New to stud
Another Breed
Though a select grouping as of the middle of November, the calibre of new stallions for 2023 was high class but they must prove themselves all over again
Words: Dr Sieglinde McGee • Photos: Healy Racing / Ballyhane Stud
BAAEED (GB)
2018 b Sea The Stars - Aghareed (Kingmambo)
RACE RECORD: 10 wins including G1 Juddmonte International Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, Lockinge Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, G1 Prix du Moulin
One of the all-time greats of the turf, Baaeed won 10 of his 11 starts, is the best miler since the phenomenal Frankel and put up his most brilliant performance when running away with the Juddmonte International over the extended 10 furlongs at York in August. He is by the Timeform 140-rated superstar Sea The Stars (Cape Cross), sire of the black-type sires Sea The Moon and Zelzal. His full brother Hukum won the G1 Coronation Cup in June, his grand dam Lahudood (Singspiel) won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and his fifth dam is the high-class racehorse and hugely influential Height of Fashion (Bustino). This means Baaeed comes from the family of G1 sires Nashwan (Blushing Groom), Unfuwain (Northern Dancer), Nayef (Gulch) and Deep Impact (Sunday Silence), making him one of the most exciting prospects to go to stud in recent years.
Nunnery Stud (GB)
BAYSIDE BOY (IRE)
2019 b New Bay - Alava (Anabaa)
RACE RECORD: 4 wins including G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
A dual G1-placed seven-furlong G2 winner as a two-year-old, Bayside Boy, an early May foal, hit his three-year-old peak in the autumn, following an odds-on listed success over a mile at Sandown with the defeat of Modern Games in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October. He has joined his Classic-winning sire, also the sire of G1 winners Bay Bridge and Saffron Beach, and is a grandson of Dubawi (Dubai Millennium). Alava is also the stakes-winning dam of dual G2 winner Forest Ranger (Lawman). Looks sure to be popular and along with inevitable two-year-old winners, will likely get his best in the seven-to-twelve-furlong range.
Ballylinch Stud
BLACKBEARD (IRE)
2020 b No Nay Never - Muirin (Born To Sea)
RACE RECORD: 6 wins including G1 Middle Park Stakes, Prix Morny
Winner of six of his eight starts and a potential Commonwealth Cup/July Cup horse whose pre-race antics left as lasting an impression as his string of wins, Blackbeard’s track career ended after injury. The third son of No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) to join his sire on Coolmore’s roster – Ten Sovereigns (freshman in 2023) and Arizona (yearlings in 2023) are the other two. Muirin, a half-sister to the dam of 2022’s dual middle-distance G3 winner Max Vega (Lope de Vega), is a winning daughter of six-furlong G3 winner Girouette (Pivotal) and the mix of speed and stamina on the page adds to the potential range of his progeny. In addition to inevitable two-year-old winners and sprinters, he should get milers and depending on the mares he receives, a few who fare best at around 10 furlongs.
Coolmore Stud
MIDNIGHTS LEGACY (GB)
2017 b Midnight Legend - Giving (Generous)
RACE RECORD: 5 wins on flat and 3 wins over hurdles
A stallion career was planned for this horse when he was born in May 2017, the idea publicised soon afterwards, because he is the last son of the talented dual-purpose horse and leading NH stallion Midnight Legend (Night Shift). Unlike his full sister Midnights’ Gift and half-sister Giving Glances (Passing Glance), he did not get any black type but was rated 101 on the flat and 130 over hurdles. That listed-winning pair also have a black-type-placed sibling in Forgiving Glance (Passing Glance), whereas their dam is a winning half-sister to the Classic-placed stakes winner Lethals Lady (Rudimentary) and related to ten-length G1 National Stakes victor Manntari (Doyoun). An obvious potential successor to his much-missed sire and it would not be a surprise to see him come up with a few middle-distance or staying flat horses too.
