Sayajirao – The Horse

Vadodara-Baroda By No Comments

Already known for his love of sports such as Golf and Polo, Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad also tried his hand in Thoroughbred Horse Racing. In 1945 he bought a year-old horse who was the brother of Epsom Derby winner Dante(horse) for a record price of US $ 11,76,000.

This horse was named Sayajirao and he won the Irish Derby and Irish St Leger in 1947. Being keen to stand him as a stallion, Pratapsinhrao purchased a Stud Farm named Connellmore in Ireland, and transformed it and renamed it Baroda Stud Farm.

At the age of 3 years, ‘Sayajirao’ (the horse) won the Lingfield Derby Trial & the Irish Derby Stakes. He also ran third in The Derby the 2000 Guineas Stakes & then won the third leg of the English Triple Crown, the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse.

‘Sayajirao ‘ proved to be a success as a stallion, being crowned Champion Sire in Ireland in 1960 and siring the legendary mare Gladness, the Irish Classic winners Zenobia and Lynchris, as well as the three-time Irish Grand National winner Brown Lad. Retiring to stud in 1949, ‘Sayajirao’ (horse) sired the winners of 410 races.

Later Pratapsinhrao also went on to buy a French-bred racehorse who was named ‘My Babu’, he was trained by Sam Armstrong.

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After the death of Maharaja Pratapsinhrao in 1968, Baroda Stud became part of the Airlie Stud empire under the management of Captain Tim Rogers. In 1978, Baroda Stud was sold to Sean Doyle. Later in 1999, it was again sold to Philip Myerscough & later in 2006, it was sold to current owners, the Cox family.

The farm still goes by the name ‘Baroda Stud’ and reminds the people of the person who once owned it and continues to nurse some of the best horses ever seen.

Sources: Baroda Stud, NYT 1, NYT 2

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