FIRST RUNNERS IN 2020
Time to produce
A fast start has become more important than ever for freshman sires and MICHELLE KINANE is optimistic about a number of stallions with their first runners in 2020
ADAAY (ire)
2012 b Kodiac – Lady Lucia (Royal Applause)
RACE RECORD: Two wins including
G2 Sandy Lane Stakes,
G2 Hungerford Stakes
Top-priced yearling: 210,000gns Goffs UK
Adaay holds much appeal to breeders on both race record and pedigree. He is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Mullionmileanhour. Their dam the winning Lady Lucia is herself a half-sister to Group 3-placed filly Creative Mind. He should be suited to mares by such sires as Green Desert and Medicean while inbreeding to Royal Applause through his sire son Acclamation could also prove fruitful.
Whitsbury Manor Stud (UK)
AIR FORCE BLUE (USA)
2013 br War Front – Chatham (Maria’s Mon)
RACE RECORD: Four wins including G1 Dewhurst Stakes, G1 Irish National Stakes, G1 Phoenix Stakes
Top-priced yearling: $400,000 Keeneland
Based in Coolmore’s American farm, it is likely Coolmore have sent a number of his progeny to be nurtured at Ballydoyle. He hails from a strong American family which includes champion juvenile filly Flanders, herself dam of champion three-year-old Surfside. Air Force Blue showed his best form as a juvenile, which saw him crowned that season’s champion juvenile of Europe. Seems ideal for mares by Giant’s Causeway, Galileo, Green Desert, Oasis Dream and Kingmambo.
Ashford Farm (USA)
AJAYA (GB)
2013 b Invincible Spirit – Nessina (Hennessy)
RACE RECORD: Two wins including G2 Gimcrack Stakes
Top-priced yearling: €65,000 Arqana
Group 2-winning two-year-old, beating subsequent champion miler Ribchester in the Gimcrack. Out of a half-sister to the dam of leading young sire Bated Breath and globetrotting Group 1 winner Cityscape. Further back in the line are American classic heroine Rags To Riches and European classic/Group 1 winners Peeping Fawn and Thewayyouare. Also hailing from this line is Group 1 winner and sire Spinning World and leading Irish juvenile Pathfork. Should sire winners with daughters of Danehill Dancer, Choisir, Galileo and Indian Ridge as well as speed sires Acclamation, Kyllachy and Royal Applause.
Rathbarry Stud
AWTAAD (IRE)
2013 b Cape Cross – Asheerah (Shamardal)
RACE RECORD: Four wins including G1 Irish 2000 Guineas
One of Europe’s leading milers of his generation and by Darley’s flagship Irish-based sire Cape Cross. A half-brother to the stakes-performing pair Aneen and Alghabra. This is the immediate family of Epsom Derby runner up Madhmoon and multiple Group 1-placed Nasheej. Daughters by Kingmambo, Galileo, Pivotal, Dansili and Danehill Dancer should mix well.
Derrinstown Stud
BELARDO (IRE)
2012 b Lope De Vega – Danaskaya (Danehill)
RACE RECORD: Five wins including
G1 Lockinge Stakes, G1 Dewhurst Stakes
Top-priced yearling: 200,000gns Tattersalls
European champion juvenile and leading miler as an older horse, dam Danaskaya was champion two-year-old filly in Ireland and is also the dam of Group 3 winner Berlin and his group-performing full sister Diamond Sky. This line traces back to the sire-making family of Fruits Of Love and Mujadil. Daughters of Cape Cross, Xaar, Invincible Spirit, Montjeu, Pivotal and Royal Applause should see him produce precocious sorts.
Kildangan Stud
BOBBY’S KITTEN (USA)
2011 b Kitten’s Joy – Celestial Woods (Forestry)
RACE RECORD: Six wins including
G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
Top-priced yearling: £65,000 Goffs UK
Graded stakes-winning juvenile and Grade 1-placed in the Breeders’ Cup juvenile. His full sibling includes the dual Grade 2 winner Camelot Kitten while this is also the family of multiple Group 1 winner Sixties Song. Further back in the family is champion European miler David Junior and Theatrical. Daughters of Selkirk, Pivotal and Giant’s Causeway should suit him.
