Camelot and Declaration of War Start With Promise

It's often a hard slog to make a shuttle sire work in this country and for many, a season or two is all we see of them, and two that have fallen into that category are Camelot (GB) and Declaration of War (USA), who have both made a promising start in the Northern Hemisphere this year where their oldest progeny are two year-olds.

Coolmore based European champions Camelot and Declaration Of War are putting themselves right in the picture as leading sires of the future with the last few weeks proving particularly fruitful for their progeny.

In Germany last Sunday, exciting two-year-old colt Alounak became the first stakes winner for Camelot when winning a Listed contest over 1400m. He holds an entry for next month's Group I Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and looks a serious Classic prospect for next season. Meanwhile in Ireland on Tuesday, exciting colt Tonkin became Camelot's 9th individual first-crop two-year-old winner when breaking his maiden by 8 ½ lengths on his second start.

Just the previous Thursday in France, champion trainer Andre Fabre produced promising Camelot colt Alhadab to win over 1600m on his second start for Qatari owners Al Shaqab. The €180,000 yearling had finished second on debut behind the highly-touted Declaration Of War colt Olmedo and also holds an entry for the Group I Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in October.

The same card saw King Of Camelot, another promising Camelot colt trained by Andre Fabre, produce a performance of a horse capable of progressing to better things. Also making his second start, the €320,000 yearling won the 1600m contest in decisive fashion in the colours worn by his sire, those of Derrick Smith.

It is noteworthy that Camelot shares almost identical numbers with his late, great sire Montjeu at equivalent stages of their stud career. With 9 and 10 winners respectively and one stakes winner apiece, Camelot has his sights set on emulating his sire, who has a staggering tally of 31 individual Group I winners to his name, which includes an extraordinary 9 Group I Derby winners.

Montjeu has left a lasting legacy in the Southern Hemisphere as the sire of outstanding staying sire Tavistock and there is every reason to think Camelot could also make an impression.

The first southern hemisphere bred yearlings by Camelot proved extremely popular earlier in the year, selling for up to $340,000. His first progeny are in training with leading trainers Ciaron Maher, Tony McEvoy, Kris Lees, Anthony & Edward Cummings, Mike Maroney, John O'Shea, Stephen Autridge/Jamie Richards etc.

Making an equally strong impression with his first runners is Declaration Of War.

The most accomplished son of War Front has made an eye-catching start to his stud career with two stakes winners and a total of four group performers from just over 20 runners to date.

Included amongst these is Aidan O'Brien's Group III Anglesey Stakes winner and Group I Phoenix Stakes placegetter Actress as well as Eirene, a stakes winning filly over 1000m in Britain recently. Another of his offspring to note include the aforementioned colt Olmdeo, an unlucky second in Group III company having broken his maiden in brilliant fashion on debut.

War Front now stands for US$250,000 with an incredible 15% Stakes winners/runners ratio, but at the equivalent stage of his career he had sired only one Group performer.

Declaration of War was switched from Coolmore Ireland to their Kentucky base of Ashford Stud this year and has been well received at a fee of $US35,000.

Declaration Of War, who had his first Australian conceived yearlings sell for up to $230,000 earlier in the year, has first progeny in training with the likes of Peter & Paul Snowden, Chris Waller, Waterhouse/Bott, Lee & Anthony Freedman and Paul Perry amongst others.

If you own the progeny of either young sire there is every reason to be positive that your support may be well justified.