Stallions

Thought it appropriate not to let yesterday's Listed win by Jessica Harrington's Beautiful Morning go uncommented on.

She represents hope that the very talented and ill fated George Washington might yet keep his name going in pedigrees for a while yet.

Poor George Washington had only the one foal ( Date With Destiny) from his failed stud career. Date With Destiny won her maiden and placed in as Listed company herself.

As a Broodmare her first foal was the filly Beautiful Morning by Galileo. As a successful black type winning daughter of Galileo, Beautiful Morning should have a healthy career as a Broodmare herself with the strong possibility that she will come up with a few decent stallion prospects.

The 2nd foal out of Date With Destiny ( still only 7 herself) is another filly the once raced 2yo filly Janabiya by Galileo's high flying son Nathaniel.

Hopefully the 2yo Janabiya will go on to earn black type herself and she should have a nice career as a Broodmare herself. Date With Destiny also has a yearling Colt by Lope De Vega and a Filly foal by Lope De Vega. She was covered by Iffraaj this year.


Here's hoping that Date With Destiny's foals keep George Washington's name going for many years to come.

Imhof Tank wrote: »

Mmm dunno. If Date with Destiny did breed a G1 winning colt, would a commercial stud/ insurance company take him on with the risk of hereditary fertility issues?

Interesting point, they could have him tested.

tryfix wrote: »

I do like Australia, those neat chestnut Galileos are both flashy and resolute. Even though he was speedy I'd be a bit worried about him trasmitting too much stamina to be a stallion sensation. However Galileo is a sire of sires and Australia has the career behind him to be a replacement for Galileo if he can start banging in the winners, but he's up against it. He hasn't got the blue hen type dam side that his daddy has. Ruler Of The World has a very fine stallion pedigree but is barely wanted at stud despite being a Derby winning half brother to a very decent sire in Duke Of Marmalade.

The likes of Gleneagles has the right pedigree to really make it as a sire. There are a lot of fabulously bred Galileo stallions coming on stream. What stud will Ulysses end up at? That Decorated Knight is also another very neat superbly bred stallion prospect.

Interesting times ahead in the search for a replacement for the great one.

Ulysses is off to Cheveley Park at the end of the season. An excellent move for all concerned, he should get plenty of opportunities to shine there.

The UK Studs are filling up with some very decent Galileo stallions. Banstead Manor has Frankel, Dalham Hall has New Approach, Newsells Park has Nathaniel, the National Stud has Roderic O'Connor and now Cheveley Park has Ulysses.

Methinks Coolmore would want to start hitting the target pretty quickly with their unproven sons of Galileo, before the old man stops producing new stallion prospects.

Inion An Ri wrote: »

Galileo has at least 135 foals registered and covered 178 mares this year (best book yet), with Coolmore and their associates owning at least 80% of them, so time is on their side still

True, and they've recently made a good start in the search for the next Galileo with Australia, Gleneagles, The Ghurka at Coolmore + Churchill etc coming down the tracks.

But! You can't just pick a son of Galileo and hey presto replace the freak that is the old man.


The end of Galileo means the probable end of the line for the Classic production machine stallions that were, Sadlers Wells, Danehill, Montjeu, Galileo, Danehill Dancer.

Nothing has arrived at Coolmore since Galileo that could be considered to be in the super stallion league that made Coolmore.

EDIT:

Well that's not quite true, Fastnet Rock is probably up to the job but he hasn't exactly been used to the hilt by Coolmore.

Inion An Ri wrote: »

I guess the same was said of Sadler's Wells before Galileo came along, and indeed, there were no great expectations of Galileo initially. Coolmore didn't even support him themselves until his first couple of crops yielded results. But they have supported Australia quite well, and they plug him big time as 'the heir apparent'. Even Goldolphin marked the end of their boycott by buying two Australia yearlings at Keeneland.
A significant part of Galileo's success is down to the Coolmore band of broodmares that return to him year after year, who produce multiple stakes winners, including multiple G1 winners. The might of that broodmare band will be switched to the stallion showing the potential to be the heir apparent. But it'll still be unlikely that we get the equal of Galileo again. Even Frankel, with a first book of mares in 2013 as good as Galileo's that year, can't hold a candle to him.

Sadlers Wells was never alone as a top level stallion at Coolmore, Galileo on the other hand is the only super stallion at Coolmore since Montjeu and Danehill Dancer finished. ( true Fastnet Rock is top drawer but they even gave up on him for Ireland at one stage despite his supersire record in Australia).

