RACING in India has been in the doldrums for a while, in large measure due to a whopping 28% tax take on betting turnover. Add to this the deductions needed to operate the tote and the race clubs, and it is easy to understand why many bettors are being driven into the arms of illegal bookmakers. This is a situation that is not sustainable for the future.

The racing industry, however, is fighting back and plans are afoot to stage an international race meeting in October 2021, while authorities would like to see a situation where horses from India could travel to compete in Europe. It is only by such means that the standards will rise in India where racing is still a passion for many.

Recent events in India have been a source of particular joy for one Kildare man, River Downs Stud’s John Weld. The veterinary surgeon spent some years in India and has retained his connections there – indeed they have grown and prospered and few outside the country know the business there as well as he does.

Giving him, and his client Poonawalla Stud, special reason to celebrate is the recent spectacular run of success for the former Jim Bolger-bred, owned and trained Leitir Mor. The son of Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) stands at Zavaray Poonawalla’s family farm and his first full crop are three-year-olds. He has a limited crop of four-year-olds, the numbers being small due to his relatively late arrival for his first year at stud.

That first crop has three local group winners (they are classified as listed winners for international sales catalogues), the Golconda 2000 Guineas (Gr 2) winner Vijays Singham, the Juvenile Sprinters’ Million (Gr 3) winner Storm Breaker and the filly Hunt For Gold, successful in the Breeders’ Produce Stakes (Gr 3).

Crops develop later in India than in Europe and their early season three-year-olds are treated as though they were effectively juveniles still. The second crop by Leitir Mor is headed by the unbeaten filly Forest Flame, winner of both the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million (Gr 1) and Breeders’ Produce Stakes (Gr 3). In the former she beat Golden Oaks and Lombardy, also a son and daughter of Leitir Mor!

On the recent Derby day, February 2nd, Leitir Mor sired four winners, while 24 hours earlier he had a double. Weld travelled to India where he attended the Derby in Mumbai and was delighted with the visit. He told me this week: “I was thrilled for Zavaray and everyone at the stud. Leitir Mor is quite the sire sensation at present, though I am not surprised. I’ve been fortunate to have introduced a few horses to India who have been very successful, notably champion sire Burden Of Proof, and Leitir Mor had all the attributes needed to follow suit.

“I loved that as a racehorse he had speed, was tough and had a perfect temperament. Jim Bolger always said that he was as good a looking and sound horse as he ever had at Coolcullen. He is imparting all these qualities to his offspring.”

Leitir Mor ran a remarkable 12 times at two, winning the Group 3 Go And Go Stakes and being placed three times at Group 1 level. He was runner-up in both the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes and third in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. At three he added the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes to his record. He chased home Dawn Approach and Designs On Rome in the National Stakes and only his stablemate Dawn Approach was too good for him at Newmarket in the Dewhurst.

Weld’s delight on his recent trip was not confined to cheering home winners by Leitir Mor. The Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby (Gr 1) was won by War Hammer, while Salazaar triumphed in the S M Shah Eclipse Stakes of India (Gr 2). The latter previously won the South India Derby (Gr 1). Both big race winners are sons of stallions that Weld bought for India.

Burden Of Proof (Fairy King) was a tough, sound runner, much in the style of Leitir Mor. In fact, by coincidence, both horses raced 32 times! Burden Of Proof won 12 times, landing the Group 3 Beresford Stakes at two and four years later registering his biggest win in the Group 2 International Stakes at the Curragh. He was initially trained by Charles O’Brien for his father Vincent, and later raced for Michael Tabor and was handled by Aidan O’Brien.

The leading first season sire in India, Burden Of Proof went on to become champion sire and was rarely out of the top three stallions for his entire career. His initial crop contained a record five classic winners. His tally of stakes winners, earning internationally recognised blacktype, in India is approaching 50. Burden Of Proof died in 2016 at the age of 24.

Burden Of Proof is classified as a Hall of Fame stallion by the Stud Book Authority of India. His latest big race-winning son Salazaar is out of an unraced daughter of Tejano (Caro) and she is a half-sister to a leading runner in India who went on to enjoy blackype success in Singapore, namely Saddle Up (Bold Russian).

War Hammer’s classic win was very special. He took on one of the biggest fields for the Derby, 20 starters, just a week after he won the Bangalore Derby. Other prior big race successes included the 2000 Guineas at Bangalore. War Hammer was ridden by champion jockey Suraj Narredu who was also in the saddle for Salazaar’s victory.

War Hammer ran away from his opponents to win by over seven lengths and claim his eighth win in as many starts. He is from the second crop of Air Support (Smart Strike), a multiple graded stakes winner in the USA where his biggest wins were gained in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby at three and the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Belmont the following year. He was runner-up in the Grade 1 United Nations Handicap.

Two of Air Support’s five stakes winner are out of Burden Of Proof mares, while War Hammer, easily his best to date, is out of the Bold Russian (Persian Bold) mare Soviet Lake. She had produced three stakes performing daughters by Burden Of Proof.