Nasrullah (IRE)
March 2, 1940 – May 26, 1959
Nearco (ITY) x Mumtaz Begum (GB), by Blenheim II (GB)
Family 9-c
March 2, 1940 – May 26, 1959
Nearco (ITY) x Mumtaz Begum (GB), by Blenheim II (GB)
Family 9-c
A frustrating mix of talent and temperament while on the race course in England, Nasrullah was no easier to handle as a stallion. Nonetheless, the tempestuous horse became a leading sire on both sides of the Atlantic and has wielded tremendous influence as both a sire of winners and a broodmare sire.
Race record
10 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £3347 (win money only)
1942:
1943:
Honors
English champion 2-year-old male (1942)
Assessments
Although he was the top colt on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1942 with a rating of 132 pounds, Nasrullah was weighted 1 pound below the top filly, Lady Sybil.
Nasrullah was weighted at 132 pounds on the Free Handicap for English 3-year-old males of 1943, 1 pound below champion Straight Deal.
As an individual
A bay horse, Nasrullah stood 16.1-1/2 hh. He was a handsome and brilliantly talented individual whose racing career was negatively impacted by his willful and ungenerous disposition. Among his other bad habits, he was inclined to pull himself up on making the lead, making it quite difficult to time his finishing run. A strongly made, well balanced horse with exceptional muscling through the gaskins, he had a notably sloping croup which was passed on to many of his descendants. Nasrullah was quite intelligent and invariably acted worse around humans who could be cowed by a show of temperament.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club's records, Nasrullah sired 290 winners (68.2%) and 84 stakes winners (19.8%) from 425 named foals. Peerage of Racehorses (Ulbrich) credits Nasrullah with 98 stakes winners from 420 foals (23.3%), while Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) shows him as having sired 98 stakes winners from 425 foals (23.1%). Nasrullah's progeny were typically good-sized and rangy with high withers and a sloping croup; many had varying degrees of his volatile temperament as well. He and his sons were part of a famous nick with the daughters and granddaughters of his fellow Claiborne sire Princequillo. Nasrullah is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Bald Eagle (USA), Belle of All (IRE), Bold Ruler (USA), Bug Brush (USA), Coronation Boy (IRE), Courtesy (USA), Dangerous Dame (IRE), Delta (USA), Fleet Nasrullah (USA), Gal I Love (USA), Glamour (USA), Grey Sovereign (GB), Jaipur (USA), Judy Rullah (USA), Leallah (USA), Musidora (GB), Nadir (USA), Nantallah (USA), Nas-Mahal (USA), Nashua (IRE), Nashua (USA), Nasr-Ed-Din (IRE), Nasram (USA), Nasrina (USA), Natasha (USA), Nathoo (GB), Nearula (IRE), Never Bend (USA), Never Say Die (USA), Noor (IRE), On-and-On (USA), One-Eyed King (USA), Orgoglio (GB), Queen Nasra (USA), Red God (USA), Rego (GB), So Chic (USA), Zucchero (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
A Wind Is Rising (USA), Arbitrage (USA), Basin (USA), Beau Brummel (USA), Billum (GB), Blessing Angelica (USA), Boucher (USA), Cassarate (GB), Craelius (USA), Creme Dela Creme (USA), Dignitas (USA), Dike (USA), Drumtop (USA), Duel (USA), Fiddle Isle (USA), Handsome Boy (USA), Heavenly Body (USA), Hidden Talent (USA), Homespun (USA), Lacquer (GB), Montaval (FR), Natashka (USA), Rose Bower (USA), Sally Ship (USA), Take Your Place (USA), Talking Picture (USA), Tell (USA), Tree of Knowledge (USA), Turkish Trousers (USA), Victorian Era (CAN)
Connections
Nasrullah was bred and owned by the Aga Khan, who initially stood the horse at Barton Grange Stud in Suffolk. After the 1944 breeding season, he sold the horse to Joe McGrath for £19,000, and Nasrullah moved to Ireland. McGrath, in turn, sold the horse to A. B. "Bull" Hancock of Claiborne Farm for £150,000 (variously reported as equivalent to US$340,000, $370,000, or $372,000, depending on the source consulted) with the sale taking effect after the 1950 breeding season; McGrath retained one breeding right. Nasrullah died of a ruptured heart at Claiborne Farm on May 26, 1959.
