The hero of Ireland, Tulyar crossed the Irish Sea to conquer the best runners England could bring against him during his 3-year-old season. He then retired to the Irish National Stud, where he stood for three seasons before being sold for export to the United States. He was stricken by a debilitating illness not long after his arrival but recovered to continue his stud career. He proved a good stallion if not as outstanding as had been hoped.
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £76,417
1951:
1952:
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1952)
Assessments
Weighted at 114 pounds on the Free Handicap for English 2-year-old males of 1951, 19 pounds below champion Windy City II.
Earned a Timeform rating of 134 pounds at 3, the best for any European runner of that year.
As an individual
A brown horse with an excellent shoulder, Tulyar stood a shade over 15.3 hands. He had a low, smooth stride when racing and could handle any sort of going. His nature was placid.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Tulyar sired 207 winners (68.8%) and 30 stakes winners (10.0%) from 301 named foals. He was a better sire of fillies than colts.
Notable progeny
Castle Forbes (USA), Ginetta (GB), Fiorentina (IRE), Mako (USA), Tularia (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alpine Lass (USA), For the Moment (USA), Honest Pleasure (USA), Irish Castle (USA), Trillion (USA)
Connections
Tulyar was bred and owned by His Highness the third Aga Khan and was trained by Marcus Marsh. He was ridden to his Classic triumphs by Charlie Smirke. At the close of Tulyar's 3-year-old season, the Aga Khan sold the horse to the Irish National Stud for £250,000. Tulyar did not race at four and stood his first season in 1954; in 1956, following the breeding season, he was sold to an American syndicate headed by A. B. “Bull” Hancock for £240,000. He could not stand the 1957 season due to illness but recovered to stand his first American season in 1958 at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Claiborne after his death in 1972.
Pedigree notes
Tulyar is a half brother to Saint Crespin III (by Aureole), winner of the 1959 Eclipse Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe; to 1955 Princess of Wales's Stakes winner Cobetto (by Migoli); and to Cripton (by Prince Bio), winner of the 1964 Prix Messidor. He is also a half brother to Andromeda II (by Stardust), whose daughter Anticlea (by Mossborough) won the 1963 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas) and Oaks d'Italia (Italian Oaks). Andromeda II is also the second dam of the good Japanese stakes horse Haka Hoshu, whose wins included the 1973 Sapporo Kinen and Yasuda Kinen
Neocracy, the dam of Tulyar, won the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot as a juvenile. She is a full sister to Lugano, dam of 1956 Irish Champion Stakes winner Italian Mist (by Precipitation) and second dam of 1966 Tetrarch Stakes winner Ultimate. She is also a half sister to Kyanos (by Blue Peter), dam of 1955 Chester Vase and Cumberland Lodge Stakes winner Daemon (by Niccolo dell'Arca).
Neocracy and her sisters were out of 1935 Imperial Produce Stakes winner Harina (by Blandford), whose dam Athasi (Farasi—Athgreany, by Galloping Simon) was one of the greatest broodmares in Irish history. Her matings to Blandford produced not only Harina but 1929 English and Irish champion 3-year-old male Trigo, winner of the 1929 Derby Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Irish St. Leger; Harinero, winner of the 1933 Irish Derby and Irish St. Leger; 1927 Irish champion 2-year-old male Athford, winner of the 1927 Anglesey Stakes and 1929 Doncaster Cup; Primero, winner of the 1934 Irish Derby (in a dead heat) and Irish St. Leger; and stakes-placed Avena, dam of stakes winner Oatflake (by Coup de Lyon) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 1959 Coronation Cup winner Nagami, 1960 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Young Empress and 1955 Imperial Produce Stakes winner Milesian.
Books and media
Tulyar is profiled in Chapter 24 of Sir Charles Leicester's Bloodstock Breeding (1957, J. A. Allen & Co., Ltd.; second edition revised and edited by Howard White and released in 1983).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 12, 2024
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £76,417
1951:
- Won Buggins Farm Nursery (ENG, 8FT, Haydock)
- Won Kineton Nursery (ENG, 8FT, Birmingham)
- 2nd Horris Hill Stakes (ENG, 7f+64yT, Newbury)
- 3rd Virginia Water Stakes (ENG, Ascot)
1952:
- Won Ormonde Stakes (ENG, 13f+75yT, Chester)
- Won Henry VII Stakes (ENG, Hurst)
- Won Lingfield Derby Trial (ENG, Lingfield)
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
- Won King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Ascot)
- Won Eclipse Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Sandown)
- Won St. Leger Stakes (ENG, 14y+132yT, Doncaster)
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1952)
Assessments
Weighted at 114 pounds on the Free Handicap for English 2-year-old males of 1951, 19 pounds below champion Windy City II.
