ITB_January

THE NEXT GENERATION

This month’s Weatherbys Stallion Scene reports from Japan’s Shadai Farm which has welcomed the 2024 Japan Cup winner Do Deuce to a young stallion roster that is producing excellent Grade 1 results

City Of Troy and Auguste Rodin have joined Coolmore’s roster, there’s 24 new sires in Kentucky and 2024’s top European miler Charyn is standing in Normandy

CHALDEAN

DUBAWI whose successful sire sons include NIGHT OF THUNDER, ZARAK, NEW BAY and TOO DARN HOT

MINDING is a seven-time Group 1 winner at 2 and 3 and is an own-sister to fellow Classic winners TUESDAY and EMPRESS JOSEPHINE

Unbeaten Gr.1 winner at 2:

1st National Stakes-Gr.1 by 5 lengths

1st Futurity Stakes-Gr.2

1st Maiden, Curragh earning a TDN Rising Star

High class miler at 3:

2nd St James’s Palace Stakes-Gr.1 (beaten a neck by Rosallion)

3rd Prix du Moulin de Longchamp-Gr.1

“ “

First impressions… when I saw him move, I thought for sure this would have been a $2m yearling! A great mover. He has real quality, a lovely colour, well balanced and a very good hind leg. He seems to have a lovely mind, and he looked fantastic. He is by Dubawi a great sire but you still feel quite a bit of Galileo about him too. I really, really like him.

LAURENT BENOIT, BROADHURST AGENCY

Fee for 2025: €15,000

Stud Fee: £20,000 Oct 1st SLF

NEW CENTURY

1st Summer Stakes Gr.1

1st Stonehenge Stakes Listed

The

KAMEKO x POTENT EMBRACE

SECOND LEADING FRENCH SIRE

now boasting 47 Stakes horses to his record including:

Be Your Best 1st Long Island Stakes Gr.3 Aqueduct

Trevaunance 2nd Preis von Europa Gr.1, Cologne

Marhaba Ya Sanafi 1st Poule d’Essai des Poulains Gr.1

3rd Prix du Jockey Club Gr.1

Armira 1st Kolner Sprint Trophy Gr.3, Cologne

Annaf

1st Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint Gr.2, Riyadh

1st Racing Bengough Stakes Gr.3, Ascot

Sparks Fly

Israr 1st Princess Of Wales’s Stakes Gr.2, Newmarket

Three Listed wins in 2024

nd Cumberland Lodge Stakes Gr.3, Ascot

The Aston Park Stakes Gr.3, Newbury

1st Prix Isola Bella Listed, Saint-Cloud

1st Robin Hood Stakes Listed, Nottingham

1st Prix Coronation Listed, Saint-Cloud

Motorius 2nd Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Gr.1, Del Mar

1st Green Flash Handicap Gr.3, Del Mar

1st San Simeon Stakes Gr.3, Santa Anita

Run to Freedom 2nd July Cup Stakes Gr.1, Newmarket

14 It’s Leo

Our man enjoyed the December awards’ season, and then, despite the snow and ice on the ground, saw a number of new stallions on ITM’s Stallion Trail

22 Ted talks

The desire to create an alternative investment strategy is driving the big international bloodstock spend

24 Girls Aloud

Cathy Grassick enjoyed ITM’s Stallion Trial and was impressed with Bucanero Fuerte and Henry Longfellow

28 Strong Constitution

Amy Bennett reviews the best of the action over Christmas and sees Constitution Hill silence his doubters, Banbridge join the elite staying chasers’ division and an astonishing performance from Brighterdaysahead

38 Leading NH sires

Walk In The Park is back at the top

40 Leading European and British Flat sires 2024

All stats courtesy of Weatherbys

44 It is all about the next generation

In this month’s Weatherbys Stallion Scene we chat to Naohiro Hosoda of Shadai Farm which has added Do Deuce to its roster. The Japan Cup winner has joined a group of young exciting sires including Suave Richard, Kitasan Black, Kizuna and superstar racehorse Equinox

54 Turning the dial

A select group of buyers transformed the bloodstock market in Europe last autumn revealing just how volatile things are, writes Jocelyn de Moubray

54 Bear with me

Reddy and Linda Coffey are standing new sire Go Bears Go for 2025. James Thomas finds out how the Group-winning son of Kodi Bear has settled into his new home

71 New kids on the block

Derby winners, Champion milers, Guineas winners and brilliantly-fast sprinters – we take a look at the new sires for 2025 headed by the 130-rated City Of Troy, who tops the list at an opening fee of €75,000

94 24 for 2025

Two dozen new sires will take up stud duties in Kentucky this spring, Jill Williams tells us who’s going where, how much they cost and who they are joining in the breeding sheds

100 Photo finish

The Bowen brothers keep it in the family 28 28

the team

editor sally duckett

publisher declan rickatson

photography trevor jones design thoroughbred publishing

advertising declan rickatson

00 44 (0)7767 310381

declan.rickatson@btinternet.com

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the photographers

press association

debbie burt

courtesy of stud farms

tattersalls

laura green goffs the printers

micropress press the writers

jocelyn de moubray sally duckett

james thomas

jill williams amy bennett ted voute

cathy grassick the stats weatherbys

accounts annie jones itaccounts@btinternet.com

plestor house, farnham road, liss, hampshire, gu33 6jq tel: 00 44 (0) 1428 724063

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MONTHS INTO MY NEW PERIOD which I termed “re-wire-ment”(I try to never utter the word that sounds similar), I submitted my first diary column to this publication’s editor, Sally Duckett, followed by seven more in 2024. Writing them was a highlight for me of 2024, and the reaction I had was really very heartening.

My delight at being asked to contribute to this venerable publication, with a truly global reach among its readers, was only matched by Sally’s invitation to continue to do so again this year.

Thank you very much, Sal. [Please stay out of hospital this year!]

I hope that I can continue to entertain and inform readers for the 12 months ahead. While I can always find topics to write about, I still approach each issue with fear and trepidation, hoping that I do have something vaguely interesting to share.

The easiest way to start a new year is by taking a look over the shoulder at the previous one. My immediate thought about 2024 is that it is a year I would be happy to forget.

I missed my annual forays to the Cotswolds and Paris for the Cheltenham Festival and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while a third stay in hospital meant that I had to stay at home in the week after Christmas, missing Leopardstown, to recuperate.

My first new year resolution is to avoid medical institutions!

While this might suggest that 2024 was some sort of annus horribilis, it was far from that. Indeed, my first full year working for myself provided opportunities that would previously have been conflicting, and I embraced each with a sense of excitement, and even rejuvenation. I have always liked the quote from the American motivational writer William Arthur Ward, who rightly said that “opportunities are like sunrises; if you wait too long, you miss them.”

Picking out individual highlights of the past year is not an easy task, and so I will largely avoid doing so. However, I will talk about some of the happenings that have given me the most pleasure.

This month Leo is looking forward to getting back on the sale trail, and through this year pressing forward with his work as chairman for the Bloodstock Industry Forum.

Those of us who sit on the press desks at various sales venues in Britain and Ireland are looking forward to Leo arriving on sales days with his fine selection of home-baked treats.

The awards circuit in December, the ITM Stallion Trail in January, and sorting the work-life balance

Photo courtesy of Tattersalls

The first of these has been reporting on sales, but I must begin with a confession. When I agreed to do this for The Irish Field, of which I was editor for two decades, I was a little unsure if I would indeed enjoy it. My first few days at the sales did not initially convince me that I had made the correct decision. How that has changed since.

Press rooms at bloodstock sales are very different from those at racecourses, for the most part being sparsely populated at the smaller sales. For the bigger days, desk space is at more of a premium, understandably. One thing that is hugely attractive about being at the sales every day is the camaraderie that exists among those working there.

Even on the quietest of days, when excitement can be generated by watching the bid board show the sale of a lot for €20,000, the hours spent in the company of others who love to talk about bloodstock and the world of breeding is very refreshing.

The faces are all familiar to everyone who attends sales or reads breeding columns, and great conversations are had on a daily basis. Of course, I am sure the warmth of the welcome I receive has nothing to do with the home baking treats I often take along with me, thanks to a skill developed by my partner while he was largely housebound during the pandemic!

Doubtless, the pages containing The Bloodstock Industry Code of Practice are quickly turned over when each sales catalogue arrives, and yet they contain hugely important information

The list of press room comrades is too long to list, consisting of writers and photographers, but as an award recipient might mention in their acceptance speech –they know who they are.

The sale season kicks off this month and builds momentum throughout the year, with hardly an opportunity to breathe from September to December. Bring it on!

Bloodstock Industry Forum

In April last year I was appointed chairman of the Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF), and the nine months since has been a time of consolidating the great work done by the group.

This year my main aim is to make more people aware of its work, and the services it offers. Being able to write about it in this column is one way in which to make more people aware of the group, its raison d’etre, and its make up. The funding for BIF comes from a small levy on the sale of all horses by Goffs and Tattersalls.

The sale catalogues for all the British and Irish-based sale companies include many pages which detail The Bloodstock Industry Code of Practice.

These were drawn up more than 15 years ago, and are reviewed, and amended where necessary, on an annual

There was snow and ice, but ITM’s Stallion Trail was a great success

IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING

coordinates the annual Irish Stallion Trail, normally held over consecutive days in January.

Visitors made their way to 35 different farms this year, mainly based in larger clustered areas in Leinster and Munster.

There were some 150 stallions to show, Flat and NH, old and new, but snow and ice in the days leading up to the event’s original dates caused some discommode; changes being made in some cases to accommodate those wishing to view the sires.

I am going to mention a couple of the stallions who have caught my interest and my eye this year, all new to Ireland even though some had been based elsewhere, and it is simply a shortage of space that precludes me from writing about more.

Even if they are out of the price range of many breeders, there was no lack of

interest in the two new stars at Coolmore –Auguste Rodin (€30,000) and City Of Troy (€75,000).

They are sons of Deep Impact and Justify respectively, both are out of outstanding daughters of Galileo, and each excelled on the racecourse, too. I love the depth of Auguste Rodin’s female line, the fact that his six Group 1 wins were gained in each of the three seasons he raced, and he seems to be competitively-priced for his first season.

The O’Callaghan family’s Tally-Ho Stud, already home to six stallions including Mehmas and Kodiac, adds three more to the roster for 2025.

Where does that family get their drive and energy?

This year they welcome the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs (€17,500), another Group 1-winninng juvenile in Bucanero Fuerte (€12,500), and

Big Evs

basis to endure their robustness.

From my own personal experience during my time as a sales company executive, vendors and purchasers usually only read conditions of sale when a problem arises, never when things are going smoothly or before attending a sale.

Doubtless, the pages containing The Bloodstock Industry Code of Practice are quickly turned over when each sales catalogue arrives, and yet they contain hugely important information, and offer those with an issue an opportunity to get, for free, initial and independent legal advice on possible criminal, civil and regulatory remedies open to them for breaches of the Code.

As chairman of BIF, I am grateful, on behalf of the members, to both Tattersalls and Goffs for inclusion of the Code in their catalogues, as well as collecting the funds needed to carry out its functions.

Work/life balance

Being involved with horses, whether racing, breeding or any other aspect, can be an all-consuming activity.

Many in the industry eat, sleep, drink and talk only about horses. What is happening in the world at large can often pass them by.

Perhaps you are one of these people?

the Group 1 Champion Stakes winner and Derby second, King Of Steel (€20,000). The latter pair are sons of Wootton Bassett.

I think Big Evs represents value, his sire Blue Point standing this year for €100,000. Big Evs is one of three Group 1 winners in Blue Point’s first crop, and being a grandson of Shamardal is also a plus.

With Tally-Ho’s incredible record of producing successful sires, and their strong support from loyal breeders, Big Evs will surely not lack for support.

Another farm that has a large band of supportive breeders is Joe and Jane Foley’s Ballyhane Stud, and this year they introduce Sakheer (€6,500), set to stand with Sands Of Mali whose first runners last year yielded 21 winners and four stakes horses.

Sakheer had Charyn behind him when he won the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes, and don’t forget that the winner of that race in 2007 was Dark Angel, the 2024 champion sire.

Peter and Ross Doyle always buy a nice individual, and they purchased

When I attended an interview for my first job, that of a pedigree complier for Ballsbridge Sales (later to become Tattersalls Ireland), my future boss, Michael Opperman, gave me a piece of sage advice. He told me to have friends and interests outside bloodstock and racing, and not to exist in a silo in which nothing mattered if it did not have an equine connection.

I have to say that I took his advice on board, and while work and my career have at many times been absorbing and compelling, I have always tried to keep up other interests. As one grows older, there is great pleasure to be had from taking time out to enjoy other pursuits. Whether it is watching other sports, including supporting Manchester City (for 59 years now), or attending classical music concerts and the theatre, I try to keep some balance in my life.

From the time when I was a child, I was fortunate to grow up in a house that had books in it, and in my seventh decade on earth my love for reading and collecting books has only grown deeper.

I have been lucky to be able to combine this

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City. Leo is a long-time supporter of the club, and recognises the importance of having interests outside of the sport and industry of horseracing

Shouldvebeenaring as a yearling.

Sound as a pound, he made 30 starts over three seasons racing, and the new Irish National Stud recruit is attractively priced at €6,000.

The highest earner by Havana Grey, Shouldvebeenaring got to within a head of a Group 1 win in the Haydock Sprint Cup, and breeders looking to breed an early sort will see lots of merit in this grey.

Two sires standing their first season in Ireland are Arrest and Masar, neither of whom have a published stud fee. They are standing at Boardsmill and Sunnyhill Studs respectively, and while their target markets are sure to be principally NH breeders, Flat producers would be advised to take a look at both.

A son of Frankel, Arrest has always been one to catch the eye and was sold as a foal for €440,000 to Juddmonte, for whom he raced.

Denied a Classic and Group 1 victory by Continuous in the St Leger, Arrest was hugely consistent throughout his three

seasons racing, and was a dual pattern winner at three.

Now celebrating 90 years of standing stallions, William and John Flood’s Boardsmill Stud has another potential sire success on their hands.

Michael Hickey’s family is another that has been a godsend for NH breeders, and he has carved his own place as a successful jumps’ stallion master at Sunnyhill Stud in Co Kildare.

Joining Fifty Stars in Ireland for 2025 is Masar, the Derby winner and son of New Approach who was Group 1-placed at two, placed third in the Group 1 2,000 Guineas before going on to land the Epsom Classic.

Born for a career as a stallion, Masar is from the family of outstanding sires Galileo and Sea The Stars, and his first crop, which has just turned four, has shown that Flat and NH breeders alike should consider him.

He is an early tip from me to be a top jumping sire in the years ahead.

Belardo GR.1 SIRE BY LOPE DE VEGA

EUROPEAN CHAMPION 2YO Won Gr.1 Dewhurst & Gr.1 Lockinge The highest-ranked sire standing under £15k in Europe by number of winners in 2024 (European Sires by no. of winners from 1/1/24 to 16/10/24 in Europe, Marray Thoroughbred Services) 57% winners/runners worldwide

Won Gr.1 Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes

Won Gr.2 Del Mar Handicap (3 times)

Won Gr.2 Charles Whittingham Stakes (2024)

Won Gr.2 Eddie Read Stakes

passion with a monthly column reviewing books, and if anyone wants to find out what I recommend you can get in touch, or follow my postings on the various social media channels.

After a busy 2024, I realised that I have a lot of books to catch up with. If you reach out to me and find no immediate answer in the months ahead, I am probably engrossed in some new volume just published.

After a busy 2024, I realised that I have a lot of books to catch up with

Social butterfly

Thankfully I am a gregarious human being, if a little shy at times. I know that some of you reading that last bit will find it hard to believe, but it is true. In my callow youth, I was painfully shy, and I recall my first boss, the aforementioned Michael Opperman, remarking on this many times. I had to push myself to mix with people, and was more often than not the wallflower in the corner of the room.

Getting over my social awkwardness has certainly opened many doors for me, and got me on the guest lists to some events I could once have only dreamed about.

A friendship developed with the great Sir Peter O’Sullevan has seen me attend the majority of his lunches held each November in London, their purpose being to raise funds for the half a dozen selected charities that he championed.

Since 1998, each of the six worthy causes has benefitted to the tune of £750,000 or more, and since 2016 a further 375 different equine welfare causes have also been supported.

Nigel Payne MBE, he of Earth Summit fame, and Mike Dillon of Ladbrokes, have been the driving forces of the charitable trust, and especially since Sir Peter’s death.

The most recent lunch, held in November, was the 27th such event, and a sold-out Dorchester in London hosted its biggest function of the year.

John Francome was the latest to be honoured with a lifetime award, and I was blessed to be seated at a table with two of the three previous winners – lifelong friends Nicky Henderson and Jessica Harrington.

Sir Peter will be forever known as the voice of racing, and the day’s proceedings were in the hands of someone now often referred to as the “face of racing”, Ed Chamberlin.

Rory Bremner was the guest of honour, and he had no shortage of famous names to send up during his routine. Goffs’ Nick Nugent entertained guests with his incredible patter at the charity auction but, more importantly, he sold eight items for a scarcely believable £165,000.

