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Crystal Ocean the Busiest Stallion of 2023 with 335 Mares

Crystal Ocean (GB), the top-rated horse in the world in 2019, now has a new accolade as the busiest stallion at stud in Britain and Ireland, according to the Return of Mares, which has been published by Weatherbys. The son of Sea The Stars (Ire), who stands for Coolmore's National Hunt division at The Beeches Stud in Co Waterford, covered 335 mares. Leading the Flat sires was Coolmore's Sioux Nation on 289.

Frankel (GB), who is on his way to regaining his champion sire title in 2023, covered 196 mares at Banstead Manor Stud, including the dual Arc winner Treve (Fr) and Breeders' Cup heroines Audarya (Fr), Glass Slippers (GB) and Newspaperofrecord (GB). The dams of his Classic winners Adayar (Ire), Chaldean (GB), Nashwa (GB) and Homeless Songs (Ire) all paid return visits.

The reigning champion sire Dubawi (Ire), now 21, covered 137 mares at Dalham Hall Stud. These included the Arc winner Alpinista (GB), Cabaret (Ire), the dam of St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Magna Grecia (Ire), and Group 1-winning sisters Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire), the latter being the dam of Auguste Rodin (Ire).

The returns to September 30, 2023 show that the number of foals born in Britain and Ireland this year rose slightly to 13,438 (from 13,275). Taken individually, there was a 4% rise in the number of foals in Ireland, to 9,082 (8,757 in 2022 and 8,638 in 2021), while the British foal crop contracted by 4% to 4,356 (4,518 in 2022 and 4,282 in 2021).

The number of broodmares reported at stud in Britain and Ireland in 2023 is 22,600, down from 22,832 in 2022. Of these, 2,456 were not covered and there were 5,912 no returns, with 210 reported as barren.

The 187 stallions recorded in Ireland this year is a decrease of three from 2022, while the number rose in Britain by two to 113.

The ten busiest stallions in Britain and Ireland in 2023:

Crystal Ocean (GB), The Beeches Stud, 335
Sioux Nation, Coolmore, 289
Vadamos (Fr), Grange Stud, 273
Affinisea (Ire), Whytemount Stud, 268
Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Coolmore, 264
Poet's Word (Ire), Boardsmill Stud, 257
Santiago (Ire), Castle Hyde Stud, 245
Mehmas (Ire), Tally-Ho Stud, 244
Diamond Boy (Fr), Kilbary Lodge Stud, 242
Blue Bresil (Fr), Glenview Stud, 242

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‘Everything Was Done to Try To Save Him’: Derby Hero Desert Crown Euthanised

Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), the brilliant winner of the 2022 Derby, has been euthanised at Newmarket Equine Hospital after failing to recover from an injury sustained on the gallops in August.

“Everything was done to try to save him, we thought he was making progress but then he just started going backwards,” said Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Desert Crown was bred by Gary Robinson of Strawberry Fields Stud. He made just one appearance as a two-year-old to post a facile maiden victory at Nottingham and reappeared at three, the jungle drums banging loudly in the build-up to the G2 Dante S., which he won in imperious fashion to prompt him being backed into favouritism for the Derby. Similarly commanding at Epsom, he gave jockey Richard Kingscote his first Derby victory and his trainer a sixth success in the race since Shergar (GB) in 1981.

Desert Crown was beaten for the first time in what transpired to be his final start of only a four-race career when second to Hukum (GB) in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. this spring. In preparation for an intended start in the G1 Juddmonte International he fractured his off-fore fetlock on Sunday, August 20 and was transported immediately to Newmarket Equine Hospital for surgery. He has remained there until the decision was taken for him to be humanely put down on Monday afternoon.

Robinson added, “With a severe injury like that there is a lot of pressure with the weight of the animal standing on it, but we really thought he was going to get there and it's very sad he didn't make it.

“You can try and help them with supports for the leg but at the end of the day they've got to be able to stand on their own. He had the best available treatment anywhere in the world, if he couldn't be saved here then he couldn't be saved anywhere.

“He was a fantastic horse and his Derby win was an incredible day that we'll never forget.”

James Savage, assistant trainer to Sir Michael Stoute, said, “He was a brilliant racehorse with an exceptional mind and we never really got to the bottom of him. We always thought that he was going to be a better horse with each race. To win a Derby on his third start was amazing in itself really. It's very sad. He could have reached the moon.”

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Big Rock and Blue Rose Cen to Race On Next Season

Christopher Head's two star three-year-olds of 2023, dual Classic winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and Saturday's sensational Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), will both remain in training for next season.

Timeform has awarded Big Rock a rating of 129 for his six-length romp on QIPCO British Champions Day, which is the highest figure recorded by a miler in Europe this season. The winner of two Group 3 Classic trials in the spring, Big Rock was second to Ace Impact (Fr) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and also finished runner-up in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin, behind Inspiral (GB) and Sauterne (Fr) respectively.

Head told TDN on Monday, “He's come out the race perfectly well. It's crazy, a horse coming back from that kind of race and looking like he hasn't even raced.”

He continued, “We would have gone to the Arc de Triomphe if he had won the Jockey Club because we wouldn't have known the limit of the distance for him. So in one way I am happy that things have gone this way because we know better about him for next season.”

Both Big Rock and Blue Rose Cen race for their breeder Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals of Yeguada Centurion, who is also the breeder of their stable-mate Ramatuelle (Justify). The winner of the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix du Bois, Ramatuelle was beaten only a short-neck by Vandeek (GB) in the G1 Prix Morny. She was sold as a yearling to Arthur Hoyeau for a syndicate which includes Ecurie des Monceaux and Tony Parker's Infinity Nine Horses.

“It's the end of the season now for Big Rock, and for Blue Rose Cen and Ramatuelle, and they are all coming back next season,” Head confirmed. “It's wonderful. Leopoldo loves his racing and he loves his horses and he doesn't want the public to get bored, so he wants them to be running next season and for everyone to be able to follow them.”

He added of Big Rock, “He was from Rock Of Gibraltar's last crop so it is wonderful to have him doing what he is in the same year that his sire has disappeared. And now he will be able to carry on the genes because he already has value as a stallion.”

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Champion Filly Tahiyra Bows Out

The Aga Khan's four-time Group 1 winner Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) has been retired following her third-placed finish in the Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on Saturday.

Trained by Dermot Weld, she was unbeaten at two, jumping straight from her maiden success to victory in the Moyglare Stud S. This season, she was beaten half a length by Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket before gaining her own Classic win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and adding the Coronation S. and Matron S. to her tally of top-level victories.

Tahiyra is the second Group 1 winner for the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Tarana (Ire), who is also the dam of Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), the winner of nine of her 18 starts, including the Breeders' Cup Turf and Prix Vermeille.

“We have been absolutely delighted with her and we have spoken about what we would do since she ran on Saturday,” said Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan's Irish Studs.

“We just took a view that, unlike her sister Tarnawa, who didn't win her Group 1 until four, Tahiyra was obviously a champion two-year-old and a champion three-year-old and a very important filly for the future of the stud.

“We felt we had done enough with her and she will move on now to the next stage. She's been an absolute star and she ran her heart out on Saturday. We have been delighted with her and she has been a tremendous filly for us.”

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