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Tagor and his Dynasty by Faik Jafarov It is important first to outline some of the most important races in the Soviet Racing Calendar as these are mentioned heavily in the following article.
Pedigree:
Female family #23 It isn’t a secret that among the horses who lacked big success on the turf, one can find great sires. One such horse is Tagor. The thoroughbred breeding program in the former USSR countries is heavily connected with the name of Tagor. Tagor was born in 1915, by the sire Floreal and the dam Paragway. He is a tail-male descendant of St. Simon. Tagor wasn’t a large horse. He was a bit short, but was well-muscled. His racing qualities can be generously labelled mediocre. But Tagor founded a dynasty known for nice exterior and temperament. These horses are nice stayers. Tagor wasn’t a crack racer, but he recommended himself as one of the best stallions at stud. There were 4 Derby winners among his offspring: Four of his offspring won USSR Stakes: He produced 3 winners of the Kalinin Memorial: Originally Tagor’s dynasty descended like a trident through three of his sons Sector II, Baltazar and Granit II. Sector II was born in 1932 and showed himself as a great stayer, He won the Derby and at the age of 4 become the winner of the Republic Stakes. Beside these, Sector II set new USSR records: in 1935, 3200m (2 miles) - 3:28, and in 1936, 3000m (1 mile 7 furlongs) - 3:13. An especially successful year for offspring of Sector II was 1952, when his son Sprut (Rogneda) won the Kalinin Memorial and Sungur (Gavan) won the Derby. Entered to a stud these nice colts couldn’t establish their own branches of the dynasty. Baltazar was born in 1936. He had a good exterior and he was late-bloomer. His race career wasn’t exceptional but he proved his worth at stud. His son Gabitus recommended himself as a great winner and record-setter. Gabitus won the Budenny Memorial and the Republic Stakes. He set a USSR record at the age 4, 4800m (3 miles) - 5:22.3. It’s a pity that this stayer branch of Tagor’s dynasty failed to produce an influential stallion. The enduring stallion of the Tagor line was his son Granit II. He wasn’t a Derby winner, but he won the Kalinin Memorial at two. And he was the father of 4 Derby winners: He was the father of 4 winners of Kalinin Memorial: He also sired 2 winners of Republic Stakes: Zagar’s daughter Bereza was the top-class filly who won Derby in 1944. During a long period of time Zagar wasn’t used in the thoroughbred stud. Perhaps that is why he hadn’t a nice son who could go on to found this branch. Grog II who was a crack on the track was used as a stallion not long, because he passed away very early. Only one son, Razgar, was used in stud. Razgar produced two top-class sons in Sardar and Aramis. Sardar was born in 1963 (out of Signalizaciya) and won the International Bucharest Stakes, also he was the winner of the Elita. Aramis (out of Albina) won the Kalinin Memorial in 1966. Next year he won the Bolshoi Letny and the Otkritiye. Neither Sardar, nor Aramis could reproduce themselves at stud and so the stud line of Grog II's branch disappeared. The next stallion who continued the line of Granit II in the Tagor dynasty was Duglas. Duglas was born in 1944 in Germany and he was returned after the World War II. It’s a pity but the specialists who went to Germany for returning Soviet horses couldn’t find Granit II. He had been taken out of Russian by German Army officers a few years earlier. Two of Duglas sons (Zadorny and Derzky) were not only top-class runners but also top-class stallions. Although Zadorny was not a Derby winner, as Derzky had been, his racing career can be recognized as better. He ran at the Laurel Racecourse in USA as the participant of the International Stakes. But Derzky was the better sire, his descendants being a little bit better for their running results. Derzky had more influence to the thoroughbred breeding in USSR than Zadorny. Zadorny was the farther of the crack horse Zakaznik. In 1971 Zakaznik stopped the clock at 2:27.2 in the Derby, a new track record and a stakes record not bested since. Only the fotofinish could show that the winner was Zakaznik. His son Fazon also won Derby in 