The more things change, the more they stay the same could be the heading describing the leading sires list in the Northern Hemisphere this year.
However, while Galileo and Tapit continue to dominate Europe and the US, a number of younger sires have made their presence felt on sires logs around the world in 2016.
Britain
With his progeny continuing to dominate the world’s major races, it comes as no surprise to see the all-conquering Galileo on track to record his 8th top place on the general sires list in GB/Ireland.
Galileo (Sadler’s Wells – Urban Sea)
The son of Sadler’s Wells, who has been represented by 14 Gr1 winners in 2016 (they have won 24 Gr1 races between them), currently dominates the General Sires List for the 2016 year in the UK.
His runners have amassed a staggering £10 484 306 and he is well clear of runner up, Dubawi, with
Galileo’s half-brother, Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) in third place. The latter enjoyed a breakout year, with his top UK earner being the now retired dual Derby winner, Harzand.
While no match for Galileo, Dubawi is a truly great sire in his own right, and he was represented by five Gr1 winners this year, including Postponed (whose three top level Gr1 wins this year included the Juddmonte International), and 2017 classic hope, Wuheida. The latter won both her outings in 2016, and ended her campaign with a win in the Gr1 Prix Marcel Boussac, which has been won in recent years by subsequent classic winners.
Galileo’s outstanding son, Frankel, (who covered one of the greatest books of mares ever when retiring to stud in 2013), made a superb start with his first juveniles in 2016, including no fewer than five group/graded winners.
Frankel (Galileo – Kind)
However, it was Sir Prancealot (one of a growing number of horses to have begun his stud career not having raced after the age of two), who leads the GB/Ire First Crop Sires List, with his 27 individual winners including the Gr3 Dick Poole Stakes winner Madam Dancealot.
Remarkably, Sir Prancealot (winner of the Gr2 Flying Childers) is by yet another member of the powerful Allegretta clan, with his sire, Tamayuz (Nayef) being a great grandson of Allegretta (herself dam of 2000 Guineas winner, King’s Best and Arc winner, Urban Sea –the latter producing Galileo and Sea The Stars). Urban Sea is also dam of Irish Derby runner up, Born To Sea (Invincible Spirit), whose first 2yo runners this year included Gr3 winner, Sea Of Grace.
France
Galileo having been responsible for the first three home in the G1 Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe (Found, Highland Reel and Order Of St George), it comes as no surprise to see him atop the French sires list.
The outstanding Found
His French runners have earned a massive €6 103 400 this year – nearly €4 000 000 more than Le Havre (Noverre), currently the best stallion standing in France.
Remarkably, Galileo is also leading sire of 2yos in France and is currently clear of Invincible Spirit (Green Desert), Myboycharlie (Danetime) and Sageburg (Johannesburg), with his French 2yo winners including the Gr1 winner, Waldgeist.
Germany
Sons of In The Wings (surely the most underrated of Sadler’s Wells sire sons) dominated the German sires log in 2016, with Soldier Hollow currently heading the table and paternal half-brother and former Gr1 Deutsches Derby winner, Adlerflug, back in fourth. Another In The Wings son, Mamool, is currently in 12th position on the German premiership.
Sadler’s Wells
Former German Horse Of The Year, Soldier Hollow, (who hails from the same family as his own grandsire, Sadler’s Wells) enjoyed another good season in 2016, with his top earner being Gr1 Preis Der Diana (German Oaks) winner, Serienholde.
Italy
Danzig line stallions dominate the 2016 Italian Sires List, with that former Claiborne great the male line ancestor of six of the top ten on the list.
Former champion 2yo, and Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes winner, Mujahid (Danzig) tops the standings. It is the second year in a row that Mujahid has led the Italian General Sires List. His 2016 top earner in Italy is stakes winning 2yo, Penalty.
Strategic Prince (Dansili), whose son, Saent, won the Gr2 Derby Italiano this year, is second, ahead of former Breeders’ Cup winner, Pounced (Rahy), and Desert Prince (Green Desert).
Japan
The mighty Deep Impact is following in his legendary sire (Sunday Silence)’s footsteps and has totally dominated Japanese racing this year.
Deep Impact (Sunday Silence – Wind In Her Hair)
The former Triple Crown winning champion, who has been represented by no fewer than 24 individual stakes winners this year, is more than ¥2 000 000 clear of runner up, King Kamehameha (Kingmambo) on the Japanese sires list this year, with his progeny having won all of the Japanese 2000 Guineas (Satsuki Sho), Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun) and St Leger (Kikuka Sho) in 2016.
Deep Impact’s offspring have also made their presence felt on the world stage in 2016, with his sons, Real Steel and A Shin Hikari, landing the Gr1 Dubai Turf and G1 Prix D’ Ispahan. Another son, Japan Derby hero, Makahiki, won the Gr2 Prix Niel.
North America
Tapit continued his domination of North America’s sires list, heading the US General Sires List for a third year in a row.
Tapit
The son of Pulpit enjoyed yet another tremendous season in 2016, with his progeny (20 of whom won stakes races) notching up more than $18 000 000 in stakes money. Tapit, whose daughters, Sweet Loretta and Pretty City Dancer, made history when dead heating for first in the Gr1 Spinaway Stakes, was represented by five individual Gr1 winners in 2016, headed by the brilliant Gr1 Met Hcp/G1 Whitney Stakes hero, Frosted, and Gr1 Belmont Stakes winner, Creator.
Former 2yo champ, Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), enjoyed a superb year in 2016.
His 16 individual stakes winners include now retired Gr1 Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist, while War Front (Danzig) and Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) are currently fighting out a hard battle to secure the leading sire of 2yos title.
-Sarah Whitelaw
