Sheik Jean Fly HTT: The International Stallion Redefining American Speed
- Taylor Zimmerman
- Nov 7, 2025
- 4 min read
Imported Blood. American Opportunity.
“There’s something about him you feel before you even ask him for speed. He’s all class — athletic, confident, and kind. He wants to please you, and that’s what makes him dangerous in the best way," said Keith Nellesen, said Keith Nellesen, who imported Sheik Jean Fly HTT.
Imported from Brazil, this stallion brought with him not just a résumé, but a reputation.
Before most colts ever see their first major show pen, Sheik had already carved out his name in one of the most competitive barrel racing circuits in the world. As a 3-year-old, he clocked five separate 16-second standard runs, including a blistering 16.6-second trip at a major Super Show.
Those performances didn’t happen by chance.
They came from a rare combination of speed, intelligence, and heart, the same traits that have made him one of the most intriguing new outcross sires standing in the in the barrel racing and performance horse industries today.
The Bloodlines That Built Him.
Sheik Jean Fly HTT’s power starts with his bloodlines.His sire, Victory Fly VM, is Brazil’s leading barrel sire — a name that carries global respect for producing consistent, winning speed. His offspring have earned over $1.6 million in Brazil alone, with champions dominating every major event from the ABQM Cup to the PF & WF Cup.
On the dam side, Tiny Martha Jean (by Marthas Six Moons) adds a depth of proven American performance. A BFA World Futurity finalist and NBHA Presidents Cup winner, she’s a mare whose legacy blends beautifully with the Victory Fly line. Together, they’ve created a stallion that bridges continents and is a cross that’s rewriting what a “barrel horse pedigree” can look like.
In a landscape filled with repeating pedigrees, Sheik Jean Fly HTT stands apart as a fresh, high-powered outcross for American barrel racing mares. He brings speed that’s been proven in the arena — not just promised on paper — with the disposition and conformation to elevate any program.
For breeders looking to infuse new energy, balance, and raw velocity into their mare lines, Sheik represents a unique opportunity. His blood brings together the best of Brazil’s elite performance lineage and the foundation strength of classic American speed breeding.
From One Vision To The Next
After getting a call asking if the young stallion was for sale, Keith Nellesen decided that it was the right move for the horse noting that he will continue to breed to him. “We had too many mares and too many foals,” Nellesen explained. “Sheik deserved to be in a place where he could really shine. Letting him go was hard — we all cried that day — but it was the right move.” That’s when Garrett Henry, owner of 88 Ranch, entered the picture.
When Garrett purchased Sheik Jean Fly HTT from Nellesen, he wasn’t just buying a horse — he also ensured the success of Sheik's oldest foals. He immediately went all-in, purchasing more than a dozen of Sheik’s yearlings to raise and ride under his own program. “We’d been raising horses for 30 years,” Henry said. “And we’d had success, but I wanted a stallion that could change our program — one that could really move the industry forward.”
From there, Sheik came home to Solo Select Horses: not just a stallion station, but a stage worthy of his ability. “When we heard that Solo Select was taking in a few stallions, I knew it was the perfect fit,” Henry said. “Melanie and her team believe in the horses they stand and they don’t just stable them, they promote them, support them, and help them reach their full potential.”
Athleticism with Intention.
At 15 hands and 1,100 pounds, Sheik Jean Fly HTT is built for speed yet balanced in every sense with a strong topline, deep hip, and flawless bone. But what’s most striking about him isn’t his build, it’s his mind. “You can’t teach that kind of disposition. He’s got all the speed and all the look, but it’s his mind that really sets him apart. He’s just a cool, calm, collected horse," Nellesen said.
He’s focused. Trainable. The kind of horse that steps into the pen with composure and steps out leaving an impression. His quiet confidence and natural intelligence make him a stallion that’s not only easy to be around, but one whose offspring inherit that same sense of try and purpose.
Sanding Proud at Solo Select
At Solo Select Horses, every stallion is chosen for more than their record, they’re chosen for their impact. Sheik Jean Fly HTT isn’t just a horse with an international résumé. He’s a stallion whose story embodies why Solo Select stands the very best: proven speed, outcross opportunity, and the kind of natural class that can only be bred, not built.“Sheik is the total package — speed, consistency, and mind. He’s everything you want a modern stallion to be," said Melanie Smith, founder and owner of Solo Select Horses.
Do you want to meet Sheik in person?
Join us Saturday, November 22nd from 10 AM to 2 PM for the Solo Select Stallion Open House, an exclusive opportunity to see our world-class stallion roster up close and in person.
The stallion showcase will begin at 12PM, where each of our elite sires will be presented to the public. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and RSVP for a chance to win some amazing door prizes. You will also get an inside look at the Solo Select Thanksgiving Sale consignments featuring an exceptional lineup of broodmares, yearlings, show prospects, and more.
Victory Fly VM 01 IBR × Tiny Martha Jean (by Marthas Six Moons)
Owned by 88 Ranch
Standing at Solo Select Horses, Gainesville, Texas
