Early Days

Star of Gwalior (Hyder Ali - Lady Emma by Nearco) started his racing career modestly but ended it in a blaze of glory winning the Indian Derby, Gr.1 and Indian St. Leger, Gr.1 in 1956. He was then retired to Manjri Stud to stand as a stallion alongside his own sire. With Hyperion and Nearco (the Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector of their era) as his grandsires, Star of Gwalior certainly merited the honour. He had just four live foals in his first crop born in 1958 -- chestnut colts out of Chand Bibi, Padmavati and Indra Mohini and a bay filly out of the imported mare Leila II. Sometime in 1959, Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia visited the Manjri Stud to see the yearlings and in consultation with his trainer Maj. V.M. Lad decided to retain the colt out of Padmavati. That colt's older three-parts brother, Alijah, was already in training and pleasing his trainer.

Towards the end of 1959, Mr. Dinkoo Chenoy, the Manager of Manjri Stud, reported that the colt out of Indra Mohini, a late foal, had come on by leaps and bounds. However, Maharaja Jiwajirao was not keen on adding him to his string. Thus, the remaining three Star of Gwaliors were entered for the 1960 R.W.I.T.C., Ltd. Sale. Astute veteran trainer A.L.J. Talib bought the Indra Mohini colt and the Leila II filly for the identical price of Rs. 35,000 under the hammer. The Chand Bibi colt fetched Rs. 42,000 and went south. It is rumoured that Talib had bought the colt for the matinee idol Raj Kapoor. The rumours are plausible because Talib then had a Babbanio filly called Rajdulari in his yard who was owned jointly by Mr. Chandulal Shah -- of Chakori-Balam fame -- and Raj Kapoor. For reasons unknown, Raj Kapoor backed out and so the trainer stepped in. The colt was named Loyal Manzar and a half share was later sold to the industrialist Mr. K.P. Singhania. 

The Juvenile Year

Loyal Manzar made his debut as a two year-old on Christmas Eve. Stable jockey Stan Smith was put on Loch Lomond and Yusuf Khan was declared to ride Loyal Manzar. The ploy was to get better odds for Loyal Manzar who was going great guns in his morning work. The satchel men, however, are not easily fooled and Loyal Manzar opened a half money favourite and  obliged readily. On Alijah's two Thousand Guineas Day, he bagged the Moss Cup just as easily and then, on Alijah's Derby Day, he completed the hat-trick winning the Indian Union Cup despite carrying the penalty for his two wins and surviving an objection from the runner-up.

Not many youngsters take on older horses in a handicap so early in their careers, especially over a mile. Normally, Talib would have been more conservative. But, on the St. Leger day, Queen Elizabeth II was gracing Mahalakshmi, a race had been framed in her honour and Loyal Manzar was entered for it. It was a large field and odds of 12/1 indicated his chance. He ran a brave race, was caught up in traffic and finished on well but he was never going to get to Gwalior's Flying Carpet whom Khade had wisely sent into the lead early in the straight before the crowding started. In mid-March, Loyal Manzar ran in the K.P. Singhania Gold Cup and was at short odds to win the trophy donated by his owner. He could only finish second to Idar's Vine de Kandy, the winner's penalty that he carried and drifting out in the closing stages leaving him three-parts of a length shy.  He had raced five times in about eighty days, won thrice and been the runner-up twice. He deserved a rest and his trainer gave him a long one, not bringing him out during the Pune season.

The Classic Year

Running after a gap of over 200 days, Loyal Manzar was beaten by his old foe Flying Carpet over a mile on his reappearance. His next race, H.H. The Maharaja of Morvi's Gold Cup, was won by the grey Little Giant who led from the word "Go" and comfortably held Loyal Manzar who finished well in vain. Four seconds had followed three wins. Something had to be done and Talib transferred his half share to his wife's name. That seemed to work for he won the Indian 2000 Guineas, Gr.1  with utter ease, sparing three lengths to Lunik. His stable-mate Chatterbox had started as the favourite and Loyal Prince, at 13/4, gave the best return of his career. It was as easy in the Sir H.M. Mehta Gold Cup -- the Ramniwas Ramnarain Ruia Gold Cup of those days -- with another strong run from behind taking him almost three lengths clear of Mr. M.P. Davis's Davidivy. It was a great day for the Manjri Stud with Triple Star, Ali Baba, Azim-ul-Iqtidar and Rushikesh winning their respective races.  