Two of the items stood out, and both produced lengthy and rewarding bidding wars. A visit for four people to visit trainer Willie Mullins, along with dinner and accommodation in the iconic Lord Bagenal Hotel, sold for a staggering £35,000, and yet it failed to top the

That honour belongs to a lunch for four guests at Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-star restaurant Murano, hosted by John Francome and Sir Mark Prescott, and it cost a tasty £53,000.

Could this be a contender for an entry in the Guinness Book of Records – £13,250 a head for lunch?

John Francome: honoured at the Sir Peter O’Sullevan lunch in November for his lifetime’s contribution to the sport

Aga Khan honoured

The Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin, home to the city’s Lord Mayor, is one of the most famous venues in Ireland.

The Mansion House was conceptualised in the 18th century by one of Ireland’s great visionaries, Joshua Dawson.

The Round Room itself was purposely designed in 1821 to receive King George IV, and it was here in 1919 that the first Dail Eireann (Irish parliament) met.

In 1921, 100 years after the room was built to receive the British monarch, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was ratified here. The ratification ended the Anglo-Irish War, and declared Ireland as a Free State.

A very different celebration took place in The Round Room at the beginning of December. It played host to the Horse Racing Ireland Awards, and there was no shortage of winners to be feted on the night.

The evening’s highlight was the announcement of the latest recipient of the Contribution to the Industry honour. First presented in 2004 to Con Collins, the winners since represent a broad canvas of people and organisations, including a jockeys’ valet, broadcasters,

“On so may levels, Irish racing and breeding will forever be in his debt, and I hope that this recognition goes some way towards acknowledging such an immense contribution”

trainers, owners, racecourse medical personnel, a racecourse, breeders and an historian.

The historian was Dr Tony Sweeney, and one of his favourite topics, about which he wrote and was most knowledgeable, was the history of the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland.

It was apt therefore that Princess Zahra Aga Khan was in attendance to accept this coveted Contribution to the Industry award on behalf of her father, His Highness the Aga Khan.

In her citation to HH Aga Khan, Horse Racing Ireland’s chief executive Suzanne Eade described him as “an iconic figure in the global racing industry.”

Eade went on to say: “Recognised the world over as a champion breeder and a champion owner, he has made his mark in many countries, with Ireland playing a significant role in his family’s renowned operation for over 100 years.

“On so may levels, Irish racing and breeding will forever be in his debt, and I hope that this recognition goes some way towards acknowledging such an immense contribution, wonderful generosity, and an unwavering support of our industry”.

HH The Aga Khan was awarded the Contribution to the Industry award at December’s Horse Racing Ireland Awards, the award collected by his daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan He is pictured here at the re-opening of The Curragh Racecourse and opening of the new The Aga Khan Stand in 2019

CHAMPIONS TO THE FORE

BRADSELL

Sprint sensation

£10,000 (LIVE FOAL)

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

Champion 3yo sprinter

£7,500

RAJASINGHE

Exceptional value

£3,000

A race record unmatched

£10,000 (LIVE FOAL)

TED TALKS...

Investing

Big players see thoroughbreds as an alternative investment strategy, writes Ted Voute

WE LEAVE behind a buoyant year at the top of our industry with significant investors jumping in across almost every category buying foals, yearlings and mares, as well as horses and fillies in training.

Amo Racing and Resolute Racing have moved the top end of the market across Europe by 20 per cent – an additional £50,000,000 pushed into the market is all it takes to move it.

Amo’s Kia Joorabchian’s day job dealing with the transfer of leading Premier League players can be a

£20,000,000 transaction in one go, so it’s not a dissimilar investment to that of a player being traded from club to club.

John Stewart of Resolute Racing runs an investment fund which typically holds multiple billions of dollars.

Investing in thoroughbreds is an alternative investment strategy that can provide unique opportunities and challenges.

Some aspects of thoroughbred ownership do offer protection against inflation, but there are several factors to consider that affect whether a thoroughbred investment can be considered inflation-proof, as well as ultimately

Some aspects of thoroughbred ownership do offer protection against inflation but there are several factors to consider “ “

classified as an “investment”.

Our industry is also one of the few businesses that remains unregulated and it is still easy to move large sums of money around without too much trouble. There is also a bonus of tax concessions, and the possibility of tax-free income on successful racehorses if sold when in training.

Like art, thoroughbreds are a tangible asset, have an intrinsic value and, potentially, can retain their worth.

Successful racehorses can generate significant income through winnings and stud fees, and if the demand for quality horses increases, then their value can appreciate

Resolute Bloodstock’s John Stewart (centre) at Keeneland: in December he spent 4,800,000gns at Tattersalls and over €1,050,000 at Arqana

potentially outpacing inflation.

They can return large profits to owners and investors.

The popularity of horseracing can lead to increased demand for successful horses, particularly in established markets such as the US and Europe – the demand drives prices up enhancing value over time

For some investors there’s an emotional or cultural connection to horseracing, which can encourage long-term investment, despite the threat of economic fluctuations.

But, having written all that, the market can be highly volatile.

The performance of a horse depends on factors such as avoiding training injuries or having luck in running, all of which can be unpredictable and lead to a variety of outcomes.

The costs associated with owning racehorses can also be substantial. They include training fees, veterinary care, insurance, boarding and other maintenance and management costs.

The investment landscape for racehorses lacks the extensive historical performance data that stocks, bonds, and other asset classes provide, and predicting performance can be challenging “ “

Middle-distance sires the value

AND SO, in this world of big-time investors, how do we make our decisions on stallions for our mares?

I think we need to operate where there is value by choosing stallions who are perhaps underpriced for what they have done, sires such as Make Believe or Australia.

Staying blood is also an area with huge uplift for ownerbreeders with large prize-money available over 1m4f, but with lower investment costs in stud fees.

Classic-distance stallions such as Nathaniel, Teofilo and Camelot

are three such options.

Breeding rights are getting a bad rep now, but I think Vandeek is a great option and he is by a proper stallion to boot!

Racing older horses who are already stakes winners can amass terrific prize-money in the winter with a few trainers basing themselves in the Middle East to take advantage of the various festivals on offer.

So my advice this year is to breed staying horses, race them and then travel the world!

Such expenses can significantly impact overall profitability

Selling a racehorse may take time and does not always yield the desired return, especially if the horse does not perform as expected on the racecourse.

The market for racehorses is highly specialised, and more so than perhaps the art market.

The investment landscape for racehorses lacks the extensive

historical performance data that stocks, bonds, and other asset classes provide, and predicting performance can be challenging without robust market indicators.

Changes in regulations related to horseracing, or shifts in market demand, for instance, due to emerging trends in gambling or shifts in entertainment, can impact investment returns.

Whilst investing in thoroughbred racehorses offers some protection against inflation due to the potential for appreciation in value and earnings, it is not guaranteed and it carries significant risk to the capital

Consulting with industry experts, trainers and experienced owners provides valuable insights.

Many new people attracted to horseracing are no longer hobbyists and demand a potential return from investment. This will make the industry sharper and more accurate, slimming the top end further as the professionals hit the bull’s eye more regularly.

Kia Joorabchian: on a mission

Nathaniel

T....Girls aloud

HE NEW YEAR has certainly started with a reality check. Barely was there time for dust to settle on New Year’s resolutions when we were thrown into a melange of weather situations with terrible floods affecting many farms, the harsh reality of plummeting temperatures and snow causing difficulties for many in racing and breeding, whilst, on the other side of the Atlantic, there have been the the catastrophic wild fires in California fanned by the strong Santa Ana winds, with racehorses having to be evacuated from Santa Anita.

This has been an incredibly stressful time for anyone caught up in Ireland and Britain with the winter weather and we are all concerned about the effects on our animals and livelihoods, but seeing the utter devastation and even loss of life in California puts everything into perspective.

Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to the community, and as I write the firefighters are still trying to control the blaze with threats of strong winds resurfacing.

On a positive front, the first foals are making their presence felt and there was a poignant arrival for new father and the future Netflix star Cody’s Wish – the story of the now sire’s incredible bond with the late teenager Cody Dornan is set to be made into a movie by the streaming service. This is definitely a movie that we will be looking forward to seeing.

Sadly, Cody passed away the day after his equine namesake won his second Breeders’ Cup, but his family still visit the horse who made their son and brother so happy.

With a happy new chapter to the story, Cody’s Wish’s first foal arrived on January 6 at Phoenix Farm in Kentucky and is a colt out of the Grade 2 winner Hotshot Anna.

The covering season is almost upon us and in the middle of January there was the annual pilgrimages of Flat and NH breeders visiting stallion farms on the ITM’s Stallion Trail.

The trail is an essential tool for breeders with mating plans and they can get to see the new recruits, it is also useful breeders from around Europe to consider sending a mare to an Irish-based sire.

It also does a little more – it allows racing and breeding fans to get up close and personal with their equine heroes.

This year it took place on January 10-11 with over 30 farms participating, minus a few exceptions that were snow bound and unable to open until the following weekend.

Before the snow I got to Coolmore, which was closed for the trail weekend, as well as Tally-Ho Stud, and I am very impressed with their rosters of proven and new horses alike.

Of the new additions, Tally-Ho’s Bucanero Fuerte is a real eye-catcher and the regally bred Henry Longfellow looks an all-round package for Coolmore.

Weather issues and the ITM Stallion Trail: Cathy Grassick, chairman of the Irish Breeders’ Association, reports on the new year events

On trail weekend I got to see the new stallions at Ballylinch Stud and those at the Irish National Stud, whilst the rest of the Newtown Stud team headed off to see the stellar roster at Kildangan Stud.

I was delighted to see how well the Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club winner Look De Vega has already let down and settled into his new base at Ballylinch, standing alongside his sire Lope De Vega.

Shouldvebeenaring, the newest addition at the Irish National Stud and by the exciting sire Havana Grey, will surely appeal to Irish breeders wishing to access this bloodline.

And it was, of course, a pleasure to see the stud’s Phoenix Of Spain who has stood at the famr since his first covering season in 2020. He has strong ties with Newtown Stud and we are keen supporters.

The hospitality put on by all of the Irish farms was exceptional and everybody we met along the way seemed to be having a wonderful weekend. Happy breeders and racing fans were also treated to promotional gifts and brochures with which to remember the day.

Currently, we have two veterinary students from UCD, Amy O’Donoghue and Siofra Kelly, with us on work placement and they were blown away by the experience.

However, the highest praise for the day came from young racing fan India Mallon, who was treated like a star by the kind staff at Kildangan Stud and declared that it was the “best day ever”.

Race fan India Mallon having fun at Kildangan Stud on the Stallion Trail

“This is undoubtedly the best ‘book’ ever covered by a first-season sire in the history of French breeding.” Jour de Galop 31/10/2024

record time 133

Xmas stars

Amy Bennett reports from a feast of top-class racing enjoyed over the Festive season

CAST YOUR MIND BACK to Boxing Day 2003 and the field for the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

While you may well remember the winner, Edredon Bleu, or the fate of the favourite, Jair Du Cochet (pulled up), do you recall a certain Valley Henry who was up with the leaders for much of the contest before exiting at the 13th fence?

Peer even closer at the ghosts of Christmas past and you may recall the same gelding also falling at Kempton on Boxing Day 2001, when parting company with Timmy Murphy at the 14th fence in the Feltham Novices’ Chase (G1), the race won by Maximize.

But why these recollections of a performer who endured a couple of his worst days at Kempton (though let’s not forget, he was a five-time Group 2 winner over fences and hurdles)?

Simply because, 21 years after Valley Henry crashed out in the King George, his equine family finally celebrated success in the same contest as Banbridge powered home to land his third victory at the highest level.

Bred by Danielle McSorley,

Joseph O’Brien’s charge is a son of Doyen, out of the Presenting mare Old Carton Lass, who failed to trouble the judge in a handful of point-to-point starts.

A half-sister to the Listed Midlands Grand National runner-up Major Malarkey (Supreme Leader), they are out of the unraced Valley (Flemensfirth), a half-sister to Valley Henry.

Sold privately as a foal by McSorley’s Bregarry House Stud – home to only a handful of broodmares – Banbridge did not make his reserve at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Online Sale in 2020, following three point-to-point starts. He was bought privately by Ronnie Bartlett.

Old Carton Lass’s Poet’s Word filly foal also had a fruitless trip through the sale ring at the Goffs December NH Sale, just 15 days before her older half-brother’s outstanding win. She was bought back for €20,000.

Banbridge: was impressive winning his third Grade 1 chase with his success in the King George VI at Kempton on Boxing Day

Dream Ahead

Including multiple Gr.1 winning sprinters GLASS

& DREAM

TDN Stallion To Follow

“…Intriguingly, Dream Ahead, the former Cartier Champion Sprinter, covered 82 mares in his initial season in Britain which has resulted in plenty of recruits to go to war with in 2025. This racehorse sire (77% runners from foals and 59% winners from runners) is available for the reasonable fee of £6,500 next term.”

Heather Anderson, TDN 28/12/24

Ranked alongside No Nay Never, Kodiac & Dark Angel for sires of Gr.1 winning sprinters since 2019

The leading sire of sprinters by earnings standing at under £25k (5f/6f from 2017 to 2024, Marray Thoroughbred Services)

A day later, another inmate of Joseph O’Brien punctured some big reputations at Leopardstown in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (G1) when Solness (Konig Turf) made all to defeat last season’s Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior (Maxios) by nearly 4l, with the 2023 Supreme Novices’ (G1) victor Marine Nationale (French Navy) in third.

Solness’s previous biggest victory came in Listed company and he was beaten 25l when fourth in the Tingle Creek (G1) on his start prior to Leopardstown.

Bred by Vincent Barrett’s M L Bloodstock, he is a half-brother to the French Listed hurdle winner Solway (Califet), out of the unraced Tiger Hill mare Solveigh, who hails from the good German family of Sommerabend, which also includes dual Group 1 winner Spillane’s Tower (Walk In The Park).

The victor is also a first winner at the highest level for his sire Konig Turf, also sire of the multiple Grade 2 winner Darasso.

The Jukebox Man calls the tune

Just over an hour before the King George, The Jukebox Man made his Grade 1 breakthrough when skipping clear of his rivals in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase to win by two and a half lengths.

He is a Goffs graduate on both sides of the

Above, The Jukebox Jury on his way to Grade 1 success in the Kauto Star Novices Chase, below and left, Welsh Grand National winner Val Dancer (pink) goes head to head with third-placed Iwilldoit in the Chepstow home straight, below and right, ownership syndicate The Val Dancers. The group includes bloodstock agent David Minton (pictured), who bought the son of Valirann at the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale for £60,000 in 2022

Potters Charm, a son of Valirann, is from the family of the smart chasers Lord Who and Measureofmydreams

Notable double for Valirann

There have only been two runnings to date of the Formby Novices’ Hurdle (G1) at Aintree since its reincarnation from Sandown’s Tolworth Hurdle, but the Boxing Day contest on Merseyside saw Potters Charm extend his unbeaten record under Rules in style.

Bred by Gerard Flynn out of the Shantou mare Autumn In New York, and while the now six-year-old was led out unsold as a foal at Goffs in December 2019, Willy Twiston-Davies had to go to £105,000 to secure him at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale in 2023, just after the gelding had finished runner-up on his sole point-to-point start at Boulta.

Irish Sea, and the son of Ask is the only winner to date out of the unraced Flemensfirth mare My Twist. She is a halfsister to Sunami Storm (Glacial Storm), who was Grade 3-placed over fences, and out of a half-sister to the Scottish Grand National runner-up Merry Master (Le Coq D’Or).

Bred by Paul Cunningham, The Jukebox Man gave a posthumous first top-level winner to his sire, who died in June 2024 at the age of 21.

The Coronation Cup (G1) and Prix RoyalOak (G1) victor spent a number of years under the Coolmore NH banner at The Beeches before relocating to Dunraven Stud in Wales.

His last two seasons at stud were spent at Willow Wood Farm in Cheshire.

Unbeaten in a bumper last season and a Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham in November, Potters Charm, a son of Valirann, is from the family of the smart chasers Lord Who and Measureofmydreams.

A day later, Whytemount Stud’s Valirann was represented by another significant winner when Val Dancer stayed on best of all at a fog-bound Chepstow to land the Grade 3 Welsh National, a career-high to date for the now eight-year-old.

Another winner to take the eye through the fog at Chepstow was Nietzsche Has (Zarak), who triumphed by 8l in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle (G2).

But before anyone weighs up his merits for the Triumph Hurdle in March, remove his name from the list. The now four-yearold will already be plying his new trade by then having been retired after his victory to take up stud duties at Haras de Montaigu, where his fee has been set at €7,000.

Constitution Hill looked back to his brilliant self in the Christmas Hurdle (G1) at Kempton

Sir Gino

And he’s back!

While Constitution Hill’s easy comeback victory in the Christmas Hurdle (G1) at Kempton on Boxing Day will have been an undoubted seasonal high for trainer Nicky Henderson, the yard celebrated another eye-catching success at the same venue a day later.