Sadlers Wells was the Frankel ( stallion) of his day in that he was expected to be a Champion Sire from day one where his starting fee was £100,000.

At stud he had Caerleon standing alongside him, and he had Danehill, Montjeu, Galileo and Danehill Dancer standing alongside him for many years.

If he had dropped dead there was another few Champion Class Sires ready to fill his boots.

If Galileo died tomorrow, Coolmore have no replacement ready. It'd take years for them to establish a new super-stallion..



STALLION £ TOTAL PRIZE
Galileo £10,249,746
Dubawi £2,709,333
Dark Angel £2,626,940
Acclamation £1,973,053
Kodiac £1,965,167
Nathaniel £1,804,891
Sea The Stars £1,795,580
Frankel £1,759,067
Iffraaj £1,603,556
Invincible Spirit £1,552,168


Here is the up to date top ten stallion list for GB and Irish racing. No Coolmore except Galileo on the list.


Galileo's dominance masks the depletion of proven Champion Class Sires now standing at Coolmore Ireland.

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All those years of Galileo dominance as a sire has produced no proven top class Galileo-line stallion at Coolmore.

In the meanwhile, Coolmore's competition have stood Galileo's best stallion sons.

Teofilo would likely be a Champion Stallion if he had access to Coolmore's Broodmare Band, New Approach would be knocking on the door. Frankel would be siring Classic winners at Coolmore.

Even slow and steady Nathaniel would be sitting there as a quality owner-breeder stallion.


The few Galileos with runners that Coolmore stood up until now have been poor and unsupported by the Coolmore Broodmare Band

Rip Van Winkle never seen a sniff of top Totty, Cape Blanco was awful, Soldier Of Fortune was treated as a NH sire in waiting and behaved as such. Ruler Of The World is barely wanted at Coolmore.

The one constant in the really successful Galileo stallions that stood outside Coolmore was preciousness at 2yo. Dewhurst winners Teofilo and New Approach were joined by another Dewhurst winner in Frankel as the most successful Galileo stallions.

Meanwhile Gp 1 winning 2yo and Dewhurst runner up ( to Frankel) and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Roderic O'Connor wasn't deemed good enough for Coolmore and was packed off to obscurity at some semi-detached stud where he could fight for scraps at €9,000.

Roderic succeeds relatively well and instead of getting promoted within the Coolmore structure he instead gets sold to the UK national stud.

All the War Fronts will be grand commercial prospects but they won't replace the Derby/Oaks winning top stallions like Galileo, Danehill, Montjeu etc who dominated the Champion sire tables for the last few decades.


Hopefully Australia will make it as a stallion because he should be an 8-12f stallion who can supply group winning 2yos.I'm not too wild about his damside but there is class there.

The likes of Gleneagles and Churchill to a lesser extent have the blue-hen type damsides to be top drawer. Gleneagles could have it all as a sire, he doesn't lack stamina in his pedigree as much as Churchill does.

Tick tock, the old man needs to stay alive for another few years to allow his replacements time and space to prove themselves.

Inion An Ri wrote: »

Danehill died in 2003 and for a couple of years, Sadler's Wells was on his own before Montjeu and Danehill Dancer appeared from left field in 2005, so they have been here before. You can't underestimate the power of their broodmare band and their breeding knowledge and contacts. They can turn a good sire into a very good sire, and a very good sire into a top sire. Also, they don't support outside sires to any great extent, so they don't help the opposition.

Regarding other Galileo sons, New Approach has been a great disappointment after flattering to deceive with his first crop. Teofilo produces some good horses, but no very good ones to date, Trading Leather is his highest rated! Frankel has started at the top and can only work his way down.

Coolmore have four live candidates from the Sadler's Wells line to replace Galileo right now and there are at least 3 more large crops of 2yos. If Galileo were to emulate his sire (as he has done in everything to date), who retired at the age of 27, we would have his 2yos up until 2028!

Sadler's Wells line aside, one under the radar is Zoffany, he had the third best book of mares last year, behind only Galileo and Dubawi, and better than Frankel. He has been getting a lot of Galileo mares. Coolmore have also supported No Nay Never with a number of good mares for his first few seasons, and he was an inferior racehorse to Caravaggio, as indeed was Scat Daddy himself, which suggests that they may indeed throw the full weight of their Galileo mares behind Caravaggio. So they have a number of irons in the fire, though they will need two of them to come through and prove themselves in the next two or three years, one as a replacement for Galileo and another as an outcross for his daughters.

It's hard to believe that Danehill is dead 14 years ( time flies). I'm trying to remember who was at Coolmore back then.

