As we come to the end of spring, the second season sires table is always worth investigation to see which stallions have performed in the way we thought and which may be still waiting for their game changer horse to come along.
Spring racing has seen three second season sires move ahead of their peers and they are Almanzor (Fr), Russian Revolution and Hellbent.
Cambridge Stud based Almanzor was the big surprise packet at the 2022 sales with his stock garnering high praise and selling in many cases well above expectation and particularly so here in Australia.
Manzoice has been a game changer for Almanzor - image Grant Courtney
One of those yearlings that sold super well was a colt from Choice that was offered at Magic Millions and sold to Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock for $340,000. Racing as Manzoice he won the Group I VRC Victoria Derby and has $1.4million in the bank for connections, so supporters of Almanzor are sure to be feeling vindicated.
He’s also had a stakes-winner in New Zealand and three more stakes-placed horses.
The mother lode of Almanzor yearlings will be offered at Karaka Book 1 in 2023.
Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution and Yarraman Park’s Hellbent have produced very similar racetrack results as we head into summer.
They both have earnings in excess of $1million with Russian Revolution’s 18 winners collecting 21 wins and Hellbent’s 16 winners also collecting 21 wins.
No stakes-winner for Russian Revolution, but his four stakes placed horses are all Group placed and include his star filly from last season Revolutionary Miss, who was second in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Hellbent has the exciting Flemington stakes-winner Magic Time heading his list and a further four stakes placed horses, three of them new season two year-olds.
Both sires have strong representation at upcoming sales.
Russian Revolution has 23 for Magic Millions and 19 for Inglis Classic.
Hellbent has 16 for Magic Millions and 30 for Inglis Classic.
The biggest difference between the two sires has been their service fee this spring with Russian Revolution standing at a fee of $71,500 and Hellbent at $22,000.
