Reports of Mares Bred 2016 - Most Demanded Sires and Their Lines in This Year’s Stud Season in North America

The surveys of stud seasons, published in these columns, are, I hope, of interest to you since they monitor activities of individual stallions and paternal lines, but what I find more interesting that the current season data is the comparison with the data from previous seasons (see columns from years 2013, 2014 and 2015). It is necessary to point out that the statistics quoted below come from the first data of the U.S. Jockey Club, published annually in October, and they are not final. They include, by assessment, over 90% of data from the current season and, therefore, there is some error factor. It is the same error though – the previous surveys were too published on the basis of the same data, published in the Reports of Mares bred in October.

Stallions who covered 125 + mares in North America this year

According to this year’s data, published on October 15, 1,423 stallions in North America covered a total of 33,746 thoroughbred mares. Both numbers dropped slightly against last year – the number of stallions by over 1.8% and the number of mares even by 2.5%. The number of stallions with 100+ mares dropped too. While last year there were 105 of them and they covered 41.8 of all mares, this year there were 100 of them and covered 40.6% of all broodmares.

Although the Kentucky Derby was run at the time when most of the matings were planned and often realized, the results of this year’s Kentucky Derby aptly illustrates trends dominant in breeding in North America. The winner Nyquist is by Uncle Mo who was the most demanded stallion of this season with 253 mares. The stallion of Ashford Stud with the fee of USD 75,000 is the main reason why there was the increased demand for the stallions of the Caro line, represented namely by sons of Indian Charlie and by Mizzen Mast. The line which had great success in France, where today it is represented solely in NH breeding, sees a great comeback in North America. Three years ago the stallions of this line covered 731 mares, this year it was 960 and their number can be expected to grow, thanks to the great performance of Uncle Mo but also in regard to expectations that Nyquist is to leave for stud.

The most frequently sought paternal lines by the number of mares covered

Exaggerator was the runner up and Gun Runner third in the Kentucky Derby. They are by Curlin and Candy Ride, both belonging to the Mr Prospector line. This line is the perennial star of North American breeding, together with that of Northern Dancer, who was born nine years earlier than Mr Prospector. The two lines dominate breeding in North America. It influence and reach is one of the reasons behind the popularity of Uncle Mo, who lacks Mr Prospector in his pedigree and can serve as a suitable partner for mares with high concentration of Mr Prospector’s blood.

The fourth and fifth place in the Kentucky Derby were taken by Mohaymen and Suddenbreakingnews – representatives of the Bold Ruler line, though we could call this line after A.P. Indy. It was A.P. Indy who can claim credit for the return of Bold Ruler’s line, dominant in the 1970s, to prominance. Stallions of this line belong among the most demanded stallions at stud in North America and A.P. Indy was in this season the most successful sire of sires by the number of mares covered. His grandson Tapit was the third best, beaten only by a few mares by Unbridled’s Song. It is also worth mentioning that one third of twenty-one sons of Tapit covered over a hundred mares.

The sixth Destin only narrowly missed the fifth position. He is by Giant’s Causeway of the Storm Cat line. Giant’s Causeway is today arguably the best stallion among Storm Cat’s sons, however, he covered just forty-eight mares this year. Three years ago all stallions of the Storm Cat line covered a total of 5,969 mares, this year it was just 5,129. The sons of Storm Cat, ninety-two in 2014, covered 2,033 mares then; this year fifty-six of his sons covered a total of 817 mares and none of them had over a hundred mares. Giant’s Causewas was the more successful sire of sires as his twenty-five sons covered 1,037 mares.

Stallions with the highest number of active sons – stallions in North American studs this year

Legend:
1 ... number of sons in stud
2 ... number of mares covered
3 ... number of sons who covered 100 and more mares

The Sadler’s Wells goes into the opposite direction. It has dominanted Europe and now dominates the North American races over turf and its influence in North America is on the increase. In 2013 all stallions of this line covered only 1,242 mares, this year it was 2,166. El Prado became a demanded sire of sires and seven Galileo's sons performed well too (they covered 397 mares), although none of them had a hundred of mares this year. The representatives of this line are not often seen in the Kentucky Derby – this year it was the single one Oscar Nominated, by the most demanded representative of this line, Kitten’s Joy. He finished sixteenth and spent the rest of the season on turf, where he was much more successful. Sadler’s Wells, however, was by the Kentucky Derby winner Northern Dancer and his damsire Bold Reason finished third in the Run for Roses, so perhaps another sire of this line, similar to Songbird's sire Medaglia d’Oro, can produce a top horse for dirt tracks and perhaps even for the Kentucky Derby.

Miloslav Vlček