Sayajirao
Encyclopedia
Sayajirao was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse
. A full brother to 1945 Epsom Derby
winner, Dante
, he was out of the mare
Rosy Legend and sired by the great Nearco
who is described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." Nearco was not only unbeaten in racing, but also the patriarch of the most dominant sire line in Thoroughbred history.
Sayajirao was purchased as a yearling by HH Maharaja of Baroda
for what at the time was the very substantial sum of 28,000 guineas
, the then equivalent of US$
117,600.
Racing at age three, Sayajirao won the Lingfield Derby Trial
and the Irish Derby Stakes
. He ran third in both the Epsom Derby
and the 2,000 Guineas Stakes then won the third leg of the English Triple Crown, the St. Leger Stakes
at Doncaster Racecourse
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. A full brother to 1945 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner, Dante
Dante (horse)
Dante was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was the last horse trained in northern England to win the English Derby. He was sired by Nearco, the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1947 and 1949, and one of the most important sires of the 20th century...
, he was out of the mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
Rosy Legend and sired by the great Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
who is described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." Nearco was not only unbeaten in racing, but also the patriarch of the most dominant sire line in Thoroughbred history.
Sayajirao was purchased as a yearling by HH Maharaja of Baroda
Pratap Singh Gaekwad of Baroda
Maharaja Pratap Singh Gaekwad was a Maharaja of Baroda who succeeded his grandfather Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III at his death in 1939. He ruled for a period of twelve years, from 1939 to 1951, when he was deposed by the Government of India and exiled to England...
for what at the time was the very substantial sum of 28,000 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
, the then equivalent of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
117,600.
Racing at age three, Sayajirao won the Lingfield Derby Trial
Lingfield Derby Trial
The Lingfield Derby Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.The event was established in 1932, and...
and the Irish Derby Stakes
Irish Derby Stakes
The Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.It is Ireland's equivalent of the Epsom Derby,...
. He ran third in both the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and the 2,000 Guineas Stakes then won the third leg of the English Triple Crown, the St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
at Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
.
As a sire
Retired to stud in 1949, Sayajirao sired the winners of 410 races. His daughters foaled the winners of 261 races. Among those he sired were:- Dark Issue (b. 1952) - won the Irish 1,000 Guineas
- Gladness (b. 1953) - winner of the 1958 Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold CupThe Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
- Lynchris (b. 1957) - Yorkshire OaksYorkshire OaksThe Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, Irish OaksIrish OaksThe Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, Irish St. Leger, Beresford StakesBeresford StakesThe Beresford Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September or October.... - Zenobia (b.1957) - won the Irish 1,000 Guineas
- Indiana (b. 1961) - wins included St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
, Great Voltigeur StakesGreat Voltigeur StakesThe Great Voltigeur Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, Chester VaseChester VaseThe Chester Vase is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Chester over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 66 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
, Ormonde StakesOrmonde StakesThe Ormonde Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chester over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 89 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.... - The Spaniard The SpaniardThe Spaniard was a Thoroughbred gelding racehorse best known for winning the 1970 Scottish Grand National. Out of the mare Perle d'Espagne, he was sired by Sayajirao whose wins included the Irish Derby and St. Leger Stakes,...
(b. 1962) - won the Scottish Grand NationalScottish Grand NationalThe Scottish Grand National is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ayr, Scotland, over a distance of approximately 4 miles and 110 yards and 27 fences...