Cover image courtesy of Aga Khan Stud
New information regarding the death of kidnapped stallion Shergar (Ire), has been revealed by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, the daughter of the colt's late co-owner, Aga Khan IV.
A winner of the 1981 G1 Derby by a record 10 lengths and a brilliant racehorse, the son of Great Nephew (GB) is best known for his kidnapping from the Aga Khan's Ballymany Stud in Ireland on February 8, 1983.
At the time, the IRA were the main suspects behind the kidnapping, which involved six armed men. The prevailing thought is that his abductors were ill-equipped to control a thoroughbred stallion, and that he was killed shortly afterwards. His remains have never been found.
Shergar (Ire) winning the English Derby | Image courtesy of Aga Khan Stud
Small ransom demanded for his safe return
Princess Zahra Aga Khan has now described how a ransom of £2 million (2026 £7.9 million / AU$15 million) that was demanded for Shergar's safe return was not paid out for fear the money would be “used against human beings” and revealed the horse had not been insured against kidnap.
She told Telegraph Sport, “We now know the horse was killed within two days (of being taken). They did so in an awful way.”
Another complication for the Aga Khan IV for paying the ransom was that Shergar was owned by a syndicate and they all needed to agree.
Princess Zahra, who was 12 at the time, said, “Dad was so upset, there was great disbelief. People didn't understand the horse was syndicated and the ransom demand was only for 10% of his stud value.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan | Image courtesy of Concordia University
“I remember Dad saying over and over, not only was the horse not insured against kidnapping – because who the hell was going to think of kidnapping a horse – but because the horse was syndicated he couldn't get everyone to agree on what to do.
“He also argued that even if he could pay the ransom, he couldn't do so if (the money) was going to be used against human beings.”
Princess Zahra said, “It was very unprofessionally done, and when they finally killed him they did so in an awful way.
“The horse didn't deserve that. Even as a stallion he was the kindest horse in the world, he was so unfairly treated.
“The horse (Shergar) didn't deserve that. Even as a stallion he was the kindest horse in the world, he was so unfairly treated.” - Princess Zahra Aga Khan
“And why? He was a national symbol of Irish breeding and racing. It's a long time ago, it was a very different world and people had different motivations back then.”
Shergar did leave a crop of 36 foals that arrived the year of his death. Five of them would go on to win stakes races, with G1 Irish St Leger winner Authaal a three-time Group 1 winner.
