Blue Point Blasts His Way To Champion First-Season Sire Honours

There will be a lot of I-told-you-sos when looking back on the first-season sires' championship with Blue Point (Ire) living up to his lofty billing by amassing 50 individual winners in Europe including two Group 1 scorers in what can only be described as a dream debut season. 

The pledge of support behind Blue Point from a very early stage, in what was viewed by many as the most competitive first-season sires' championship in a long time, was telling. 

Perhaps one of the most accurate predictions came from trainer Richard Hannon in his TDN two-year-old tour back in April. He said, “I don't think I will be able to afford many of these Blue Points next year–he could have a big year which will make them very expensive.” 

Little did Hannon know at the time but it was the stable's Rosallion (Ire) who would go on to add to that growing reputation for the stallion in running out an impressive winner of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.

Add that to the exploits of Big Evs (Ire), winner of the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot before signing off on a brilliant campaign by scorching to GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint honours at Santa Anita, Blue Point didn't just live up to expectations in 2023; he smashed it. 

So, how does he compare to previous champion first-season sires and is his fee jump to €60,000 justified?

The answer is that Blue Point compares favourably with each of the past five leading first-season sires–Havana Grey (GB), Cotai Glory (GB), Mehmas (Ire), Gutaifan (Ire) and No Nay Never–on almost every metric. 

In terms of prize-money amassed, only Havana Grey has managed to better Blue Point's debut season haul of €1,235,165 in Britain and Ireland, albeit by just €21,747. Standing on 41 individual winners in Britain and Ireland, Blue Point has bettered each of the previous five leading first crop sires bar Mehmas, who ended his respective campaign with 46. 

Meanwhile, 57 wins all told in Britain and Ireland is just eight shy of what Mehmas recorded in 2020 but is on a par with what Havana Grey achieved last year. 

These are the sort of statistics that led Con Marnane, one of the titans of the game, to label Blue Point as 'pound for pound the best stallion in Europe' while top pinhooker Paul McCartan is another man to have been heard singing the praises of the young stallion on the sales circuit this year. 

It is one thing having a clatter of winners but something altogether different to produce quality performers and this is another area where Blue Point excelled this season. Along with top-notchers Rosallion and Big Evs, Blue Point was responsible for another 100-plus rated juvenile in Action Point (Ire), who scored at listed level and reached an official rating of 101 for Archie Watson. 

It is clear that Blue Point, a tremendous racehorse in his own right who recorded an amazing Royal Ascot double when landing the King's Stand S. and the Diamond Jubilee S. in the same week, is injecting a lot of class into his offspring with 17 of his two-year-olds ending the campaign on an official rating of 90 or above. 

Too Darn Hot (GB) put the cherry on top of what was a memorable year for the Darley roster by ending the campaign strongly with a host of high-class winners, including G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Fallen Angel (GB). 

A genuine 1,000 Guineas contender for Karl Burke to look forward to next season, Fallen Angel was one of five juveniles by Too Darn Hot to achieve official ratings of 100 or more.

Too Darn Hot ended the year with 22 individual winners in Britain and Ireland, which was the same number that Soldier's Call (GB) managed. However, the latter amassed 29 total winners, which was just one more than Too Darn Hot managed. 

Too Darn Hot is set to stand for £65,000 in 2024 while Soldier's Call, who has recently switched from Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud in Ireland, where he has stood since 2020, to Dullingham Park, will command a fee of £8,500. 

The move makes sense. For all that Soldier's Call lived up to what was expected from him in 2023, and in many ways hardened his reputation as a rock-solid producer of sprinting talent, he might stand out a little better in the British market compared to in Ireland, where there are plenty of options at a similar level. 

Calyx (GB) may not have racked up the numbers Soldier's Call managed but he was represented by a number of talented juveniles, not least the Dewhurst third Eben Shaddad and the unexposed Purple Lily (Ire), who justified her €155,000 price tag at the breeze-ups when winning on debut at Galway for Paddy Twomey. She rates an exciting filly going forward for the stallion next season and featured among the 19 individual winners and 26 total wins recorded by Calyx in 2023. 

Advertise (GB) [19 individual winners in Britain and Ireland], Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) [17], Inns Of Court (Ire) [16], Land Force (Ire) [14], Ten Sovereigns (Ire) [14] and Invincible Army (Ire) [12] were others who managed to get into double figures this year.

Perhaps Phoenix Of Spain is deserving of most credit out of that group for what he achieved with his first crop two-year-olds as his progeny are almost certain to improve at three and beyond. 