Earned a Timeform rating of 134 pounds at 3, the best for any European runner of that year.
As an individual
A brown horse with an excellent shoulder, Tulyar stood a shade over 15.3 hands. He had a low, smooth stride when racing and could handle any sort of going. His nature was placid.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Tulyar sired 207 winners (68.8%) and 30 stakes winners (10.0%) from 301 named foals. He was a better sire of fillies than colts.
Notable progeny
Castle Forbes (USA), Ginetta (GB), Fiorentina (IRE), Mako (USA), Tularia (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alpine Lass (USA), For the Moment (USA), Honest Pleasure (USA), Irish Castle (USA), Trillion (USA)
Connections
Tulyar was bred and owned by His Highness the third Aga Khan and was trained by Marcus Marsh. He was ridden to his Classic triumphs by Charlie Smirke. At the close of Tulyar's 3-year-old season, the Aga Khan sold the horse to the Irish National Stud for £250,000. Tulyar did not race at four and stood his first season in 1954; in 1956, following the breeding season, he was sold to an American syndicate headed by A. B. “Bull” Hancock for £240,000. He could not stand the 1957 season due to illness but recovered to stand his first American season in 1958 at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Claiborne after his death in 1972.
Pedigree notes
Tulyar is a half brother to Saint Crespin III (by Aureole), winner of the 1959 Eclipse Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe; to 1955 Princess of Wales's Stakes winner Cobetto (by Migoli); and to Cripton (by Prince Bio), winner of the 1964 Prix Messidor. He is also a half brother to Andromeda II (by Stardust), whose daughter Anticlea (by Mossborough) won the 1963 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas) and Oaks d'Italia (Italian Oaks). Andromeda II is also the second dam of the good Japanese stakes horse Haka Hoshu, whose wins included the 1973 Sapporo Kinen and Yasuda Kinen
Neocracy, the dam of Tulyar, won the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot as a juvenile. She is a full sister to Lugano, dam of 1956 Irish Champion Stakes winner Italian Mist (by Precipitation) and second dam of 1966 Tetrarch Stakes winner Ultimate. She is also a half sister to Kyanos (by Blue Peter), dam of 1955 Chester Vase and Cumberland Lodge Stakes winner Daemon (by Niccolo dell'Arca).
Neocracy and her sisters were out of 1935 Imperial Produce Stakes winner Harina (by Blandford), whose dam Athasi (Farasi—Athgreany, by Galloping Simon) was one of the greatest broodmares in Irish history. Her matings to Blandford produced not only Harina but 1929 English and Irish champion 3-year-old male Trigo, winner of the 1929 Derby Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Irish St. Leger; Harinero, winner of the 1933 Irish Derby and Irish St. Leger; 1927 Irish champion 2-year-old male Athford, winner of the 1927 Anglesey Stakes and 1929 Doncaster Cup; Primero, winner of the 1934 Irish Derby (in a dead heat) and Irish St. Leger; and stakes-placed Avena, dam of stakes winner Oatflake (by Coup de Lyon) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 1959 Coronation Cup winner Nagami, 1960 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Young Empress and 1955 Imperial Produce Stakes winner Milesian.
Books and media
Tulyar is profiled in Chapter 24 of Sir Charles Leicester's Bloodstock Breeding (1957, J. A. Allen & Co., Ltd.; second edition revised and edited by Howard White and released in 1983).
Fun facts
- At the time of his retirement, Tulyar was the highest money earner in English racing history.
- The British Railways named a Class 55 diesel locomotive after Tulyar on October 13, 1961. The locomotive was withdrawn from service on December 2, 1982, and is one of six Deltic class locomotives still in existence. It is currently owned by the Deltic Preservation Society.
- In his native country, Tulyar was accustomed to consuming a daily ration of Guinness stout. After the horse became ill in the United States, he received shipments of the beverage, which was credited by some with having restored his health.
Last updated: July 12, 2024