The enduring charm of the Bangalore Derby

 Dr. John Weld: The Unsung Maestro of Indian Bloodstock

 

By Sharan Kumar

In the world of Indian horse breeding, where flashy marketing often trumps actual merit, one name stands tall—albeit in the shadows—Dr. John Weld. A bloodstock agent of exceptional calibre, Dr. Weld has played a pivotal role in elevating Indian stud farms, yet, unlike some of his more social-media-savvy peers, he hasn’t flooded the internet with self-congratulatory posts. As a result, his remarkable contributions remain criminally underappreciated.

For those unfamiliar with the man, Dr. Weld isn’t just another horse whisperer; he’s a top-tier veterinarian who played a crucial role in setting up the now-iconic Kunigal Stud Farm when Dr. Vijay Mallya took over. Not only did he transform it into one of the country’s finest breeding operations, but he also left behind a legacy of champion horses—most notably Desert God, the highest stakes-earner in Indian racing history. And let’s not forget, he had a knack for picking out stallions that turned out to be absolute goldmines… at least for the ones who actually took his advice.

Take Burden of Proof, for example. When Weld orchestrated his arrival in India at the age of eight—an age where most stallions are considered past their prime—many sceptics were ready to write him off. But what did Burden of Proof do? He was ``idiot proof’’ as one trainer put it and proved them all wrong, siring Derby winners like it was a hobby and producing none other than Desert God himself. The progeny of Burden of Proof was a great boon to race horse owners looking for modest purchases who proved to be exceptional. Apart from entering the Hall of Fame for siring 10 and more individual classic winners, Burden of Proof literally boosted Kunigal Stud Farm and also helped the Stud Farm emerge as the champion stud farm in India as well. The broodmares sired by Burden of Proof are continuing his legacy.

Dr. Weld’s Midas touch didn’t stop there. He played a key role in importing Fiero, the sire of this year’s Indian Derby winner Ranquelino, and Sanus Per Aquam, who, despite an unfortunate (and bizarre) demise involving a bee attack, left behind Derby-winning progeny like Champions Way and Casteel. Then there’s Western Aristocrat, still active and producing champions like Indian Invitation Cup winner Kangra, and Royal Kingdom, the sire of titans like Holding Court and Democraticus. Oh, and let’s not forget Cougar Mountain, a stallion that has turned out to be a roaring success at Nanoli Stud Farm—another Weld recommendation that went unheeded by Dr. Mallya. Talk about a missed opportunity.

Yet, despite this incredible track record, Dr. Weld seems to be falling out of favour in a world where social media charisma is becoming as important as actual expertise. The modern bloodstock game, it appears, isn’t just about producing winners—it’s about how many followers, retweets, and flashy Instagram posts one can churn out. Unfortunately, Dr. Weld’s focus has always been on results rather than relentless self-promotion, a quality that—ironically—seems to have cost him.

John Weld is perfectly qualified to talk about his Indian racing as he has been a passionate follower of the sport for the last several decades. He says: ``One of the earliest wake-up calls I had in India—aside from the existential dread of navigating its traffic—was the sheer calibre of horsemen gracing the country’s racing and breeding circuits. World-class talents like Rashid Byramji and Pradeep Mehra could have held their own against the best in the business anywhere in the world, and I’d argue that some of today’s top Indian trainers could go toe-to-toe with their European and American counterparts—if only geography and bureaucracy weren’t conspiring against them.

Beyond his accomplishments in transforming Kunigal Stud Farm into a premier breeding establishment and advising on bloodstock with remarkable foresight, John Weld has also been a strong advocate for India’s place in the global racing landscape. He has long championed the idea that Indian-bred horses deserve a shot at international markets and worked on initiatives to make this a reality. However, despite securing key agreements at the highest levels, bureaucratic inertia has kept these efforts in limbo. While his primary legacy lies in his expertise as a bloodstock advisor and farm developer, his vision for Indian racing on a global scale remains an important conversation.”

Weld believes that Indian racing and breeding remain frustratingly isolated, not by lack of talent but by sheer bureaucratic inertia. Determined to change this, John Weld, alongside NHBSI, Dr. Farrokh Wadia, and Mr. Zavaray Poonawalla, spearheaded efforts to open export channels for Indian horses to Europe. With top-tier political support, an "agreement in principle" was secured—only for Indian authorities to stall. COVID conveniently buried the initiative, leaving Indian equestrian sports in limbo. Meanwhile, global demand for racehorses grows, but India, despite its talent and infrastructure, remains sidelined. Weld believes India could compete internationally—if only red tape didn’t strangle progress.

Still, every year, he makes it a point to visit India, touring stud farms, offering valuable insights, and helping trainers tackle their equine conundrums. A true horseman at heart, his passion remains undiminished, even if his social media footprint is non-existent. Perhaps it’s time the racing world recognized that the number of ‘likes’ on a post doesn’t translate to success on the racetrack.