In this TDN series we ask a group of experts for their predictions for the 2020 flat season in Europe. Today we hear from Ross Doyle.
TDN: Who do you think will be the leading first-season sire this year?
RD: We really liked the yearlings by Territories (Ire) and The Last Lion (Ire), but we will have to go with our old friend Mehmas (Ire).
TDN: Have you bought any yearlings by Mehmas? Does he typically stamp his stock?
RD: We bought four by him. They are great physicals, strong, good movers and seem to have good temperaments, quite similar to how his father Acclamation (GB) stamped his stock. Also we have a soft spot for him, because we bought him for Al Shaqab at the 2016 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale [170,000 gns] from our good pals John Cullinan (fellow Wicklow man) and Roger Marley.
He was such a star on the track for Richard Hannon beating the likes of Blue Point (Ire) giving him weight at Goodwood. The fact that he stands at Tally Ho Stud also gives him a massive chance because they give their stallions huge support from their own broodmare band and in the sales ring.
TDN: Hope for the 2020 flat season?
RD: Mums Tipple (Ire) and Beat Le Bon (Fr) probably come to mind. Hopefully they can do some damage at Group 1 level this season and there are some very nice unraced 3-year olds to run by the likes of Golden Horn (GB) and Sea The Stars (Ire), for example.
TDN: We have been running a series in the TDN recently on value sires. What European stallion(s) do you think represents the best value?
RD: Footstepsinthesand (GB) has been our go to man regarding value for many years with breeders. But another horse we believe is good value is Sea The Moon (Ger) at Lanwades Stud.
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