Sir Gino (It’s Gino) took his unbeaten record to six when handing out a seven and a half-length beating to Ballyburn in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (G2), cruising home in his first start over fences, less than a month after landing the Fighting Fifth Hurdle (G1) at Newcastle when subbed in for his high-profile stablemate.

Last year’s Wayward Lad third Soul Icon (Sixties Icon) went a couple of places better in the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (G2) on the same card 12 months later to land his biggest success to date. It was also his first success since October 2023.

Bred by Honeysuckle’s breeder Guy Bloodstock, he is out of the Loup Solitaire mare Solitairy Girl, who won once over hurdles at Stratford from 10 starts, and hails from family of the smart French chaser Matinee Lover (Double Bed).

Others to make an impressive switch from one discipline to another included Impaire Et Passe (Diamond Boy), a three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, who triumphed in the Faugheen Novice Chase (G1) at Limerick on 28 December.

Another star for Matnie

There can scarcely have been a more impressive winner over the festive period than the 30l victory romp by Brighterdaysahead (Kapgarde) in the Neville Hotels Hurdle (G1) at Leopardstown, on the final day of the track’s Christmas festival.

Bred by Francois-Marie Cottin and snapped up by trainer Gordon Elliott for €310,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in 2022, the six-year-old mare had landed the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April and is now unbeaten in three starts this season.

She is just the latest feather in the cap of the Laveron mare Matnie, who has already produced the outstanding ill-fated Mighty Potter (Martaline),the Grade 1 winner

Brighterdaysahead: the daughter of the late Kapgarde was massively impressive at Leopardstown

Caldwell Potter (Martaline), and the Grade 3 winners French Dynamite (Kentucky Dynamite) and Indiana Jones (Blue Bresil). Matnie is now owned by Walter Connors, and her most recent reported foal at present is the No Risk At All two-year-old colt Recognition.

Elliott is reportedly targeting The Festival mares’ hurdle with Brighterdaysahead.

Gigginstown House Stud and Elliott enjoyed another Grade 1 success at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day when Croke Park (Walk In The Park) held on to defeat stablemate Better Days Ahead (Milan) in the Long Distance Novice Chase (G1).

Successful in the Drinmore Novice Chase (G1) at Fairyhouse earlier in December, Croke Park was purchased for his trainer for £400,000 at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale in 2022, four days after winning his point-topoint.

Bred by A V Bloodstock, he is a halfbrother to the 2023 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (G1) victor Farren Glory (Fame And Glory), out of the AQPS and chase winner Toledana (Protektor), herself a half-sister to some smart jumpers, including the Grand Annual (G3) winner Oiseau De Nuit (Evening World).

Posthumous double for perennial champ

A day later, Elliott sent out Romeo Coolio to land his debut top-level success, staying on well to land the Future Champions Novice Hurdle (G1) at Leopardstown by 9l from stablemate Bleu De Vassy (Cokoriko).

A son of Kayf Tara, the winner was bred by Will Kinsey out of the Kapgarde mare Miss Bailly and cost his trainer £420,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale in 2023, just after his point-to-point success.

Bred by Jackie Chugg and her late husband Robert, The New Lion hails from the penultimate crop of Kayf Tara, as does Romeo Coolio

Runner-up in the Champion Bumper (G1) at The Festival a year later, the gelding’s dam is a full-sister to the Listed winner and Grade 2-placed Cap Soleil, from a family of classy French jumpers.

The perennial British champion jumps sire Kayf Tara may have retired in 2020, two years prior to his death at the age of 28, but the Overbury Stud resident’s legacy lives on.

The late sire celebrated a second top-level success only a day after Romeo Coolio’s win

when The New Lion skipped clear in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

The now six-year-old – who has subsequently bought privately by JP McManus – took his unbeaten tally to four in the process, adding to a bumper success in April and easy hurdle wins at Chepstow and Newbury this term.

Bred by Jackie Chugg and her late husband Robert, The New Lion hails from the penultimate crop of Kayf Tara, as does

Romeo Coolio, and was purchased for €45,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale as a foal in 2019. He is a full-brother to Kateira, a Grade 3 winner over hurdles at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in 2024 having been Grade 1-placed at the same meeting a year earlier, and a half-brother to the useful El Presente (Presenting), out of the unraced Raitera (Astarabad), a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1-winning chaser Golden Silver (Mansonnien), as well as Or Ou Argent (Mansonnien), who won a Grade 1 contest over hurdles in Italy.

However, more noteworthy perhaps is that Raitera is also a half-sister to the Grade 1-producing sire Diamond Boy, also a son of Mansonnien, a Listed winner on the Flat and now sire of such as the Christmas Grade 1 winner Impaire Et Passe and dual G1 winner L’Homme Presse, who was third to Banbridge in the King George.

Honourable retirement

In the cavalcade of top-class action over Christmas and New Year, it is all too easy to focus solely on the Grade 1 winners.

However a small mention in dispatches must go to the The Big Westerner, who landed a Grade 2 novice hurdle with ease at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day.

Winner of her point-to-point in March, it was just the mare’s second start over hurdles having been purchased for £120,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale by Peter Molony’s Rathmore Stud on behalf of the Mariga family

But while her win is to be celebrated, it also gives an opportunity to once again applaud her sire Westerner, whose retirement from stud duties at 26 has been confirmed by Coolmore.

A five-time G1 winner himself, Westerner is responsible for a slew of top performers, and his daughters are also making their mark at stud.

The son of Danehill will remain at Castlehyde Stud in retirement, having stood there for 18 consecutive breeding seasons.

The New Lion: has since changed ownership and will be running in JP McManus’s colours in future

E A R L I N G S A L E

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AESOP’S FABLES

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2yo Gr.2 winner

1st Gr.2 Futurity Stakes, Curragh, 7f, by 2¼l

1st Maiden, Navan, 5½f, by 2¼l on debut

3yo Gr.1 sprinter

3rd Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Santa Anita, 5f, to Nobals by a nk & ½l

3rd Gr.1 Prix de l’Abbaye, ParisLongchamp, 5f, to Highfield Princess by 1l & a shd

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1st L Sole Power Sprint Stakes, Naas, 5f

Beating 18 Gr.1 horses during his career.

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He is typical of his sire, a big, strong, powerful horse with a good mind. He has loads of scope and could get very classy horses.

Aidan O’Brien

stallion statistics

Leading British and Irish NH Sires 2024-25 (by prize-money earned to January 4, 2024)

Courtesy of Weatherbys

AL HAKEEM

by

SIYOUNI & JADHABA (GALILEO)

AMONG THE TOP THREE HIGHEST-RATED SONS OF SIYOUNI, ONLY SURPASSED BY ST MARK’S BASILICA AND PADDINGTON.

STALLIONS

Also standing at Haras de Bouquetot

stallion statistics

Leading European Flat Sires 2024 (by prize-money earned to December 31, 2024)

Courtesy of Weatherbys

Leading European First-Season Sires 2024 (by prize-money earned to December 31, 2024)

Courtesy of Weatherbys

Frankel’s best miling son out of a hats-off Royal Ascot Blue Hen – her sons and grandsons include three Royal Ascot G1 winners in two years. 118 in-foal mares in his first book. That’s a lot of breeders dreaming about the Royal Ascot winners’ lunch.

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£10,000 Oct 1, SLF. Dalham Hall Stud, UK

It was a superb autumn for a range of young stallions at Japan’s Shadai Stallion Station, there was a new Shadai stallion at the top of the Japanese sires’ title and two top level winners have joined the roster. It is all about...

...the next generation

Do Deuce after his victory in the Grade 1 Japan Cup on November 24. The Tokyo race was a last career start for the five-time Grade 1 winner who collected over ¥1,775,875,800 (£9,309,121) in prize-money. The son of Heart’s Cry has been retired to stud at a fee of ¥10,000,000 (approx £51,500)

EVENTS AT SHADAI STALLION STATION move at a rapid pace. This time last year the farm was looking forward to initiating the stud career of its new stallion, the superstar racehorse Equinox, who had retired to stud the winner of eight of his ten starts, victories that included six Group and Grade 1s with the Dubai Sheema Classic and his home nation’s Japan Cup, won on his very last outing, the highlights.

But time has certainly not stood still at the Yoshida family’s farm, stud and associated stallion operations, and it has already welcomed and added the next Japan Cup winner onto its rostrum – Do Deuce, who also brought the curtain down on his career in the November Grade 1 with his neck victory from the dead-heating Shin Emperor and Durezza.

Do Deuce, a son of Heart’s Cry , was due to run again before 2024 concluded in December’s Arima Kinen, but

risk of injury intervened and connections wisely packed him off to stud. The planned racecourse retirement ceremony was aborted with promises that the six-year-old will make an appearance at Sapporo racecourse in the summer to satisfy the desires of his extensive fandom.

Shadai has allocated Do Deuce an opening fee of ¥10,000,0000 (approx £51,527), half of Equinox’s debut fee, who had retired to stud for the 2024 season as the World’s Best Racehorse, Timeform’s leading

male and the Japanese Horse of the Year. A son of Shadai’s own stallion Kitasan Black, Equinox attracted an opening book of 203 quality mares, and it is is exciting times with those foals appearing on the ground now. His debut fee has been held for 2025.

Naohiro Hosoda, representative for Shadai, says: “Equinox had a superb book of mares in 2024, and we are looking forward to his first foals.

“He has been fully booked from early on for this season and he will be busy.

“But this business is always

about the new stallions, and we are very pleased to be standing Do Deuce, who is a son of the late Heart’s Cry, who was such a successful stallion for us.

“We have great expectations for him, and the success of Suave Richard in 2024, also by Heart’s Cry, has increased our hopes further for him.”

Hosoda adds: “Do Deuce is now at Shadai Stallion Station and is in good health. He was fully booked shortly after the fee announcement, so I think he is

Naohiro Hosoda

Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm

highly valued by breeders.

“His outline and action are reminiscent of his father Heart’s Cry, but he has more muscle than his sire and looks impressive. His forte was over a mile and middle-distances on the Turf, but his dam has a US speed bloodline, so he could well produce a variety of successful horses.”

Do Deuce is not the only new sire at Shadai for 2025, Shahryar, a seven-year-old son of Deep Impact, winner of the 2022 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) and the 2021 Grade 1 Tokyo Yushin (Japanese Derby), has also joined the roster.

In addition to his victories, he was six-times placed at the highest level and was something of a globetrotter – he was twice third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, first to Auguste Rodin in 2023 and then to Rebel’s Romance at Del Mar last year.

He was also second to the Godolphin runner in last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic and third to Contrail in the Japan Cup in 2021 and going on to finish

second in 2022 to Vela Azule.

In 2022 he also finished fourth to State Of Rest in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Hosoda says, “Shahryar has also arrived safely. He is a good-looking horse with a lightness just like his sire Deep Impact. He will stand at a fee of ¥2,500,000 – there are many competitors in his price range, but I think he will be popular.”

Shadai looks to the future

Shadai has its fine heritage on which to call – the farm was originally founded in 1955 by patriarch Zenya Yoshida at Chiba, near Tokyo before moving to its current location in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. After Yoshida’s death in 1993 the divisions of Shadai Farm, Northern Farm and Oiwake Farm were established and are run by sons Teruya Yoshida, Katsumi and Haruya.

In 1980, the racing club Shadai Thoroughbred Club was founded, with further

syndicate groups subsequently emerging such as the Sunday Thoroughbred Club, the Shadai Group Owners and the G1 Thoroughbred Club.

The names of the luminary stallions who have stood under the Shadai banner are something of a Who’s Who of global influential stallions, featuring such stars as Sunday Silence, Deep Impact, King Kamehameha and Heart’s Cry.

But, despite these bejewelled glories, the farm clearly does not dwell on the past and is pushing forward in its search for its next wave of generation-defining sires.

And things are certainly moving in the right direction as the farm enjoyed a rich vein of form last autumn with six Grade 1 victories by the farm’s vanguard of young sires, and included the four end-of-year Grade 1 races – the exciting filly Arma Veloce (Harbinger) collected the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Admire Zoom (Maurice) won the Asahi Hai Futurity, Regaleira (Suave Richard)

collected the Arima Kinen, and Croix Du Nord was successful in the Hopeful Stakes on December 28. He is by 13-year-old sire and seven-time Japanese Grade 1 winner Kitasan Black, who achieved those early heights in his stud career producing Equinox in his first crop.

He is a son of Black Tide, who was by Sunday Silence and out of the European-bred and purchased Wind In Her Hair and so a full-brother to Deep Impact.

Black Tide’s pedigree is proof that the threads of yesteryear stretch taut between the generations at Shadai, many

Do Deuce: the Japan Cup winner has a starter fee of ¥10,000,000

Admire Zoom: the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) winner by Maurice

The Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Croix Du Nord

pedigrees on the farm still boasting strong links to those important mare purchases made in the 1980s.

“Our young new stallions are showing remarkable results,” reports Hosoda.

“It was surprising to see such a great Grade 1 winner as Equinox by Kitasan Black so early on in his career, while Croix Du Nord is from the sire’s fourth season at stud and before he even had runners – it was the second-smallest numbers’ wise

and of a lower quality.

“Kitasan Black is proving to be more than capable of getting high-quality performers, the quality of his book is surely going to improve again, further success is guaranteed, and it is an exciting time for him.”

Kitasan Black is standing this spring at a fee of ¥20,000,000 (£103,000), matching his price for 2024.

Kizuna topped the 2024 table Kizuna, who finished last season

at the head of the Japanese general sires’ list, pulls on those same pedigree strands.

He is by Shadai’s late great sire Deep Impact and out of the Storm Cat mare Catequil. She was trained in Britain by James Fanshawe to no great success, but is out of the US Grade 1 winner Pacific Princess (Damascus).

Kizuna was a Grade 1 winner in Japan, his top level victory coming in the Tokyo Yushun (Derby).

On his travels to Europe, he won the Prix Niel (G2) and was fourth-placed in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind Treve.

He provides a significant marker on the Shadai timeline – he is the first living sire to win the Japanese sires’ championship since Deep Impact’s ten-year reign concluded in 2022 after his death as a 17-year-old in 2019.

The 2023 Japanese sires’ championship was won by Shadai sire Duramente, but, sadly, he died in 2021 as a nine-year-old.

Kizuna is a 15-year-old and makes up the third branch of the triumvirate of Shadai stallions

Kizuna went to the top of the stallion table for the season early in the year, and stayed there. We could have predicted that early on...

Arma Veloce: the daughter of Harbinger wins the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Kitasan Black: the 13-year-old is sire of three Grade and Group 1 winners

STALLION SCENE

standing at the roster-topping price of Y20,000,000, and it is the sire’s highest fee so far.

LEADING SIRES IN JAPAN 2024

“Kizuna went to the top of the stallion table for the season early in the year, and stayed

there,” says Hosoda. “We could have predicted that early on as he is a sire who gets plenty of winners, horses who perform well in Japanese Grade 1-level races as well as in the better races domestically, such as the allowance and tokubetsu [special] races.

“With the high prize-money in these races it is very good for a stallion’s earning capabilities and so his position on the stallion table.”

Kizuna covered 218 mares in 2024 and was the busiest stallion on the Shadai roster.

Suave Richard, who got his first Grade 1 winner when Regaleira won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) in 2023, has enjoyed something of a break-out year with his first crop three-year-olds.

Regaleira has continued to run consistently well for him at the top level throughout 2024, and she collared her second Grade 1 at the turn of the year in the Arima Kinen.

Her top level success was added to by Suave Richard’s colt Urban Chic.

After winning the September Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen (Japanese St Leger Trial) a month later he collected the main event itself, the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger).

Interestingly, both Urban Chic and Regaleira are out of mares by the European-raced and Shadai-based sire Harbinger.

“Suave Richard not only produced the filly Regaleira, who beat older horses and became a Grand Prix-winning

Kizuna: the first living stallion to win the sires’ title after Deep Impact’s era

horse, but also the colt Urban Chic, who won the Classic race,” explains Hosoda.

“Suave Richard broke into the top level of proven stallions and has been a bit of an improver with his first crop of three-yearolds, his success is perhaps more than we expected.”

Suave Richard’s pedigree features those same long-term and international influences –like Do Deuce, he is by Heart’s Cry, while his Unbridled’s Song dam, Pirramimma, who has a US suffix, is out of a US Grade 2-winning mare.

Shadai first-season sires’ exacta The younger generation of sires are also doing their thing, and the 2024 first-season sires’ table saw a Shadai first and second courtesy of the table-topper Nadal and runner-up Saturnalia.

The US-bred and raced Nadal, an unbeaten winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, is a son of Blame, out of the Pulpit mare Ascending Angel and from the extended family of the champion

juvenile Pleasant Stage, while Saturnalia is a Northern Farmbred champion three-year-old by Lord Kanaloa.

He won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at two, the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho at three and is a half-brother to the Shadai stallion Epiphaneia, sire of seven Grade 1 winners, including four in 2024, headed up by the Yushun (Japan Derby) winner Danon Decile.

