Azor (horse)

Azor
Sire	Selim
Grandsire	Buzzard
Dam	Zoraida
Damsire	Don Quixote
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1814
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	John Payne
Owner	John Payne
Trainer	Robert Robson
Record	5:2-2-0
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1817)

Azor (foaled 1814) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from April to October 1817 he ran five times and won two races. In the summer of 1817 he created a 50/1 upset by winning the Epsom Derby after being entered in the race to act as a pacemaker for a more highly regarded stable companion. The rest of his form was well below top class, with his only other success coming when he was allowed to walk over at Newmarket.

Azor was a chestnut horse bred by his owner John Payne. Payne also owned Azor's dam Zoraida and his older sister Zora who won a race at Newmarket and finished second in the Riddlesworth Stakes in 1815. Azor's sire Selim won the Craven Stakes and the Oatlands Stakes at Newmarket and went on to have a successful stud career, siring the classic winners Medora (Epsom Oaks), Nicolo (2000 Guineas), Turcoman (2000 Guineas), the filly by Selim (1000 Guineas) and Turquoise (Oaks) as well as the British Champion sire Sultan. He was trained by Robert Robson, who sent out the winners of thirty-four Classics from his stable at Newmarket, Suffolk. Azor was the first notable winner for James "Jem" Robinson, who went on to win twenty-four classics including a record six Epsom Derbies.

Azor did not race as a two-year-old, and made his first racecourse appearance at the Newmarket Craven meeting. On 12 April he ran in the Billingbear Stakes, a 100 guinea race for three-year-olds over the Ditch Mile course. He was not among the favourites and finished unplaced behind The Flyer.

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