Mehmas

Royal Applause (GB), a stalwart of the Royal Studs who has been retired from covering duties since 2014, has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years largely thanks to his son Acclamation (GB) and grandson Dark Angel (Ire). Numerically, Gutaifan (Ire) led the first-season sires' list last season and he is one of at least eight sons of Dark Angel at stud in Europe. In 2020, two of those will have their first runners, but it is a son of Dark Angel's sire Acclamation who is tipped for the...

Mehmas (Ire), Shalaa (Ire) and The Gurkha (Ire) jointly head Fitzdares's market for champion first-season sire of 2020 at 5-1. Also featuring prominently are Territories (Ire) (6-1) and Pride of Dubai (Aus) (8-1) as well as Adaay (Ire), Awtaad (Ire) and Twilight Son (GB), all at 12-1. The odds are for win only, with the champion first-season sire to be determined by number of winners. "This year's market has an open look with co-favourites Mehmas and Shalaa having plenty of firepower to go on the track," said Glyn Warne, head...

In this TDN series we ask a group of experts for their predictions for the 2020 flat season in Europe. Today we hear from Alex Elliott. TDN: Who do you think will be the leading first-season sire this year? AE: I like the idea of Mehmas (Ire). He was a high-class 2-year-old, is bred on the same cross as Dark Angel (Ire), and Tally-Ho Stud are amongst the best in the game when it comes to producing 2-year-old winners. It should prove a potent combination in the race to be...

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,...