Value Sires Series: First Foals Of 2019

After kicking off our European value sires series earlier this week with stallions entering stud in 2019, we move on to sires with their first foals this year. Please note that figures of mares bred are taken from the 2018 Return of Mares, and are subject to be slightly off due to late registrations.

A trio of colts entered stud last year sharing the top-of-the-class fee of €35,000, and all three remain at that price this year: Coolmore's Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) and Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Haras d'Etreham's Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

After an undeniably successful first season for Scat Daddy's No Nay Never that saw his fee quadrupled, Caravaggio will have an even heavier load of anticipation and all the buzz riding on his shoulders. And while No Nay Never was an exciting racehorse in his own right, Caravaggio was simply a masterpiece in winning the G2 Coventry S., G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and G1 Commonwealth Cup, the latter from the champion sprinter Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The hype had started early for No Nay Never, his first yearlings selling so well that he earned a fee hike before he even had runners, so it will be interesting to see how the Caravaggios are received at the foal sales later this year. He had 17 in-foal mares sold last year from 19 through the ring for an average of £158,446/€176,305. He covered 217 mares in 2018.

Almanzor broke down every barrier he confronted in 2016, proving himself the top French 3-year-old with a win over Zarak (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club before besting the future Arc winner Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})-and a host of other top-class older horses-in both the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Champion S. and was named Europe's champion 3-year-old colt. The sporting decision was made to leave him in training as a 4-year-old, but Almanzor was sadly struck by a herpesvirus outbreak that hit trainer Jean-Claude Rouget's barn and never returned to his best. That won't affect his odds at stud, of course; he is by Iffraaj's Wootton Bassett, who is still a promising young sire himself and has had his own fee doubled to €40,000 this year, and he comes from a stout Aga Khan female family that includes Prix du Jockey Club winner Darsi (Fr) (Polish Precedent) and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar).

Churchill is the latest in the lineup of Galileo-sired Classic winners to head to stud in Co. Tipperary, following on from Australia (GB) and Ruler of the World (Ire) in 2015, Gleneagles (Ire) the following year and The Gurkha (Ire) in 2017. Galileo's success thus far as a sire of sires is there for all to see, but the likes of Gleneagles, Churchill and Decorated Knight (GB) could usher in a new era for their sire as the first sons of Galileo from Storm Cat mares to go to stud. This trend is a result of breeders sending Galileo faster mares than those from the stamina-laden pedigrees that produced New Approach (Ire), Teofilo (Ire) and even Frankel (GB) earlier in his career, and Churchill-who covered 211 mares last year–in particular has a very fast page, his dam being the G2 Queen Mary S. second Meow (Ire), a daughter of the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner and G1 Diamond Jubilee second Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), who is a half-sister to the G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Jwala (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). For Churchill and his full-sister Clemmie (Ire), the blending of Galileo's stamina with a sharp Storm Cat dam resulted in the ultimate mile performer. Sprinting mares of all types are now knocking down Galileo's door, and it will be fascinating to see where this latest trend sends his career as a sire of sires. At the same time, Coolmore stands Highland Reel (Ire) from the same sire crop; the admirable middle-distance performer hails from the tried-and-true Galileo over Danehill cross that has produced successful sires Frankel and Teofilo as well as up-and-comers like Intello and Noble Mission, and Highland Reel stays at €17,500 after covering 184 mares last year.

Galileo's two other European Group 1-winning sons from this sire crop both get a fee trim for 2019: Ulysses (Ire) (£30,000 to £17,500) and Decorated Knight (€15,000 to €12,000). Two better bred horses you would hardly find anywhere: the G1 Coral-Eclipse and G1 Juddmonte International winner Ulysses is out of the G1 Oaks winner Light Shift (Kingmambo) and therefore is from a similar cross to rising young sire Camelot (Sadler's Wells over a Kingmambo mare), while G1 Jebel Hatta, G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and G1 Irish Champion S. winner Decorated Knight is out of a full-sister to Giant's Causeway and You'resothrilling, the dam of Gleneagles.