Pedigree notes
Nasrullah is inbred 5x5 to 1896 Oaks Stakes winner Canterbury Pilgrim. He is a full brother to the good English juvenile filly Rivaz, dam of the brilliantly fast English filly Palariva (by Palestine; dam of French stakes winner Khairunissa and English stakes winner Zahedan), 1963 Mother Goose Stakes winner Spicy Living (by Gallant Man), and stakes winner Tayeh (by Tehran; dam of French stakes winners Paraguana and Paola II). He is also a full brother to the minor stakes winners Nizami II and Malindi (dam of two-time French leading sire Prince Taj, by Prince Bio). In addition, Nasrullah is a half brother to Sun Princess (by Solario), dam of the important sire Royal Charger (by Nearco) and five other stakes winners; to Dodoma II (by Dastur), dam of 1949 English champion 2-year-old filly Diableretta (by Dante) and three other stakes winners; and to Bibibeg (by Bahram), dam of three stakes winners.
Nasrullah's dam Mumtaz Begum is a half sister to Mah Mahal (by Gainsborough), dam of 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud, and to Rustom Mahal (by Rustom Pasha), dam of the brilliant English sprinter Abernant (by Owen Tudor). The second dam of Nasrullah is the “Flying Filly,” English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal (by The Tetrarch), who became a great foundation mare for the Aga Khan.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Nasrullah at Claiborne Farm, November 6, 1950. Photo by Joel Clyne Meadors. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions related to use or licensure of this photo,
Last updated: November 14, 2024
Race record
10 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £3347 (win money only)
1942:
- Won Coventry Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Great Bradley Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Middle Park Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Wilburton Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
1943:
- Won Champion Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Chatteris Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Cavenham Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
Honors
English champion 2-year-old male (1942)
Assessments
Although he was the top colt on the Free Handicap for English juveniles of 1942 with a rating of 132 pounds, Nasrullah was weighted 1 pound below the top filly, Lady Sybil.
Nasrullah was weighted at 132 pounds on the Free Handicap for English 3-year-old males of 1943, 1 pound below champion Straight Deal.
As an individual
A bay horse, Nasrullah stood 16.1-1/2 hh. He was a handsome and brilliantly talented individual whose racing career was negatively impacted by his willful and ungenerous disposition. Among his other bad habits, he was inclined to pull himself up on making the lead, making it quite difficult to time his finishing run. A strongly made, well balanced horse with exceptional muscling through the gaskins, he had a notably sloping croup which was passed on to many of his descendants. Nasrullah was quite intelligent and invariably acted worse around humans who could be cowed by a show of temperament.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club's records, Nasrullah sired 290 winners (68.2%) and 84 stakes winners (19.8%) from 425 named foals. Peerage of Racehorses (Ulbrich) credits Nasrullah with 98 stakes winners from 420 foals (23.3%), while Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) shows him as having sired 98 stakes winners from 425 foals (23.1%). Nasrullah's progeny were typically good-sized and rangy with high withers and a sloping croup; many had varying degrees of his volatile temperament as well. He and his sons were part of a famous nick with the daughters and granddaughters of his fellow Claiborne sire Princequillo. Nasrullah is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, and 1962; 2nd in 1957, 1958, and 1961; 4th in 1964; 5th in 1954.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1968-1971; 3rd in 1966 and 1967; 4th in 1965; 9th in 1964; 10th in 1972.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1954, 1956, and 1962.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, and 1962; 2nd in 1957, 1958, and 1961; 4th in 1963; 5th in 1954.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1965; 8th in 1964.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1954, 1956, and 1962.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, and 1962; 2nd in 1957, 1958, and 1961; 4th in 1963; 5th in 1954.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1968-1971; 3rd in 1965-1967; 8th in 1964.
- Led the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1951; 2nd in 1953 and 1954; 3rd in 1949 and 1952; 7th in 1950; 8th in 1948.
- 5th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1957 and 1972.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1951.
- Led the American general sire list in 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, and 1962.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- Led the American general sire list in 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, and 1962.
