Nasrullah
NASRULLAH ~ HIS LEGACY ~The “Irish rogue” forever changed the modern American thoroughbred ~
Winnings: 10 Starts: 5 - 1 - 2 , $15,21
Br.c,1940, Nearco – Mumtaz Begum by Blenheim
Nasrullah was a big, handsome bay horse with a white star, bred in Ireland by the Aga Khan and trained in the United Kingdom before becoming a champion sire in both Europe and North America.
Nasrullah was the first horse to lead both the American and English sire lists, which led to a legendary line of descendants that includes nine U.S. champions, three Hall of Famers and ninety-eight stake winners like Bold Ruler, Noor and Nashua.
Nasrullah's jockey, Sir Gordon Richards, described the horse as “very, very difficult to ride.” In a Sports Illustrated article of 1954 Richards .attributed some of Nasrullah’s unruliness to wartime restrictions (World War II) “which forced many horses to compete at one track for such a long time that they became bored with the whole business.”
Bill Nack, in “Secretariat – The Making of a Champion” describes how Nasrullah was “a rogue at the barrier and a rogue sometimes in the morning.” Sometimes to motivate the horse to run, his handlers popped open an umbrella behind him.
A brilliant racehorse, but he was considered tough, stubborn and obstinate.
Race record: 10 Starts: 5 - 1 - 2
Two-year-old season
• Won : Coventry Stakes.
• Won: Great Bradley Stakes.
• 2nd: Middle Park Stakes.
• 3rd:Wilburton Stakes.
Three-year-old season
• Won: Chatteris S.
• Won: Cavenham S.
• Won: Champion S.
• 3rd:Derby S.
Stud record
Europe
In 1944, Nasrullah was sold to Joseph McGrath, who subsequently stabled him at the Brownstown Stud in County Kildare.
Nasrullah was an immediate success as a breeding stallion, and in his six seasons, his fee rose from 198 guineas to 500 guineas. He was champion sire in 1951.
The best of his European progeny included:
• Nathoo (grey colt, foaled in 1945), winner of the Irish Derby
• Noor (brown colt, 1945), Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup
• Musidora (bay filly, 1946), 1000 Guineas, Oaks Stakes
• Belle of All (bay filly, 1948), Cheveley Park Stakes, 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes
• Nearula (bay colt, 1950), Middle Park Stakes, 2000 Guineas, Champion Stakes
• Never Say Die (chestnut colt, 1951), Derby, St Leger
North American
In 1950, Nasrullah was sold for $370,000 to Arthur B. Hancock, Jr. He was exported to stand at stud in the United States at Hancock's Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. In the nine seasons he went on to sire a then-record 98 stakes winners, and today his name continues to evoke memories of breeding and racing at the highest levels.
Nasrullah became one of the most important North American sires of the 20th century, leading the sire list five times. Among his American progeny were:
• Jaipur (brown colt, 1959), Belmont Stakes
• Bold Ruler (brown colt, 1954), Preakness Stakes, seven times champion sire
• Red God (chestnut colt, 1954), sire of Blushing Groom
• Bald Eagle (bay colt, 1955), Washington D.C. International
• Nashua (bay colt, 1952), Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes
• Nasram (bay colt, 1960), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
• Never Bend (bay colt, 1960), sire of Mill Reef
Breed for stamina with the speed and endurance/soundness!!
His most famous grandson, was Secretariat, who was also the grandson of Princequillo on his dam’s side Experts say he invigorated the blood of the American racehorse with new fire and speed.
Top-rated British two-year-old colt (1942)
Leading sire in GB & Ireland (1951)
Leading sire in North America (1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962)
Nasrullah is found in the pedigrees of hundreds of eventers, hunters, jumpers, all over the world. He was a brilliant racehorse, but he was considered tough, stubborn and obstinate. An American ranch owner was quoted as saying that he loved Nasrullah horses for ranch work, because once you got that tough streak working for you, instead of against you, they would work till they dropped.
Nasrullah died on May 26, 1959. He is buried at Claiborne Farm.
https://www.pedigreequery.com/nasrullah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasrullah_(horse)
https://www.secretariatsmeadow.com/tag/nasrullah/
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/4765/fifty-years-of---nasrullah?id=4766
*All copyright and credit for the posted photo of Nasrullah goes solely to the photographer, who took the picture. All rights are therein reserved.