In the case of Ulysses, the fee cut looks like good business practice on behalf of Cheveley Park Stud; the horse covered 115 mares last year, and after a cut throat season at the breeding stock sales perhaps breeders will respond to a little relief and support the horse in his crucial second year.

The Irish National Stud stated when it released its fees for 2019 that it was reducing some to respond to market needs, and the package that is Decorated Knight should be extremely appealing: a three-time Group 1 winner that is closely related to Gleneagles-who started out at €60,000-and Giant's Causeway and from one of the best families in the global stud book for €12,000. It is surprising that just 66 mares visited the horse last year-perhaps a one has fallen off the front of that figure? Sure, he didn't do his best running until five, but at that stage he could run with the best of them, and the page is full of precocious Group 1 winners that could tip the odds slightly more in the favor of those looking for a quick return. In any case, buyers of in-foal mares this season were more than happy to take a swing; he cleared 24 of 25 offered, including the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Princess Noor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who brought 675,000gns. Breeders Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar supported Decorated Knight with some of their impeccably bred mares-a number of those being the ones to go through the ring–so he'll have some blueblooded youngsters working for him in a few years' time.

Also taking small fee cuts-again, not alarming considering the market–are Darley's Group 1 winners Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})-both four-time Group 1 winners. Ribchester was Europe's standout miler last year, following up on a win in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at three with victories in the Lockinge S., Queen Anne and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. The success of the aforementioned Wootton Bassett, another son of Iffraaj, at stud should only help his popularity, and Ribchester covered 154 mares at €30,000. He is down to €25,000.

Postponed took the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at four, and the Dubai Sheema Classic, the G1 Coronation Cup and the Juddmonte International at five. He is a grandson of G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse) and his half-sister God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) boosted the page in November with a win in the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio. Postponed did his best running later but he also won the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at three. Dubawi has yet to establish a flagship son at stud-he has had some bad luck with Al Kazeem being subfertile and Poet's Voice dying young-but the likes of Poet's Voice and Makfi have both sired Group 1 winners, and Postponed looks to have all the ingredients. He covered 112 mares last year at £20,000 and a small cut to £15,000 could help keep the momentum going.

Others from the sire crop to give Dubawi a chance to establish a top sire son include Zarak (Fr), the Aga Khan's Group 1-winning son of Arc winner Zarkava (Ire) who stands at Haras de Bonneval for €12,000 and covered 133 mares last year. It bodes well that the Aga Khan Studs are giving him a real chance with some of their well-bred mares, including Group 1 mares Shareta (Ire) and Shankardeh (Ire). He also covered sisters to Charm Spirit (Ire) and Laurens (Fr). The National Stud stands Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for £8,500. He was top class over a mile to 2000 metres and was unlucky to not be a Group 1 winner, placing at that level four times.

Darley's third Group 1 winner in this sire crop is Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the G1 King's Stand S. winner who lived up to his name when covering 185 mares at Kildangan Stud last year at €12,000. Profitable is rated higher than both Invincible Spirit and that one's best sire son thus far, I Am Invincible (Aus)-also a five-furlong specialist who reached his best later in his racecourse career-and while Profitable hit his best stride at four and five, he did win at two. He stays at €12,000 this year.

Another son of Invincible Spirit is available alongside his sire at the Irish National Stud at a reduced fee: the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner National Defense (Ire), who is down from €12,000 to €8,000 for 2019. National Defense is out of a Kingmambo mare, and class shines through on the page with 10 black-type horses under the first two dams.

Two more well-supported Group 1 winners to take fee cuts for their second seasons are Tally-Ho Stud's Galileo Gold (Ire) (Paco Boy {GB}) and the National Stud's Aclaim (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). Again, this looks like smart business in a ruthless sales climate. The G1 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold covered 140 mares last year at €15,000 and is available for €10,000 this year, while the G1 Prix de la Foret winner Aclaim can be accessed in 2019 for £9,500 after breeding 160 mares at £12,500 in 2018.

