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Mumtaz Mahal by Richard Buck 
Love at first sight
From the first time her connections laid eyes on her, she was held in the highest regard. Purchased at auction in 1922 for the account of the Aga Khan, her sales price of 9100 guineas represented the highest price given at an English sale since the great filly Sceptre went throught the ring 22 years earlier. The Bloodstock Breeders Review, in reviewing the sale described Mumtaz Mahal as, "Wonderful, as near to perfection as imagination can conceive" Tested By April of 1924, trainer R.C. Dawson already supected that Mumtaz Mahal was a very fast and special filly. Having recently sent out the filly Friars Daughter (who later foaled the English Triple Crown winner, Bahram) to win the Enfield Plate at Alexandra Park, Dawson decided to put Mumtaz Mahal to a formal test. He asked her to give Friars Daughter 28 pounds in a test over 5 furlongs. Mumtaz Mahal left her rival far behind, beating the stakes-winning filly by half a furlong. There would be no betting coup on this one as her debut had been long-awaited since she went through the ring more than a year earlier. The word was out. When "Mumty" (one of the many affectionate nicknames given to her by the racing public) debuted in the Spring Stakes shortly after the trial, she was held at even money. She won easily. Her subsequent efforts for the rest of the year saw a succession of easy victories accomplished in facile fashion. However, she could not stay a distance of ground, losing the final race of her 2 year old year and her subsequent efforts at 3 years beyond sprint distances. No horse could warm her up at the shorter sprint distances. Her speed was said to be "electrifying" and her racing public dubbed her "The Flying Filly." Her Papa She was compared to her father, The Tetrarch, dubbed "The Spotted Wonder" for the unusual spots on his grey coat. He was sensational, a wonder horse, but succumbed to injury after winning all seven of his races, before he could prove his ability to stay the classics. It was the Tetrarch that gave Mumtaz Mahal her gray coat and at least some of her sensational speed. Most of the present-day grey horses trace directly to Mumtaz Mahal and/or her sire, The Tetrarch. So, when you see a fast gray, you might want to take a moment and pay homage to these two. Her Mama Mumty's mother was the chestnut Lady Josephine -- a filly of very high class at age 2 but who could not stay further than 5 furlongs. Lady Josephine's sire Sundridge was said to be the fastest horse of his day and an influence for high speed in the British Isles. Josephine's mother was Americus Girl, product of a mating of the fast imported American horse, Americus, and an English dam. Lady Josephine was to have an indelible influence on the breed primarily through Mumtaz Mahal but secondarily thru her daughter Lady Juror who foaled Fair Trial, who in his time was one of the primary sources of high-class speed around the world. Her children Daughter, Rustom Mahal, by Rustom Pasha, a foal of 1934, was unraced. No less an authority than Sir Gordon Richards, the jockey who led the English standings for 26 of his 34 years stated that Rustom Mahal was the fastest horse he ever rode. Interesting that a man who rode nearly 5000 winners and countless thousands of horses in his long career would single out an unraced filly and point to her as the fastest he ever rode. At stud, Rustom Mahal produced the brilliantly fast horse and chef de race, Abernant, said to be one of the fastest horses to ever race in the British Isles. Daughter, Mah Mahal, by Gainsborough, was of no account on the racecourse, but when she went to stud, she had an immediate impact on the breed. Her first foal was Mahmoud, (grey, by Blenheim II) winner of the 1936 English Derby in record time. After standing four years in Ireland, Mahmoud was purchased by the breeder C.V.Whitney to stand for his own Whitney Stud. Mahmoud's impact on the breed was immediate, siring a host of top class juveniles and middle distance horses. His male line is not presently strong, but his daughters have had a very significant impact. Amongst the many great fillies he sired, he left Almahmoud, dam of Cosmah and Natalma. Cosmah produced the champion mare Tosmah, as well as Halo, the latter a sire of great importance in the United States. And Natalma, foaled the immortal Northern Dancer. Halo and Northern Dancer represent just a small portion of the significant descendants of Mah Mahal, daughter of the Flying Filly, Mumtaz Mahal. Daughter Mumtaz Begum, by Blenheim II, was also of no account on the racecourse, but she was later to foal Sun Princess and Nasrullah. Like Mahmoud before him, Nasrullah was imported to the United States for stud duties, standing at Bull Hancock's Claiborne Farms. Nasrullah was superb and a five time champion sire in North America. Amongst others, he passed the mantle to his sons, Nashua, Red God, Never Bend, and Bold Ruler, the latter champion sire eight times on American soil and sire of the incomparable Secretariat. Sun Princess, daughter of Mumtaz Begum, foaled Royal Charger who sired 57 stakes winners. From Royal Charger descends his son, the crack sire, Turn-to, himself sire of Hail to Reason, Sir Gaylord, Cyane, First Landing, and many others. Mumtaz Mahal's son, Mirza II, was said by trainer Frank Butters to be the fastest horse he ever trained though he could not stay six furlongs. Trainer Butters trained a succession of champions and high class horses for the Aga Khan, so his opinion probably should be given considerable weight. Mirza had some success as a sire on the European continent, particularly as a sire of broodmares. And there were other sons and other daughters and other influences -- far too many to mention. Everlasting Mumtaz Mahal's influence spanned the globe as her offspring and descendants were purchased and exported to the furthest corners of the world. She boldly changed the makeup of the American racehorse through her grandsons, Nasrullah, Royal Charger, and Mahmoud, close relatives all. As the years progressed and her influences became less known to the public and breeders at large, many of her descendants, some knowingly and others unknowingly, were mated with others from her line. Her blood is everywhere. Without her, the American racehorse would be decidedly different. There would be no Seattle Slew, no Affirmed, no Alydar, no Northern Dancer, and no Secretariat. The racing world and those of us who call ourselves fans, owe her a big debt of gratitude. She was, and remains, the Goddess of Speed. |