In 2003 they bought Ahanoora who unfortunately died in the same year. They also had Danehill Dancer who was an established 10yo stallion at the time. At that time the other European Studs were very far behind Coolmore, now the competition between other Studs and Coolmore is much more challenging.

They also had many potential giants at stud there in 2003 with Rock Of Gibraltar who never lived up to what could have been expected standing alongside Montjeu and Galileo and High Chaparral and Hawkwing on the track as 3yo's in 2003. If I recall correctly they also had a clatter of GP1 winning Danehill Sprinters coming on line during that period.

Zoffany could become anything, however everytime I see Deauville run I'm reminded of his 2yo conqueror, John Gosden's very handsome colt Foundation who failed to train on. Indeed the best Zoffany's have failed to step up to Gp 1 winning company except for in one egg and spoon GP1 in Italy. He has enough about him to produce GP1 winners from top mares, just don't think that he will ever get to supersire status.

For sure Coolmore now have a blue-hen production line going with Galileo producing multiple GP winners from the same mares time and time again. It's quite amazing from a breeding perspective but it all hinges on Galileo himself. It won't be so easy to find a middle distance champion class outcross fit to service those mares.

Caravaggio is a perfect outcross for Galileo, but not for producing Derby winners.

Inion An Ri wrote: »

It would be ironic if Aidan was to get Frankel that elusive European G1 winner. But I'm not sure it will be one of this year's crop of 2yos. Rostropovich is proving disappointing and Nelson was flattered by his last win, would expect the second and third to surpass him. There are a couple of others who may come on for their first run. Coolmore have 15 nominations to Frankel as part of the deal they had with Juddmonte for the use of each other's stallions. They have used most of those nominations to date to sell young mares in foal (some of them to SH time), or to sell the resulting yearlings. Coolmore have bred 4 of Frankel's stakes winners, including Eminent. Nelson is the only home bred they've retained to race. All their yearlings have been entered in the sales this year, it will be interesting to see if they buy any.

I was quite impressed by Nelson the last day, he'll be a hard horse to outstay and we'll see tomorrow how good the form is. I'd have him down for a serious stayer who is made for a race like the 10f 2yo GP1 in France that O'Brien targets at the end of the season. He should be in the O'Brien's Derby thoughts next year with the Doncaster St Leger being an ideal target for him on pedigree.

His Dosage Index is 0.54 which is cup horse territory and he's a half/3/4 brother to US Army Ranger, Nevin, Words and Stubbs. His dam is a great producer.

They should keep sending him mares because they have found the key to getting good results out of him and he's a 12f stallion capable of getting the Derby winners that Coolmore's reputation is dependent on.


With Rostropovich they're already sorted with him, he's won his group race, is a half brother to a proven stallion and is by a currently desirable stallion source. He's already a small time stallion waiting to finish his career so that he go and meet the ladies.

BUSIEST NEW SIRES IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND in 2017

Mehmas
Sire Acclamation
Stud Tally-Ho
Mares covered 187
Black-type winners covered 10

Vadamos
Sire Monsun
Stud Tally-Ho
Mares covered 184
Black-type winners covered 18

The Gurkha
Sire Galileo
Stud Coolmore
Mares covered 175
Black-type winners covered 21

Pride Of Dubai
Sire Street Cry
Stud Coolmore
Mares covered 158
Black-type winners covered 8

Territories
Sire Invincible Spirit
Stud Dalham Hall
Mares covered 148
Black-type winners covered 16

Estidhkaar
Sire Dark Angel
Stud Tara
Mares covered 143
Black-type winners covered 3

Twilight Son
Sire Kyllachy
Stud Cheveley Park
Mares covered 142
Black-type winners covered 8

Affinisea
Sire Sea The Stars
Stud Whytemount
Mares covered 128
Black-type winners covered 2

Adaay
Sire Kodiac
Stud Whitsbury Manor
Mares covered 127
Black-type winners covered 3

Belardo
Sire Lope De Vega
Stud Kildangan
Mares covered 122
Black-type winners covered 7

Prince Of Lir
Sire Kodiac
Stud Ballyhane
Mares covered 122
Black-type winners covered 4

Buratino
Sire Exceed And Excel
Stud Kildangan
Mares covered 121
Black-type winners covered 3

Awtaad
Sire Cape Cross
Stud Derrinstown
Mares covered 120
Black-type winners covered 16

New Bay
Sire Dubawi
Stud Ballylinch
Mares covered 118
Black-type winners covered 15