It was a Shadai-stallion nip and tuck race throughout 2024 for the young sires’ title.

“On the final day of the JRA racing season on December 28, Nadal, whose progeny have excelled in Dirt races.

“Despite the limited number of races on the surface in the JRA, he achieved his 30th winner and topped the first-season sires’ table,” says Hosoda.

“It was very tight all year and Saturnalia had overtaken him after having a fifth-placed horse in the Hopeful Stakes.

“He is a rising star whose progeny are expected to do well mainly on Turf.

“Both new boys have had done so well with many winners in the JRA – it’s an extremely competitive sphere so we are very pleased with their performances with the results from their first-crop.”

Contrail: an auction success

The farm’s Japanese Triple Crown winner and five-time Grade 1 winner Contrail, whose first crop of two-year-olds are set to race this year, covered 205 mares in 2024.

By Deep Impact, he is out of a well-bred mare by Unbridled’s Song – his dam Rhodochrosite ran as a two-year-old and three-year-old in Japan without success, but her pedigree traces to a top-performing US mare –her dam Folklore (Tiznow) was a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and a champion US juvenile filly.

Contrail’s popularity in the covering shed reflects the commercial popularity of his stock seen so far in the sale ring – at last year’s

Contrail: his progeny have been commercially successful in the sales ring

JRHA Select Sale, he had two yearlings, both of whom were consigned by Shadai, sell for the ¥250,000,000 ($1,522,796), and another two fetch nine figure sums – ¥105,000,000 and ¥100,000,000.

From his 25 foals offered, his top price was ¥300,000,000 ($1,863,355) with nine sold for over the equivalent of $1 million, and he had three foals in the top ten prices.

In 2023, his top-priced

foal from 20 offered made ¥520,000,000 ($3,636, 364).

He was sold by Northern Farm and the colt became the third top-priced foal ever sold at the sale and was easily the most expensive at year’s auction.

With such strong commercial results, Contrail’s fee for 2025 has been tweaked upward by ¥3,000,000 to ¥18,000,000.

Maurice and Harbinger Stallions also worthy of a mention on the 36-strong roster include Maurice, who got a new Grade 1 winner in 2024 with the Asahi Hai Futurity winner Admire Zoom and he stands at an affordable ¥8,000,000.

And, of course, well known

to the European readers is Harbinger, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in 2010, and sire of the admirable top-level-winning mare Deirdre, who spent so much time in the UK as part of her global racing tour.

Harbinger collected two new Grade 1 winners in 2024 – his now four-year-old daughter Cervinia won the spring’s Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and the autumn’s Shuka Sho, while his two-year-old filly Arma Veloce was successful in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Like his own sire Dansili, Harbinger has a way with the ladies and he is also beginning to make a mark as a broodmare sire with seven stakes winners, and three Grade 1 winners (as noted earlier, two are by Suave Richard).

Looking ahead to the spring Shadai is looking forward to a busy spring in the covering sheds with its exciting roster of stallions.

“They are all fit and ready!” smiles Hosoda. “We have our stallion parade at the beginning of February and then the covering will be underway.”

While time stops for no man, Shadai’s long-term strategic planning ensures that its stallions are the ones who are setting the pace.

Equinox: first foals are arriving now and the early ones are looking good

Suave Richard: two Grade 1 winners in his first crop of three-year-olds

In Dubai, Equinox ahead of victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic

Big spenders

Amo Racing, Yulong, Sumbe, John Stewart, John Sykes and Mike Repole between them spent around €100 million at 2024’s European bloodstock sales breeding stock sales

Jocelyn de Moubray takes a look at the figures from the breeding stock and foal sales

Photos courtesy of Tattersalls and Goffs

Turning the dial

John Sykes: focusing on buying top fillies

This filly, sold at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, was offered as Lot 851. She is by Blue Point, out of Dancing Rebel (Highland Reel), a half-sister to the multiple Hong Kong Group 1 winner Waikuku, was offered by Riversfield Stud and bought by Cherwell Bloodstock for 230,000gns. She was the sire’s top lot at the sale

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT it is the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale which sets the trend for the major European bloodstock sales for the next 12 months.

This year’s edition may not have been quite as strong as some of the headlines suggested, in real terms turnover at the 2024 edition was less than 2022, but demand at both October 1 and October 2 was strong and far better than most vendors had expected.

It was very obvious to everybody involved that demand was going to be strong for the best foals on offer at Tattersalls, Goffs and Arqana, as well as for the best racing fillies and broodmares.

And so, of course, it was. The Goffs November Sale set the trend for the remainder of the European foal sales.

The aggregate and average prices were up from 2023 by 29 per cent and 31 per cent respectively, but, on the sale’s two lesser days, 301 foals were sold for an average price of €19,300, up by five per cent from 2023, while on the two stronger days 353 foals were sold for an average price of €75,200, up by 37 per cent from 2023.

The strongest demand was at the top of

the market, which was headed by the Sea The Stars colt out of Ambivalent sold by Baroda Stud to Godolphin for €1,000,000.

Aside from Godolphin, the biggest buyers were the established pinhookers –Tally Ho Stud, Stauffenberg Bloodstock, Lynn Lodge Stud and Yeomanstown Stud, while 13 of the 14 foals who made more than €250,000 were colts. The only filly among the top lots was the Lope De Vega half-sister to the stakes-winning two-year-colt Jungle Drums bought by Newtown Anner for €450,000.

The advances in the aggregate and average price were greater at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with the final figures being up by 46 per cent and 52 per cent respectively.

However, the results followed a similar trend with the 450 foals sold on days one, two and four returning an average of 28,000gns, up by 13 per cent from 2023,

The Tattersalls and Arqana sales both produced, in real terms, the second-best aggregate of all time behind 2022

while 194 foals were sold on day three for an average of 159,000gns, up by 66 per cent on 2023.

Certainly a good market all round for foals, but only a boom one at the very top.

A total of 41 foals were sold for more than the equivalent of €250,000, and 21 fillies and 20 colts. The fillies included the top lot, the Frankel full-sister to Chaldean sold to Amo Racing by Whitsbury Manor Stud for 2,500,000gns, and they were probably all bought to race rather than to be reoffered for sale as yearlings.

Of the high-priced fillies, Willingham purchased four and Amo Racing and Sumbe three each. Overall, between them, Amo

and Willingham spent nearly eight million guineas on foals at the Tattersalls sale, nearly 20 per cent of the aggregate.

The top-priced colt was the Sea The Stars out of Angel’s Point sold to M.V. Magnier by Genesis Green Stud for a million guineas. After years in which his progeny appeared to be undervalued by the market, Gilltown Stud’s Sea The Stars has become a top commercial sire.

His 13th crop of yearlings in 2024 sold for an average price of more than 300,000gns, his best yearling average to date, while the foals from his 14th crop averaged more than 400,000gns.

Frankel was the leading European sire by

The Sea The Stars colt out of Ambivalent made €1,000,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale, sold by Baroda Stud for breeder Rifa Mustang Europe

average price – 1.1 million guineas for five sold, followed by Sea The Stars, Night of Thunder, Wootton Bassett and the leading first-season sire Baaeed whose eight foals averaged 240,000gns.

It is more difficult to compare breeding stock sales from year to year as the quality of the horses on offer is not consistent –for instance, there were twice as many Group 1-winning fillies or mares on offer

in 2022 than in 2024

But there is no doubt that demand was very strong for those considered to be top class, particularly for fillies and mares still with racing potential rather than broodmares in-foal.

Of the 34 horses who made the equivalent of 600,000gns or more at the three major sales only 11 were mares in-foal, and one a broodmare not in-foal.

This is a relatively new ratio as back as recently as 2019 in the pre-covid era, ten of the 18 highest-priced lots at the breeding stock sales were in-foal mares.

The Tattersalls and Arqana sales both produced, in real terms, the second-best aggregate of all time behind 2022 when the market was led by the Group 1 winners Saffron Beach, Alcohol Free, Malavath and Sweet Lady.

The top-priced in-foal mare was the 13-year-old Tres Magnifique sold by Gestüt Etzean to M.V. Magnier at the Arqana sale

Tres Magnifique (Zoffany): the highest-priced in-foal mare sold in Europe in 2024, she fetched €1,400,000 bought by MV Magnier from Gestüt Etzean. She is dam of the Group 1 winner Tamfana and is carrying a sister

You Got To Me: the three-year-old Group 1 Irish Oaks-winning daughter of Nathaniel was sold by part-owner Newsells Park Stud to Amo Racing for 4,800,000gns

The Frankel own-sister to Chaldean fetched a record-matching 2,500,000gns at Tattersalls

breeding stock sales

for €1.4 million carrying a sibling to the Group 1-winning filly Tamfana and an own-sister to the now three-year-old Areion filly The Palace Girl.

She was sold as a two-year-old at the Tattersalls December Sale for 1,550,000gns to John Sykes’ Woodford Thoroughbreds after finishing second on her only start to date in a maiden at The Curragh in October.

Etzean received its reward for developing this family over three generations and having sold Tamfana and The Palace Girl as yearlings at the Baden-Baden September sale for only €20,000 and €30,000.

Tamfana, herself, would surely have been the highest-priced lot of all if her owner Quantum Leap Racing had put her through a sales ring in 2024.

The sales were led by the three-year-old Classic-winning fillies You Got To Me and Sparkling Plenty, sold to Amo Racing and Magnier and partners for the equivalent of

Since covid the market has swung from good years to poor years, but has looked, above all, to be unstable and dominated by the stallion owners

sold by the Teboul family’s Gemini Racing to John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for 3,200,000gns.

This was the second remarkable sale in three years for the Teboul family and its agent Paul Nataf.

In 2022, they sold the Group 1 winner Sweet Lady, who was bought for €100,000 as a yearling at Arqana August, for €2,050,000 at Arqana, while the €50,000 yearling Vertical Blue made nearly €4 million only 18 months later.

Young Group 1-winning fillies with

The Palace Girl, there were several other remarkably high-prices for fillies in training with the Group 3 winners Caught U Looking, Village Voice and Excellent Truth making 1,800,000gns, 1,300,000gns and €1,600,000.

The best-bred filly foals and the best young racing fillies on the market are suddenly worth a whole lot more.

The European bloodstock industry had almost ten years of consistent growth between the financial crisis of 2008 and the covid crisis of 2020.

Since covid the market has swung from good years to poor years, but has looked, above all, to be unstable and dominated by the stallion owners who have prospered during the good years.

Last year several new players at the top of the market emerged, who appear to be as keen on winning races as on competing in the stallion market.

Amo Racing, Yulong Investments, Sumbe and the Americans John Stewart, John Sykes and Mike Repole spent around €100 million at European bloodstock sales in 2024, with close to half of this figure spent by Amo.

A hundred million is enough to move the dial and, for the time being anyway, top class racehorses, as well as those likely to produce them in the future, are worth more than

Or, more accurately, more than at any time since the early 1980’s when the first Middle Eastern buyers drove the market upwards.

Despite the intensitiy of the breeding stock sale ring, Sumbe’s Nurlan Bizakov and manager Tony Fry still found time to share a joke... could they be planning another pre-emptive multiple choice quote check list for the media?

He looked right out of the top drawer when running away with the French Derby... couldn’t have won any easier “

the only unbeaten runner in the field ran out a clear-cut winner “ “

also known as the French Derby

known as the French Derby

LOPE DE VEGA, NEW BAY, STUDY OF MAN, LE HAVRE, LAWMAN & SHAMARDAL

LOPE DE VEGA, NEW BAY, STUDY OF MAN, LE HAVRE, LAWMAN & SHAMARDAL

BREEDERS have a new name to cheer on in 2025 with high-class sprinter Go Bears Go joining the ranks at Springfield House Stud in County Tipperary.

The six-year-old won four races for trainer David Loughnane and Amo Racing, most notably a competitive renewal of the Group 2 Railway Stakes at two and a brace of Group 3s at three.

He tended to show blistering early pace in his races, and husband and wife team Reddy and Linda Coffey are hoping their new recruit will make a similarly fast start to life at stud.

“He’s been with us two months and he’s settled in very well and has already started to let down,” says Reddy Coffey. “He’s been very busy over the Christmas period with a lot of people taking the chance to come and see him. He’s been well received and anybody who’s come is sending mares. When you pull him out, he’s the sort of horse people stand back and look at and say ‘Crikey! He’s exactly what we hoped he’d be.’

“He’s 16 hands, a lovely stamp with a great walk, he’s a great-moving horse. And if you look at his race record you’ll see he was a resilient fella.

“He had loads of early pace, but even more impressive was the fact he was always still there at the line. He’d get out in front and, the more horses that came at him, the better he got. He was relentless and loved the challenge.”

As well as his four successes, Go Bears Go was placed a further six times. These efforts included running second to Perfect Power in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, third to Ebro River in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, and a never-nearer runner-up to Twilight Gleaming in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

Although those performances highlight Go Bears Go’s battling qualities on the track, Coffey reports the horse is a much more relaxed character around his new home.

“He’s a gentleman,” he says. “He’s very laid back and loves to get out into the field and have a roll and go back to nature for an hour or two every day. Other than that he just eats and sleeps, and shortly he’ll be

Go Bears Go winning his novice at Ascot. He won the Group 2 Railway Stakes next time out, then finished third in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, fourth in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and second at the Breeders’ Cup

In partnership with Amo Racing, Reddy and Linda Coffey are standing Go Bears Go at Springfield House.

James Thomas finds out how the son of Kodi Bear is settling into his new home

BEAR with me

He’s very laid back and loves to get out into the field and have a roll and go back to nature for an hour or two

covering mares as well!”

It is not just form and physique that Go Bears Go has going for him, as Coffey also

“He was such a hardy horse, too, another relentless racehorse who loved the challenge.

“Kodiacs are all very sound of mind, so when you put the two of them together in a pedigree, this lad is exactly what you’d imagine you were going to get.”

Acquiring Go Bears Go has seen Linda and Reddy form an alliance with owner Kia Joorabchian, with the two camps standing the horse in partnership.

Go Bears Go ahead of his second place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2021.

Amo is sending between 25 and 30 of its own mares to Go Bears Go, so are going to support him, and we have at least 30 of our own as well

Amo Racing and we decided to do a deal, so I bought half of him and we’re standing him in partnership.

“Ryan McElligott was helpful, as was Roger O’Callaghan, to get the deal done.

“It’s exciting times as Amo Racing is putting a big effort in to get to the top.

“I’ve met Kia and he’s an infectious character. He’s a real good guy and he’s very ambitious. He’s very deliberate in what he does and has a plan to get where he wants.

“Amo is sending between 25 and 30 of its own mares to Go Bears Go, and we have at least 30 of our own as well.”

THERE is quality as well as quantity heading Go Bears Go’s way, as Coffey continues: “We have the dam of Blue Point, she’s going to go to him, and the dam of Measure Of Magic.

“We have a number of other Groupproducing mares who are all going to him, too. We’re really going to get behind him ourselves and get him going.

“You’ve got to have a good foundation behind these stallions and he’s going to get every chance. Anybody who has come to see him has liked him, but there’s always room for more people to come. We’re open for business and anyone who comes, I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed.”

Go Bears Go is standing his first season at stud alongside the more established Mayson, who moved to County Tipperary in 2024 having spent the first 11 years of his stallion career at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket.

From there he sired 31 stakes performers, including the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Oxted and the classy Rohaan. He has already emerged as the damsire of some smart winners, most notably the Ayr Gold Cup and Royal Ascot scorer Significantly.

“Mayson covered 52 mares last year and

he’ll probably cover the same again this year,” says Coffey. “We covered a lot of maiden mares with him last year because he’s a great sire to get young mares going and get them a winner.

“There was a bit of everything in his book though, commercial breeders but also people who were looking for fillies out of older mares with pedigrees as he’s becoming a decent broodmare sire.

“He’s by Invincible Spirit, and with him retiring we’re getting plenty of mares who used to go to him. And it shouldn’t be forgotten that he’s out of a Pivotal mare, which is another good influence.”

Go Bears Go and Mayson are not the only stallions that bear Linda and Reddy’s

fingerprints. Although they don’t have the privilege of standing Blue Point, with the rising star residing at Darley’s Kildangan Stud, their names will be forever attached to the son of Shamardal as his breeders.

Blue Point’s success, first as a four-time Group 1-winning racehorse and now a Group 1 winner-siring stallion, is an understandable source of pride. However, it is clear the couple have no interest in resting on their laurels.

“He’s been very good to us and I think his stock are just going to get better,” says Coffey. “He seems to have two kinds of horses – compact sorts as well as the back-end types who’ll race on. I think he’s only going one way.

“We have the dam, she’s in-foal to Phoenix Of Spain, which is the Shamardal line again, and she’s due on March 1 so fingers crossed.

“Blue Point has been so good to us but, truthfully, we just want to find the next one. It’s not easy, believe me!”

But with Go Bears Go rating an exciting addition to Springfield House Stud, finding “the next one” just got that bit easier.

