Page 97 - April2022

where some of the speed came from in Nasrullah through his dam’s pedigree. Our look at the dam side of the
pedigree of Nasrullah will start with a filly born in 1921 named Mumtaz Mahal. Aga Khan bought her in 1922, and she became the Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in
1923 and the Champion Sprinter. She was dubbed “the Flying Filly” after winning seven races - all stakes - from 10 starts, finishing second twice. She won the Spring Stakes, Queen Mary Stakes, National Breeders Produce Stakes, Molecomb Stakes, Champagne Stakes, King George Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes.
Mumtaz Mahal was sired by The Tetrarch, a speed merchant that was like his daughter, very successful as a two year old. He was the Champion Two Year Old in England, running seven races with seven wins including the Champagne Stakes, Woodcote Stakes, Coventry Stakes, National Breeders’ Produce Stakes, the Champion Breeders’ Foal Stakes and the Rous Memorial Stakes. He was known
as the “Spotted Wonder” for his racing prowess. He didn’t race as a three year old due to leg problems.
The Tetrarch was sired by Roi Herode by Le Samaritain. The dam of Rio Herode was Roxelane by War Dance. The dam of The Tetrarch was Vahren by Bona Vista
by Bend Or. The “Spotted Wonder” title came from dappled circles on his gray coat known as Bend Or spots which originated with Bend Or.
Here are a couple of examples of the influence of The Tetrarch on the Quarter Horse. One of his leading sons was Stefan The Great, who is the broodmare sire of Quickly, the dam of the important Quarter Horse sire, Depth Charge. Quickly is also the dam of Triple Crown winner Count Fleet, who was the broodmare sire of Azure Te. Azure Te has three ties in his pedigree to The Tetrarch through Nasrullah, Quickly and Eight Thirty, as they all carry the blood of The Tetrarch. Depth Charge and Azure Te are both in the AQHA Hall of Fame. The other shot of The Tetrarch we will see in many Quarter Horses comes through Easy Jet. The dam of Easy Jet was Lena’s Bar, and she was out of Lena Valenti by Grey Dream by Gino by Tetratema by The Tetrarch.
Lady Josephine was the dam of Mumtaz Mahal by The Tetrarch, and Lady Josephine was sired by Sundridge, a horse known for his speed but at the same time he couldn’t carry that speed at distance
because of breathing problems. He made 35 starts with 17 wins, eight seconds
and one third. All his stakes wins came at six furlongs or less, including the July Cup (3-times), King’s Stand Stakes (twice) and the Chatsworth Plate (twice).
Sundridge was sired by Amphion and out of Sierra by Springfield, an interesting individual in this pedigree. As I pointed
out earlier, I have found much of the information on these horses outlined in Avalyn Hunter’s website American Classic Pedigrees. She had this to say about Springfield, “Considered the fastest English horse of his time, Springfield lost twice
as a 2 year old, but was unbeaten and unextended at ages three and four while racing at distances from 5 furlongs to a
little over 10 furlongs. Although he sired
the 1890 Derby Stakes winner Sainfoin,
he was best known as a reliable source of speed. Watercress was probably his best son at stud, but Springfield’s male line owed its long-term survival to Sainfoin’s one high- class son, 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand.”
You will note that Sainfoin is the sire
of Bromus, the dam of Phalaris and Rock Sand is the broodmare sire of Man O’ War. Top Deck has a breeding pattern of 3x4
to Man O’ War. Earlier we noted Gray Dream and his sire Gino in the pedigree of Easy Jet. The dam of Gino was Teresina by Tracery by Rock Sand. The dam of Gray Dream was Dark Love out of Sunny Love, and Sunny Love’s sire was Sun Briar
by Sundridge.
AQHA Hall of Fame horse Azure Te has three ties in his pedigree to The Tetrarch through Nasrullah, Quickly and Eight Thirty.
AQHA Hall of Fame horse Depth Charge TB, with his connections in 1946, traces back to The Tetrarch through his dam Quickly.
AQHA Hall of Fame horse World Champion Easy Jet traces back to The Tetrarch through his dam Lenas Bar.
SPEEDLINES
Speedhorse Archives
Joseph P. Wilson Speedhorse Archives
SPEEDHORSE April 2022 95