Maharaj Rajendrasingh Idar's grandfather Maharaj Himmatsinghji of Idar was the first in the family to race horses. Prior to his involvment in racing, the Idar family was into Polo in a big way. However, his son Maharaj Daljitsinghji of Idar was not involved in racing. The family won most Classics including The Indian Derby twice with Jeanne d'arc in 1948 and Rose de Bahama in 1960. Maharaj Rajendrasingh Idar was more interested in breeding rather than racing. He started the Pratap Stud Farm in 1976 after a gap of almost 16 years since the Family was last involved in thoroughbred racing or breeding.
The Pratap Stud was started with the stallion named Storm who ran 2nd in the Indian Classics. Soon they aquired a horse called Dinyar from Jodhpur. Others to follow were Sweet Thanks, Tudor Circle, Baldur. None of these stallions gave Idar what he was looking for. He went to England looking for a stallion for his Pratap Stud. Mr. Dhun Kothavala told him about this horse called Saviour who was by Blakeney. Saviour was the favourite for the Epsom Derby but unfortunately could not run the Derby due to throat infection. He was never unplaced from all his starts. He was bred in purple. His sire Blakeney was a Derby winner, his dam had produced 3 English Classic winners and had Saviour won the Derby, she would have created history as no one has ever produced 4 winners of the English Classics. When Idar approached the owners, he was told that this horse would not fit into the budget of Indian buyers. Idar, the charmer that he is, somehow managed to buy Saviour. However, his success at stud was not as per hopes.
Next came Rossini - a half brother to none other than Secretariat and Sir Gaylord. Rossini sired some good horses for Idar. Pratap Stud's next stallion was the very precocious horse Tecorno.
Tecorno put Pratap Stud on the map. He has sired the Classic/Group winners Ashwamedha, Cape Dance, Indiscretion, Dancing Colours, Barood, Desert Carnival, etc. Some of the other classic winners bred at the Pratap Stud are Midori, Majestic Eagle, etc. Pratap Stud has the distinction of being the only Stud to have produced 3 winners of the prestigious Poonawalla Breeders' Million with Le Gris Cheval, Brave Hunter and Indiscretion.
Stallions currently at the Pratap Stud are Mischievious Music, Brave Hunter, Duja and Royal Gladiator.
