A stud responsible for breeding a number of India's best performers is seeking to extend its influence under new leadership with the purchase of four-time top-level winner Nations Pride to stand as a stallion.
Sohna Stud bred and raced the likes of Indian Derby winner Jacqueline and triple Indian Turf Invitational Cup winner Juliette for founder Sultan Singh before his death last November.
The stud has since been taken on by his sons, Aftab and Mehtab, who are based in Delhi, and Omaar, the chief of staff to House of Lords peer and Cobra beer founder Lord Bilimoria.
Bred and owned by Godolphin, Nations Pride was an 11-time winner for trainer Charlie Appleby, including four grade/group 1 successes in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T), Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (G1), Canadian International Stakes (G1T), and the Arlington Million Stakes (G1T).
The deal to stand Nations Pride at Sohna Stud was brokered by Ajay Anne of New Approach Bloodstock.
He said: "He's a very exciting stallion prospect for India and is bred similarly to Havana Gold, who has had two classic winners in India from a handful of runners.
"He was an exceptional athlete, a very sound horse with a great mind and constitution to race and win in five different countries and was at his best over a mile-an-a-quarter.
"I do sometimes think people forget why we're breeding and buying horses, because individuals like him really should be more valuable to people (as stallion prospects). We're really looking forward to having him in India."
Anne said breeders in India would be able to use Nations Pride rather than him being kept purely as a private stallion for the Singh family.
He added: "Mr. Singh was one of my first and most loyal clients, and his three sons are now very involved and hands on. They're very interested in the stud's future and it's something I'll be able to help and guide them with, so it's a positive moment for Indian breeding and racing."