1983. Another famous Zadorny son was Sayan, the winner of USSR stakes in 1972. The period of 1972 to 1987 can be called "the gold era" of Tagor descendants. During this period all the big stakes were won by representatives of this dynasty. In 1972, Gerold from the crop of Derzky won the Otkritiye, Derby and Budenny Memorial. He also won the International Moscow Stakes and the Cup of Socialism. The Russian Federation Stakes was won by Funduk, another son from crop of Derzky. Funduk was runner-up in Budenny Stakes and International Moscow Stakes. The USSR Stakes was won by Sayan from the crop of Zadorny. In 1973 and 1974 there was no horse equal to Herold on the track. In these years he won the USSR stakes twice. Later Gerold was sold to Bulgaria where he found his own dynasty. In 1975 Derby winner was Decabrist - the grandson of Derzky, His father Bagrad won the Kalinin Memorial and Derby in Ukraine and Vstupitelny in Moscow. Although this article is about stallions from the Tagor dynasty we shall say some words about Gida (Derzky). This wonderful mare won the Kalinin Memorial in 1977, and next year Analogichnaya stakes, OAKS, Russian Rapublic and International Berlin Stakes. Some of her sons became Derby winners. And her daughter Gatteria won the Vstupitelny Stakes in Moscow this year. Only top-class mares can win at this age. The Derby winner in 1977 was Suzdal (son of Derzky). 1978 was a very succesful year for the Tagor dynasty. Floridon (Derzky) won Bolshoi Letny and the Derby, also he was runner up in the International Moscow stakes. Especially we shall say some words about another Derzky son, Aden. He was the only Russian-born horse since the great Anilin to win the International Europe Cup (in 1978 Germany). Later only Stimul won it. Besides this Aden won the International Moscow Stakes and Cup of Socialism. He was runner-up behind Sayan's son Staur in the Grand Vestfal Stakes (Germany). Staur also won the Anilin Stakes and was runner-up behind Floridon in Derby. 1979 was year of rivalry among Staur and Floridon. Staur won Elita, and was runner-up behind Floridon in USSR stakes and International Budapest stakes. Staur won the 1980 running of the USSR Stakes. The winner of Bolshoi Letny in 1980 was another son from crop of Sayan, Les. But this promising colt passed away after winning that race. The Derby winner in 1982 was Derzky's grandson Kastet (son of Suzdal). But it was his only victory and he did not make a name for himself otherwise. He ran 12th in the L’arc de Triomphe. 1983 was a great year for the Zadorny branch. His grandson Fazon won the Derby. In 1985 the Kalinin Memorial was won by Gospodar. Gospodar was third in Letny. Zafar, who was runner-up in Russian Federation Stakes and Zakritiye won Budenny Memorial. Zafar was son of Funduk. 1986 was also successful year for Tagor dynasty. Suzdal sons Astronom and Gratsk won the Letny and Osenny respectively. Flagman - great son of Floridon won the Bolshoy Letny, Anilin Stakes and Derby. Really he was the best horse in 1986. The horse of year. And now is a successful sire. In 1987, the previous year's Budenny Memorial winner Zafar won the Elita. 1987 was a special year for Derzky grandsons. Gzatsk won Derby and was runner-up in the Cup. Gabion (Aden) won the Russian Federation Stakes and Budenny Memorial. In 1988, Gusar (Suzdal) won Zakritiye and Granit II Stakes. Gzatsk wasn’t off the board in all major stakes for his age. Gabion won the Gosagropron Stakes. In 1991 Gassan (son of Suzdal) won the Budenny Memorial and Sravneniya Stakes. He also was third in the Derby and was disqualified in the Anilin stakes. Next Derby winner from the Tagor dynasty was Efes (son of Flagman) in 1993. Now we can illustrate the TAGOR dynasty from its beginning into the present day.
So, we can say that the best stallions in stud from Tagor dynasty were Floridon and Suzdal. Looking back at the history of Tagor’s dynasty we see that it didn’t lose its position after World War II, when a lot of famous well-bred European horses were imported to USSR. It is possible to say that Tagor was a sire of sires in USSR, much like Northern Dancer has been for American and the European countries. I hope that a new era for the Tagor dynasty will soon emerge. |