As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
This year we have what looks to be a crop of young sires that could potentially produce some stallions with real longevity to their stud careers.
Australian bred sires Ole Kirk and Farnan are doing exactly what their supporters would have hoped to see and internationally proven G1 sire Wootton Bassett (GB) is likewise living up to expectation.
Ole Kirk is the leader by earnings, winners and also by stakes-winners with four to his credit, while Cool Aza Beel and Lucky Vega (IRE) have also made their presence felt with each coming up with a star 2YO.
The former has hit the heights with Group I winner Cool Archie and the latter with $1.4million earner Within the Law, who was beaten a neck when second in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes.
The big three Ole Kirk, Farnan and Wootton Bassett (GB) look set to add plenty of interest to the last month of the racing season as their late season progeny step out and there are plenty to come judging by the trial results in recent weeks.
We’ve taken a look back through the leading Australian first season sires by winners over the past 20 years to see if that early flurry of racetrack success translates into something more meaningful.
Interesting reading and food for thought! Particularly back 10 years to 2014 when I Am Invincible was champion first season sire by winners and earnings with a proven shuttler Medaglia D’Oro (USA) also in the mix with his first Australian crop.
Medaglia D’Oro did not get a stakes-winner in that year, but 12 months on he finished ahead of I Am Invincible to be Champion Season Sire and his second Aussie crop produced the Golden Slipper winner Vancouver.
2024
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Too Dan Hot (GB) |
41 |
12 (4) |
$275,000 |
|
Tassort |
28 |
10 (3) |
$38,500 |
|
Zousain |
36 |
10 (1) |
$27,500 |
2023
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Brave Smash (Jpn) |
30 |
11 (1) |
$27,500 |
|
Harry Angel (IRE) |
23 |
9 (3) |
$66,000 |
|
Trapeze Artist |
36 |
9 |
$33,000 |
2022
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Russian Revolution |
47 |
15 (2) |
$33,000 |
|
Hellbent |
41 |
11 |
$38,500 |
|
The Mission |
20 |
10 |
NA |
2021
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Capitalist |
61 |
20 (4) |
$44,000 |
|
Star Turn |
41 |
19 (1) |
$16,500 |
|
Winning Rupert |
31 |
12 |
$6,600 |
2020
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Spill the Beans |
45 |
13 |
Deceased |
|
Headwater |
40 |
13 (1) |
$6,600 |
|
Pride of Dubai |
48 |
11 (1) |
$27,500 |
2019
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Better than Ready |
47 |
23 (3) |
$27,500 |
|
Deep Field |
57 |
21 (2) |
Pensioned |
|
Rubick |
51 |
15 (1) |
Sold to China |
2018
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Spirit of Boom |
52 |
18 (5) |
$38,500 |
|
Zoustar |
34 |
10 (3) |
$275,000 |
|
Sizzling |
45 |
9 |
$5,500 |
2017
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Your Song |
30 |
11 (1) |
$5,500 |
|
All Too Hard |
47 |
10 (1) |
$27,500 |
|
Golden Archer |
25 |
8 |
Deceased |
2016
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Love Conquers All |
22 |
8 |
$5,940 |
|
Sidereus |
32 |
8 |
NA |
|
Smart Missile |
49 |
7 |
$13,200 |
2015
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
Rothesay |
41 |
14 |
Deceased |
|
Beneteau |
27 |
12 (2) |
Deceased |
|
Reward for Effort |
29 |
9 |
Deceased |
2014
|
Sire |
Runners |
Winners (SW) |
2025 Fee |
|
I Am Invincible |
45 |
15 (3) |
$220,000 |
|
Medaglia D’Oro (USA) |
19 |
8 |
US$75,000 |
|
Nicconi |
32 |
8 |
$13,200 |
