Sultan (1816–1839) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland for six consecutive seasons (1832–1837). He was a bay stallion, foaled in 1816, bred by Mr. Crockford, and later owned by Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter.
Breeding
Sultan was sired by Selim (himself the sire of six classic winners) and out of the mare Bacchante, by Williamson's Ditto. He was inbred to three great foundation sires: Herod, Eclipse, and Highflyer. He was described as a rich bay with a blaze, three white socks, and a refined head with well-sprung ribs, deep girth, and powerful hindquarters.
Racing Career
Sultan won 14 races over a career spanning seven years. As a two-year-old, he placed third in the July Stakes and second in the Derby Stakes (losing to Tiresias). He was among the favorites for the St. Leger Stakes but broke down in a morning gallop before the race. At age five, he won the Gold Cup at Newmarket. At age six, he beat the Derby winner Gustavus in a match race. He was purchased by Lord Exeter at age seven and won the Trial Stakes at Newmarket, his preferred venue. He was noted as a game, sound weight-carrier that excelled over a mile.
Stud Record
Sultan was retired to the Marquess of Exeter's stud at Burghley House in Lincolnshire. He became the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland for six consecutive years (1832–1837). His offspring won a total of 496 races. Notable classic-winning progeny include:
- Green Mantle (1826) – winner of the Epsom Oaks
- Augustus (1827) – winner of the 2000 Guineas
- Galata (1829) – winner of both the 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks
- Glencoe I (1831) – winner of the 2000 Guineas; later exported to the United States where he became a highly influential sire
- Ibrahim (1832) – winner of the 2000 Guineas
- Bay Middleton (1833) – winner of the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby
- Destiny (1833) – winner of the 1000 Guineas
- Achmet (1834) – winner of the 2000 Guineas
Legacy
Sultan was a tail-male descendant of the Byerley Turk (through Herod) and is the conduit through which this sire line survived into the modern era. His son Bay Middleton sired The Flying Dutchman, which took the line to France, where it flourished through Dollar and later through influential stallions such as Tourbillon, Djebel, and Indian Ridge. His son Glencoe established a long-lasting sire line in the United States, and his daughters Pocahontas and Reel became two of the most influential broodmares in Thoroughbred history. Sultan died in 1839 at age 23 after breaking his thigh.