Reddy and Linda Coffey: have been impressed with the laid-back attitude that Go Bears Go has

KEY DATES (EBF payments and deadlines)

2YO’S February 15th - for nominating two-year-olds for $3,000

YEARLINGS May 31st - for nominating yearlings for $600

2YO’S June 30th - for nominating two-year-olds for $6,000

STALLIONS June 30th - for provisionally registering stallions to the EBF for the year

STALLIONS December 15th - for payments to fully qualify stallions to the EBF for the year

MAGNA GRECIA

Invincible Spirit x Cabaret

A Group One Futurity winner at 2 and a Classic 2,000 Guineas-winning 3yo and the only son of Invincible Spirit to do so Half-brother to European Champion 2yo and World Champion 3yo St Mark’s Basilica

Out of Cabaret, a Group winning 2yo over 7f by Galileo

£5,500 1st Oct SLF

thought

A Group One Middle Park Stakes winner at 2yo

Highest-rated Son of Oasis Dream to stand in the UK

Produced Group 3 winner

Amy C and Group Placed and Listed winner

Charterhouse

A Group One son of Kingman

Out of Go Lovely Rose, a full sister to Champion Immortal

HOUSE STALLIONS 2025

Only Gr.1 July Cup Winner by Sire of Sires INVINCIBLE SPIRIT

PROVEN SIRE OF TOP CLASS SPRINTERS

Yearlings Averaged €29,000 in 2024

Fee: €4,250 1st Oct SLF

CHAMPION SPRINTER, GROUP WINNER AT 2 AND 3

Sound Bloodlines of KODIAC and GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

Family of Champion Miler BENBATL, Gr.1 1,000 Guineas Winner EMALKA, etc.

Fee: €8,000 1st Oct SLF

New sires at stud for 2025

WITH NO retirees to Dalham Hall Stud, Juddmonte Farms or Whitsbury Manor Stud for 2025, it means that there are only four new sires standing in Britain with the three-time Group 1 sprint winner Bradsell the highest on a Timeform rating of 124. His rating is level with Coolmore’s new sire Auguste Rodin, the

There are 24 new names on the major European stud rosters for this spring A-Z of major new European sires for 2025 (Fee

middle-distance running son of Deep Impact. He was a winner of six Group and Grade 1 races. The Derby winner City Of Troy, who was voted Timeform’s Horse Of The Year, is the only retiree in the 130s and, with the small “p” by his name too it indicates that the ratings company thinks there was more to come from him on the track.

CITY OF TROY

Justify-Together Forever (Galileo) Coolmore

€75,000

Europe’s champion two and three-year-old is the most expensive new stallion on the continent for 2025 at €75,000, and the first son of unbeaten Triple Crown hero Justify to retire to stud on the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean.

A Coolmore homebred out of the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile winner Together Forever, City Of Troy attracted superlatives from the very start of his career with a winning debut over 6f at The Curragh on Irish Derby weekend.

Just two weeks later he was pitched straight in to Group company for the Superlative Stakes (G2) at Newmarket’s July meeting and he was successful to stunning effect, drawing more than 6l clear of Haatem inside the final furlong.

He did not run again until the Dewhurst, but the effect was remarkably similar with an easy success in the Group 1 contest to end

the season officially rated 118 and drawing comparisons from connections to all-time greats.

A baffling run in the 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance was banished next time out in the Derby when, on his first and only try at 1m4f, he was sensational, easily defeating Ambiente Friendly and subsequent Irish Derby hero Los Angeles, with Aidan O’Brien proclaiming him the best of his ten Derby winners.

Despite initial murmours from Ballydoyle that he might travel stateside in August, he followed the Sea The Stars route for his next two starts and, like that great champion, was victorious in both the Eclipse and Juddmonte International with the latter one of the best races of the season.

City Of Troy made the running and lowered Sea The Stars’ track record by a second.

As a son of a Dirt champion and connections with an eye on stallion potential and versatility, that York performance was

City Of Troy’s last in Europe as the Breeders’ Cup Classic beckoned but a slow start caused him to be mired in kick back and he finished mid-division.

Officially rated at 125 and celebrated as the Cartier Horse of the Year, City Of Troy retires to stud as one of seven individual Group 1 winners by Justify. From the second crop of Coolmore’s American giant, he is one of four members of that generation to win at the highest level as a juvenile with the Group 2-placed Ramatuelle and European champion two-year-old filly Opera Singer also winning Group 1s at three.

His dam is a full-sister to the Oaks winner Forever Together and a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and Lennox Stakes winner Lord Shanakill by Speightstown.

Together Forever has produced five winners, all of whom have earned blacktype with the Group 3 Tyros Stakes winner Military Style (War Front) and City Of Troy’s year older full-brother Bertinelli, who was third in the Hong Kong Group 3

City Of Troy: after the son of Justify won the Derby, trainer Aidan O’Brien announced he believed the colt to be the best of his ten winners of the Classic

City Of Troy retires to stud as one of seven individual Group 1 winners by Justify

Queen Mother Memorial Cup, two of her better performers until City Of Troy emerged.

City Of Troy is one of seven stakes winners from 32 runners by Justify out of Galileo mares with the others including the dual Grade 2 winner Buchu and the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes winner Red Riding Hood.

Those nicks that have worked for Galileo will apply here as will those that have worked well in Europe with Justify’s sire Scat Daddy such as Danehill Dancer, Street Cry and Oasis Dream. The US broodmare sires who

have done well with runners in Europe include Holy Bull, who produced Caravaggio, while Lady Aurelia was out of a mare by Forest Wildcat and Skitter Scatter was out of a Street Cry mare.

CHARYN

Dark Angel-Futoon (Kodiac) Sumbe

€35,000

A seriously exciting addition to the European sire scene for this year is Sumbe’s brilliant older miler Charyn, a son of the reigning British and Irish champion sire Dark Angel and part of the success story for the O’Callaghan family who bred Dark Angel and stand him at Yeomanstown Stud.

Guy O’Callaghan’s Grangemore Stud also bred Charyn.

The now five-year-old Charyn is out of the Listed-placed Kodiac mare Futoon and was bought for 250,000gns at Tattersalls

October Book 1 by Nurlan Bizakov’s stud farm enterprise just days after his year older fullbrother Wings Of War won the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.

Sent into training with Roger Varian, Charyn made a winning debut over 6f at Haydock in August 2022 and was third to Sakheer in the Mill Reef Stakes (G2) before getting up late to win the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.

As a three-year-old, he was a high-class performer at a mile. His seasonal debut saw him finish runner-up to Isaac Shelby in the Greenham Stakes (G3) and then he took third behind Paddington in both the St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) and the Sussex Stakes (G1). He was also third again at Goodwood to another Sumbe stallion and son of Dark Angel – Angel Blue – in the Group 2 Celebration Mile over the Sussex course and distance.

Charyn thrived at four, and came into his own last season as a top-class miler making a successful seasonal reappearance in the Listed

Charyn: was the best older miler of 2024. He has been retired to Normandy to stand under the

Doncaster Mile at Doncaster, his first win since his juvenile Group success.

He then claimed a mile Group 2 at Sandown and then only lost out to an audacious run by Audience in the Lockinge Stakes (G1).

At Royal Ascot, he earned a deserved

breakthrough Group 1 triumph in the Queen Anne and followed that up with victory in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois over Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1) winner Metropolitan.

He split Tribalist and Henry Longfellow in the Prix du Moulin (G1) and, then returning

to Ascot, he triumphed in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

His final run came in a bold bid for glory in Japan in the Grade 1 Mile Championship at Kyoto, in which he finished a brave fifth.

That was one of just two runs in his 19-race career in which he failed to finish in the first

Auguste Rodin (left) and King Of Steel upsides in the Derby, the latter finishing second on his seasonal debut and now follows the winner on stud fee

Auguste Rodin was a Group 1 winner at two, three and four

two, the stallion demonstrating tenacity, consistency and soundness over three seasons.

Charyn retired as the winner of seven of his 19 starts, and he was placed in eight more runs.

His full-sister was bought by Sumbe for 850,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1 in 2023, while their 2024 yearling full-sister was bought by Godolphin for 2,900,000gns at Book 1 last October.

Futoon, a two-time winner at two, is a precious broodmare for the O’Callaghans and the best of four winners out of Vermilliann, herself a winning Mujadil full-sister to Galeota, another member of the family to be successful in the Mill Reef.

Charyn is one of 17 individual Group 1 winners from 65 Group winners and 108 black-type winners sired by Dark Angel, himself a Mill Reef Stakes and Middle Park Stakes winner.

Dark Angel has been successful with a wide-range of broodmare sires – his 17 Group 1 winners are by 16 different stallions.

AUGUSTE RODIN

Deep Impact-Rhododendron (Galileo) Coolmore

€30,000

Auguste Rodin is another impeccably bred Derby winner to join the Coolmore line-up and, like City Of Troy, his dam is a Group 1 winner by Galileo.

Auguste Rodin bears a striking resemblance to his grandsire, Deep Impact’s breed-shaping sire Sunday Silence, and the five-year-old combines two of the most globally influential bloodlines of the past four decades in his pedigree, making him of enormous interest and importance as a stallion prospect.

Auguste Rodin was a Group 1 winner at two, three and four marking him out as a top-class performer and his talent was evident from the get-go, despite failing to win on his

debut at The Curragh over 7f.

He corrected that when successful at odds-on in a Naas maiden on his second start, winning by 7l. He was next seen at Leopardstown at the Irish Champions’ Festival where he won the Group 2 Golden Fleece Stakes.

Auguste Rodin ended that first season with three wins from four starts, the final victory coming in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Something of an enigma at three and four, Auguste Rodin set the template that City Of Troy would follow a year later when inexplicably disappointing in the 2,000 Guineas only to resurrect in the Derby when he outstayed King Of Steel to claim Epsom glory.

He added the Irish Derby to his CV, but ran no sort of race in the King George (G1) behind Hukum. He produced a comeback win in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1), beating the Group 1 winners Luxembourg and Nashwa. His fifth top-level victory came in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.

Kept in training at four, he made a disappointing seasonal reappearance in the Dubai World Cup (G1) before finishing second to White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at The Curragh.

He showed determination and resolution to defeat Zarakem in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at the Royal meeting, but disappointed in Ascot’s mid-season highlight, for the second season in succession.

He returned to form once more at Leopardstown where his bid to join Dylan Thomas and Magical (a full-sister to his dam) as dual winners of the Irish Champion Stakes was thwarted by Economics. He finished his career when eighth in the Japan Cup (G1), but beaten less than 5l by Do Deuce.

Auguste Rodin retires to stud as the winner of eight of his 16 starts with a trio of seconds also on his list of accomplishments.

Bred on the same cross as Classic winners Saxon Warrior and Snow Fall, Auguste Rodin is one of seven stakes winners from 45 runners bred this way and he is the only foal of racing age so far out of the triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron.

Like her son, she was successful at Group 1 level in each of her three seasons to race winning the Fillies’ Mile (G1) at two, the

Prix de l’Opera (G1) as a three-year-old and the Lockinge Stakes (G1) at four. She was also second in the 1,000 Guineas (G1) and the Oaks (G1) to Winter and Enable respectively.

Rhododendron is a full-sister to the seventime Group 1 winner Magical, whose first foal is the Dubawi filly Ballet Slippers, who finished third in the Fillies’ Mile last season.

They are out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Nassau and Sun Chariot Stakes winner Halfway To Heaven, who is also the dam of Group 3 winner Flying The Flag (Galileo).

A daughter of Pivotal, Halfway To Heaven is a half-sister to Tickled Pink, the dam of Saxon Warrior’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road.

Another of her half-sisters is the Group 3 Summer Stakes winner Theann, dam of the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes winner Photo Call by Galileo.

Auguste Rodin’s third dam is the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes winner Cassandra Go, a brilliant broodmare by Indian Ridge and a half-sister to the Group 2 Coventry Stakes winner and sire Verglas.

KING OF STEEL

Wootton Bassett-Eldacar (Verglas)

Tally Ho Stud

€20,000

The highest-profile new recruit to Amo Racing’s rapidly-expanding stallion roster is the Group 1 Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel. He is by Wootton Bassett, who sired an astonishing four individual Group 1-winning juveniles last season with ten of his first Coolmore-sired crop winning at Group level.

What makes King Of Steel such an interesting stallion proposition is that he is free of Galileo and Sadler’s Wells blood, which makes him compatible with the types of mares that propelled his sire’s extraordinary season, albeit at a fraction of the price.

Bred by Bonne Chance Farm out of the Verglas mare Eldacar, King Of Steel was a $200,000 purchase by Amo Racing and Alex Elliott from the Gainesway consignment at Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale of 2021.

Another of the 2025 stallion intake to be trained by Roger Varian, King Of Steel made his debut in mid-October of his juvenile season and was successful at Nottingham.

A tall and large-framed horse, he was then

seventh to Auguste Rodin in the Futurity Trophy (G1).

The steel grey colt got a lot closer to Auguste Rodin when they next met with King Of Steel only giving way to the son of Deep Impact in the last half furlong of the Derby. As it was King Of Steel’s seasonal debut it made the performance most impressive.

Next time out he easily won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot from subsequent St Leger winner Continuous and was then the best-placed three-year-old in the 1m4f Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) with a good third to Hukum and Westover.

Dropped back two furlongs for the Irish Champion Stakes (G1), he finished fourth to Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg and Nashwa but defeated Via Sistina, who has gone on to such great glories in Australia.

He won on his last European outing with a smart victory in the 1m2f Group 1 Champion

Stakes at Ascot and ended the season when fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, two and a half lengths behind Auguste Rodin.

He was kept in training at four, but sustained an early-season in-training injury which prevented him from racing and the decision to retire him to stud was made.

He joins fellow Amo Racing-owned Persian Force and Buccanero Fuerte, also a Group 1 winner by Wootton Bassett, at the O’Callaghans’ Westmeath farm.

King Of Steel is one 13 Group 1 winners by the Group 1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardère winner Wootton Bassett, who now stands for €300,000 at Coolmore.

He is the best of three runners out of Eldacar with his year-older full-sister Macadamia also a winner.

Their dam was successful at three and four in France at up to 1m7f and is a Verglas full-sister to the Group 2 Prix du Pomone and Prix Royallieu runner-up Mis Crissy.

They are out of Seracina, a winning Nashwan half-sister to the Group 3 Prix de Psyche winner Serisia.

She is the dam of the dual Australian Group 1 winner Contributer, a son of High Chaparral.

Aside from Galileo and Sadler’s Wells, Wootton Bassett also has Group 1 winners out of mares by Pivotal, Sea The Stars, Elusive City, Maria’s Mon, Nathaniel and Azamour. He has also had success with Oasis Dream.

LOOK DE VEGA

Lope De Vega-Lucelle (High Chaparral) Ballylinch Stud

€20,000

The third Prix du Jockey-Club (G1) winner in his direct sire line, Look De Vega retires alongside his brilliant sire Lope De Vega at Ballylinch Stud, the farm also home to another Jockey-Club victor in New Bay.

Look De Vega won the Prix du Jockey-Club (G1) on just his third career start, the son of Lope De Vega now stands alongside his sire at Ballylinch Stud

Won Gr.1 Classic St Leger Stakes, Doncaster, by 2l beating Gr.1 horses Giavellotto, Emily Dickinson, etc.

Won Gr.1 Classic Irish St Leger, Curragh, easily by 3½l beating 8-time Gr.1 winner Kyprios

Won Gr.2 Queen’s Vase, Royal Ascot, his third race victory on the trot

Won 2yo Maiden on debut by 5l

Career earnings exceeded £1m Timeform: 122

Out of a 3-time Stakes winner over 1m2f and the dam of 3 Stakes horses

He is the best of four winners from four runners so far foaled by Lucelle, a winner at three and four and a High Chapparal halfsister to the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and Group 3 Prix Allez France winner The Black Princess.

Second dam Larceny is by Cape Cross and she is closely-related to Lawman (Invincible Spirit), who was also successful in the Prix Jean Prat as well as the Jockey-Club.

Larceny and Lawman are half-siblings to the Group 1 Prix de Diane winner and Grade 1 EP Taylor Stakes second Latice (Inchinor), who is the dam of Listed winner and Group 1-placed Fencing by Street Cry and the Listed-placed Mirsky (Siyouni).

Look De Vega’s fourth dam Light The Lights is by Gulch and won the Prix de Pomone (G2) and was third in the Prix Vermeille (G1).

Lope De Vega enjoyed another fruitful season in 2024 siring two French Classic winners, as well as the Dewhurst and Middle Park Stakes winner Shadow Of Light, who is out of a mare by New Approach.

With 24 individual Group 1 winners around the globe, Lope De Vega is firmly established as a leading international sire.

BIG EVS

All 11 of Big Evs’ career starts were over the minimum and his record reads as six wins, a second and a third with his peak official rating 113

Look De Vega comes from the family of former Ballylinch resident and another winner of the Jockey-Club Lawman, so the Chantilly Classic is encoded in his DNA.

Bred by Haras de la Morsangliere and Ecurie des Charmes, Look De Vega was sold for €160,000 by Haras d’Aumonerie at Arqana’s August Yearling Sale.

