 1871 Thunderbolt) and M Lefevre's July Stakes winner Ecossais (ch c 1871 Blair Athol). Finished 3rd for George Frederick's (ch c 1871 Marsyas) Derby Stakes, with Lord Rosebery's Couronne de Fer (br c 1871 Macaroni) 2nd, beating Reverberation, Tipster and Ecossais. Finished 2nd for the 50 sovs each Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot Heath, won by Sir R Bulkeley's Leolinus (ch c 1871 Caterer). Won the 50 sovs each Ascot Derby (now King Edward VII Stakes), beating Mr Savile's Yorkshire Oaks winner The Pique (br f 1871 Parmesan) and two others. Was among the field for the 25 sovs each St Leger Stakes at Doncaster, won by Mr Launde's Apology, with Sir R Bulkeley's Leolinus finishing 2nd and Mr W R Marshall's Grand Prix de Paris winner Trent (br c 1871 Broomielaw) finishing 3rd.

Notable Offspring

Fitz Roya (FR)

b c 1887 (Atlantic - Perplexite, by Perplexe). Sire Line Buzzard. Family 3-j. A winner of the Prix d'Automne, the Grand Prix de Paris, the Prix la Rochette, the Prix de Malleret, the Prix de Juin and a third place finisher for the Prix du Jockey-Club, he was unsuccessful in the stud.

Fousi-Yama (FR)

ch c  1890 (Atlantic - Little Sister, by Hermit). Sire Line Buzzard. Family 8-i. A winner of the Prix Boiard, the Prix du Cadran and the Prix Daru, Fousi-Yama sired Belladona (ch f 1896), the ancestress of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Mont Blanc (ch c 1919 Predicateur), the Jockey Club Cup winner Mont Bernina (ch c 1923 La Farina) and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Teleferique (ch c 1934 Bacteriophage).

Le Capricorn (FR)

ch c 1888 (Atlantic - La Dauphine, by Doncaster). Sire Line Buzzard. Family 20. A winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden-Baden, he sired the Grand Prix de Deauville winner Punta Gorda (br f 1902), she the 2nd dam of the Cambridgeshire winner Palais Royal (ch c 1925 Bruleur). He also got the dam of the Gran Premio di Milano winner Etoile de Feu (ch f 1907 Gardefeu).

Pietra Mala (FR)

b f 1892 (Atlantic - Little Sister, by Hermit). Sire Line Buzzard. Family 8-i. A full sister to Fousi-Yama, she won, in England, the Princess Stakes, the Richmond Stakes, the Gimcrack Stakes, the Champagne Stakes and the Whitsuntide Plate. In the stud she was the ancestress of the Woodcote Stakes winner Montrose (ch c 1930 Coronach).