The Loyal Manzar camp looked forward to the Indian Derby with relish and confidence. He had proved himself superior to the local contemporaries and it was the outstation challengers that he now had to vanquish. From the South came Glory of Andhra, like Loyal Manzar a son of Star of Gwalior. Owned by the Zamindar of Chikkavaram and trained by B.P. Shivan, he had won the South India Derby beating the Calcutta Derby winner Golden Can. In winning that race, Glory of Andhra had clocked 2.39.8. Thus far, no Indian Derby winner had won with a time below 2.40. Calcutta sent Crown Prince who had been only third to Golden Can in the Derby but had subsequently won the Indian Champion Cup in style.

It was Glory of Andhra, the mount of P. Shanker, who was installed the favourite at 6/4 with Loyal Manzar next in demand at 5/2. Indian 1000 Guineas winner High Party and Chatterbox (P. Khade) were the only other runners in 19-strong field whose odds were in single digits. No-hoper Albela-Chhela led early at a leisurely pace. The pace quickened when Shanker sent the favourite on and cut smart fractions to have the field off the bridle and beginning to get strung out. Just before the bend, Mughal-e-Azam broke down at the tail-end and was pulled up. Glory of Andhra continued to hustle with Hoyogreeb and Rushikesh following. The pace he had set told on the favourite and as his stride shortened, Hoyogreeb, Rushikesh and High Party who, after a customary tardy getaway had improved rapidly round the bend, went past Glory of Andhra. Stan Smith had bided his time on Loyal Manzar. He let his mount settle after coming wide round the bend and once he was balanced, he went after the leaders. Loyal Manzar's raking strides devoured ground and his momentum carried him past the Hyder Ali trio in front. The first four past the post were all bred at Manjri Stud; the winner by Hyder Ali's son and the other three by Hyder Ali himself. Trainer Talib, owner K.P. Singhania, jockey Stan Smith and the Majri Stud also had a treble on the day through the Derby winner, Triple Star and Lalla Rookh, all three sired by Star of Gwalior.  Loyal Manzar also became the first Derby winner to break the 2.40 barrier and is still the only Derby winner both of whose parents were born in India.   

INDIAN DERBY 1962 (Mumbai, Sunday, 4 February 1962)

A Gold trophy value Rs. 3,000. Sweepstakes of Rs. 800 with Rs. 55,000 added from the Fund. Total stakes Rs. 1,03,400. Winner, the Trophy and Rs. 66,305.75; second, Rs. 19,646; third, Rs. 12,278.75. Rs. 5,170 to the Breeder of the winner. For Indian colts and fillies, 4 years old only (born in 1958). Colts 9 st; fillies 8 st. 9 lbs. One and a half miles.

1.  LOYAL MANZAR (S. Smith) (5/2)
     (ch c Star of Gwalior - Indra Mohini by Sheridan*)
     Mr. K.P. Singhania and Mrs. A.L.J. Talib

2.  Rushikesh (later 'Rishikesh') (J. McGaffin) (12/1)
     (b c Hyder Ali* - Portskerrie* by Caithness)
     The Rajah and Rani of Kurundwad (Jnr)

3.   Hoyogreeb (W.J. Stevens) (15/1)
      (Hyder Ali* - Dilbahar by Steel Helmet*)
      The Maharaja of Parlakimedi

4.   High Party (B. Damodar) (8/1)
      (Hyder Ali* - Pixie Party* by River Prince)
      Mr. Rex

Also ran: Crown Prince, Chatterbox[NSB], Davidivy, Girish, Glory of Andhra (6/4 favourite), Al Bashir, Little Giant, Lunik, Alpine Kirk, Albela-Chhela, Volcanic, Vine-de- Kandy, Kamal[NSB], Shivshakti and Mughal-e-Azam

Winner trained by A.L.J. Talib
Verdict: 1 1/4, 1, 3 1/2  Time: 2.39.6  Field: 19 runners
Tote: Rs. 26 for win and Rs. 12, 37 and Rs. 45 for places.

Commoner was the first Triple Crown winner in 1954. Since then, Balchand, Fair Wood, the filly Rose de Bahama and Alijah had been in line for it, only to stumble at the final hurdle, the Indian St. Leger.  The Loyal Manzar camp and the public had no negative thoughts and the chestnut was sent off an odds on favourite. Loyal Manzar duly delivered, winning easily from Glory of Andhra, on whom Khade had replaced Shanker. Loyal Manzar, however, could not better the time set by his sire when winning the race six years earlier.

That was the last race Loyal Manzar won. He broke down shortly afterwards and though he ran in the P.D. Bolton Cup and the Eclipse Stakes of India in 1963, he failed to come on the board. He was retired to stud. In a career of 13 starts, he won seven races including the Triple Crown and placed second four times earning Rs. 1,93,501.

