'We've already started selling nominations for next year' - Tasleet in demand in India after red-hot patch

Anhad Sidhu will have enjoyed the victory of Bradsell in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York more than most. 

The owner of Star Born Stud in India bought the dual top-level winner's sire, Tasleet, from Shadwell last November and it is a purchase bearing plenty of fruit.

Bradsell was already the flagbearer for Tasleet, with a Group 2 Coventry Stakes score at two and victory in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at three, while he returned from injury this season to supplement a Deauville Listed win with another Group 1 victory at York. 

As for his own CV, Sidhu says: "I'm a veterinary surgeon and I graduated from Glasgow many years ago. Then I worked for the Hong Kong Jockey Club and did a stint working in Australia at Randwick and Melbourne. 

"I specialised in surgery from the University of Edinburgh and worked there, and now I'm working in the Middle East."

Bradsell after victory in the Nunthorpe at YorkCredit: GROSSICK RACING

Punjab-based Star Born Stud houses around 25 mares and two stallions, including Tasleet. The son of Showcasing's excellent run of form also features the admirable American Sonja, winner of the Group 3 Prix Allez France at Longchamp in April and a close second to Mqse De Sevigne in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet recently. 

Sidhu says: "We've got two sires, Tasleet obviously being the more high-profile, while the other, Well Done Fox, we got from Richard Hannon and King Power Racing, he's a son of Acclamation."

Well Done Fox, a dual Listed winner as a two-year-old and second in the Group 2 Flying Childers and Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes, came to Star Born Stud in 2020 through Ajay Anne of New Approach Bloodstock. The same agent secured Tasleet last November. 

"My dad had a few mares but when Covid-19 hit, I was at that time working in Edinburgh and then this Acclamation horse came up," says Sidhu. "Ajay recommended him to us because we were looking to expand and stand a stallion. 

"In India it's quite different from British breeding as even smaller breeders would stand their own stallion, rather than send mares out. It could even be two or three stallions depending on the size of their operation. We started off in 2020 with Well Done Fox and then got Tasleet last year; he stood his first season with us this year."

Admiration for Tasleet has ensured he has covered more mares than the average stallion in India, while the Group 1 exploits of Bradsell and American Sonja means he will be heavily subscribed for the 2025 breeding season. For good measure, Tasleet was also responsible for the sale-topping £350,000 three-parts brother to Gimcrack Stakes winner Cool Hoof Luke, who sold to Amanda Skiffington at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.

Tasleet: sire of Bradsell and American SonjaCredit: Anhad Sidhu

Sidhu says: "We're a smaller farm but Tasleet has covered about 55 mares this season. I think American Sonja's Group 3 win earlier in the season was a bit of a turning point for him, and April and May would have been the busiest time for him. 

"Now with Bradsell winning the Nunthorpe, we've already started selling nominations for next year. I'd say he'd have around 70 mares in that book. 

"In India, covering about 40-50 mares is usually considered a very good book; most of the stallions would cover about 25-30 mares."

The Indian bloodstock scene has had plenty of new blood come its way, particularly from the stallion ranks. 

Also among the newcomers are multiple Group winner Chindit, Royal Ascot winner Mohaafeth and established sires Cable Bay and James Garfield. 

Sadly, Sidhu reports the racing side of the industry to be enduring a tougher time of things, although there are a number of individuals doing their best to try to revive the sport's fortunes. 

"The breeding side is definitely on the up, we've got Cable Bay, who is standing only about 60km from our place, while a few other horses have come to India like Chindit," he says. 

"Racing is struggling to stay afloat but people are trying really hard to keep it going. It is as it is in the UK, with prize-money struggles, and it's about keeping our heads above water." 

For Sidhu at least, there is plenty to look forward to. His two young stallions are flourishing in their second careers, with Tasleet proving hugely popular from the off and Well Done Fox's debut crop of runners set to hit the track shortly. 

He says: "It's really exciting and Tasleet has done really well since we've bought him; hopefully he still has his best and biggest crops to come in the UK off the back of Bradsell's two-year-old season. 

"Well Done Fox will have his first two-year-old runners this autumn; in India the two-year-old racing starts in October or November."

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