NANOLI STUD: New horizons for bloodstock breeding in India

By Anil P Mukhi
August 18, 2004

One of features of the last decade of bloodstock breeding in India has been the meteoric rise of the Nanoli Stud & Agricultural Farm from a fledgling start-up to a force to reckon with. Today, the Western India-based farm can be counted amongst the upper echelons of the Indian Turf, taking high rank right up there with the best of them.

In fact, on some parameters, Nanoli outshines even long-established farms such as Kunigal, Manjri, Poonawalla and Usha. In 2002-2003, the Nanoli Stud scored the highest number of wins in the Graded Races table, no less than 20 out of an All-India total of 94. This is an astonishing feat considering the stud’s relative “youth” and the smaller numbers it has fielded as compared to its gargantuan rivals.

Set up in 1994 by Mr. Khushroo Dhunjibhoy, who was - as he put it - “realizing a life-long dream”, the ultra-modern farm occupies a shade over 100 hectares on the banks of the rain-fed Indrayani River, in Maharashtra’s Pune District.

The purpose-built nursery has every facility one may expect in a modern stud farm - comfortable stabling, spacious lush paddocks, an enormous covered shed for exercise in inclement weather, indoor and outdoor walking rings, an undulating sand track, a turf track, an aqua-treadmill, mechanized horse walkers, and so on.

Equipment and facilities by themselves are of little use, unless they are utilized in an optimum manner. For this, one needs trained people - dedicated and hard-working persons, imbued with purpose. Nanoli has taken pains to hire the finest staff members available, and to look after the welfare of its personnel in such a manner as to ensure that every individual is able to give off his or her very best at all times.

 Mr. Khushroo Dhunjibhoy

Heading the dynamic team is the well-known equine specialist, Chief Veterinarian Dr. Ravinder Reddy. The staff members are kept up-to-date by regular visits, demonstrations and “hands-on” training sessions administered by internationally renowned specialists in nutrition, farriery, etc. The entire nutrition programme has been specially developed, balanced and fine-tuned for local conditions, and is modified by use of the computer depending on the exigencies of the situation prevalent at any given time and climatic condition.

Facilities at Nanoli Stud Farm

The finest bloodstock has been sourced from around the world. The foundation stallion was Fappiano’s son, Cristofori[USA], whose stud career was unfortunately cut short when he was in his prime. Despite this, he was able to produce no less than 11 millionaires from just 110 foals!

Heading his top offspring is the high class Algeciras, still in training, whose seven victories include the Maj. P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup, Gr.1, Dr. S.C. Jain Sprinters' Trophy, Gr.2, and the A.C. Ardeshir Trophy, Gr.3. Ably supporting him were the likes of Classic-placed Lady Moura and Yukon, as well as Lightning Arrow (13 wins), Legendary Lover (12 wins), Regal Patriarch (11 wins), Cape Martin, Prince Nicholas, Regal Rock and numerous others.

The current resident imported stallions include:

BLACK CASH[USA] 1995

• Black Cash [USA], who is the first son of Deposit Ticket to come out to India, is a quality individual with an excellent racing record gained over five seasons of honest competition. He is one of the few imported stallions at stud in the country with no less than three Graded Race triumphs under his belt!

• These victories include the Eclipse Handicap, Gr.2, at Woodbine (Canada), and the Hall Of Fame Breeders' Cup Handicap, Gr.3, at Thistledown (USA).

• In all, Black Cash[USA] won 6 races, value $486,961, and placed 5 times.

Black Cash

• Black Cash[USA] is a half-brother to stakes winner My Marchesa. Their dam, Sooni, is a Graded Stakes-placed full-sister to Toll Booth (broodmare of the year in North America, and dam of champion sprinter Plugged Nickle and six other stakes winners) and half-sister to Raja Baba (champion sire in North America), Gay Missile (dam of Gay Mecene; grandam of Wolfhound, Foxhound; third dam of A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid) - truly a family of champions and successful stallions.

• Retired to the Nanoli Stud in 2003, Black Cash[USA] has an excellent first crop of foals of 2004 that are presently gamboling in their paddocks, developing their muscles, talent and spirit, while seamlessly gaining in height and weight, in the pristine and unspoiled environment.

STORM TROOPER[USA] 1993

• Storm Trooper [USA] is amongst a handful of horses that have commenced their stud careers in India with a Grade 1 win in North America under their belt.

• In all, this versatile son of Diesis won 7 races, $ 622,533, in England & USA, including the Hollywood Turf Handicap, Gr.1, the San Marino Handicap and the Feilden Stakes, L.

• He also placed 2nd in the San Luis Rey Stakes, Gr.2, the Arlington Handicap, Gr.2, and the Hialeah Turf Cup, Gr.3, showing himself to be effective on all kinds of tracks and under all sorts of conditions

Storm Trooper

• Storm Trooper[USA] is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Marilette. Their dam was a half-sister to Storm Bird (champion 2-y-o colt in England, 5 wins, $ 168,891, incl. the William Hill Dewhurst Stakes, Gr.1; leading sire), Northernette (13 wins, $ 404,914, incl. the Top Flight Handicap, Gr.1; dam of Scoot, 5 wins, $ 153,940, incl. the Flower Bowl Handicap, Gr.1), Ocean's Answer (3 wins, $ 58,062, incl. the Natalma Stakes; grandam of Green Tune, 5 wins, $ 443,505, incl. the French 2000 Guineas, Gr.1, sire, Pas De Reponse, 5 wins, $ 344,109, incl. the Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes, Gr.1, and Didyme, 4 wins, $ 188,122, incl. the Prix Robert Papin, Gr.2, sire).

