 He was sired by the French horse Monarque on Miss Gladiator, a mare by the British horse Gladiator, who had been purchased by French interests at the age of nine and brought to stand at stud in France.Miss Gladiator was also the dam of Villafranca.Gladiateur's owner sent him to England to be trained by Tom Jennings, Sr. at Newmarket Racecourse.