Stud Career

Loyal Manzar stood initially at The Poona Stud. Then, he moved around, having brief tenures at Greenacres, Manjri, Devanahalli, Jai-Govind and finally Dil Aram. It was at Dil Aram that he had a paddock accident in April 1981 and died. Constant changes of location and small books did not help his cause. In his entire career, he had only 70 named foals of which 63 ran in a race and 46 were winners. He did sire a very good horse in Loyal Prince (Indian Turf Invitation Cup, Gr.1, etc) and some useful ones like Charulata (third in Indian 1000 Guineas, Gr.1), Aflatun (third in Indian St. Leger, Gr.1), Vijetha (third in South India Oaks, Gr.3), Imroz, House of Commons and others.  

LOYAL MANZAR (Fourth Foal), ch c, 16 May 1958
Bred by H H The Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior
Bred at Manjri Stud

Pedigree Notes. Loyal Manzar had a five generation outcross pedigree but his dam was inbred 3x3 to Dark Ronald. She was a full-sister to the Renala Stud stallion Philosopher, the first Indian-bred stallion to get a Derby winner, Mansoor Beg. Philosopher also sired Gamble For Love, winner of three Indian Classics. Philosopher did well later in Pakistan. Loyal Manzar's full-sister Mohan Tara is the grandam of Golconda Derby, Gr.1 winner Crack Regiment. This is the Dum Dum branch of the CHARM (Yorkshire Oaks) family. Another stirp of the family has produced the likes of Lady Madonna, Abide, Resplendent and others in India. Hyder Ali-Star of Gwalior-Loyal Manzar-Loyal Prince is the most successful Indian male line. Each of them produced an Indian Classic winner with Loyal Prince being responsible for Sea Mist, the winner of Indian 2000 Guineas, Gr.1. 

A.L.J. Talib

There is little doubt that Abdul Lateef Talib was a trainer par excellence of his time. He belonged to a family of Iraqi Arab horse traders and commenced his training career at Chennai in the early 1930s. After learning the ropes at smaller centres, he moved to Mumbai and dominated the early years of Indian Classics. Bookmakers were happy for him to win big races but quailed often, for he was adept at pulling off big gambles also. The heavy bettors -- Chandulal Shah, Mr. Hope, the Ahmedbhoy brothers who were his brothers-in-law, Maharajah of Morvi, Mr. Stock and their likes -- were congregated in his stable. He fed his horses well and worked them hard. He had a very high strike-rate with juveniles making their debuts.

Talib was averse to visiting other centres and quite happy to concentrate on just Mumbai and Pune. He bagged the Trainers' Championship seven times at Mahalakshmi and nine times across the Ghats. His tally of Indian Classic winners was 24. At the time of his passing away on the eve of the 1970 Indian Derby, his record was unsurpassed. Gwalior's trainer Maj. V.M. Lad once said that Talib was a "Badshah".

S.R. Smith

Jockey Stan Smith was born in Surrey in 1913 but did much of his early riding in France, He first came to India in the late 1950s and was a regular winter visitor till the early 1970s, riding even during the monsoon seasons during the later years. His long rein technique did not suit all horses but Talib appreciated it for it was beneficial to young horses. His eight Classic winners were Loyal Manzar (Indian Triple Crown), Rocklie (Indian Derby),  Mother's Boy (Indian Turf Invitation Cup, Gr.1 at Chennai), Rose de Bahama (Indian 2000 Guineas), Sparkling Water (Indian 1000 Guineas) and Thunder Storm (Indian St. Leger); only the Indian Oaks eluded him.

Smith was in his 50th year when he rode Rocklie and he was  the oldest jockey to ride an Indian Derby winner. (Later, Khade was also the same age when he won on Mansoor). In June 1961, he and jockey Doug Smith went through the card at Manchester to record a unique 'Smith Day,' But the win that he cherished most was of Castle Yard at Redcar to win the Zetland Gold Cup for The Queen. He was then the oldest jockey riding in England. He died at Newmarket in 1991, a fortnight before his 78th birthday.

PAST THE POST

Loyal Manzar's best 'get' was the Invitation Cup winner Loyal Prince. In 1965, Loyal Manzar had moved from The Poona Stud to Greenacres and he was in quarantine at his new location. The mare Grecian Princess, owned by Mrs. A.L.J. Talib and M/s. M.H. Ahmedbhoy & R.N. Kanga, was nominated to the very successful Greenacres stallion Flower Dust. She, too, was in quarantine when she came in season. Mr. Suresh Mahindra, the doyen of Greenacres, suggested to the owners that Grecian Princess be covered by Loyal Manzar and that he would honour the Flower Dust nomination the following year. The suggestion was accepted, the mating took place in quarantine and Loyal Prince was born in 1966. Grecian Flower did visit Flower Dust that year and the resultant foal, Grecian Flower, was an ordinary sort. Strange, how Fate works.