Study Of Man (Ire) could fit into that category as well. Nobody would have predicted that the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner would have blasted out a host of two-year-old winners with his debut crop and he probably exceeded expectations through the exploits of Deepone (GB). Winner of the G2 Beresford S., historically a good guide for future Derby contenders, Deepone would appear to have leading Classic claims in 2024 for Twomey and his owner Vimal Khosla. 

Like Study Of Man, Magna Grecia (Ire) ended the year with six individual winners in Britain and Ireland while Masar (Ire) was just two behind that pair on four. Given Magna Grecia is out of a Galileo (Ire) mare, it will be wise to judge him properly at the end of 2024 while Derby winner Masar is another deserving of more time. 

It should also be noted that City Light (Fr) enjoyed a banner year in France and ended the campaign as the clear leading first-crop sire with 15 individual winners and 19 total wins. A son of Siyouni, City Light also had a winner in Britain and Ireland is shaping up to be an interesting stallion in his own right. 

 

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Shaquille’s Fee Set at £15,000; Soldier’s Call Moves to Dullingham Park

As the line-up continues to take shape at Steve Parkin's new stallion operation at Dullingham Park near Newmarket, it has been announced that the G2 Flying Childers winner Soldier's Call (GB) will move from Ireland to join this season's top-rated sprinter Shaquille (GB) on the roster. 

In his debut season, Shaquille will stand for £15,000, while Soldier's Call's fee for 2024 will be £8,500. He stood at €7,500 this season and covered 190 mares.

One of this year's leading first-season sires, Soldier's Call began his career at Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud and has to date been represented by 25 individual winners, including the G3 Prix Eclipse winner Dawn Charger (Ire). He became the first Royal Ascot winner for Parkin's Clipper Logistics and also for his trainer Archie Watson in the Listed Windsor Castle S. Later that season he was third, beaten a neck, when competing against his elders in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye.

Parkin said, “Soldier's Call is obviously very close to my heart. He gave us so many great days on the racecourse, and we couldn't be happier with the start that he has made at Ballyhane Stud, thanks to the support of the breeders in Ireland. He is siring plenty of fast two-year-olds very much in his image, and we look forward to bringing him to England to bolster our roster alongside the hugely exciting dual Group 1 winner Shaquille.”

Foley, who is director of operations at Dullingham Park as well as running Ballyhane, added, “We're all delighted with the fast start that Soldier's Call has made. He's proven himself to be a talented stallion and I'm sure he'll be a great success in Dullingham Park.”

 

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Foley Tops Tatts Ireland Part Two With “Beautiful” Soldier’s Call Filly

It was a day for the die-hards at Part Two of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale where a filly by first-season sire Soldier's Call (GB) led the way at €45,000 to Joe Foley.

But the story of the sale was the strength of the Italian buyers, with Cristiana Brivio, who operates under the banner of Razza Latina, and Valfredo Valiani, two of the leading purchasers on the day. 

Foley, who also stands Soldier's Call at Ballyhane Stud, was repeating the trick from last year after topping this sale 12 months ago. 

“I am delighted to have found her, she has a great pedigree-her second dam [Ameerat] won the 1,000 Guineas and there is loads of page here,” said Foley.

He added, “She is a stunningly-beautiful filly, too, and looks a real classy type. She will run in the Clipper Logistics colours.”

Breeder David Laverty enjoyed a fine payday having purchased the filly's dam Ebbraam for just 1,000gns.

“I bought the mare via a Tattersalls Online Sale through Covid,” said the breeder who hails from County Armagh and keeps 10 to 12 mares. “From day one this filly has always been in proportion and is a great walker.

“The team at Ballyknock has done a great job with her prep. My father has been breeding horses for a lifetime and we have had the highs and very lows, it is nice to get a result for all of us.”

The session concluded with a turnover of €1,546,100 and a robust clearance rate of 81 per cent.A vibrant international atmosphere was maintained over both parts of the September Yearling Sale – yearlings have been purchased by representatives from 13 different countries, with over 80 shipping to Italy, the most popular overseas destination for new acquisitions. Horses are also travelling to the Far East with Thailand appearing on the buyers' sheet for the first time.

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented, “The demand witnessed over the last two days has carried through into today's session, resulting in lively trade and a clearance rate comparable to last year given the increased catalogue. The plethora of both international and domestic buyers throughout the week has significantly contributed to these results. We hugely appreciate the support of our loyal vendors who have recognised that Part Two of the sale has established itself as a viable option for selling commercial yearlings.”