Sent into training with Carlos and Yann Lerner, he ran once as a two-year-old, winning in late November at Fontainebleau over a mile.

The colt made a successful seasonal reappearance at Longchamp in early May, when stepped up in trip to 1m2f and was then thrown in at the deep end, running in the Prix du Jockey-Club on just his third start and his

first in stakes company of any description.

He flourished, winning by 2l from First Look, also by Lope De Vega and Sosie, who would go on to win the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and finish fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

After his Classic glory, a majority interest in the colt was sold by Haras de la Morsangliere to a group which included Al Shaqab Racing and Ballylinch Stud.

Look De Vega was sent on the traditional trajectory to the Arc, returning from a midseason break to contest the Group 2 Prix Niel in which he finished third to Sosie and Delius.

His final race proved to be in the Parisian showcase and he retires as the winner of three of his five starts.

Blue Point-Hana Lina (Oasis Dream)

Tally Ho Stud

€17,500

Shamardal’s legacy continues to grow and this grandson, from the first crop of Blue Point, is another exciting recruit to the Tally-Ho Stud’s squad of stallions.

A 50,000gns purchase by Michael Cleere from Houghton Bloodstock at Tattersalls October Book 2, he was acquired privately by Quirke Bloodstock as a two-year-old. He then proceeded to shine brightly for Blue Point, Conor Quirke, trainer Mick Appleby and owner RP Racing – husband and wife Rachael and Paul Teasdale – and for the late Paul Evans, a close friend of the owners for whom the horse was named.

He finished second on his debut at Redcar over 5f and then went straight to Royal Ascot for the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes.

Sent off at 20-1 for the Listed contest, he ran out an easy winner and then went on to prove that the result was no fluke when

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs (Blue Point) has joined the Tally-Ho Stud roster

successful in Goodwood’s Group 3 Molecomb Stakes on his next start.

An attempt at the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) was unsuccessful but, back amongst his own age group, he won the Group 2 Flying Childers and then became the second top-level winner from his sire’s first crop of juveniles when victorious in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

Big Evs retained a high level of form at three – after a winning reappearance in the Listed Westow Stakes at York, he was third behind the Australian star Asfoora and the 2023 Sprint Cup winner Regional in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Revenge was gained by a short head over Asfoora in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood, with the final two starts of his career coming in the Nunthorpe and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

All 11 of his career starts were over the minimum distance and his record reads as six wins, a second and a third with his peak official rating at 113.

His sire Blue Point made a sizzling start to his stud career with Group 1 winners Rosallion (who is out of Rosaline, by New Approach) and Big Evs.

Blue Point’s third Group 1 winner, also in the debut crop, is the British Champions Sprint winner Kind Of Blue, who is out of Blues Sister by Compton Place.

Blue Point has six Group winners from a total of 14 stakes winners in just his first two crops and has seen his fee raised to €100,000 this year.

Big Evs was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock and is the best of five winners so far out of Hana Lina, a daughter of European champion two-year-old Queen’s Logic.

The Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) winner is also the dam of multiple Group winner and Group 1-placed sprinter Lady Of The Desert (Rahy), herself the dam of the Lowther Stakes (G2) winner Queen Kindly (Frankel), who emulated her dam and granddam by winning the York contest.

Queen’s Logic is a Grand Lodge half-sister to the champion and six-time Group 1 winner Dylan Thomas and to the 1,000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen, dam of the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes winner Shale.

Another half-sibling is the Oaks runner-up

Metropolitan: became the first Classic winner for sire Zarak in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains

Remember When (Danehill Dancer), dam of 2020 Derby winner Serpentine.

Big Evs’ broodmare sire is the brilliant Oasis Dream whose daughters have produced 15 individual Group 1 winners.

HENRY LONGFELLOW

Dubawi-Minding (Galileo) Coolmore

€15,000

The regally-bred victor of the Group 1 National Stakes is the first son of Dubawi to earn a place at stud in Coolmore.

Henry Longfellow is bred on the same cross as leading sire Night Of Thunder, who stands for ten times Henry Longfellow’s fee as the sire of five Group 1 winners, including 2024 Fillies’ Mile winner Desert Flower and Irish Champions Stakes hero Economics.

Henry Longfellow’s dam is the outstanding Minding, whose seven Group 1 triumphs included a defeat of the colts in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and with Classic glory in the Oaks and 1,000 Guineas.

He is her first runner and he emulated both his parents by winning a Group 1 as a juvenile – 19 years after Dubawi triumphed in the National Stakes at The Curragh, Henry Longfellow became the brilliant sire’s second winner of the race after Quorto.

That was the third win over 7f in an unbeaten juvenile campaign for the colt, who began his racing career during the Irish Oaks meeting and then beat Stunning Peach by 2l in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at The Curragh in August. He increased his superiority over the Joseph O’Brien-trained son of Wootton Bassett to 5l in the National Stakes.

Henry Longfellow began his three-yearold career with a mid-division finish in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1), but was back to form in the St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) when a neck second to Rosallion, but three lengths ahead of Metropolitan.

He took fourth to the 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech, another son of Dubawi, in the Sussex Stakes (G1) and then third to Tribalist and Charyn in the Prix du Moulin (G1).

His final career start came in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Minding is one of a trio of Classic-winning fillies foaled by the Group 1 Coronation and

Matron Stakes winner Lillie Langtry with the others being the Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Tuesday and Empress Josephine, who was successful in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

All three are daughters of Galileo, while Lillie Langtry is by Danehill Dancer.

METROPOLITAN

Zarak-Alianza (Halling)

Haras d’Etreham

€15,000

The Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1) hero was the first Classic winner for Zarak, another aristocratically bred son of Dubawi and a champion who has risen to become one of France’s pre-eminent young stallions.

One of three individual Group 1 winners by Zarak, Metropolitan was sold for €78,000 by Haras de Clairefontaine to Alessandro Marconi at Arqana’s October Yearling Sale.

Sent into training with Mario Baratti, he made a winning debut at Deauville’s August meeting over a mile and followed that up with victory at Chantilly.

Unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile, he reappeared in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleu in April last year in which he was fifth to Ramadan.

He stepped up markedly on that form on his next run, his first in Group 1 company, to win the Poule d’Essai des Poulains by half a length from Dancing Gemini and Alcantor, with Diego Velazquez in fourth.

Metropolitan was then third to Rosallion and Henry Longfellow at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) and was then runner-up to Charyn in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois with the Group 1 winners Inspiral and Big Rock behind him.

His final start came behind Charyn on Champions’ Day.

He is one of 28 stakes winners from just 214 runners on the Flat by Zarak, a son of the unbeaten Zarkava.

Metropolitan’s dam Alianza was sold for €400,000 in-foal to Erevann at Arqana in December.

An unraced daughter of Halling, Alianza is the dam of two winners from three runners and is a half-sister to Boater, runner-up in the Listed Marygate Stakes and dam of last season’s Listed Prix des Reves d’Or winner

Hot Darling, a daughter of Too Darn Hot. Alianza’s dam Cercle D’Amour was also unraced and is a Storm Cat full-sister to the Listed Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial winner Royal Tigress, dam of the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 Beldame Stakes second Tiger Ride.

Cercle D’Amour is also a full-sister to the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg second Thunderous Mood and a half-sister to the Norfolk Stakes (G3) winner and Prix Morny (G1) second Warm Heart (Diesis).

VANDEEK

Havana Grey-Mosa Mine (Exceed And Excel) Cheveley Park Stud

£15,000

An unbeaten two-year-old by the sire sensation Havana Grey, Vandeek topped the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale when sold for 625,000gns to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock by Glending Stables.

It was a third visit to the Tattersalls sales for the second-crop son of Havana Grey who was bred by Maywood Stud and sold by the farm as a foal to Childwickbury Stud for 52,000gns.

Roderick Kavanagh paid 42,000gns for the colt at the December Yearling Sale, and as a two-year-old Vandeek subsequently burned up the Newmarket gallops at the Craven Sale, giving a first glimpse in public of his sensational turn of foot.

He carried that scintillating speed throughout his juvenile season, making a winning debut for Simon and Ed Crisford and KHK Racing over 6f at Nottingham in mid-July.

Vandeek was then a comfortable winner of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes on just his second start and managed to hold off the late challenge of Ramatuelle in the Prix Morny, to win his first Group 1 and become the first top-level winner for his sire in the process.

He topped that win with an impressive, clear-cut victory in the Middle Park Stakes (G1) to end the season as an unbeaten star.

He went from a breeze-up top lot to dual Group 1 winner in six months.

He ran just twice at three, and was third both times, first in the Sandy Lane Stakes (G2) behind Inisherin and Orne and then in the July Cup (G1) to Millstream and Swingalong.

All six of his career starts came over 6f with four wins and two third places.

Havana Grey has now sired 11 Group winners from a total of 22 stakes performers in his first three crops, earning himself a fee increase which was listed as £55,000 in 2024 and has been kept private for this season.

Vandeek is by far the best of the five winners produced by Mosa Mine, a daughter of Exceed And Excel who was placed four times in her racing career.

Her best son is the only black-type performer under his first two dams, but his third dam is Bamieres, the dam of Group 1 Prix Robert Papin and the 6f Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) winner Balbonella.

She went on to excel as a broodmare as the dam of the July Cup (G1) and Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) winner and sire Anabaa, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) winner Always Loyal, who is the second dam of Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies’ Stakes winner Shonan Adela, the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed sire Key Of Luck, and the

Listed winner Country Belle.

She is dam of the Gimcrack Stakes (G2) winner and sire Country Reel.

Bamieres is also the dam of Listed Grand Prix de Nantes winner Bamwhite and the winning Balouchina whose descendants include the Listed winner and Group 1-placed Baine, as well as five further Listed race winners..

BUCANERO FUERTE

Wootton Bassett-Frida La Blonde (Elusive City)

Tally-Ho Stud

€12,500

The Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner was a top-class juvenile and one of the very few to defeat the Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna, who finished second to Bucanero Fuerte in the 6f Curragh contest.

Bred by Gestüt Zur Kuste, Bucanero Fuerte was a €165,000 purchase by Robson Aguiar at Arqana’s August Yearling Sale.

Initially pencilled in for the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up, he instead was retained

and won on the opening day of the season with a 5f victory for trainer Adrian Murray, owner Amo Racing and Giselle de Aguiar at The Curragh.

Not sighted again until Royal Ascot, he finished third to River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes (G2) and then defeated subsequent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Unquestionable in the Group 2 Railway Stakes before his win in the first juvenile Group 1 of the European season.

Stepped up in trip to 7f he then took third behind Henry Longfellow and Stunning Peach in the Group 1 National Stakes, the fifth and final race of a busy season for the colt.

A defeat of Givemethebeatboys in the Group 3 Lacken Stakes opened his three-yearold career, but he missed the summer and returned in Haydock’s Sprint Cup (G1).

He also ran in the Flying Five Stakes (G1) and Champions’ Sprint (G1).

Bucanero Fuerte is a full-brother to the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Wooded, who stands at Haras de Boquetot and will have his second crop of runners this year. Wooded has 12 winners from 40 first-crop runners.

The pair are full-siblings of Beat Le Bon, who was a runner-up in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes and the Listed Two-YearOld Trophy for trainer Richard Hannon.

Their now three-year-old Dubawi halfsister Battle Rhythm was sold as a yearling at Arqana August Sale for €2.4m to Oliver St Lawrence and is in training with William Haggas and they have a two-year-old Dubawi half-brother.

They are out of Frida La Blonde, a placed Elusive City full-sister to the Listed Prix Cor de Chasse and Prix Servanne winner Fred Lalloupet.

She is also a half-sister to another winner of the Prix Servanne, the Gulch-sired Mont Pote Le Gitan.

Her Deputy Minister half-sister Feld Marechale is the dam of the multiple Listed winner Maximum Aurelius, while her winning Septieme Ciel half-sister Fridoline produced the Listed Prix des Reves d’Or winner Diablotine.

Second dam Firm Friend is a daughter of Affirmed and won the Listed Criterium d’Evry and was second in the Group 2 Premio Regina Elena.

Vandeek: won his Group 2 and his two juvenile Group 1 races in the space of just six weeks

Fee €6,000 (1st Oct terms)

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MILL STREAM

Gleneagles-Swirral Edge (Hellvelyn)

Yeomanstown Stud

€12,500

The July Cup winner by Gleneagles joins champion sire Dark Angel at Yeomanstown Stud and is an exciting stallion prospect.

Bred by Redpender Stud, he was a gorgeous yearling and sold for 350,000gns to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock at the Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearling Sale.

Precocious enough to win on debut in July of his two-year-old career for trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam and owner Peter Harris, Mill Stream was then second to the subsequent Gimcrack Stakes (G2) winner on his second start.

He took fourth place to Chaldean in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes on his third and final run at two.

As a three-year-old, he progressed from high-class handicapper to classy sprinter winning the Group 3 Prix de Meautry and Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud, both run over 6f at Deauville.

Mill Stream came into his own at four defeating Shouldvebeenaring in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes and finishing a close third to Khaadem in Royal Ascot’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1).

His Group 1 breakthrough came in the July Cup when he defeated Swingalong, Vandeek, Art Power and Inisherin. Mill Stream also contested the Sprint Cup and Champions’ Stakes.

All five of his career wins were over 6f and he was placed five more times in his 16-race career over three seasons.

The five-year-old is one of four individual Group 1 winners by Gleneagles, who also sired last year’s Deutsches Derby (G1) winner Palladium.

Mill Stream is the younger half-brother to Asymmetric, a son of Showcasing who won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes and was third to Perfect Power in the Group 1 Prix Morny.

They are the first two runners out of Swirral Edge, who has made a red-hot start to her broodmare career.

The daughter of Hellvelyn won at two and three and is a half-sister to the Listed Westow Stakes winner Fashion Queen (Aqlaam), who is the dam of Italian Listed-winning sprinter Noble Title.

Second dam Pizzarra is a Shamardal half-sister to Wunders Dream (Averti), winner of the Flying Childers Stakes (G2) and Molecomb Stakes (G3) and dam of the Listed Boadicea Stakes winner Inyordreams (Teofilo).

Another half-sister is the Group 3 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes winner Grecian Dancer (Dansili), dam of Muffri’ha (Iffraaj), successful in the Group 3 Darley Stakes and third in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta.

Mill Stream’s third dam Pizzicato is a Statoblest half-sister to the Hong Kong pair –the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Mensa, and the Chipchase Stakes (G3) winner and Hong Kong Sprint (G1) runner-up Firebolt.

It’s a high-class family full of speed, and has been successful with stallions such as Showcasing and he, alongside his sons, as well as sons or grandsons of Teofilo or Dansili, might be a good place to start for breeders considering options.

BIG ROCK

Rock Of Gibraltar-Hardiyna (Sea The Stars)

Haras de Grandcamp

€12,000

Big Rock is the final chance for Rock Of Gibraltar to leave a successful stallion son, and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

winner is an intriguing new stallion for 2025.

A homebred for Yeguada Centurion, the five-year-old ran twice at two despite not making his debut until the end of November. Placed on both occasions, he had one more run before being transferred to the yard of Christopher Head.

He made a winning debut over a mile at Chantilly for his new trainer and he went on a winning run in black-type company, gaining Listed success in the Prix Maurice Caillault and rising to collect a pair of Group 3 wins in the Prix la Force and the Prix de Guiche.

Big Rock was set the challenge of the Prix du Jockey-Club for his next start and found only Ace Impact too good for him.

That was the first of three consecutive runner-up finishes at the highest level for Big Rock, with the others coming in the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Prix du Moulin.

He triumphed by 6l in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and look destined for stardom at four.

However, he changed trainers once more and failed to win in five starts last year for Maurizio Guarniere with his best result third place in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

Big Rock is one of 17 global Group 1 winners by Rock Of Gibraltar, and he is the first foal out of his unraced dam Hardiyna,

Mill Stream: by Gleneagles, the Group 1 winner is a half-brother to the Group 2 winner Asymmetric

who was bred by the Aga Khan and bought in-foal with Big Rock for €72,000 at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale of 2021.

She has a four-year-old Ten Sovereigns son named Hazarad and a two-year-old Australia filly named Hard Aussie Cen.

Hardiyna is out of the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes winner Harasiya (Pivotal), who was third in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and is a half-sister to the Derby and Irish Derby winner Harzand, by Sea The Stars.

The Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn, also by Sea The Stars, is out of Hidden Brief who is also a half-sister to the third dam of Big Rock.

Other Group 1 winners in the family include Seal Of Approval (Authorized) and Hurricane Lane (Frankel).

BRADSELL

Tasleet-Russian Punch (Archipenko)

The National Stud

£10,000

The Coventry Stakes (G2) winner who became a top-class sprinter at three and four, Bradsell has been retired to the National Stud and offers British breeders a fast and consistent first-season sire option.

Bradsell was a better racehorse than his sire Tasleet, who won the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes and is related to Battaash.

Bred by Deborah O’Brien, Bradsell made 12,000gns at the Tattersalls Somerville Sale when he was bought by trainer Harry Dunlop and Highflyer Bloodstock.

