There are an unusually high number of really promising young sires in the Northern Hemisphere, if last season’s juvenile pattern races are anything to go by. No fewer than nine first crop sires based in UK/Europe had one or more group race winner in their first crop in 2014, and one can only wonder which of these promising sires will continue with their early success this year. The likes of Lope De Vega, Rip Van Winkle, and France’s Siyouni (to name but three), are all exciting young stallions for the future, and all three look capable of growing into important European sires.
North America also has its share of hot young prospects. Quality Road and Super Saver, in particular, made eye-catching starts in 2014, with both stallions coming up with Gr1 winners in their first crop of 2yos.
Leading Sire prospects for 2015
Quality Road
Quality Road
A brilliant racehorse who won four Gr1 races, Quality Road also took plenty of pedigree when he retired to Lane’s End in Kentucky in 2011. He is a son of champion US sire Elusive Quality, and his dam an own sister to champion and Breeders Cup winner Ajina, and he traces back in female line to the hugely influential mare, Myrtlewood, (also ancestress of great sires, Mr Prospector and Seattle Slew).
Quality Road has certainly lived up to expectations so far – he was rated North America’s Leading First Crop Sire (by stakes) in 2014, and his first crop included the Gr1 Breeders Cup Turf Juvenile hero, Hootenanny, as well as Gr2 Futurity Stakes hero, Blofeld. As he himself never raced at two, Quality Road’s offspring should shape up even better at three, and he looks a really exciting sire prospect for the future.
Temple City
Temple City
A superbly bred son of the great Dynaformer, Temple City is from the same family as one of North America’s leading sires, Malibu Moon.
Despite being a typically late maturing son of his sire (Temple City was unraced at two, and raced just once at three), the Spendthrift Farm stallion has made an excellent start to his stud career. Temple City’s first juveniles last year included six stakes horses –most notably the Gr2 With Anticipation Stakes winner, Startup Nation – a remarkable start for a stallion who showed his best racetrack form as a 5yo.
Lope De Vega
Lope De Vega
A dual classic winning son of leading sire, Shamardal, Lope De Vega made a sensational start to his stud career. His first crop of 2yos, who hit the track in 2014, included four individual Group winners, a tally which includes Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes hero, Belardo. Another of Lope De Vega’s first crop stakes winners is Look Hero – winner of the Gran Criterium (a race which used to have Group 1 status, but is now a Group 2 contest). Understandably, the success of the French Derby winner’s offspring carried into the sales ring, with Lope De Vega yearlings fetching up to 650 000 guineas. He looks a potentially top class sire for the future, and his runners’ progress will be followed closely in 2015.
Blame
Blame
A champion on the track, Blame made history when he became the only horse ever to defeat US legend Zenyatta (Blame won the Breeders’ Cup Classic by a head from the late charging Zenyatta).
Another who took time to come to hand (Blame was a Champion at four), Blame’s first 2yos made a steady start in 2014 – without any fireworks. However, if they follow in their father’s footsteps and continue to improve from two to three, Blame’s offspring could still yet make headlines in 2015. Blame’s first runners did include three individual graded performers – not a bad start for a Champion Older Horse who made just two appearances at two – and he could still yet be anything. From the same family as champion sires Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev, Blame’s first crop includes the highly rated Graded filly, No Fault Of Mine, and impressive debut winners, Blame Game and Far From Over.
Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle
A top class racehorse who won three Gr1 races, Rip Van Winkle (following Teofilo and New Approach) became the third son of Galileo to sire a Gr1 winner, when his son Dick Whittington won the 2014 Phoenix Stakes. However, Dick Whittington was just one of a number of smart winners from his sire’s first crop last year – others included I Am Beautiful and Jeanne Girl, first and second in the Gr3 Grangecon Stud Stakes as well as the debut winner, Sleepy Dust.
A top class 2yo, Rip Van Winkle’s Gr1 victories, however, came as a 3yo and 4yo – and his progeny should train on. A horse with a great performance and race record, Rip Van Winkle has big books on the ground, which should stand him in great stead for the future, and he is definitely a sire with a big future ahead of him.
Siyouni
Siyouni
Siyouni completely dominated France’s first crop sires log in 2014, with Siyouni’s first 2yos earning over €600 000 and he finished nearly €400 000 clear of the second horse on the list, 2000 Guineas winner, Makfi. A son of Pivotal, Siyouni also headed France’s 2yo sires list in 2014. Remarkably, his highest earner (Gr3 winner Ervedya) amassed just over €170 000 – clearly underlining the fact that Siyouni was by no means a “one hit” wonder.
He is a former Gr1 winning juvenile himself and Siyouni’s first juvenile runners included no fewer than three individual Group winners – he looks an exciting young sire for the future.
While Siyouni never won as a 3yo, he did place in three Gr1 races, suggesting that his offspring should train on.
