Gemma was a full-sister to the 2000 Guineas winner Vedas and a granddaughter of the influential broodmare Bonnie Agnes whose other descendants have included Zabeel, Detroit, Carnegie and Herbager.

He was opposed by eleven opponents including Durbar, who had beaten Le Grand Pressigny in the Prix Noailles before winning the 1914 Epsom Derby for France.

[6] On 28 June, Sardanapale faced a rematch with La Farina in the Grand Prix de Paris over 3000 metres at Longchamp Racecourse and started the 1.95/1 favourite in a twelve-runner field.

La Farina led from the start and when George Stern moved Sardanapale up to challenge 800 metres out, the two colts drew away from the rest of the field.

[8] In August, Sardanapale won the Prix Eugène Adam at Maisons-Laffitte by five lengths from Oreste and Djamy but it proved to be his final appearance, as racing in France was shut down by the outbreak of the War.

[9] After his retirement from racing Sardanapale became a breeding stallion in France, standing at Rothschild's stud at Chaumont en Vexin before moving to the Haras de la Fontaine in 1926.

[10] He also sired the Italian champion Apelle, whose wins included the Derby Italiano, Gran Premio di Milano and Coronation Cup.