Mark Grant breezed him at the Goffs UK Breezee Up Sale where he made £47,000 to Blandford Bloodstock and just a month later he made a winning debut at York for Archie Watson and Victorious Racing.

Stepped up immediately into elevated company, he proved he belonged there with defeat of Persian Force in the sprint at Royal Ascot.

Bradsell raced just once more at two, when fourth to Little Big Bear in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

At three, on his first two runs, he was third in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial and in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes, but back at Royal Ascot and dropped to 5f for the first time, he proved a revelation beating the excellent Highfield Princess to win the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes.

Bradsell would remain racing over 5f for the remainder of his career and that year went on to finish close thirds to Live In The Dream and Highfield Princess in the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).

After a down-the-field run in the Flying Five Stakes (G1), he was found to have an injury, which could have been career threatening.

He made a superb recovery to return to competitive action in August last season winning on his season debut.

In fact, he won his first three starts in 2024 going from a Listed win at Deauville to pick up his second and third Group 1 successes in the Nunthorpe Stakes and Flying Five Stakes.

He finished runner-up to Makarova in the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1), whom he had beaten previously. The final start of his career was in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Bradsell is the only Group 1 winner by Tasleet, who is also the sire of Group 3 Prix Allez France winner and Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet second American Sonja, who is out of a mare by Kodiac. His final British-bred crop are juveniles of this year.

As well as being an outlier for his sire, Bradsell is the best performer by far in the first five generations of his family and the

only Group winner.

His dam is the Listed Radley Stakes winner Russian Punch by Archipenko, and she is the only other black-type performer in five generations.

FANTASTIC MOON

Sea The Moon-Frangipani (Jukebox Jury)

Gestüt Ebbesloh

€9,000

The 2023 Deutsches Derby (G1) and 2024 Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) winner is the most high-profile stallion to retire to stud in Germany for 2025.

One of four individual Group 1 winners by Lanwades Stud’s Sea The Moon, Fantastic Moon is the first of two consecutive Deutsches Derby winners bought as a yearling at BBAG by syndicate Liberty Racing.

He was consigned by his breeders Stauffenberg Bloodstock and bought for just €49,000, a figure that was eclipsed by his three-parts brother by Sea The Stars who was sold for 700,000gns to Juddmonte at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

Days later Willingham went to 725,000gns for their dam Frangipani, offered in-foal to Sea The Moon.

Bradsell: the three-time Group 1 winner is standing at the National Stud at a fee of £10,000

A winner at two, Frangipani was bred and raised by Graf und Grafin von Stauffenberg and is a Jukebox Jury half-sister to Scandinavian Group 3 Fearless Hunter (Alhaarth).

Fantastic Moon is her first foal and her second, the now four-year-old Fang Mich (Starspangledbanner) has won and was placed at three in Germany. She has a threeyear-old Masar filly named Fire And Ice.

Her first foal is the winner of seven of his 15 starts and was Germany’s joint-champion two-year-old colt of 2022, winning the Group 3 Preis de Winterfavoriten.

At three, he also won the Group 2 Prix Niel over Feed The Flame and added the Group 2 Grosser Preis der Badenischen Wirtschaft at four to his top level victories.

PUCHKINE

Starspangledbanner-Vadyska (So You Think) Haras de Beaumont

€8,500

The Group 1 Prix Jean Prat winner is one of eight individual top-level victors by Starspangledbanner, who have won around the globe from Santa Anita to Sha Tin.

Bred by Alain Jathiere, Puchkine is the fourth foal out of the unraced So You Think mare Vadyska, who is also the dam of Listed-placed Shalaa filly Slevka.

They are the only two winners from five runners foaled by Vadyska. She also has a two-year-old Almanzor colt named Boulgakov in training with Jean-Claude Rouget and a yearling son of Muhaarar.

Jathiere retained Puchkine and sent him into training with Rouget. The colt made a winning debut at two over 7f at La Teste de Buch and was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile.

His winning streak came to an end in his second start at three, his first in Listed company, when second in the Prix Aymeri de Mauleon at Toulouse to See You Around, a daughter of Siyouni.

Puchkine next contested the Poule D’Essai des Poulains (G1) in which he was ninth and followed that with a fourth in the Group 3 Prix Paul Moussac to Lazzat.

On his next start he was a something of a surprise winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, and it was after this Deauville victory

that Gousserie Racing and Gerard-Augustin Normand bought into him.

He had one more start, in the 6f Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, which was won by Lazzat.

He has joined Ace Impact at Haras de Beaumont for the 2025 season.

His dam is an unraced half-sister to the Listed Diana Trial winner Romina Power and they are out of the Italian Listed winner Rockatella, who was Group 3 placed in Germany and Italy.

The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar is from the family of the Group 1 winner Lyric Of Light, who is by Street Cry, as well as three Group 1 winners and performers in Australia.

GO BEARS GO

Kodi Bear-In Dubai (Giant’s Causeway)

Springfield House Stud

€8,000

The third of three Amo Racing colts taking up stallion duties in Ireland this year, Go Bears Go will stand in Tipperary at Springfield House Stud.

A classy juvenile from the second crop of Kodi Bear, Go Bears Go was bred by Micheal Ryan whose Al Eile Stud sold him

for £50,000 as a yearling at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Bought by Robson Aguiar, he was a successful breeze-up project who made 150,000gns to Alex Elliott buying for Amo Racing at the Tattersalls Craven Sale.

Less than a month later, Go Bears Go made a winning debut for trainer David Loughnane at Ascot and he followed up with second place to Perfect Power in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at the Royal meeting. The colt duly won his next start at The Curragh taking the Group 2 Railway Stakes, returning a month later for the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes in which he was third to Ebro River.

Go Bears Go was a busy juvenile, running seven times and just failing to add a third win to his name when second in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on his final race of the season.

There was no let up at three when he made eight starts including when making a successful seasonal debut in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot.

He also won the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes on his return to The Curragh and was runner-up to Minzaal in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes.

He remained in Kentucky following the

One of Starspangledbanner’s eight top-level winners, Puchkine won the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat

NEW SIRE FOR 2025

Dual Group 1 winning unbeaten Champion 2yo and the highest rated son of HAVANA GREY

A 625,000gns top lot at the 2023 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale

At 2

Won Gr.1 Prix Morny (beating Gr.1 winner Ramatuelle)

Won Gr.1 Middle Park Stakes

Won Gr.2 Richmond Stakes

At 3

3rd Gr.1 July Cup (beating four other Gr.1 winners)

3rd Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes

Rated 2lb higher than his sire BY A CHAMPION FIRST CROP SIRE FROM A STALLION-PRODUCING FAMILY

The family of Gr.1 winning 2yo BALBONELLA; Champion Sprinter and Champion Sire ANABAA, and Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner ALWAYS LOYAL

“A brilliant two year old and his amazing turn of foot set him apart from the others. He had a wonderful temperament and he was such a great pleasure to train. His Juddmonte Middle Park victory was sensational and I don’t think I’ve seen a better winner of that race.”

Simon Crisford, co-trainer

“He was an exceptional racehorse blessed with a blistering turn of pace.”

James Doyle, jockey

Fee: £15,000 (1st Oct. SLF)

Available to view by appointment during the Tattersalls February Sale.

2022 Breeders’ Cup moving to the barn of Wesley Ward who trained him for his fouryear-old career.

Go Bears Go failed was switched back to Europe ahead of the 2024 season but three runs as a five-year-old yielded little.

Go Bears Go won four of his 22 career starts and is a half-brother to Dubai Rainbow (Tamayuz), the winning dam of last season’s Group 3 Prix Six Perfections second Royalty Bay, who is by Kodi Bear’s sire Kodiac.

Go Bears Go’s dam In Dubai has produced six winners and is a winning Giant’s Causeway half-sister to Group 1 Prix de l’Opera and Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes winner Nahrain (Selkirk), the dam of the Dubai Turf and Caulfield Stakes winner Benbatl (Dubawi) and last year’s 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka (Kingman).

Another half-sister, Doratti, is the second dam of Group 3 winner Far Above (Farhh), who made a decent start with his first twoyear-olds in 2024.

The second dam of Go Bears Go is Bahr (Generous), winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) and Musidora Stakes (G3) and was placed in the Oaks (G1) and the Irish Oaks (G1).

ISAAC SHELBY

Night Of Thunder-Kentucky Belle (Heliostatic)

Newsells Park Stud

£7,000

The first son of Night Of Thunder to retire to stud, the Group 2 winner and Classicplaced Isaac Shelby has a very interesting pedigree being inbred 3x3 to the outstanding Galileo, who is the broodmare sire of Night Of Thunder and the sire of Heliostatic, broodmare sire of Isaac Shelby.

Heliostatic was bred by Jim Bolger and is a full-brother to Soldier Of Fortune, from the family of Sholokhov, Skitter Scatter and Intense Focus.

Isaac Shelby was bred by Elaine Chivers out of Kentucky Belle, an unraced half-sister to the Grade 2 Mac Diarmada Handicap winner Ramazutti and to the dam of the stakes winner Vow To Recover.

Isaac Shelby was sold by Park Wood Stud to Sam Sangster for £92,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.

Trained by Brian Meehan, he made a winning debut at Newbury on the last day of May and then won the Group 2 Superlative Stakes on his second start. He had one more

run at two when behind Chaldean in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1).

Isaac Shelby defeated Charyn when winning the Greenham Stakes (G3) on his seasonal debut at three, and lost out by just over a head to Marhaaba Ya Sanaafi in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1).

Acquired privately by Wathnan Racing, he carried those silks when fourth behind Paddington, Chaldean and Charyn in the St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) and when a neck second to Kinross in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes stepping back to 7f at Goodwood.

He was fourth behind that rival in the Group 2 City Of York Stakes and the final run of his career saw him finish second in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

Night Of Thunder is by Dubawi and out of the Listed-placed Galileo mare Forest Storm, who is from the family of the champion two-year-old filly and Irish 1,000 winner Forest Flower. Night Of Thunder is now the sire five Group 1 winners and 29 Group race winners.

AESOP’S FABLES

No Nay Never-How’s She Cuttin (Shinko Forest) Starfield Stud

€6,500

Successful in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and fourth to Al Riffa in the Group 1 National Stakes and Chaldean in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at two, Aesop’s Fables developed into a smart sprinter at three.

The best performances of Aesop’s Fables career were towards the end of that threeyear-old season when he finished third in both the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

He was kept in training at four, but he failed to scale those heights again for the Ballydoyle team, but he added a third career success to his resume when defeating Twilight Jet in the Listed Sole Power Sprint at Naas.

Aesop’s Fables retired with a record of three wins and six places from 17 starts.

One of 42 stakes-winning two-year-olds from the first eight crops of No Nay Never, the sire of the juvenile Group/Grade 1 winners Alcohol Free (Hard Spun), Blackbeard (Born To Sea), Little Big Bear (Bering), Meditate (Dalakhani), Ten Sovereigns (Exceed And Excel) and Whistlejacket (Bering).

Issac Shelby: is the first son of Night Of Thunder to retire to stud, and stands at Newsells Park Stud

Aesop’s Fables is a half-brother to the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes and Listed Windsor Castle Stakes winner Washington DC, a son of Zoffany who was Group 1-placed in the Phoenix Stakes, the Prix de l’Abbaye and the Commonwealth Cup.

He is also a half-brother to Sandhurst (Galileo), a runner-up in the Group 2 Chester Vase. They are three of the six winners out of How’s She Cuttin’, a daughter of Shinko Forest, who was third in the Listed Land O’Burns Fillies Stakes.

Under fourth dam Magic Flute, the Cheveley Park (G1) and Coronation Stakes (G1) winner, is the St James’s Palace (G1) and Dewhurst Stakes (G1) winner and sire Grand Lodge.

SAKHEER

Zoffany-Shortmile Lady (Arcano)

Ballyhane Stud

€6,500

A classy juvenile who won the Mill Reef Stakes (G2), Sakheer defeated a field then that included Charyn, who is proving to be such a yardstick for this group of sires.

Sakheer was bred by Drumlin Bloodstock from the penultimate crop of Zoffany.

An 80,000gns foal offered by Yellowford Farm, he was sold by Mocklershill for €550,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale to Oliver St Lawrence for KHK Racing.

Sakheer made his debut over 6f at Windsor in mid-August and was a good runner-up

before winning at Haydock. The third and final run of his juvenile season was in the Mill Reef Stakes (G2) where those behind him also included Shouldvebeenaring.

His seasonal reappearance at three was in the mile 2,000 Guineas – he appeared not to stay so was sent to the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot for his next run.

After that he didn’t run until the following May when he was much too keen in the Listed Cathedral Stakes and had one more run last season in the Listed Hopeful Stakes.

He is a half-brother to the Group 2 Kilboy

Estates Stakes and dual Group 3 winner Lemista, a Raven’s Pass mare who was third in the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes.

They are the best two of the six runners, all winners, out of Shortmile Lady, who is a daughter of Arcano, also the broodmare sire of this year’s first-season sire Supremacy.

Placed at two, Shortmile Lady is a half-sister to the Group 3 and Listed winner Indian Maiden (Indian Ridge), the dam of Group 3 winner Maid In India (Bated Breath) and the Listed winner Love Spirit (Elusive City).

Third dam Minifah is a half-sister to the brilliant champion Winning Colors, triumphant in the Kentucky Derby (G1) of 1988 as well as the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1).

SHOULDVEBEENARING

Havana Grey-Lady Estella (Equiano) Irish National Stud €6,000

The first son of Havana Grey to stand in Ireland is Shouldvebeenaring, a tough and hardy racehorse who ran 30 times over three seasons and was a Group 3 winner at four and a Listed winner at two and three.

From the first crop of Havana Grey, Shouldvebeenaring was bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud and sold for £40,000 to Peter and Ross Doyle and Middleham Park Racing at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.

Trained by Richard Hannon, the grey ran seven times at two. He won a Ripon novice on his second start and then came with a perfectly timed challenge to land the Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes on his next.

After that he won Ripon’s Listed Champion 2YO Trophy and was fourth in that seemingly pivotal juvenile race of that season, the Mill Reef Stakes (G2).

As a three-year-old, he was even busier running a dozen times over 6f or 7f, winning twice including gaining a second Listed success which came in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket.

His efforts in defeat were very noteworthy – he was beaten just by a neck by Regional in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock and when third in the Prix de la Fôret (G1) behind Kelina and Kinross.

River Tiber: the Coventry Stakes (G2) winner is by Wootton Bassett and related to Dandy Man

Aesop’s Fables: half-brother to Washington DC

At four, he won the Group 3 Prix de RisOrangis and was runner-up to Mill Stream in the Duke Of York Stakes (G2) and third in both the City Of York (G2) and Park Stakes (G2).

He won six and was placed in ten of his 30 starts and is one of three winners from six runners out of Lady Estella.

She is a winning Equiano half-sister to the Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal winner Rosso Corsa out of the Woodman mare Lady Scarlett, a half-sister to the dam of triple Grade 1 winner Grand Couturier.

ZAGREY

Zarak-Grey Anatomy (Slickly)

Haras de Grandcamp

€6,000

Zagrey’s success in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden under Christophe Soumillon was the first by a son of Zarak at the highest level, and he is now one of two new stallions in France by the Aga Khan’s son of Dubawi and out of Zarkava.

Bred by Societe Civile Ecurie Enrolling, he is from the first crop of the Group 1 winner who stood for €12,000 but this season will command a fee of €80,000.

Unsold for €32,000 as a yearling when offered by Haras de Grandcamp at Arqana, he was sent into training with Yann Barberot and won on the third of his four starts that year – over 1650m at Amiens.

He had five starts at three, was a dual Listed winner and finished second in the Group 2 Prix Eugene-Adam.

He improved again at four and took third behind the superstar Equinox and Group 1 winner Westover in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, was runner-up to Westover in the Group 1 Grand Prix de SaintCloud and then gained that significant top level win at Baden Baden.

Zagrey is a half-brother to the dual Group 3 runner-up and Group 1 Criterium International third Graignes (Zoffany) and the Listed-placed Anatiya, a daughter of Dariyan.

Dam Grey Anatomy is an unraced Slickly half-sister to Listed winner Nova Step (Dubawi) and out of the Listed-winning Nureyev mare Light Step, who is a half-sister to the Group winners Eltish (Cox’s Ridge) and Forest Gazelle (Green Forest) out of an ownsister to the Grade 1 winner Contredanse.

RIVER TIBER

Wootton Bassett-Transcendence

Haras de la Huderie

€5,500

Wootton Bassett’s rise to glory started as a relatively inexpensive sire in France and Haras de la Huderie will hope that his Group 2 Coventry Stakes-winning son River Tiber can repeat the trick.

A 480,000gns purchase from Pier House Stud in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm, River Tiber’s early promise hinted that it was money well spent.

He went unbeaten in his first three starts,

Shouldhavebeenaring, a son of Havana Grey, was a fast and consistent racehorse and collected two Group 1 placings and a Group 3 success

from a Navan maiden in April to Royal Ascot two months later.