Incidentally, the two horses share a similar page: Aclaim's second dam is a half-sister to Montjeu (Ire), while Galileo Gold's third dam is a different half-sister to that prolific sire. That family also features the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Again (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and the G1 King's Stand S. winner Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Standing alongside Galileo Gold at Tally-Ho is the G3 Molecomb S. winner Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who covered 180 mares at €6,000 and also takes a fee trim to €5,000. The fact that Bungle Inthejungle, also by Exceed and Excel, did so well this year bodes well for Cotai Glory, as does the fact that, like No Nay Never, he is out of an Elusive Quality mare.

As Scat Daddy's stock continued to rise in late 2017, Yeomanstown Stud secured his dual Grade III-winning son El Kabeir for stud duty. That was before No Nay Never had had a runner and before Justify had started in a race, and sure enough by season's end El Kabeir had covered 146 mares at €8,000-he remains at that fee this year. He was a winner at Saratoga at two before taking the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. later that year, and he won two Kentucky Derby prep races-the GIII Jerome S. and GIII Gotham S. over 1700m-at three.

Ardad (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) was very popular at Overbury Stud last year, covering 132 mares at £6,500, and he is just the kind of horse the commercial buyers could latch on to at the foal sales: he won the Listed Windsor Castle S. on his second start at two and later added the G2 Flying Childers S. And of course, he is by Kodiac from the super speedy family of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Maarek (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

While Almanzor and Zarak are the headliners for France of this sire crop, there are some strong supporting acts, of which Haras de Bouquetot stands four. Brametot (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}) was a dual winner at two before taking the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club the following year. He ran an RPR of 121 when fifth behind Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the 2017 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He is free of Northern Dancer and his dam is a half-sister to Monsun (Ger). He is down to €6,000 from €10,000.

Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and Zelzal (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) both stay at their opening fee of €8,000. Al Wukair was an unbeaten stakes winner in France at two before finishing third to Churchill in the G1 2000 Guineas. He won the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois with an RPR of 120 later that season. He is out of a daughter of Machiavellian and his second dam is the G1 Prix de Diane winner Caerlina (Ire) (Caerleon).

Zelzal is by Sea The Stars out of a Kingmambo mare, and while he didn't get going until three he barely put a foot wrong thereafter. He found the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains to be too much too soon after winning his first two starts, but bounced back to take the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac and the G1 Prix Jean Prat.

Ectot (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) stays at €5,000. The half-brother to G1 St. James's Palace S. winner Most Improved (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) won the G1 Criterium International at two, was a Group 3 winner over GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) at three and at five he won the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic over Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Haras du Logis stands Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), who combines class with precocity. The highest-rated 2-year-old by Manduro (Ger)-and out of a Nashwan mare who has produced three stakes horses-Ultra is the fastest-ever winner of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. He was unbeaten in three starts at two and won a listed race at three. He stays at €7,000 this year.

Also at that fee is The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) at Haras du Petit Tellier, and let's not forget he was among the very best of his generation at three, winning the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and the G1 Irish Champion S.-over Australia-before an agonizing run at four saw him place in the G1 Dubai Turf, G1 Prince of Wales's S., G1 Coral-Eclipse and G1 Juddmonte International. He earned RPRs of 125-plus on four occasions and stands for €7,000.

Montfort et Preaux has crafted a remarkable success story with its flagship sire Le Havre (Ire), and it will be hoping to follow suit with The Queen's Recorder (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The chestnut made just three starts, all at two, breaking his maiden at second asking before taking the G3 Acomb S. Being out of a Danehill Dancer mare, Recorder bears the aforementioned cross that has already produced sires like Frankel and Teofilo, and in addition to Recorder, his G2 Cherry Hinton and G3 Albany S.-winning dam Memory (Ire) has produced the Grade II winner Call To Mind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Recorder remains at €6,000 in 2019.

Value Sires Podium

Gold – Decorated Knight (€12,000): a three-time Group 1 winner from the family of Giant's Causeway and Gleneagles.

Silver – Profitable (€12,000): has a similar profile to I Am Invincible.

Bronze – Aclaim (£9,500): by sire of sires Acclamation from the Classic family of Montjeu.