Said to have shown great speed while in training as an unraced youngster, Alibhai broke down before ever racing but was given a chance at stud because of his reputation, his magnificent appearance and his royal bloodlines. He delivered in a big way, becoming one of only a handful of unraced horses in the modern era to become an important sire in a major racing nation.
Race record
Unraced. Alibhai had reportedly equaled the mile track record at Santa Anita during a workout when he bowed the tendons of both forelegs, leaving him unable to withstand further training.
Honors
California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1987)
As an individual
A muscular, handsome chestnut similar in type to his sire Hyperion, Alibhai had short cannons and was well muscled into his forearms and gaskins. On the negative side, he was long-bodied with a noticeably dipped back and was light of bone below the knee. He stood 15.2 hands. After his death, an autopsy revealed that his heart weighed 13 pounds, 2 ounces; the average for a Thoroughbred is between eight and ten pounds.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Alibhai sired 287 winners (72.6%) and 54 stakes winners (13.7%) from 395 named foals. Alibhai is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Chuchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Bardstown (USA), Bornastar (USA), Chevation (USA), Determine (USA), Flower Bowl (USA), Mr. Consistency (USA), Oligarchy (USA), On Trust (USA), Solidarity (USA), Traffic Judge (USA), Your Host (USA), Your Hostess (USA)
Connections
Alibhai was bred by the Aga Khan. He was purchased privately by Louis B. Mayer for 3,200 guineas as part of a group of yearlings bought through agent Laudy Lawrence. He entered stud in 1941 at Mayer Stock Farm near Perris, California. Alibhai initially played second fiddle to the proven Beau Pere but quickly earned his way to better opportunities. After five seasons in California, Alibhai was purchased by a syndicate headed by Leslie Combs II for a world record US$500,000 and was moved to Spendthrift Farm, where he stood for the rest of his life. He died of an apparent heart attack in 1960.
Pedigree notes
Alibhai is inbred 5x4x5 to nine-time leading English sire St. Simon. He is a half brother to 1932 Imperial Produce Stakes winner Gino (by Tetratema), who was also imported to the United States and became a useful sire. He is also a half brother to 1930 Irish Oaks winner Theresina (by Diophon), a remarkable producer whose seven stakes winners include 1940 Irish Derby winner Turkhan (by Bahram) and 1943 Ascot Gold Cup winner Ujiji (by Umidwar), whose edition of the Gold Cup was actually a wartime substitute race at Newmarket. Theresina is also the second dam of 1958 Prix de la Salamandre winner Princillon and Classic-placed French stakes winner Nubena and the third dam of 1965 Prix de Guiche winner White Star and 1966 Prix Dollar winner Tajubena.
Alibhai's dam Teresina lacked a brilliant turn of foot but was a fine stayer who won the 1924 Goodwood Cup and other good races. A half sister to another good staying mare in Blue Dun (by Corcyra), she was produced from Blue Tit, a daughter of 1898 St. Leger Stakes winner Wildfowler.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 31, 2020
Race record
Unraced. Alibhai had reportedly equaled the mile track record at Santa Anita during a workout when he bowed the tendons of both forelegs, leaving him unable to withstand further training.
Honors
California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1987)
As an individual
A muscular, handsome chestnut similar in type to his sire Hyperion, Alibhai had short cannons and was well muscled into his forearms and gaskins. On the negative side, he was long-bodied with a noticeably dipped back and was light of bone below the knee. He stood 15.2 hands. After his death, an autopsy revealed that his heart weighed 13 pounds, 2 ounces; the average for a Thoroughbred is between eight and ten pounds.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Alibhai sired 287 winners (72.6%) and 54 stakes winners (13.7%) from 395 named foals. Alibhai is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1947, 1954, and 1955; 3rd in 1950 and 1956; 4th in 1957; 5th in 1949 and 1958; 8th in 1953; 9th in 1948; 10th in 1951.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Chuchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1947, 1954 and 1955; 3rd in 1950 and 1956; 4th in 1957; 5th in 1949 and 1958; 8th in 1953; 9th in 1948; 10th in 1951.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1969 and 1970; 8th in 1960 and 1961; 9th in 1967 and 1973.
Notable progeny
Bardstown (USA), Bornastar (USA), Chevation (USA), Determine (USA), Flower Bowl (USA), Mr. Consistency (USA), Oligarchy (USA), On Trust (USA), Solidarity (USA), Traffic Judge (USA), Your Host (USA), Your Hostess (USA)
Connections
Alibhai was bred by the Aga Khan. He was purchased privately by Louis B. Mayer for 3,200 guineas as part of a group of yearlings bought through agent Laudy Lawrence. He entered stud in 1941 at Mayer Stock Farm near Perris, California. Alibhai initially played second fiddle to the proven Beau Pere but quickly earned his way to better opportunities. After five seasons in California, Alibhai was purchased by a syndicate headed by Leslie Combs II for a world record US$500,000 and was moved to Spendthrift Farm, where he stood for the rest of his life. He died of an apparent heart attack in 1960.
Pedigree notes
Alibhai is inbred 5x4x5 to nine-time leading English sire St. Simon. He is a half brother to 1932 Imperial Produce Stakes winner Gino (by Tetratema), who was also imported to the United States and became a useful sire. He is also a half brother to 1930 Irish Oaks winner Theresina (by Diophon), a remarkable producer whose seven stakes winners include 1940 Irish Derby winner Turkhan (by Bahram) and 1943 Ascot Gold Cup winner Ujiji (by Umidwar), whose edition of the Gold Cup was actually a wartime substitute race at Newmarket. Theresina is also the second dam of 1958 Prix de la Salamandre winner Princillon and Classic-placed French stakes winner Nubena and the third dam of 1965 Prix de Guiche winner White Star and 1966 Prix Dollar winner Tajubena.
Alibhai's dam Teresina lacked a brilliant turn of foot but was a fine stayer who won the 1924 Goodwood Cup and other good races. A half sister to another good staying mare in Blue Dun (by Corcyra), she was produced from Blue Tit, a daughter of 1898 St. Leger Stakes winner Wildfowler.
Books and media
- Alibhai is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
- Alibhai is profiled in Chapter 54 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released in 2006 by Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Prior to buying Alibhai as a yearling, Louis B. Mayer had made an unsuccessful bid of US$1 million to buy the colt's sire Hyperion from the 17th Earl of Derby. He had also reportedly tried to buy Man o' War with the same result.
- After Alibhai broke down, Abram Hewitt offered to take the colt off Mayer's hands for US$5,000 as a stud prospect. Mayer refused, and five years later Hewitt was part of the syndicate that bought Alibhai for one hundred times as much.
- Alibhai was the first horse to be mated to two mares that had both won titles as American Horse of the Year after championship voting was instituted in 1936. His two fillies out of Busher were both of some importance as producers, and he got the excellent gelding Bardstown out of Twilight Tear.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 31, 2020