River Tiber was third to Vandeek and Ramatuelle in the Group 1 Prix Morny and then filled the same position in the Middle Park Stakes (G1).

River Tiber started off last season in the Irish 2,000 Guineas when third to Rosallion and Haatem, but was well-beaten by the Phoenix Of Spain colt in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.

Reverting to sprinting for the July Cup didn’t produces a success and his ninth and final career start came in the Prix de la Fôret on Arc weekend.

He is the first foal out of Transcendence who is an unraced Arcano half-sister to Listed Harry Roseberry Stakes winner Mister Manannan and to the stakes winner Shermeen. She is dam of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and Group 2 Railway Stakes winner Sudirman.

Under the fourth dam are soem tlented horses including Dandy Man, Anthem Alexander and Mother Earth.

AL HAKEEM

Siyouni-Jadhaba (Galileo)

Haras de Boquetot

€5,000

A homebred for Al Shaqab, this Group 2 winner is bred on the same cross as Group 1 winners St Mark’s Basilica and Sottsass.

Al Hakeem was fourth on debut at Deauville in October of his two-year-old career and won at Chantilly a month later.

At three, he was successful in the Listed Prix des Suresnes and then fourth in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club behind Vadeni, El Bodegon and Modern Games.

His first black-type win came in his next start, the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and he was fourth to Alpinista, Torquator Tasso and Vadeni in the Arc.

His best performance at four was in the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt and he returned to winning ways back by the sea at Deauville in the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at five.

Al Hakeem is the best of four winners out of the Group 3 Prix Penelope third placed Jadhaba (Galileo), a daughter of the multiple Grade 2 winner Naissance Royale (Giant’s Causeway).

FEED THE FLAME

Kingman-Knyazhna (Montjeu)

Haras de la Hetraie

€4,500

One of 11 individual Group 1 winners by Kingman, Feed The Flame cost €270,000 as a yearling when purchased by SAS Gerrard Larrieu.

He is a half-brother to the multiple Group/ Grade 3 winner Sacred Life (Siyouni), who was also third in the Arlington Million (G1) and Maker’s Mile (G1).

Feed The Flame made a winning debut in April as a three-year-old and, on the back of two wins, he contested the Prix du JockeyClub (G1) in which he finished fourth to Ace Impact, Big Rock and Marhaba Ya Sanafi.

Stepping up 300m in trip for the 1m4f Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris next time out, he was an impressive winner over Irish Derby runner-up Adelaide River and the Oaks winner Soul Sister.

Trainer Pascal Bary followed the tried and tested route to the Arc with the Kingman colt who was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud and Clear Light SAS.

Second to Fantastic Moon in the Group 2 Prix Niel, he finished in midfield in the autumn highlight.

At four, his best result was in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) to Dubai Honour and he was also third in the Coronation Cup (G1) and Prix Ganay (G1).

He is out of the unraced Montjeu mare Knyazhna, who is a half-sister to the Group 2-placed Migwar (Sea The Stars). Their dam Katyusha is a Kingmambo full-sister to the St Leger winner Rule Of Law (Kingmambo).

ELDAR ELDAROV

Dubawi-All At Sea(Sea The Stars) Chapel Stud

€5,000

A Classic-winning son of Dubawi from the family of Alpinista, Eldar Eldarov is available to breeders at just £5,000.

He was bred by Kirsten Rausing out of the mare All At Sea (Sea The Stars), who was a Listed winner over 1m2f as a three-year-old. She is out of Albanova (Alzao), who was a three-time Group 1 winner in Germany over 1m4f and is a sister to Alborada, the dual winner of the 1m2f Champion Stakes (G1).

Albanova is granddam of the brilliant Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Alpinista.

Eldar Eldaraov was sold at the Goffs Orby Sale to Norman Williamson for £110,000 and then at the Arqana Breeze-Up for £480,000 where he was bought by Oliver St Lawrence.

He made a winning appearance in KHK Racing’s colours over a mile at Nottingham in his two-year-old season in October, following up that success over 1m2f in May at Newcastle. He then belied his inexperience when taking the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot on his first stakes race start

A respectable fourth place in the Grand Prix de Paris precedented his 2l Classic victory at Doncaster in the St Leger.

He opened up his four-year-old season with a good second in the Yorkshire Cup (G2), finished mid-division in the Royal Ascot Gold Cup (G1), was fourth to Quickthorn in the Goodwood Cup (G1) before success when beating Kyprios in the Irish St Leger (G1).

Eldar Eldarov is one of only two horses to have beaten Kyprios since his three-year-old season.

Sadly, Eldar Eldarov subsequently sustained a neck fracture in a stalls accident at Meydan. He was lucky to recover from the injury and did not race again.

Al Hakeem: the Group 2 winner is standing at Haras de Bouquetot for €5,000

A great physical 480,000gns yearling

WOOTTON BASSETT – TRANSCENDENCE (ARCANO)

NEW FOR 2025

1st Coventry Stakes, Royal Ascot

Same as Mill Reef, Verglas, Royal Applause…

A race that makes stallions

“We always thought that he was a Guineas horse” Aidan O’Brien, trainer

A partnership between Haras du Thenney, Normandie Breeding, Haras de L’Hotellerie, Chauvigny Global Equine and already supported by many French and Irish breeders.

A true 2yo family

IIT’S NO SECRET that Kentucky is the heart of the breeding industry in the US.

No affront to Iowa or Idaho, but a stallion’s opportunities to make it big outside of Kentucky are limited. Places such as Florida and New York have excellent regional programmes, but there’s a reason any stallion who makes a significant national impact outside of Kentucky quickly gets snapped up for a move to the Bluegrass.

The upcoming 2025 breeding season is no exception.

However, with two dozen recently retired new stallions – all laden with quality – slated to enter stud in the Commonwealth, what makes one stand out over another?

So often it’s race record, but this incoming crop of freshmen is an accomplished bunch with some dazzling credentials. No fewer than 20 of the 24 won at the highest level, and they include two Preakness winners, a Belmont winner, and a Breeders’ Cup Mile winner.

This year, the direct conduits they offer to some of America’s leading sires – at a fraction of their fees – is one of the most attractive selling points of the incoming crop of stallions.

Of the 10 elite stallions who stand in the US for six-figure sums, who also have progeny old enough to enter stud themselves, eight are represented by a combined total of 12 sons who will stand their first year in Kentucky in 2025.

Additionally, the late, great Uncle Mo has two sons entering stud at significant Kentucky farms in 2025, obviously made more poignant by his unexpected death on December 19, which sent reverberations throughout the sport in America.

Other deceased influential sires sending what might be their last sons to stud in 2025

24 for 2025

By Jill Williams

There are two dozen new stallions at stud in Kentucky for this spring and they include 20 Grade 1 winners, 12 sons of leading US sires, and four new residents at Gainesway Farm

Seize The Grey: the four-year-old by Arrogate and winner of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes has been allocated an opening fee of $30,000 by Gainesway

We were more aggressive going into this year and when we saw something we liked, we pursued it, or if an opportunity arose, we were in a position to act quickly

include Arrogate, Giant’s Causeway, More Than Ready and Speightstown.

The new group also boasts a number of lovely physicals, as evidenced by several of their own prices when sent through sales rings as youngsters.

One brought $2.3 million as an OBS two-year-old, another $2 million at the same auction house, and yet another $1.3 million as a Keeneland yearling.

Several others also came tantalizingly close to the seven-figure mark, while some

saved their blossoming almost entirely for the racetrack.

There are a few homebreds sprinkled in as well.

Not dramatically separated by fees, with half of the 24 standing in the range of $20,000 to $40,000 and the other half standing for $17,500 or less, Kentucky’s first-year stallions of 2025 square up nicely in regards to race records, conformation, and fees. Clearly, separating this incoming crop comes down to sire lines.

The Gainesway four

Leading the charge this year by sheer number of new stallions in Kentucky is Gainesway Farm, which brings four new offerings to the market. Each is by one of America’s most influential sires.

“I can’t recall in my 20+ years in the business of [Gainesway] having four new stallions retired at the same time, but it has been a very exciting time for the farm,” said Ryan A. Norton, Gainesway’s stallion director.

“We have definitely been busy with breeders coming to inspect the stallions and then reviewing the mares submitted to try and get the best book possible for the four new stallions.”

Gainesway, of course, stands the inimitable Tapit and retired two of his sons, Tapit Trice and Charge It, to stand alongside the extraordinary veteran in 2025.

Tapit Trice: the son of Tapit, winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes (G1), has been given an opening fee of $20,000

In addition, the 2024 Preakness winner Seize The Grey, a son of Arrogate, and multiple Grade 1 winner Muth, a son of Good Magic, will be introduced to Gainesway’s breeding shed.

“We bought the breeding rights in these stallions at different points during their racing careers and we knew the possibility was there for them all to be retired this year,” continued Norton. “After not being able to secure a new stallion last year, we were more aggressive going into this year and when we saw something we liked, we pursued it, or if an opportunity arose, we were in a position to act quickly.

“Antony Beck, Brian Graves, and our team along with our wonderful investors and shareholders were excited to go acquire the best stallion prospects available and I believe we got four of the best retired this year.”

Norton said all four young stallions are receiving quality mares in their initial books and he anticipates all will have full books as the breeding season gets underway.

Gainesway bred Tapit Trice, who will stand for $20,000. “We are excited to bring this Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes winner back to the farm and complete the circle,” said Norton.

The farm also works closely with Mandy Pope, for whom Charge It ($12,500) campaigned as a homebred.

“Standing Tapit we obviously have a soft spot for his sons,” continued Norton. “Like father, like son. [Tapit and Charge It] will have the same initial stud fee of $12,500; hopefully their careers mirror each other in more ways than one.”

Norton also pointed out that Seize The Grey ($30,000) is one of only two sons, both Classic winners, of the late Arrogate to stand in Kentucky.

Seize The Grey will join Arcangelo, who entered stud in 2024 at Lane’s End Farm and whose first foals are arriving now.

“It is exciting to be in position to hopefully have the heir apparent to Arrogate and realise the stud career that his father was meant to have,” mused Norton.

Gainesway’s final new stallion Muth will stand for $35,000.

Interestingly, Hill ‘n’ Dale’s Good Magic, a mere youngster himself who just turned 10, sends three new stallion sons to Kentucky.

Muth will be joined by Belmont winner Dornoch (Spendthrift, $40,000) and additional Grade 1 winner Blazing Sevens (Darby Dan Farm, $12,500). His first major son, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, stands at Airdrie Stud and has his first foals this year.

So what makes Muth stand out from the other Good Magic new sires?

“Muth is the only son of Good Magic at stud to be a Grade 1 winner at two and three,” said Norton. “Actually, he is the only stallion retired in the US this year to be a Grade 1 winner at two and three.

“Good Magic is one of the hottest stallion lines in America right now and we can offer breeders a multiple Grade 1 winner at what I believe to be a value.”

Good Magic is to date the best sire son

of Curlin, although Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish and champion Elite Power are welcoming their much-anticipated first foals in 2025. With Curlin and Good Magic both standing for six figures, Gainesway’s Muth offers a fresh route to the in-demand sire line.

Grandson of Into MIschief to Ashford

Just as Muth is one of the first top grandsons of Curlin to be offered at stud, Domestic Product is the first top grandson of Into Mischief to enter stud in Kentucky.

Into Mischief, who needs no introduction, just wrapped up his sixth consecutive leading sires’ title.

Saratoga’s 2024 Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes winner Domestic Product

Muth: the dual Grade 1 winner is by Good Magic and was a $2 million Ocala March-sold two-year-old

is a son of Coolmore America’s Practical Joke –the top sire son of Into Mischief – and will stand alongside his sire at Ashford Stud for $30,000.

“I think the greatest sort of compliment you can give to any farm or to any stallion is when you stand a son of theirs,” said Ashford’s Adrian Mansergh-Wallace.

“It just shows you truly believe in the sire line. The fact that we have supported Practical Joke so much in the last years and now to be standing one of his best sons, that’s not only gratifying for us but it shows how much we believe in Practical Joke.

“And Practical Joke is obviously a younger horse [at age 11] but one we really believe is going to be standing for well over $100,000 in the next couple of years.”

Mansergh-Wallace added that Domestic

Product has been exceptionally popular with breeders.

“He’s a beautiful horse and has lovely knees,” he enthuses. “He’s an exceptionally good-looking horse. He’s 16.2hh, has great balance, loads of quality, is a beautiful colour, he’s got a great presence about him and Chad Brown thought an awful lot of him.

“He rated Domestic Product exceptionally highly and would not have run him in the Kentucky Derby had he not felt that. Now he probably thought Domestic Product at the end was probably better over a shorter distance than the Classic distance, which is maybe true of most Into Mischiefs, but I think in terms of talent, Domestic Product was up there with some of the best horses of his generation.”

Mansergh-Wallace also believes that

Domestic Product is a carbon copy of Practical Joke, who finished 2024 among the top 10 leading sires in the US.

“They’re similar size with a similar amount of strength. I’d say Domestic Product is probably a prettier horse.

“He’s as a good a looking horse as we’ve ever retired. This guy is stunning. He’s absolutely stunning.”

As a new breeding season beckons, it may be a long way from seeking the best books of mares to yields in the yearling arena and finally to results on the racetrack, but what a delight to have so many options from this crop of new stallions.

So many providing a direct route – and perhaps eventually one of value – to so many elite American sires it is an exciting time for Kentucky stud farms and breeders.

Domestic Product: the H Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) winner joins his sire Practical Joke at Ashford, and hopes are high for the four-year-old

UBETTABELIEVEIT MASSAAT

Fee: £4,500 1st Oct S.L.F

FIRST 2YOs 2025

By KODIAC - World Record Holder for 2-y-o winners Now well regarded as a leading Sire of Sires

UBETTABELIEVEIT

winner of three races and £116,503 all over 5f incl.: EBF Novice Stakes Doncaster, LR National S. Sandown, Gr.2 Flying Childers S. Doncaster. Also 3rd Gr.2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, all at 2

First crop yearlings sold for 70,000gns, 62,000gns, £66,000, 60,000gns, etc.

Fee: £3,000 1st Oct S.L.F

Brother to Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup winner EQTIDAAR

Gr.1 placed at 2, 3 and 4, Gr.2 winner over 7f

Black type horses include DOCKLANDS (Royal Ascot winner, Gr.1 placed in 2024 to Charyn), QUEUES LIKELY (Gr.3 winner, Gr.2 placed) COCO JAMBOO (Gr.3 winner), MASCAPONE and MAS RAPIDO (both Stakes placed), etc.

2YO winners incl. QUEUE DOS, HOT TO DOT, PIRANHA RAMA (2 wins), etc.

KODIAC – LADY LISHANDRA (MUJADIL)

TEOFILO - MADANY (ACCLAMATION)

photo finish: keeping it in the family

THE RACE-RIDING siblings Sean and James Bowen made it a family affair when dead-heating in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 14 .

Older brother Sean (orange colours) was aboard hurdle debutante Teriferma (Territories) for trainer Jack Jones, who had also won the race last season with An Bradan Feasa (Camelot).

Teriferma and last year’s winner were purchased by Jones out of Joseph O’Brien’s yard – An Bradan Feasa bred by his mother’s Whisperview Trading, while this season’s successful gelding was bred in the UK by New England Stud out of Spritzig (Exceed And Excel).

But the coincidences go even further as, amazingly, Jones was also

the underbidder on the James Bowen-ridden Quantock Hills (below, right) when the gelding went through the ring at the July Arqana Sale 2024.

The son of Sageburg, then with one win over hurdles in France on his form card, made €130,000 and was bought by Highflyer.

Quantock Hills, who is now trained by Warren Greatrex and is owned by the yard’s owner and backer Jim and Claire Bryce, has now run three times in Britain, for two wins and a second.

Both trainers reported that The Festival’s Fred Winter Hurdle will be the likely spring goal for both horses – both are currently 25-1 chances, what’s the betting that the two will finish together again?

Jockey Sean Bowen (left) celebrates deadheating in the Triumph Hurdle Trial with his brother James Bowen at the Cheltenham December meeting

3 first-crop Stakes winners!

The most Stakes winners of any firstseason sire in 2024 – already the sire of the track-record breaking Big Mojo, winner of the Gr.3 Molecomb Stakes, Yah Mo Be There, winner of the L. Rose Bowl Stakes and Merveilleux Lapin, victorious in the L. Alson-Trophy. Serving With Style was also second in the Gr.2 Rockfel Stakes.

£15,000

Stands at Beech House Stud, UK

To book a nomination or arrange a viewing contact Will Wright: +44 (0)7787 422901 | nominations@shadwellstud.co.uk View our stallion roster: www.shadwellstud.com January 1st SLF

It’s just the beginning…

A Group winner at two and three, a brilliant Gr.1 Sussex Stakes success at four

Second crop of yearlings reached 260,000gns, €280,000, 175,000gns, €180,000, 140,00gns etc…

BIG MOJO

MERVEILLEUX LAPIN

YAH MO BE THERE