2024 First Season Sires

I can't quite believe the Flat is upon us again, so here we go with the 2024 First Season Sire thread.

I've picked out the most likely contenders for FSS honours, as well as those recognisable names that people might be looking out for.

After each stallion's name I have included the stud they stood at and number of mares they covered in their debut season, which will give a rough idea of their ammunition for 2024. If I find an update on how many foals they actually have to go into battle I will update the list.

I will focus on stallions that stood in GB/IRE in 2021:

ARIZONA (Coolmore) 101 mares covered
CIRCUS MAXIMUS (Coolmore) 102 mares covered
EARTHLIGHT (Darley Ireland) 162 mares covered
FAR ABOVE (Compass Stallions, Ireland) 142 mares covered
GALILEO CHROME (Compass Stallions, Ireland) 92 mares covered
GHAIYYATH (Darley Ireland) 138 mares covered
KAMEKO (Tweenhills) 114 mares covered
KEW GARDENS (Coolmore) 188 mares covered
KING OF CHANGE (Derrinstown) 70 mares covered
LEGENDS OF WAR (March Hare Stud) 32 mares covered
MOHAATHER (Shadwell) 146 mares covered
OLD PERSIAN (Rathbarry Stud) 158 mares covered
PINATUBO (Darley GB) 152 mares covered
RIVER BOYNE (Tara Stud) 56 mares covered
RUMBLE INTHEJUNGLE (Norman Court Stud) 40 mares covered
SANDS OF MALI (Ballyhane Stud) 152 mares covered
SERGEI PROKOFIEV (Whitsbury Manor) 154 mares covered
SHAMAN (Yeomanstown) 134 mares covered
SOTTSASS (Coolmore) 188 mares covered
VERBAL DEXTERITY (Glebe House) 10 mares covered
WAY TO PARIS (Coolagown Stud) 109 mares covered
WITHOUT PAROLE (Newsells Park) 83 mares covered

Notes

CIRCUS MAXIMUS has been left in New Zealand for the 2024 season which doesn't bode well for what people think of his prospects! His books fell to 68 and 31 in 2022 and 2023 so obviously something was up.

KEW GARDENS probably more NH orientated, but might get some Flat runners

KING OF CHANGE moved to Compass Stallions in 2023

WAY TO PARIS mostly NH orientated but did have some offspring change hands at the Flat yearlings sales

 

There's been a lot of talk about the Darley horses - EARTHLIGHT, PINATUBO and GHAIYYATH - and after HAVANA GREY's success in 2022 you can't rule out Whitsbury unearthing another gem in SERGEI PROKOFIEV.

 

From the few 2yo races in Ireland and France so far, we already have 3 sires who have had runners:

1. SERGEI PROKOFIEV - 1 runner 1 winner
2. VERBAL DEXTERITY - 1 runner 0 winners
3. FAR ABOVE - 1 runner 0 winners


Yet to have a runner

ARIZONA
CIRCUS MAXIMUS
EARTHLIGHT
GALILEO CHROME
GHAIYYATH
KAMEKO
KEW GARDENS
KING OF CHANGE
LEGENDS OF WAR
MOHAATHER
OLD PERSIAN
PINATUBO
RIVER BOYNE
RUMBLE INTHEJUNGLE
SANDS OF MALI
SHAMAN
SOTTSASS
WAY TO PARIS
WITHOUT PAROLE

 

I looked down that list and in terms of being top this season I was drawn to Pinatubo. Mainly of course because of the distances two year olds spend their first season running over. So I decided to have a look at the odds and very dissapointingly he is 11/10 favourite to be top this season. Mohaather at 10/1 could be interesting as plenty of mares in the book.

 

Just had a look at Earthlight. Can only see 11 foaled in 2022 and named

Ones that look good on paoer to me are:
AGAINST THE WIND14 (GB) C 2022 out of RASHAAQA by OASIS DREAM (colour not given)
NINAS EARTH (GER) b F 2022 out of NINA CELEBRE by PEINTRE CELEBRE
POINT SPREAD3 (GB) b C 2022 out of ALL OF ME by TEOFILO
WON OF A KIND (DEN) ch F 2022 out of FIRE BLAZE by DUBAWI

Haven't looked at the others yet; not familiar with the dam's sire

 

First British 2yo race of the year this Saturday - The Brocklesby, which has rightly been given a boost in prize money to £40k after being run for peanuts in recent years.

Mohaather, Sergei Prokofiev and Without Parole are represented amongst the initial entries.

1:50 Doncaster | Standard Racecard | 23 March 2024 | Racing Post

 

I think Sands of Mali is an interesting sire. Not sure why he's been moved from Ballyhane this season.

 

It’s very odd to move stallions mid-season so there must be something up. Steve Parkin had already moved Soldier’s Call from Ballyhane to his new Newmarket operation - Dullingham Park. A few people thought Space Traveller might follow but he stayed behind. I do wonder if they are standing their stallions in Ireland for the first few years knowing that they will cover big books that will give them the ammunition needed in the first few years to get established, then move them to Newmarket where they are a known quantity. Parkin has already said he wants his 6 stallion boxes filled in the next 5 years.

I’m not sure if he is involved in Sands of Mali though.

 

Brocklesby declarations - the Mohaather and Without Parole stand their ground

 

I'm back!