Notable progeny
Bald Eagle (USA), Belle of All (IRE), Bold Ruler (USA), Bug Brush (USA), Coronation Boy (IRE), Courtesy (USA), Dangerous Dame (IRE), Delta (USA), Fleet Nasrullah (USA), Gal I Love (USA), Glamour (USA), Grey Sovereign (GB), Jaipur (USA), Judy Rullah (USA), Leallah (USA), Musidora (GB), Nadir (USA), Nantallah (USA), Nas-Mahal (USA), Nashua (IRE), Nashua (USA), Nasr-Ed-Din (IRE), Nasram (USA), Nasrina (USA), Natasha (USA), Nathoo (GB), Nearula (IRE), Never Bend (USA), Never Say Die (USA), Noor (IRE), On-and-On (USA), One-Eyed King (USA), Orgoglio (GB), Queen Nasra (USA), Red God (USA), Rego (GB), So Chic (USA), Zucchero (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
A Wind Is Rising (USA), Arbitrage (USA), Basin (USA), Beau Brummel (USA), Billum (GB), Blessing Angelica (USA), Boucher (USA), Cassarate (GB), Craelius (USA), Creme Dela Creme (USA), Dignitas (USA), Dike (USA), Drumtop (USA), Duel (USA), Fiddle Isle (USA), Handsome Boy (USA), Heavenly Body (USA), Hidden Talent (USA), Homespun (USA), Lacquer (GB), Montaval (FR), Natashka (USA), Rose Bower (USA), Sally Ship (USA), Take Your Place (USA), Talking Picture (USA), Tell (USA), Tree of Knowledge (USA), Turkish Trousers (USA), Victorian Era (CAN)
Connections
Nasrullah was bred and owned by the Aga Khan, who initially stood the horse at Barton Grange Stud in Suffolk. After the 1944 breeding season, he sold the horse to Joe McGrath for £19,000, and Nasrullah moved to Ireland. McGrath, in turn, sold the horse to A. B. "Bull" Hancock of Claiborne Farm for £150,000 (variously reported as equivalent to US$340,000, $370,000, or $372,000, depending on the source consulted) with the sale taking effect after the 1950 breeding season; McGrath retained one breeding right. Nasrullah died of a ruptured heart at Claiborne Farm on May 26, 1959.
Pedigree notes
Nasrullah is inbred 5x5 to 1896 Oaks Stakes winner Canterbury Pilgrim. He is a full brother to the good English juvenile filly Rivaz, dam of the brilliantly fast English filly Palariva (by Palestine; dam of French stakes winner Khairunissa and English stakes winner Zahedan), 1963 Mother Goose Stakes winner Spicy Living (by Gallant Man), and stakes winner Tayeh (by Tehran; dam of French stakes winners Paraguana and Paola II). He is also a full brother to the minor stakes winners Nizami II and Malindi (dam of two-time French leading sire Prince Taj, by Prince Bio). In addition, Nasrullah is a half brother to Sun Princess (by Solario), dam of the important sire Royal Charger (by Nearco) and five other stakes winners; to Dodoma II (by Dastur), dam of 1949 English champion 2-year-old filly Diableretta (by Dante) and three other stakes winners; and to Bibibeg (by Bahram), dam of three stakes winners.
Nasrullah's dam Mumtaz Begum is a half sister to Mah Mahal (by Gainsborough), dam of 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud, and to Rustom Mahal (by Rustom Pasha), dam of the brilliant English sprinter Abernant (by Owen Tudor). The second dam of Nasrullah is the “Flying Filly,” English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal (by The Tetrarch), who became a great foundation mare for the Aga Khan.
Books and media
- Nasrullah: Forgotten Patriarch of the American Thoroughbred was written by Melanie Greene and was released by The History Press in 2013.
- Nasrullah is profiled in Chapter 20 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and reprinted by Eclipse Press in 2006) and in Part Three of Edward L. Bowen's Dynasties (2000, Eclipse Press).
- Nasrullah is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Fun facts
- Nasrullah actually sired two Classic winners of the same name, Nashua. The first, an Irish-bred filly out of Dasaratha, won the 1952 Irish One Thousand Guineas. The second, an American-bred colt out of Segula, won the 1955 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. (Ironically, the filly was registered as “Nashua II” in the American Stud Book when imported to the United States even though she was the elder, as the American-bred of that name was the first to be registered in the ASB.)
- When the stallions were being shown to visitors at Claiborne, Nasrullah would throw a fit if he was not the first stallion led out.
- Completely uncooperative with veterinary treatment, Nasrullah never got so much as a tetanus shot while at Claiborne.
- Nasrullah was the first horse to be buried intact in Claiborne's main horse cemetery, an honor later shared with Princequillo, Swale, Round Table, and Secretariat. All the other burials in the cemetery followed the tradition of burying only the head, the heart, and the hooves to conserve the available space.
Photo credit
Nasrullah at Claiborne Farm, November 6, 1950. Photo by Joel Clyne Meadors. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions related to use or licensure of this photo,
Last updated: November 14, 2024