Bijou d'Inde (9 March 1993 – 19 June 2010) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred in Hampshire and trained in Yorkshire he was a natural front-runner who was best at distances of around one mile. As a two-year-old he showed very good form, recording victories in the Acomb Stakes in England and the Futurity Stakes in Ireland. In the following year he was narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas before defeating very strong field in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He then finished second in the Eclipse Stakes but was well beaten in his last eight races. He was retired at the end of the 1997 season and stood with little success as a breeding stallion in England, New Zealand and Turkey.
Background
Bijou d'Inde was a chestnut horse with a white star bred in England by the Hampshire-based Whitsbury Manor Stud. His sire, Cadeaux Genereux won several major sprint races including the Nunthorpe Stakes and the July Cup. At stud he sired over 1,000 winners including Bahamian Bounty, Embassy, Touch of the Blues (Atto Mile) and Toylsome (Prix de la Forêt). Bijou d'Inde's dam Pushkar produced several other winners including Eradicate and Hebridean (Long Walk Hurdle).
In October 1994, the yearling was consigned to the Tattersalls sale and was bought by the trainer Mark Johnston. During his racing career, Bijou d'Inde was owned by Stuart Morrison and trained by Johnston in Middleham, North Yorkshire. Johnston was initially unimpressed by the appearance of the "gawky" chestnut, later commenting "I would have given him back if I could. But the first day he stepped on to the gallops he was very, very good".
Racing career
1995: two-year-old season
On his first appearance, Bijou d'Inde contested a six furlong maiden race at Newcastle Racecourse on 30 June and finished second, beaten a head by the favourite Mazeed. Four weeks later he ran in a similar event at Goodwood and was beaten a neck by the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Woodborough. Despite his two defeats, the colt was then moved up in class and was made the 11/4 second favourite for the Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs at York Racecourse on 15 August. Ridden by Darryll Holland, he led from the start before accelerating away from his opponents in the last quarter mile to win by three and a half lengths from Hammerstein. In all of his subsequent races the colt was ridden by Jason Weaver. Bijou d'Inde was sent to Ireland for his next race and stated odds-on favourite for the Group Three Futurity Stakes over one mile at the Curragh on 1 September. He disputed the lead with the Jim Bolger-trained Ceirseach before taking a clear advantage three furlongs out and won "very easily" by two and a half lengths from the other British challenger Axford. Three weeks later, on his final appearance as a juvenile, Bijou d'Inde started second favourite for the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. After being retrained by Weaver in the early stages he reached third place in the straight before fading and finishing fifth behind the Luca Cumani-trained Mons.
1996: three-year-old season
On his three-year-old debut, Bijou d'Inde was one of thirteen colts to contest the 187th running of the classic 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse and started at odds of 14/1. The field was a strong one, with Alhaarth heading the betting from Beauchamp King (Racing Post Trophy), Storm Trooper (Feilden Stakes), Royal Applause, Mark of Esteem and Danehill Dancer. Bijou d'Inde was among the leaders from the start and went to the front three furlongs out before engaging in a prolonged, three-way struggle with Mark of Esteem and the 40/1 outsider Even Top. In the ensuing photo-finish, Bijou d'Inde was placed third, beaten a head and a neck, with the trio finishing six lengths clear of Alhaarth in fourth. Three weeks later the colt started 3/1 second favourite behind the French-trained Spinning World in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on soft ground at the Curragh. After taking the lead in the straight he weakened in the closing stages and finished fourth behind Spinning World, Rainbow Blues and Beauchamp King, beaten six lengths by the winner. Johnston had admitted before the race that he had been uncertain about how the colt would cope with the conditions.