Talking Stallions with Mark and Nico

As we approach the beginning of the 2021 breeding season, Mark and Nico take a look at some exciting stallions in the industry.  There are the up-and-coming sires, those that have already made it and ones that represent great value for their price.

First Season Standout Stallion – GHAIYYATH

Mark – “I like GHAIYYATH, he is a smashing type, great physical!  He was a very talented racehorse and he has a terrific pedigree, out of a Galileo mare and by one of the best sires in the world.”

Nico – “I agree, GHAIYYATH has a Champion’s profile with a race record and pedigree that are hard to knock.  Mightily impressive on the track, he retired as the highest-rated horse in the world.  By the phenomenal Dubawi, you’d have to be excited to see if he can emulate his sire at stud.”

GHAIYYATH (Dubawi – Nightime by Galileo), stands at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for €30,000.  A Group winner at two and three, a G1 winner at four and the highest-rated horse in the world at five.  An outstanding physical purchased for €1.1 million as a foal.   By Champion sire Dubawi out of Classic winner Nightime, he is hard to fault and will surely be sent a high-class book of mares.

First Season Value Stallions – WITHOUT PAROLE and ROMANISED

Mark – “WITHOUT PAROLE is a great way for ordinary breeders to access an impeccably-bred son of Frankel.  He was very talented on his day and at £10k he represents a tremendous value.”

Nico -“ROMANISED was a very precocious two-year-old, Classic-winning three-year-old and G1-winning four-year-old.  He is by a very solid sire and is really great value at just €7,000.”

WITHOUT PAROLE (Frankel – Without You Babe by Lemon Drop Kid), stands at Newsells Park Stud for £10,000.  Impressive winner of the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at three, he is a half-brother to BC Dirt Mile (G1) winner and sire TAMARKUZ.  He is from the family of G1 winners STAY THIRSTY and ANDROMEDA’S HERO.  ROMANISED (Holy Roman Emperor – Romantic Venture by Indian Ridge), stands at Haras de Bouquetot for €7,000.  After breaking his maiden in April of his two-year-old season, he went on to win the Irish 2000 Guineas over a competitive field by over two lengths at three.  At four he claimed another G1 winning the Prix Jacques le Marois.  Both of these newcomers look great value for their fee.

Second Season Value Stallions – MAGNA GRECIA, ADVERTISE and TEN SOVEREIGNS

Mark – “MAGNA GRECIA is a stunning-looking horse with a great walk.  He is super value for money.  ADVERTISE is another very good-looking individual, he covered an impressive first book and has every chance to make it.”

Nico – “TEN SOVEREIGNS, less than half the price of another unbeaten Champion two-year-old of his generation, he looks great value for money.  Superior again as European Champion three-year-old sprinter, the son of No Nay Never is an attractive price.”

MAGNA GRECIA (Invincible Spirit – Cabaret by Galileo) stands at Coolmore Stud for €18,000.  A G1 winner at two and Classic winner at three, he is by the sire of Kingman and a half-brother to 2020 Dewhurst S (G1) winner St Mark’s Basilica.  ADVERTISE (Showcasing – Furbelow by Pivotal) stands at The National Stud for £25,000.  An attractive son of Showcasing, he was a triple G1 winner and covered a great first book of mares.  TEN SOVEREIGNS (No Nay Never – Seeking Solace by Exceed And Excel) stands at Coolmore Stud for €20,000.  The super-speedy son of No Nay Never, he claimed two Group Ones over 6f including a win over older horses in The July Cup (G1).

Stallions with first runners in 2021 – ACLAIM and CHURCHILL

Mark – “I manage ACLAIM and think he’s got a huge chance of being leading first-season sire.  His first yearlings were well received by the market and the reports are good.  Of the others, I really like CHURCHILL, I put my money where my mouth is and purchased three yearlings by him, all nice, athletic types.”

Nico – “It’s CHURCHILL for me.  I was impressed by his first yearlings and think he’s got a cracking chance of being leading first-season sire.  Avenue Bloodstock purchased there yearlings by him last year, so let’s hope they are as good at they looked!”

ACLAIM (Acclamation – Aris by Danroad) stands at The National Stud for £9,500.  A G1 winner, he is by sire-of-sires Acclamation and from the family of Montjeu.  He has 115 two-year-olds for 2021 and his yearling average was £25,962.  CHURCHILL (Galileo – Meow by by Storm Cat) stands at Coolmore Stud for €30,000 this year.  A Champion at two and three, by the legendary Galileo out of Listed winner Meow, he is a full-brother to Champion Clemmie.  He has 146 current two-year-olds, his yearlings averaged £86,415.

Value Stallions – BELARDO, DANDY MAN, HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR and MEHMAS

Mark – “BELARDO, at his fee (€10,000), he’s great value.  It looks as if he’s a young horse going places.  DANDY MAN is also very good value at his fee (€15,000).”

Nico – “HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, we mentioned a son of his earlier as a value sire, but he is also undoubtedly a great value – a proven Group One sire worldwide for just €12,500.  Another stallion worth noting is MEHMAS.  Provided they train on as three-year-olds, after what he did last year with his first crop €25,000 is a bargain.”

BELARDO (Lope de Vega – Danaskaya by Danehill) entered stud in 2017, he stands at Kildangan Stud for €10,000.  He had 13 two-year-old winners last year including four Stakes winners (three Group winners).  DANDY MAN (Mozart – Lady Alexander by Night Shift) entered stud in 2010, he stands at Ballyhane Stud for €15,000.  He averages over 20 two-year-old winners/year and is capable of getting top-class performers such as G1 winners Peniaphobia, River Boyne and La Pelosa.  HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (Danehill – L’On Vite by Secretariat) entered stud in 2007, he stands at Coolmore Stud for €12,500.  He gets 64% winner to runners and has sired 13 Group One winners including Hong Kong superstar Designs on Rome.  MEHMAS (Acclamation – Lucina by Machiavellian) entered stud in 2017, he stands at Tally-Ho Stud for €25,000.  He has had a phenomenal start to his stud career, the record-breaking, Champion first-season sire, he had 56 two-year-old winners with five Stakes winners including G1 Middle Park winner Supremacy.

Proven Stallions – CAMELOT and DANDY MAN

Mark – “At the fee (€45,000), CAMELOT is good value for money.  He’s shown he can do it across the board.”

Nico – “DANDY MAN, a top source of two-year-olds.  He’s had yet another great season in 2020, one of the better value-proven sires in Europe.”

CAMELOT (Montjeu – Tara by Kingmambo) entered stud in 2014, he stands at Coolmore Stud for €45,000.  Sire of 31 Stakes winners, 22 Group winners, 7 Group One winners.  Capable of getting top-class performers at every level.

Unfashionably Good Stallions – GOLDEN HORN and SEA THE MOON

Mark – “I think GOLDEN HORN could surprise everyone in 2021 with a very big year.  He had some smart winners at the backend of the season both with his two-year-olds and three-year-olds.”

Nico – “Not that he’s at all unfashionable, but I think SEA THE MOON is one who’s popularity is only going to increase.  He deserves a mention as a stallion on the up.”

GOLDEN HORN (Cape Cross – Fleche d’Or by Dubai Destination), entered stud in 2016, stands at Dalham Hall Stud for £20,000.  Sire of G3 winner West End Girl from his first crop and G1 placed Botanik from his second crop. SEA THE MOON (Sea The Stars – Sanwa by Monsun), entered stud in 2015, stands at Lanwades Stud for £22,500.  Sire of 26 individual Black-type performers including G1 winner Alpine Star.