Sagaro (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Sagaro


caption =
sire = Espresso
grandsire = Acropolis
dam = Zambara
damsire = Mossborough
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1971
country = Ireland flagicon|Ireland
colour = Chestnut
breeder = Citadel Stud Establishment
owner = Gerald Oldham Esq., . Racing silks: Chocolate & white hoops, white cap
trainer = François Boutin, at Lamorlaye in France
earnings = £270,780
race = Ascot Gold Cup (1975, 1976, 1977)
Grand Prix de Paris (1974)
Prix de Barbeville (1976)
Prix du Cadran (1976)
awards= Champion Stayer in Europe (1977)

Sagaro was a chestnut thoroughbred horse, bred in Ireland in 1971 by his owner Gerald Oldham, the Geneva-based financier. He was trained at Lamorlaye in France by François Boutin and won in every season from 1974 to 1977. His first major success came in the Grand Prix de Paris in 1974, which he won by two lengths from Bustino.

In 1975 he won his first Ascot Gold Cup beating Le Bavard by four lengths. The Ascot Gold Cup is a Group 1 race for horses four years old and older. It is run over a distance of two and a half miles at Ascot Raceourse in England. First run in 1807, the Gold Cup is traditionally held on Ladies' Day (day three) at the Royal meeting in June and is the feature event of this five-day racing festival. It is a true test of a “stayer”, a horse that races and wins over distances of two miles and above.

The following season, 1976, was Sagaro’s best. In France he won the Prix de Barbeville and the Prix du Cadran before returning to Ascot to display a notable turn of foot to win his second Ascot Gold Cup by a length from Crash Course. In 1977 he won his third consecutive Ascot Gold Cup, an achievement that was equalled by Yeats (2006-2008). The famous English champion jockey Lester Piggott rode Sagaro in all his major races.

Sagaro retired to The National Stud in England in 1977 and died in 1986.

His owner said of him “He was a marvellous racehorse and one of the greatest stayers. It was just as much of a thrill to have bred him as to have raced him. Champions like him don’t come along often.”

References

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