He added, “We now turn our attention to preparing the catalogue for the Sapphire Sale with entries closing for foals, yearlings and broodmares on Friday, 20th October and the sale taking place on Friday, 16th November.”

All yearlings catalogued for the September Yearling Sale and Sapphire Sale are eligible for the €250,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes 2024.

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Seven Days: Churchill’s Brightest Hour

Seven years ago Churchill (Ire) beat Mehmas (Ire) in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., and they both now feature prominently in their second careers at stud.

For Mehmas, that's nothing new. He was champion first-season sire, then leading second-season sire, and he gave way only to New Bay (GB) last year among his generation. Now with his fourth crop of runners taking to the track, the Tally-Ho Stud resident is back in front among his intake with four group winners to his credit so far this year, including the GI Maker's Mark Mile winner Chez Pierre (Fr). He was also responsible for the latest TDN Rising Star in Europe, Sunday's 12-length debut winner Asadna (Ire).

Churchill retired a year later after winning the 2,000 Guineas in England and Ireland. His rise was a little slower, but not by much. Finishing sixth among the freshmen of his year, he was the leading second-crop sire in Europe last year ahead of Zarak (Fr), and those two currently occupy the same two slots among this season's third-crop sires, with Churchill hovering just outside the top ten on the general sires' list. 

While his first crop was highlighted by the Aga Khan's champion three-year-old colt Vadeni (Fr), winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and Eclipse, as well as finishing runner-up in the Arc, his second has no less a potential star in Blue Rose Cen (Fr). The Yeguada Centurion homebred added the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches to her first Group 1 win in the Prix Marcel Boussac. 

This week, that leading pair has been backed up by the exploits of G2 Dante S. winner The Foxes (Ire), who, like the Jessica Harrington-trained Leopardstown Group 3 winner Sprewell (Ire), is now full steam ahead for Epsom. 

Harrington also took Friday's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. with Churchill four-year-old Yashin (Ire), who could be Melbourne Cup-bound come autumn, while the stallion's versatility was on display when Ladies Church (GB) won the Listed Sole Power Sprint S. for Johnny Murtagh. This was added to her victory in last year's G2 Sapphire S. and sets her on course for a Group 1 tilt at Royal Ascot. And let's not forget, for 'tis no disgrace, that he has also sired a couple of Grade 2 winners over hurdles in Comfort Zone (Ire) and Scriptwriter (Ire). 

In short, Churchill is compiling an impressively rounded portfolio of smart performers, and a Derby winner would push him yet another rung higher on the ladder.

Tanaghum Just Too Dam Good

Barronstown Stud's Tanaghum (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) deserves all the plaudits as an increasingly significant broodmare. A €250,000 purchase by David Nagle in 2014 from her breeder Shadwell, the daughter of the 1,000 Guineas winner Mehthaaf was already 14 by then and, though she had five winners to her credit, only two had earned black type, headed by G3 Curragh Cup winner Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells).

A snapshot of her page would look rather different now. The Raven's Pass foal she was carrying at Goffs became the nine-time winner Matterhorn (Ire), who claimed the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge in 2020. Then came Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), whose six victories include the G2 York S., and who is now standing at Chapel Stud. Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was two when her mother was sold, won the following year's Listed Prix Joubert, while current four-year-old Perotan (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) won Her Majesty's Plate, a Listed contest at Down Royal, in 2022. Her full-brother The Foxes, who was sold to King Power Racing for 440,000gns as a yearling, looks even better, and the dual Group 2 winner is now third-favourite for the Derby. 

While Tanaghum may be one who got away, Shadwell will be taking increasing encouragement from the exploits of Listed winner Handassa (GB). The 14-year-old daughter of Dubawi (Ire) is already the dam of dual Group 1 winner Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and four-time Group 3 winner Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and her three-year-old son Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was an impressive winner at York last week. He will surely be seen back in stakes company soon after reportedly not enjoying the easier ground he encountered in the G3 Craven S. on just the second run of his life. Like his elder half-brother Mostahdaf, Mostabhir holds a Group 1 entry for Royal Ascot.

We must, too, acknowledge Darley's Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), for though her son Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was already a multiple Group/Grade 1 winner, his latest success in the Lockinge S. brings his number of top-flight wins to five in four different countries. The mare's three-year-old daughter Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is now a Classic heroine who has won five of her eight starts, including the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S., and Modern News (GB), who completes the trifecta of Darley stallions by being a son of Shamardal, counts a Listed victory among his six wins.

