Sultan (1816-) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland for six successive seasons.
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), and Herod's best son, Highflyer (4 x 4). Sultan was a bay with a blaze, a sock on the off (right) fore and near (left) hind, and a stocking near the fore and off the 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 he was 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 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).[3]
Sultan, a tail-male descendant of Herod, maintained the Byerley Turk sire line through to Djebel and to the present.
*^ Sultan is inbred 4S x 5S x 5D x 4D to the stallion Herod, meaning that he appears fourth generation and fifth generation (via Highflyer)^ on the sire side of his pedigree and fifth generation (via Highflyer)^ and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
* Sultan is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Eclipse, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
* Sultan is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Highflyer, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.