• Storm Trooper[USA] was retired to stud in India in 1999. From limited opportunities, he is already the sire of 13 winners of 22 races, Rs.56,35,787, including the very high class Artois (3 wins, Rs. 18,64,656, incl. the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby, Gr.1, and the Gen. Rajendrasinhji Trophy, Gr.3) and the progressive Londoner (2 wins, Rs.6,66,569, and placed 3rd in the McDowell Indian 2000 Guineas, Gr.1).

INDICTMENT

In addition, the stud stands Indian-bred INDICTMENT, an Indian Triple Crown-winning son of champion sire Razeen[USA], and Indictment’s own son, ALDEBURGH. Indictment, who is unfortunately afflicted with a back problem causing his book to be limited, has an enviable success rate and Aldeburgh bids fair to consolidate this particular strip of the Northern Dancer tribe.

The broodmares imported to Nanoli over the past few years include Autumn Rythym[USA], Chloe's Delight[USA], Confiture[USA], Cut Of The Cloth[CAN], Free Thinker[USA], Goodnight Moon[IRE], Kafiyah[USA], Little Cinderella[USA], Miss Eye Dee Eye[USA], Quickshine[USA] (own-sister to Style Of Life, whose son Grey Swallow won the 2004 Budweiser Irish Derby, Gr.1), Rahy's Serenade[USA}, Zografi [IRE} and Zuni[USA], while local stars that have graced the Nanoli paddocks include the fleetest filly seen on local tracks for several years - Indiscretion -- along with Kilshannig, Sea Winds, Ensenada, etc.

INDICTMENT

In order to benefit from genetic diversity, Nanoli has never hesitated in breaking the traditional shackles that have hitherto tied down some studmasters into patronizing only the home stallions. Nanoli has boldly utilized the services of leading stallions from the region and elsewhere, such as Alnasr Alwasheek[GB], Diffident[FR], Greensmith[GB], Pennine Ridge[USA}, Placerville[USA], Royal Kingdom [IRE] and Serious Spender[USA], a policy that has already been rewarded with three Indian Classic winners in just two crops (1999 and 2000)!

Between them, the peerless Nanoli mares have thrown such stars as:

• Zurbaran, 2003 Horse of the Year in India and hero of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup, Gr.1.
  

• Supervite, victress of the 1999 McDowell Indian Derby, Gr.1, and the 1998 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby, Gr.1.
  

• Noble Eagle, all-the-way winner of the 2003 McDowell Indian Derby, Gr.1.
  

• Royal Gladiator, winner of the 2001 Kingfisher Colts Trial Stakes, Gr.1, and now a stallion
  

• Algeciras, leading sprinter/miler, incl. the 2004 Maj. P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup, Gr.1.
  

• Protégé, winner of the 2004 McDowell Indian St. Leger, Gr.1.
  

• Estonia, victorious in the 2004 McDonald’s Indian Oaks, Gr.1.
  

• Aldeburgh, winner of the Indian 2000 Guineas, Gr.1, and now retired to his birthplace as a stallion

Zurbaran , winner of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup - 2003 being led in by owners, Trainer S Padmanabhan and Jockey Martin Dwyer. Byram Jeejeebhoy is third from left while Mr & Mrs K N Dhunjibhoy are to the right of the picture. Mrs Sharmila Padmanabhan is extreme left while Mr Narielwalla is to the extreme right

Estonia (M Narredu up) winner of The Airtel Indian Oaks (Garde I) - 2004 being led by trainer C D Katrak,  owners Mrs. Deepa Dhunjibhoy  & K N Dhunjibhoy.

• Allies Serenade, heroine of the 2003 Poonawalla Mysore Derby, Gr.1.
  

• Alchemy, winner of the 2000 Bangalore Summer Derby, Gr.1.

• Obligado, successful in the 2002 Kingfisher Mysore Derby, Gr.1.

• Artois, triumphant in the 2003 Nanoli Stud Pune Derby, Gr.1.

In addition, the likes of Prince Nicholas, Kia Ora, Kanthara, Lady Moura, Spaniards Inn, Ronaldo, Clifden, Viking, Masteroftherolls, Yukon and numerous others first saw the light of day at Nanoli and benefited from its rearing programme before flying the flag at the various racetracks of India.

Current three-year-old stars and budding hopes for the forthcoming Classic season include Berlioz, Fly The Fury, Frida Kahlo, Petronius Maximus, Sibelius and Theodora. There is a full-sized crop of 48 two-year-olds in training - statistically speaking, this crop too is sure to contain several as yet unheralded stars.

With such an unprecedented success rate within the country, including two winners of the Blue Riband of the Indian Turf in five years, one can certainly aver that Nanoli has conquered India. What now remains is the challenge of taking on the world. Anticipating future developments, Nanoli has already established a pre-export quarantine facility on the farm. It seems only a matter of time before the selected individuals that pass through its doors succeed in opening the gates of the world to the Nanoli-bred.

Photo Courtesy: http://www.nanolistud.com