Azure Blue on Fast Track to the Top

“I found her on a rainy night at Book 3 in Harry Dutfield's.” It may not quite make the grade for an opening line to a Raymond Chandler novel, but it is poetic enough when describing the origin of the current rising star of the sprint ranks.

That memorable line was uttered by David Appleton, who passes the credit to his father Peter, co-owner of the G2 Duke of York Clipper S. winner Azure Blue (Ire) with Anne Elliott, the mother of bloodstock agent Alex Elliott.

Peter Appleton understandably had a spring in his step on the Knavesmire last week when reflecting on the impressive progress of their four-year-old daughter of El Kabeir. Bred by Debbie Kitchen and Mary Davison, Azure Blue was pinhooked as a foal by Harry Dutfield for €19,000 and then bought by her trainer Michael Dods for the partnership at 47,000gns after being spotted by David Appleton, a member of the Darley nominations team. 

“Book 3 has been good to us,” said Peter Appleton, who, with his wife Linda and Anne Elliott, also raced the Listed winner Que Amoro (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}), who was only a length behind Battaash (Ire) when second in the G1 Nunthorpe S. Picked up for 28,000gns as a yearling, the five-time winner subsequently sold for 220,000gns at the December Mares' Sale. Then there was the treble winner Arcavallo (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}).

“And he finished second, beaten a neck in the £150,000 sales race at Newmarket. He was bought for ten grand,” Appleton added. “David helps out, but we do the hard yards, myself and Linda. It's not easy to find one, but I quite like to look at the offspring of first-season stallions and unraced mares, because you can buy them.”

While Appleton has been involved in racing for long enough to admit that there is no specific winning formula, just “lots of luck”, he is quick to attribute must of their success to the patience of Dods.

“Michael is quite reserved, but he likes to see a horse progress. She's always had a lot of potential,” he said of Azure Blue, whose seven wins include back-to-back Listed wins on the Rowley Mile, spaced over last October and this May, followed by her first group-level win at York.

“We were keen to get a win into her as a two-year-old,” he continued. “But she's a big filly, she's over 500 kilograms, and she didn't win until November. Michael is quite keen to look at what might happen if the ground went soft at Ascot, but I'm pretty relaxed about it, because there's plenty of races.”

Based in Durham, not far from their trainer, the Appletons ceased being breeders several years ago and Peter said that he would not be tempted back to the fold, even by a potential broodmare as smart as Azure Blue.

“We'll let somebody else do that,” he said. “I have picked up a few foals to pinhook, to just keep dipping in and doing bits and pieces.”

He is also full of praise for Paul Mulrennan, who has ridden Azure Blue in most of her races.

“He's a proper pilot; proper pilot,” said Appleton. “I mean, he got off her, first race as a three-year-old, when she was beaten here [at York] in the handicap. She was rated 78 or something like that, and he said, 'This is a proper group filly'.”

Mulrennan wasn't wrong, and Azure Blue looks like she has plenty left to give. It will also be worth trawling the results of Tattersalls October Book 3 later this year to discover what budding young talent may be heading to the Dods stable for the Appleton/Elliott partnership. 

Finding his Calling

Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB) is the latest of the young stallions to be zipping up the charts. In what seems like no time at all, he's gone straight to the top when it comes to number of winners, with a smart Saturday double bringing that tally to eight. 

He is also the first to have a black-type performer to his name in the Listed Marygate Fillies' S. runner-up Dorothy Lawrence (GB). Homebred by Steve Parkin of Clipper Logistics, the young filly is also well named as the real Dorothy Lawrence was a journalist who, prevented from reporting from the front line because she was a woman, dressed as a male soldier and spent some time serving in the trenches in the Somme. Such bravery is deserving at the very least of a decent namesake.

The aforementioned Book 3 sale was also the source of the first winner for Lanwades Stud's Study Of Man (Ire). The colt in question, Deepone (GB), was bought for 62,000gns by his trainer Paddy Twomey and now races in the colours of Vimal Khosla. He hails from the same family as last year's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who had been favourite for Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas until being ruled out of the race on Monday by Joseph O'Brien. 

Deepone's second dam is the G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}), and his unraced dam Avyanna (Ire) is by Galileo (Ire). It was perhaps a surprise to see him ready so early but he relished the 7.5f test, finishing strongly, and is one to follow with interest.

 

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