Multiple top-flight winner and versatile sire dies at 18

Multiple Group/Grade 1 winner Sulamani, the sire of last year's Grand National hero Rule The World, has died at the age of 18. He was put down after a short illness at Yorton Farm Stud.

The son of Hernando was bred by the Niarchos Family out of the winning Alleged mare Soul Dream, which made him a half-brother to French and Irish Derby hero Dream Well.

Initially trained by Pascal Bary for his breeders, Sulamani landed the Prix du Jockey Club and finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before he was switched to Godolphin.

Under the care of Saeed Bin Suroor he went on to win the Dubai Sheema Classic, Arlington Million, Turf Classic Invitational Stakes, Juddmonte International and Woodbine International at the highest level.

He began his stallion career at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket where he spent three seasons before standing for three years at Haras du Logis in Normandy. Since 2011 he has resided at Yorton Farm Stud in partnership with Rathbarry Stud.

His most notable representative on the Flat is St Leger and Hong Kong Vase hero Mastery, while stints shuttling to South America yielded Grade 1 scorers Concilium, Ganesh, Going Somewhere and Invictus.

His best progeny over jumps are Grand National winner Rule The World and Grade 1-winning hurdler Cash And Go.

Yorton Farm's David Futter said: “The Yorton team have been hit hard by his sudden demise. We will always remember him with great affection and be thankful for having the chance to stand him.

"Sulamani’s arrival at Yorton represented a tremendous milestone for us being the first stallion we stood in partnership with Rathbarry. Not only was he truly one of the toughest racehorses on the track but this strength was also passed down to his stock.”