IN 2013, one of the best bred horses in training won the Group 1 Derby in style at Epsom, the victory coming three weeks after a wide-margin win in the Group 3 Chester Vase.
Ruler Of The World, who had not made his debut until landing a 10-furlong Curragh maiden in April, was later short-headed by Kizuna in the Group 2 Prix Niel and he had the fourth six lengths behind when finishing a neck and half-length third to Farhh and Cirrus Des Aigles in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot.
A light campaign at four was headlined by defeat of Flintshire in the Group 2 Prix Foy, his penultimate start before joining the team at Coolmore Stud.
The classic-winning son of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) is out of the Group 3-placed Love Me True (Kingmambo), and in addition to being a half-brother to the five-time Group 1 star and multiple classic sire Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill), he comes from one of the most famous stallion-producing families in the stud book.
Lassie Dear (Buckpasser), a Grade 3 scorer on the track but a broodmare of rare influence at stud, is his third dam.
Her descendants A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew), Summer Squall (Storm Bird), Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo), Deerhound (Danzig), Foxhound (Danzig) and Al Mufti (Roberto) are among those who have sired at least one Group/Grade 1 star.
Of course, the first three named have been major sires in the USA, with A.P. Indy founding a dynasty, whereas Al Mufti was outstanding in South Africa.
Ruler Of The World joined the list when his first-crop daughter Iridessa (dam by Danehill) won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, beating Hermosa and Pretty Pollyanna by a length and a half and three-quarters of the length, that trio clear of the rest.
The third had won the Group 1 Prix Morny two months before and would go on to chase home Hermosa in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas, the second of two classics she won that season.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Iridessa, on the other hand, went on to become one of the best of her age in the world, completing a top-level hat-trick in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
When a stallion gets one multiple Group 1 star there is every reason to hope that there will be more to come, and Ruler Of The World, now in his second season in France, promises to do well in his new home.
RULER OF THE WORLD (IRE), Chesnut 2010. Champion 3yr old in Europe in 2013 (9.5-10.5f.). Top rated older horse in Ireland in 2014 (11-13f.). Won four races, £1,070,242, from 1 mile 2 furlongs to 1½ miles, at 3 and 4 years including, Investec Derby Stakes, Epsom Downs, Gr.1, Qatar Prix Foy, Longchamp, Gr.2, MBNA Chester Vase, Chester, Gr.3, also placed second in Qatar Prix Niel, Longchamp, Gr.2, and third in Qipco Champion Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1.
Retired to Stud in 2015, and sire of the winners of 60 races, and £2,027,450 and sire of the winners of 2 races, and £31,485 under N.H. Rules, including IRIDESSA (IRE), AMARE (IND), WONDERFUL WORLD (ITY), Notre Ruler (GER), The World Is Your (IRE)
Stands at: Haras de Bouquetot, Domaine de Bouquetot, 14130 Clarbec, France.
Contact: Jeffroy Benoit, Sebastien Desmontils, Antoine Gronfier
Telephone: +33 (0)2 31 32 28 91
Email: nominations@bouquetot.com
Web: www.alshaqabracing.com
Fee: €5,000