Here is the latest on the First Season Sire stats - it's looking like Whitsbury Manor may have hit gold again with Sergei Prokofiev after Havana Grey's runaway success in 2022:

Previous position in brackets

1. (1) SERGEI PROKOFIEV - 3 winners from 3 runners (3 wins from 3 runs 100%)
=2. (2) VERBAL DEXTERITY - 1 winner from 1 runner (1 win from 2 runs 50%)
=2. EARTHLIGHT - 1 winner from 3 runners (1 win from 3 runs 33.3%)
=3. KAMEKO - 0 winners from 1 runner
=3. SANDS OF MALI - 0 winners from 1 runner
=3. WITHOUT PAROLE - 0 winners from 1 runner
=3. ARIZONA - 0 winners from 2 runners
=3. MOHAATHER - 0 winners from 2 runners
=3. (3) FAR ABOVE - 0 winners from 3 runners


Yet to have a runner

CIRCUS MAXIMUS
GALILEO CHROME
GHAIYYATH
KEW GARDENS
KING OF CHANGE
LEGENDS OF WAR
OLD PERSIAN
PINATUBO
RIVER BOYNE
RUMBLE INTHEJUNGLE
SHAMAN
SOTTSASS
WAY TO PARIS

 

Supposed to be the Flat season but I can't believe how few 2yo races there are. The trainers must be frustrated at times like these. No problems if you have a 0-60 6f handicapper.

 

I don't think there have been any changes to the 2yo programme this year, certainly from my day job perspective I've not noticed any.

Looking at my stats, there were 26 2yo maiden/novice races in March/April last year but for the same period in 2024 there are 35 races scheduled (27 already run and 8 still to go before end of April).

May had 69 such races in 2023 and 62 are currently scheduled for May 2024.

 

First Season Sire Update

Previous position in brackets

1. (1) SERGEI PROKOFIEV - 4 winners from 7 runners (4 wins from 8 runs 50%)
=2. (=2) VERBAL DEXTERITY - 1 winner from 1 runner (1 win from 2 runs 50%)
=2. (=2) EARTHLIGHT - 1 winner from 3 runners (1 win from 3 runs 33.3%)
=2. (=3) SANDS OF MALI - 1 winner from 3 runners (1 win from 4 runs 25%)
=3. (-) PINATUBO - 0 winners from 1 runner
=3. (-) SOTTSASS - 0 winners from 1 runner
=3. (=3) KAMEKO - 0 winners from 2 runners
=3. (=3) WITHOUT PAROLE - 0 winners from 2 runners
=3. (=3) ARIZONA - 0 winners from 2 runners
=3. (=3) MOHAATHER - 0 winners from 2 runners
=3. (=3) FAR ABOVE - 0 winners from 3 runners

Yet to have a runner

CIRCUS MAXIMUS
GALILEO CHROME
GHAIYYATH
KEW GARDENS
KING OF CHANGE
LEGENDS OF WAR
OLD PERSIAN
RIVER BOYNE
RUMBLE INTHEJUNGLE
SHAMAN
WAY TO PARIS

 

It must just seem like that. I preferred the days when the rules were there had to be a 2yo race on every racecard.

Good to see Sands of Mali off the mark. An interesting sire in many respects.

 

It does feel like that. Next Saturday there are 16 races at Newmarket and Goodwood, both A1 courses, and not one 2yo race.

I was at Newmarket on 2000G day when George Washington made his 2yo debut.

 

First Season Sire Update - I have added VAN BEETHOVEN to the list, he is standing in France and I don't usually include them, but he seems to have got off to a good start.

Previous position in brackets

1. (1) SERGEI PROKOFIEV - 4 winners from 8 runners (5 wins from 10 runs 50%) - 1 Listed placed
=2. (-) VAN BEETHOVEN - 2 winners from 3 runners (2 wins from 6 runs 33%)
=2. (=2) EARTHLIGHT - 2 winners from 4 runners (2 wins from 5 runs 20%)
=3. (=2) VERBAL DEXTERITY - 1 winner from 1 runner (1 win from 2 runs 50%)
=3. (=2) SANDS OF MALI - 1 winner from 3 runners (1 win from 4 runs 25%)
=4. (-) KING OF CHANGE - 0 winners from 1 runner
=4. (=3) PINATUBO - 0 winners from 1 runner
=4. (=3) SOTTSASS - 0 winners from 1 runner
=4. (=3) KAMEKO - 0 winners from 3 runners
=4. (=3) WITHOUT PAROLE - 0 winners from 3 runners
=4. (=3) ARIZONA - 0 winners from 3 runners
=4. (=3) MOHAATHER - 0 winners from 3 runners
=4. (=3) FAR ABOVE - 0 winners from 6 runners

Yet to have a runner

CIRCUS MAXIMUS
GALILEO CHROME
GHAIYYATH
KEW GARDENS
LEGENDS OF WAR
OLD PERSIAN
RIVER BOYNE
RUMBLE INTHEJUNGLE
SHAMAN
WAY TO PARIS

 

Amazing number of stallions not had a run yet.

 

That seems the standard response on this forum.

I think it's got more to do with a fair number of those not having runners being staying horses. Also a lot of the 2yo races so far have been for grade B-D horses.

 

Yes, very disappointed with the options on the flat so far, especially for 3yos