Freshmen In Favour

How his first foals sell is by no means an indicator of a stallion's future success, but it does give a guide to how the stock are finding favour with the hardy fellows who patrol the sales grounds assessing, selecting and eliminating hundreds of foals each year. The last fortnight has given buyers a chance to do just that, and here are some of the early verdicts from those who have been doing the hard yards in search of the perfect pinhook or future racehorse (or hopefully both)…

Tina Rau, bloodstock agent: “I really like the Shalaa (Ire) foals. I just think they are a really nice bunch. He was the most outstanding but he was also the most expensive of the new boys and that probably goes together. Of the slightly cheaper first-season sires I was really impressed by stock of The Last Lion (Ire).”

Morna McDowall, breeder, consignor and pinhooker: “Shalaa (Ire) was the nicest for me, along with Awtaad (Ire), but I don't want to bash any of the others. You almost need to stop looking at all the other horses and only focus on the foals by first-season sires to get a really firm view on it.

Larry Stratton, breeder and bloodstock agent: “There weren't many catalogued by The Last Lion (Ire) but those I saw were a really uniform bunch who were athletic, easy-moving types.”

Nicola Kent, breeder, Ballyhampshire Stud: “The Buratino (Ire) foals were really strong and sharp-looking like their father, and he only covered around 120 mares, which is appealing. The Awtaad (Ire) foals are very attractive with the presence of their sire and the market has realised that. He has also been well managed, covering 120 mares. The Kodi Bear (Ire) foals also look like they will be honest, early types.”

Sam Hoskins, breeder, pinhooker and syndicate manager: “I think the Adaay (Ire) foals look really nice and I bred a filly by him who looks a real racehorse. I bought a gorgeous filly by Vadamos (Fr) who was a top-class racehorse and was faster than his pedigree suggests. He's a beautiful horse himself and his stock are easy movers with scope. I think Pearl Secret (GB) could be the sleeper. He has good stock on the ground and he's been well supported with some nice mares.

Cathy Grassick, breeder and bloodstock agent: “I've found this year that it's been harder to convince people to take a chance on first-season sires. The market has been very selective and only the best bred of the first-season sires have succeeded. Awtaad (Ire) is definitely stamping his stock and those that sold well had the walk and real quality. I'm very impressed with the foals by Shalaa (Ire) but it's easy to see how he would be popular with buyers as he's such good-looking horse himself and he's by the sire-maker Invincible Spirit (Ire). I've also liked the stock of Twilight Son (GB) and Cheveley Park Stud have done a good job in supporting him.

Liam Norris, breeder and bloodstock agent: “I bought a filly by New Bay (GB) and was underbidder on another very nice filly by him from Laundry Cottage Stud. Of those I've seen I think they're good-bodied horses who walk well. I bought Shalaa (Ire) as a foal so I realise I can be accused of bias here but I am delighted to see that he's throwing some really good foals.”

Nancy Sexton, European representative, Schumer Bloodstock: “Awtaad (Ire) is stamping his stock for sure. The majority I have seen have great balance and are good movers and a good outlook. I think he's been priced to give breeders a chance and obviously he was a very good racehorse with plenty of pace from a good stallion family. Twilight Son (GB) has also caught my eye. There's a lot of Kyllachy (GB) about them and they are strong, active horses with a bit of quality.

Charlie Vigors, breeder, consignor and pinhooker: “I bought two by Awtaad in Ireland, including the very first lot in the ring on Monday, who was a lovely filly, so hopefully we struck early before the Awtaad bandwagon really started rolling. I've been very impressed with the Twilight Son (GB) foals as well as those by Territories (Ire), who had a good shape to them.”

Marion Stauffenberg, breeder, consignor and pinhooker: “The largest number I saw by a first-season sire were by Awtaad (Ire) and I like them very much. They look sporty with good bone and they are really good walkers. I've liked the New Bay (GB) foals–they also walk really well.”

Philipp Stauffenberg, breeder, consignor and pinhooker: “The offspring of Awtaad (Ire) may not end up being really early 2-year-olds but they look very classy horses. I also saw some very nice foals by Harzand (Ire). We won't necessarily be expecting to see them out early at two but he might be one to follow for the future, especially considering the success of Sea The Moon (Ger). I've also seen a few nice strong foals by Pride Of Dubai (Aus) and we have a very nice foal by him ourselves.

Emma Berry, European Editor, TDN: “Looking with the uncommercial eye of a small owner-breeder, I'm pleased to have seen some good foals by the dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire). He's not only by one of the best racehorses and stallions that we've seen in many a year, but he's a good-looking, well-proportioned horse who should get some classy types in due course. We're told that it's a numbers game, and he will not have numbers on his side in the early days, but sometimes that actually works to a stallion's advantage. It was also good to see that Bobby's Kitten is producing stock with balance, substance and scope.”