Sendawar (horse)

Sendawar
Racing colours of Aga Khan
Sire	Priolo
Dam	Sendana
Damsire	Darshaan
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	15 April 1996[1]
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Aga Khan IV
Owner	Aga Khan IV
Trainer	Alain de Royer-Dupre
Record	10: 5-4-0
Earnings	£496,449
Major wins
Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1999) St James's Palace Stakes (1999) Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1999) Prix d'Ispahan (2000)

Sendawar (foaled 15 April 1996) was an Irish bred, French trained racehorse, who is an active National Hunt Stallion. He was ridden by Gérald Mossé in all his starts.

Background

Sendawar, a dark bay or brown horse, was bred at the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland. He was sired by Priolo who himself won three Group 1 races in France and sired only one other Group 1 winner, namely Mirio. His dam was Sendana, a Darshaan mare, who produced only one other notable progeny, namely Sendoro, who was placed in three Group races.

Racing career

1998: two-year-old season

Sendawar raced twice at two - firstly over 1,800m in the Prix de Sablonville when he came half a length second to Royal Line and secondly in the Prix Adaris over 1,600m when again he came second by one length.

1999: three-year-old season

Sendawar lined up in the Prix de Ferrier over 2,200m and went off 7/5 favourite and won "at a canter" by one and half lengths. He then stepped up to Group company in the Prix Greffulhe over 2,100m at Longchamp where he came 4 length second to Montjeu who subsequently as 3 year old went onto win the Prix du Jockey Club the Irish Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe amongst others.

Three weeks later on 16 May 1999 Sendawar was dropped back in trip to contest the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp over 1,600m. The joint favourites in the race were the unbeaten Dansili and Way of Light, who had won the Grand Criterium. Sendawar went onto win by one and a half lengths from Dansili with Way of Light unplaced in 4th.

Next he went onto Royal Ascot to run in the St James's Palace Stakes. He went off as the 2/1 favourite and faced a total of 10 rivals, including Godolphin's Aljabr, the only other Group 1 winner in the field, who having been sent to America to run in the Kentucky Derby was withdrawn due to injury. Sendawar won by one and a quarter lengths from Ajabar with the other rivals trailing another five lengths behind.

It was the aim for Sendawar to face Dubai Millennium in the Prix Jacques le Marois in the Summer, however, due to very soft ground, Sendawar was withdrawn from the race.^[2]

On 5 September Sendawar was back at Longchamp as the 4/5 favourite for the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp over 1,600m. He faced his old rivals Dansili, Aljabr and Way of Light. He won by one and a half lengths from Gold Away with Dansili a further head back in third.

2000: four-year-old season

Sendawar started his four-year-old campaign in the Prix d'Ispahan over 1,850m at Longchamp coming up against the Prix d'Harcourt and Prix Ganay winner Indian Danehill. Sendawar went onto win by 3 lengths in "impressive" fashion from Indian Danehill.

Following the Prix d'Ispahan win Sendawar was targeted for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown,^[3] however he was supplemented for the Prince of Wales Stakes at a cost of £20,000.^[4] In the Prince of Wales Stakes he faced the Dubai World Cup and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner, Dubai Millennium who went onto win the race leaving Sendawar trailing elven lengths back in fourth place.

On 13 August, in what was to end up being his last race, Sendawar was sent off as the 7/10 favourite for the Prix Jacques le Marois over 1,600m at Deuville. Sendawar came three lengths second to the Godolphin trained five-year-old Muhtathir.

It was the intention for Sendawar to run again in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp however he was withdrawn from the race having been retired by his connections.^[5]

Career at Stud

At stud Sendawar had limited success, he only had one notable progeny, namely Viva Macau, who earned £441,502 in prize money and who was placed in the Prix Jean Prat, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. Sendawar was then sold to Annshoon Stud in Ireland to become a National Hunt stallion.^[6]

Pedigree

References