Lanwades Stud (UK)
BURATINO (IRE)
2013 ch Exceed And Excel – Bergamask (Kingmambo)
RACE RECORD:
Four wins including G2 Coventry Stakes
Top-priced yearling: €400,000 Goffs Orby
A winner of Group 2 Coventry as a two-year-old, by leading juvenile sire and emerging sire-of-sires Exceed And Excel, out of a stakes-performing daughter of Kingmambo. Hails from the female-producing family of leading two-year-old sire Danehill Dancer. Should nick well with mares by Galileo, Oasis Dream and Pivotal.
Kildangan Stud
COULSTY
COULSTY (IRE)
2012 b Dark Angel – Danetime Out (Danetime)
RACE RECORD: Four wins including G2 Superlative Stakes, G2 Champagne Stakes
Top-priced yearling: 140,000gns Tattersalls
Another son of Kodiac to join the European stallion ranks. He is the first stakes winner for his dam, the winning Hazium. He hails from the same family as champion miler Mtoto, Group 3 winner and French classic-placed Hey Gaman and Canadian International winner Mutamam. A Rathastker Stud stallion, he should be suited to mares by Acclamation, Royal Applause, Pivotal and Galileo.
Rathasker Stud
ESTIDHKAAR (IRE)
2012 b Dark Angel – Danetime Out (Danetime)
RACE RECORD: Four wins including
G2 Superlative Stakes, G2 Champagne Stakes
Top-priced yearling: 140,000gns Tattersalls
Dual Group 2-winning two-year-old by leading juvenile sire Dark Angel, hails from a family steeped with juvenile talent. Half-brother to European champion two-year-old Toormore. Third dam is Irish champion two-year-old Peace Girl. This is also the immediate family of group-performing juvenile Runaway and Grade 2 winner Mr Napper Tandy. Mares by Royal Applause, Acclamation, Footstepsinthesand, Cadeaux Genereux and Choisir as well as inbreeding to Danehill should enhance precocity in his progeny.
Tara Stud
FASCINATING ROCK (IRE)
2011 b Fastnet Rock – Miss Polaris (Polar Falcon)
RACE RECORD: Eight wins including
G1 Champion Stakes, G1 Tattersalls Ireland Gold Cup
Top-priced yearling: £140,000 Tattersalls
A group winner at ages three, four and five, was crowned champion older horse in Ireland in two consecutive seasons and joint champion older horse in Europe for his four-year-old campaign. A half-brother to Galway Hurdle and four-time flat handicap winner Quick Jack while their dam Miss Polaris is a sister to the stakes-winning Euro Falcon. Group winner Gothenberg and champion Japanese three-year-old filly Cesario, herself dam of Group 1 winners Epiphaneia and Saturnalia are further back. This is also the immediate family of Group 1-placed Anna Pavlova. Mares by Galileo, Sadler’s Wells, Shamardal and Machiavellian should suit.
Ballylinch Stud
HARZAND (IRE)
2013 br Sea The Stars – Hazariya (Xaar)
RACE RECORD: Four wins including
G1 Derby Stake, G1 Free Irish Derby
Top-priced yearling: €135,000 Goffs Orby
A son of the brilliant Sea The Stars who resides alongside him, the dual Derby winner’s dam Hazariya was a Group 3 winner who also produced stakes winners Hazarafa, Harasiya and Haripour. Hazarafa herself produced Group 3 winner Hazapour. This is the same female line of Seal Of Approval as well as Decision Time, who was champion juvenile in his native Australia. Harzand should nick very well with mares by Sadler’s Wells, Danehill, Montjeu, Kingmambo, Pivotal and Monsun. It will also be interesting to assess how he would fare with mares by his sire’s half-brother Galileo.
Gilltown Stud
KODI BEAR (IRE)
2012 br Kodiac – Hawattef (Mujtahid)
RACE RECORD: Four wins including G2 Celebration Mile
Top-priced yearling: €100,000 Goffs Orby
A stakes-winning juvenile, beating subsequent champion sprinter Muhaarar, he was also second in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. A dual group winner at three, he is by the ever-popular Kodiac. His dam produced eight winners including a pair of Italian stakes winners in Rivertime and Storm Of Wind. This is from the immediate family of leading miler Esoterique and group winners Russian Cross, Archange D’Or, Russian Desert and Russian Hill, herself dam of dual Group 3 winner Russian Soul. Should mix well with daughters of Barathea, Pivotal, Cape Cross and Acclamation.
Rathbarry Stud