Markaz
Sire Dark Angel
Stud Derrinstown
Mares covered 108
Black-type winners covered 4

Kodi Bear
Sire Kodiac
Stud Rathbarry
Mares covered 105
Black-type winners covered 2

Harzand
Sire Sea The Stars
Stud Gilltown
Mares covered 96
Black-type winners covered 11

Bobby's Kitten
Sire Kitten's Joy
Stud Lanwades
Mares covered 95
Black-type winners covered 11

Ol Man River
Sire Montjeu
Stud Arctic Tack
Mares covered 93
Black-type winners covered 0

Fascinating Rock
Sire Fastnet Rock
Stud Ballylinch
Mares covered 91
Black-type winners covered 11

The Last Lion
Sire Choisir
Stud Kildangan
Mares covered 90
Black-type winners covered 5

Charming Thought
Sire Oasis Dream
Stud Dalham Hall
Mares covered 83
Black-type winners covered 5

Coulsty
Sire Kodiac
Stud Rathasker
Mares covered 66
Black-type winners covered 2

Ajaya
Sire Invincible Spirit
Stud Rathbarry
Mares covered 59
Black-type winners covered 0

Clovis Du Berlais
Sire King's Theatre
Stud Yorton Farm
Mares covered 59
Black-type winners covered 1

Pearl Secret
Sire Compton Place
Stud Bucklands
Mares covered 58
Black-type winners covered 0

Cannock Chase
Sire Lemon Drop Kid
Stud Nunstainton
Mares covered 55
Black-type winners covered 2

Proconsul
Sire Galileo
Stud Mickley
Mares covered 42
Black-type winners covered 1

Life Force
Sire Invincible Spirit
Stud Moortown
Mares covered 28
Black-type winners covered 0

Eagle Top
Sire Pivotal
Stud Hedgehome
Mares covered 27
Black-type winners covered 0

Strath Burn
Sire Equiano
Stud Bridge
Mares covered 23
Black-type winners covered 2

Marcel
Sire Lawman
Stud National
Mares covered 23
Black-type winners covered 4

https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/bloodstock-world/mehmas-the-busiest-new-boy-in-britain-and-ireland-with-187-mares/301878

Some depressing reading in that link with the production of horses ready to race at 2 seemingly being a huge factor in coverings.

4 Sons of Kodiac begin stud duties and covered 400 mares between them while the retired at 2 Mehmas by Dark Angel has a book of 187.


The Ghurka seems to have had some choice mares sent his way ..

tryfix wrote: »

It's a very competitive little race, I'm a bit concerned about the Breeding with Saxon Warrior.

Those Deep Impacts have been ready first time up like September was, but I'm beginning to think that they won't improve at the same rate as the Galileos.

Having said that he showed a remarkable ability to quicken the last day so hopefully he'll turn out to be the real deal and he'll be up for it today because a Gp2 win for him makes him an instant stallion as soon as he finishes his career.

Can't help but be impressed with that performance. Maybe a little green when pressed but it quickened nicely and looked like it was going away from the field at the close. Surely no doubt about it stepping up to a Derby trip.

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Can't help but be impressed with that performance. Maybe a little green when pressed but it quickened nicely and looked like it was going away from the field at the close. Surely no doubt about it stepping up to a Derby trip.

Through the beaten horses he comes out as much the same horse as the Frankel colt Nelson, so might not be the horse to put the house on for the Derby.

Imhof Tank wrote: »

Tryfix - serious question - what do you say to those, eg Kevin Blake, who ridicule the whole concept of dosage index and claim it has been completely discredited?

I'd say they are half right, it's a very flawed system, it's only a good guide rather than an accurate assessment of a horse's likely staying power.

It works well where the horses being assessed are from a European background because European horses are subject to careers where their ability to stay 12f+ is usually tested as there are loads of races at 12f +. Also DI is most relevant when a horse is running in a top class race, in egg and spoon race handicaps it's not very important at all.

Top US horses rarely get sent over a trip that would give a true indication of their actual staying power, so US sires Dosage stats are based around a very flawed test regime of their actual ability to transmit stamina.

The Dosage Index worked to show that Frankel would be a sire of mostly middle-distance horses despite his own dam being a sprinter and his showing of tremendous speed over a mile. His dam was in fact a bit of freak who was defying her own dam's sire Rainbow Quest's staying influence. The breeding will nearly always break out.

Lads does anyone know how many mares Rajj has covered? And why he seems to have only entered stud in 2013? Can only find 7 runners from him. Has two well above average horses from very few chances