Alne Park Stud (GB)
MINZAAL (IRE)
2018 b Mehmas - Pardoven (Clodovil)
RACE RECORD: 4 wins including G1 Sprint Cup
A leading sprinter at two and four and G1 placed from only two starts at three, Minzaal looks set to be among the busiest stallions in Ireland in 2023. He is by the hugely popular Mehmas (Acclamation), sire of fellow G1 winners Going Global and Supremacy (foals in 2023). Comes from a prolific black-type family that typically produces milers and middle-distance horses, although G1-placed G2-winning miler Bankable (Medicean) did win a G3 over six furlongs and Splendent (Shadeed), a half-brother to Minzaal’s third dam Aim For The Top (Irish River), won the G2 Gimcrack Stakes. This makes him a fascinating prospect who could become a source of good milers and some 10-furlong horses in addition to the inevitable sprinters and juveniles.
Derrinstown Stud
NAVAL CROWN (GB)
2018 b Dubawi – Come Alive (Dansili)
RACE RECORD: 4 wins including G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes
Stakes winner at a mile, G2 winner at seven furlongs and a G1 scorer over six at Royal Ascot, this son of Dubawi is the son of a seven-furlong stakes winner and grandson of a G2-placed 10-furlong listed winner, Portrayal (Saint Ballado). His grand dam is a half-sister to G2 winners Wareed (Sadler’s Wells) and Truly A Dream (Darshaan), the latter the dam of Classic-placed Catcher In The Rye (Danehill; G1 sire in South America) and G2 winner and black-type producer Dream Peace (Dansili). Classic winner Arctique Royale (Royal And Regal) is the fifth dam. The Dubawi stallions with runners include multiple G1 producers such as Makfi and Night of Thunder and it seems a fair bet that Naval Crown will come up with at least one top-level winner. His distaff side makes it likely that quite a few of his offspring will stay farther than he did – their dams could prove influential – and that could boost his odds of taking high rank in time.
Kildangan Stud
PERFECT POWER (IRE)
2019 b Ardad - Sagely (Frozen Power)
RACE RECORD: 6 wins including G1 Commonwealth Cup, Middle Park Stakes, Prix Morny
Triple G1-winning sprinter who won twice at Royal Ascot, this first-crop son of Ardad (Kodiac) represents the Danehill (Danzig) male line and looks sure to be very popular. He is the first foal of a 10-furlong-winning granddaughter of Oasis Dream (Green Desert) and comes from the notable middle-distance family of G1 winners Sagamix (Linamix), Sagacity (Highest Honor), Japan (Galileo), Mogul (Galileo) etc. Likely to get mostly sprinters and milers in addition to the inevitable two-year-old winners and to be popular with pinhookers looking towards yearling and breeze-up sales.
Dalham Hall Stud (GB)
Space Traveller
SPACE TRAVELLER (GB)
2016 b Bated Breath – Sky Crystal (Galileo)
RACE RECORD: 5 wins including G2 Boomerang Stakes
High-class international miler and a Royal Ascot seven-furlong G3 winner as a three-year-old, this horse is the latest and best son of Bated Breath (Dansili) to go to stud, and given the location of his new home, he is certain to be given every chance to succeed. Was a G3-placed dual winner as a two-year-old, pipped subsequent G1 star Space Blues when winning the Jersey Stakes, narrowly beat subsequent G1 winner Matterhorn when landing the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown and was only beaten a head when runner-up in the G1 Frank E Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita as a six-year-old, caught on the line. His first two dams are winners, with his grand dam a half-sister to G1 winner Crystal Music (Nureyev), G3 scorer Dubai Success (Sadler’s Wells), Irish Derby third Tchaikovsky (Sadler’s Wells) and the G1-placed G3 winners Solar Crystal (Alzao) and State Crystal (High Estate). He could certainly get some good sprinters – and their dams will likely prove influential – but looks a likely source of horses who show their best in the seven-to-ten-furlong range, potentially with a few who stay farther.
