Sultan (horse)

He was by Selim (sire of six classics winners), out of Bacchante by Williamson's Ditto. Sultan was inbred to three great sires, Herod (4m x 4f), Eclipse (4m x 4f), to Herod's best son, Highflyer (4 x 4). Sultan was a bay with a blaze, a sock on off (right) fore and near (left) hind, stocking near fore and off hind leg. He had a refined, beautiful head, well-sprung ribs, deep girth, and muscular, powerful hindquarters. Although he was a long horse he was a good weight carrier and sound, racing until the age of eight.[1]

Sultan had a good race record, winning 14 times. As a two-year-old, racing for Crockford, he placed third in the July Stakes, and second in the Derby Stakes, losing to Tiresias. He was one of the favorites in the St. Leger Stakes, but broke down in his morning gallop before the race. As a four-year-old, he placed second in the Port Stakes. When five, he won the Gold Cup at Newmarket Racecourse. He beat Gustavus (a Derby winner) in a match race as a six-year-old.[2]

When he was seven, Sultan was purchased by Lord Exeter. Racing for him, the stallion won the Trial Stakes for a second time, another race at Newmarket, which was his preferred venue for running.

Sultan at the Marquess of Exeter's Stud, Burghley House

Sultan was then retired to the Marquis' stud farm at Burghley. He went on to be the leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland for six consecutive years (1832-1837), producing classic winners, five of them 2,000 Guineas winners: Bay Middleton (2,000 Guineas winner, Derby Stakes winner), Achmet (2,000 Guineas winner), Green Mantle (winner of the Oaks), Galata (won both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks), Augustus (2,000 Guineas winner), Ibrahim (2,000 Guineas winner), Destiny (1,000 Guineas winner), and Glencoe (2,000 Guineas winner).[3]

Sultan, a tail-male descendant of Herod, maintained the Byerley Turk sire line through to Djebel and to the present.