!PR? ?#AULFIELD V ?/WNER "REEDER 0AGE
CAULFIELD FILES ANDREW CAULFIELD REPORTS ON THE BLOODSTOCK WORLD
The difficult second book Freshmen are all the rage but can suffer from dwindling support in subsequent years
British & Irish stallions who covered their first mares in 2010 2010 2011 2012 2013
Archipenko Art Connoisseur Bushranger Captain Gerrard Champs Elysees Dandy Man Intense Focus Major Cadeaux Mastercraftsman Sea The Stars Virtual
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60 64 70 64 54 41 40 49 184 155 210 150 99 62 50 64 105 86 112 51 103 52 71 144 153 92 84 128 48 40 31 15 165 132 113 187 136 83 138 96 67 27 15 1
GEORGE SELWYN
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here is no shortage of evidence on both sides of the Atlantic that breeders suffer from what could be described as Dwindling Faith Syndrome where unproven stallions are concerned. While many are more than happy to flock to first-season stallions, their support frequently ebbs over the next few years. This can have a long-term effect both on the stallion’s career, effectively sentencing him to recurring peaks and troughs, and can also have an adverse effect on the breeders’ bank balance. This syndrome was perfectly illustrated by the early years of Dark Angel’s stallion career. Fresh from his victory in the 2007 Middle Park Stakes, the son of Acclamation covered 114 mares in his first season. Memories had begun to fade 12 months later, when Dark Angel’s book rose no higher than 79 and his third season saw him cover 60 mares, for 38 foals. By the time those relatively scarce third-crop youngsters were old enough to go to the yearling sales, Dark Angel had established himself as Ireland’s leading first-crop sire of 2011 and was also well on his way to a top-15 finish on the general sires’ list of 2012. The market-place response was dramatic, with Dark Angel’s third-crop youngsters, sired at a fee of ₏7,000, selling for up to 200,000gns. The unwillingness of some breeders to support second- and third-season stallions can be much more pronounced in the US, with the consequent fall in numbers making it very hard for a stallion to maintain any initial success. Dabirsim, France’s champion two-year-old of 2011, is by Hat Trick, a leading Japanese miler whose first crop numbered 69 foals. In addition
Hat Trick sired Dabirsim in his first crop
to Dabirsim, these 69 included the smart American performers King David (Grade 1), Bright Thought (Grade 2) and Howe Great (Grade 3), so Hat Trick started very brightly. Unfortunately his next three crops contained 43, 20 and 19 foals, making it difficult for Hat Trick to add to his reputation. However, one of
British & Irish stallions who covered their first mares in 2011 Alfred Nobel Approve Arabian Gleam Arcano Equiano Fast Company Hellvelyn Le Cadre Noir Lope De Vega Lord Shanakill Makfi Mawatheeq Mullionmileanhour Paco Boy Rip Van Winkle Showcasing Stimulation Vale Of York Vocalised Zebedee
2011
2012
2013
92 118 18 119 124 115 69 39 127 107 135 40 24 130 143 116 78 109 36 154
86 114 26 122 141 102 74 28 90 69 131 21 32 115 127 116 48 55 54 158
37 58 23 110 123 119 63 27 120 51 100 37 26 120 153 68 35 59 33 141
those third-crop yearlings sold for $190,000, off a $7,500 fee. With a 2013 crop of 108 foals, he has every chance to make up for lost time. Another exciting American colt to flaunt his ability in Europe is No Nay Never, a son of Scat Daddy. Although Scat Daddy was a Grade 1 winner at two and three, breeders were quick to move on after sending him 162 mares in his first year. The second-year total stood at 100 mares and he is credited with only 53 live foals in his third year, with No Nay Never being one of those 53. Those third-crop yearlings averaged $77,940 in 2012, off a $15,000 fee, and five sold for between $150,000 and $250,000. Breeders were quick to see their error. With his fee set at only $10,000 in his fourth season, Scat Daddy’s popularity was fully restored and he sired 131 foals from 191 mares. Demand rose to 217 mares in 2012, after the first crop by the Ashford stallion had consistently highlighted his merits, and 2013’s total was 171 mares at a fee of $30,000, so Scat Daddy appears to have come through unscathed. Scat Daddy is based at Ashford, Coolmore’s sister stud in Kentucky. It is interesting that even an operation as powerful as Coolmore isn’t always able to buck the trend where Dwindling Faith Syndrome is concerned. Although Lookin At Lucky led his generation at two and three, his first three years saw his book go from 156 to 104 and then to 94. Galileo’s son Cape Blanco joined the Ashford team a year later and was initially so popular that he covered more mares – 220 – than any other American stallion. Year two, though, saw support fall to 141. Uncle Mo, another recruit to Ashford in 2012, was also in great demand in his first year, with a book of
British & Irish stallions who covered their first mares in 2012 Canford Cliffs Dick Turpin Dream Ahead Elusive Pimpernel Frozen Power Lilbourne Lad Poet’s Voice Pour Moi Roderic O’Connor Zoffany
2012
2013
179 82 125 76 153 123 134 134 128 174
117 54 113 54 81 80 139 100 90 116
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