Ballyhane Stud
STATE OF REST (IRE)
2018 b Starspangledbanner - Repose (Quiet American)
RACE RECORD: 5 wins including G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Prix Ganay, Cox Plate, Saratoga Derby
This top-class international performer was best at around 10 furlongs and has the rare distinction of having won at the top level on three continents and in four countries: USA, Australia, France and England. He was G1-placed in Ireland and is likely to be a busy addition to the stallion ranks. He represents the Danehill (Danzig) male line and his sire’s shortlived G1-winning son The Wow Signal sired a mile Classic winner in France (Coeursamba). Repose (Quiet American), a granddaughter of Fappiano (Mr Prospector), is also the dam of 2022’s G3 winner Tranquil Lady (Australia). She is a half-sister to two stakes winners, out of 10-furlong listed scorer Monaassabaat (Zilzal) and has US juvenile champion and five-time G1 winner It’s In The Air (Mr Prospector) as her grand fam. State of Rest, who is a grandson of mile-placed star sprinter Choisir (Danehill Dancer), may not get as many two-year-old winners as some of his rivals – the dams will be influential – but some of those could be late-season group horses. His best results are likely to be with horses who follow a similar profile to him, so mostly milers and middle-distance horses.
Rathbarry Stud
STRADIVARIUS (IRE)
2014 ch Sea The Stars – Private Life (Bering)
RACE RECORD: 20 wins including G1 Gold Cup x3, Goodwood Cup x4
Classic-placed Royal Ascot Group 2 scorer and Goodwood Cup winner at three who went on to become one of the all-time great stayers while proving he had the pace for 12 furlongs too, this son of Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) – sire of black-type sires Sea The Moon and Zelzal – comes from the family of Timeform 137-rated Classic and Arc star Peintre Celebre (Nureyev), whose G1 winners struck from six furlongs and upwards. The breed needs Classic stamina and durability in this era of over-reliance on sprint speed and precocity, and Stradivarius could be one to supply it. There will be some two-year-old winners for him of course, mostly in autumn and early winter, but he’s likely to get his best results with three-year-olds and older horses, from 10 furlongs and upwards, possibly some milers (depending on the mares) and he would be particularly interesting with mares from Danehill’s (Danzig) male line.
National Stud (GB)
WALDKONIG (IRE)
2017 b Kingman - Waldlerche (Monsun)
RACE RECORD: 3 wins including G3 Gordon Richards Stakes
Lightly raced with potential to achieve more than he did, this son of brilliant miler Kingman (Invincible Spirit) is a half-brother to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner and Ballylinch Stud stallion Waldgeist (Galileo; freshman in 2023). His dam is a G3-winning half-sister to G1 St Leger victor and promising National Hunt sire Masked Marvel (Montjeu). He is being aimed at the jumps market so is unlikely to have many runners on the flat and it could be point-to-points and bumpers of 2028 before we start to get an idea of what he might achieve.
Knockhouse Stud
FRANCE
EBRO RIVER (IRE)
2019 ch Galileo Gold – Soft Power (Balmont)
– G1 Haras de la Haie Neuve
LAVELLO (IRE)
2019 b Zarak – Laura (Montjeu)
G3 Haras du Lion
MAKALOUN (FR)
2018 b Bated Breath – Makana (Dalakhani)
G3 Haras de la Cote Fleurie
MARE AUSTRALIS (IRE)
2017 ch Australia – Miramare (Rainbow Quest)
G1 Haras de la Hetraie
MARIANAFOOT (FR)
2015 ch Footstepsinthesand – Marianabaa (Anabaa)
G1 Haras de Saint Vincent
MISHRIFF (IRE)
2017 b Make Believe – Contradict (Raven’s Pass)
G1 Haras de Montfort et Preaux
PARADISO (FR)
2018 b Kapgarde – No News (Gentlewave)
NH-3 Haras de la Tuilerie
SEALIWAY (FR)
2018 ch Galiway – Kensea (Kendargent)
G1 Haras de Beaumont
THUNDER MOON (IRE)
2018 b Zoffany – Small Sacrifice (Sadler’s Wells)
G1 Haras de Bouquetot
Germany
RUBAIYAT (FR)
2017 b Areion – Representera (Lomitas)
G2 Gestut Ohlerweiherhof
TORQUATOR TASSO (GER)
2017 ch Adlerflug – Tijuana (Toylsome)
G1 Gestut Auenquell