DUBLIN, Ireland -- At least five bandits stole one of the world's most valuable racehorses at gunpoint from the Aga Khan's stud farm and threatened to kill the 5-year-old bay stallion Shergar unless they get a $3.1 million ransom, police said Wednesday.
Police said five or six men, using the head groom as a hostage, took Shergar from his special stall at the Ballymany Stud Farm and drove off Tuesday night. They have not been heard from since.
The white-blazed stallion, who became a father for the first time last Friday, is owned in part by the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's 15 to 20 million Ismaili Moslems.
The Aga Khan, who was in Switzerland at the time of the theft, told the London Daily Express: 'I am deeply upset by this terrible news. Obviously you will understand under the circumstances, the less I say the better. The safety of the horse is paramount.'
Police admitted Wednesday night they had no leads. Detectives said they did not know if ordinary criminals were involved, if a paramilitary or terrorist group was trying to raise money for illegal activities or if Shergar was stolen to breed renegade champions. 'It could be a ludicrous attempt by country boys to produce their own champion,' a police spokesman said.
Shergar was Europe's 'Horse of the Year' in 1981, the year he was bought by a syndicate including the Aga Khan in 1981 for $18,750,000.
'I think it's absolutely awful that people should resort to such dastardly acts, especially against an innocent animal not even aware of its own value,' the Aga Khan's uncle, Prince Sadruddin, said in London.
The prince said the Aga Khan was 'very concerned' and hoping for the safe return of Shergar, who won the English Derby in 1981 on his way to earning more than $600,000.
Shergar's former trainer, Michael Stoute, said at his home in Newmarket, England, 'I don't know the details of what happened, but Shergar was the best horse I've ever trained and I only hope to God nothing happens to him.'
Police said they were checking horse stables and all registered horse trailers throughout Ireland in an effort to find Shergar.
'We would like anyone who saw anything or anybody acting suspiciously near the stud during the past couple of weeks to contact us,' Police Chief Superintendant James Murphy said.
Police questioned the groom, John Fitzgerald, about the theft and the threat.
'We want 2 million (pounds) if you want the horse back in one piece,' Fitzgerald quoted one of thieves. Two of the thieves were armed.
Fitzgerald and his family were surprised by the gang at their home near the farm, about 20 miles south of Dublin, police said. Fitzgerald was forced to go to the stable, point out Shergar, and lie face down in the trailer with the horse as the thieves drove away.
He was released early Wednesday and warned not to contact police for three hours.
The gang also told Fitzgerald they would call at noon to give details on delivery of the $3.1 million ransom but by evening they still had not called.
Security at most racing stables is generally tight but because of Shergar's high value the horse was kept in a special, secure stall in the stud farm's central block.
Shergar won the 1981 English Derby by 10 lengths -- the widest margin recorded in the race's 202-year history -- and the same year won the Irish Derby.
Prior to 1982, Shergar was the world's third most valuable horse behind Storm Bird, syndicated in 1981 for $30 million, and Spectacular Bid, syndicated in 1980 for $22 million. Last August, Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo was syndicated for a world record $36.4 million.
In 1981, Shergar won four races and earned $580,940. For his career, Shergar won six of eight races and more than $600,000.
The Aga Khan, the 49th spiritual leader and Imam of Ismaili Moslems, is the son of the late Prince Aly Khan, who in 1949 married film star Rita Hayworth. They were divorced in 1951 and Aly died 10 years later in a car crash near Paris.
