Sayajirao (1944–1966) was a British Thoroughbred

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

. A full brother to 1945

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey o ...

winner, Dante, he was out of the mare Rosy Legend and sired by the great Nearco who is described by ''

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'' 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.

Overview

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

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117,600. Racing at age three, Sayajirao won the Lingfield Derby Trial and the

Irish Derby Stakes The Irish Derby (Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) 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 ...

. He ran third in both The Derby and the

2,000 Guineas Stakes The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

then won the third leg of the

English Triple Crown The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, often shortened to Triple Crown, is a series of horse races for Thoroughbreds, often restricted to three-year-olds. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplis ...

, the St. Leger Stakes at

Doncaster Racecourse Doncaster Racecourse (also known as the Town Moor course) is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 36 annual Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. History Doncas ...

. ''New York Times'' - 14 September 1947
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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: *

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(b. 1952) - won the Irish 1,000 Guineas *

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(b. 1953) - winner of the 1958

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,014 ...

* Lynchris (b. 1957) -

Yorkshire Oaks The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile 3 fu ...

, Irish Oaks,

Irish St. Leger The Irish St Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and it i ...

Beresford Stakes The Beresford Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place ...

* Zenobia (b. 1957) - won the Irish 1,000 Guineas * Indiana (b. 1961) - wins included St. Leger Stakes, Great Voltigeur Stakes, Chester Vase,

Ormonde Stakes The Ormonde Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 84 yards () at Ch ...

The Spaniard The Spaniard (foaled 1962) was a Thoroughbred gelding Horse racing, 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 St ...

(b. 1962) - won the Scottish Grand National * I Say (b.1962) - won the Coronation Cup and finished 3rd in the Epsom Derby to Sea Bird

References

External links

Sayajirao's pedigree and partial racing stats
{{St Leger Winners 1944 racehorse births 1965 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Irish Classic Race winners Thoroughbred family 3-n St Leger winners