As the new season is upon us, we take another look at first-season sires we think are worth looking out for as their offspring prepare to grace the track for the first time.
Blue Point
You can’t help but be excited to see Blue Point’s southern hemisphere progeny step out in the upcoming season. The plus side about shuttling stallions, the Northern Hemisphere preview can give you great indicators for what’s to come. His own race record is nothing but impressive. At two he won the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) by three lengths. At three he was placed in the Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) behind Caravaggio and Harry Angel. As a four-year-old, he won the King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1) beating Battaash. At five he had five starts for five wins which include, The Diamond Jubilee (Group 1), King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1), Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1), Meydan Sprint (Group 2), and Nad AL Sheba Turf Sprint (Group 3).
Stallions Stats
He was successful over 1000m – 1200m indicating that his progeny will be suited to the sprinting lifestyle that Australia offers. In the 2020 season, he covered 128 mares with a fertility success rate of 91.7%. He currently stands at Darley Australia for $44,000. In Europe, he has had 54 starters for 18 winners one of which is a stakes winner. Big Evs is currently his most successful northern hemisphere descendant. He is a two-year-old colt out of an Oasis Dream mare Hana Lina. Hana Lina is the daughter of the Group 1 winning Champion Queen’s Logic. Big Evs recently followed in his father’s footsteps and gave Blue Point his first Royal Ascot winner when winning in the Windsor Castle Stakes (1000m) in an impressive fashion in June.
First Crop
At this year’s Magic Millions yearling sale, the Australian market looked to be very interested in him. With his top lot selling for $900,000. Purchased from Segenhoe Stud by Rosemont, Suman Hedge, and Annabel Neasham. This colt has now been officially named Bosustow. Ciaron Maher splashed out $750,000 on a Blue Point colt from Bhima Thoroughbreds. Chris Waller also invested in a Blue Point colt at the Magic Millions sale. Paying $525,000 for a colt from the Segenhoe draft. It has now been officially named Bluepinot. With his recent success in the Northern Hemisphere, you can’t help but be excited about his first Australian runners. Standing at only $44,000 and with his yearling’s price tags being just under $1m he looks to be an exceptional value. With some of the industry’s leaders already supporting him, this season looks to be an interesting one.
Pierata
Pierata is one of the best-performed sons of Pierro who won 9 times and grossed over $500,000 in prize money. As a two-year-old, he was both a city winner and Group 2 placed when running second in the BRC Sires Produce at just his second start. At three he was both a listed and Group 3 winner. As well as being placed at Group 1 and Group 2 level. However, it was his four-year-old year we saw him really shine. He won the All-Aged Stakes (Group 1), The Missile Stakes (Group 2) and placed in the Galaxy Sprint (Group 1) behind Nature Strip. When he won the Sydney Stakes in 2019, he ran a faster time than Redzel in the Everest over the same distance on the same day.
Stallion Stats
Pierata relocated from Aquis to Yulong Investments just this year. This was due to the impression his first crop of yearlings made at this year’s Magic Millions sale. He wasn’t short on top-class mares to cover in his first season. He started covering 2020 and has thus far covered 451 mares.
First Crop
His most lucrative filly out of the multiple Group 1-winning Loving Gaby sold at Magic Millions for $800,000. It wasn’t surprising to see Ciaron Maher and Kevin Kelly secure her. At this stage, she hasn’t officially been named yet. Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock paid $650,000 for a Pierata colt from Attunga Stud which has now been named Vincere Volare. He is out of Group 2 mare by I am Invincible. These results awarded him as the leading first-season sire by aggregate at Magic Millions yearling sale. His race record proves his fierce speed, soundness, and ultra-consistency. Standing at just $44,000 with 115 foals eligible to race this season he might just be a stallion of serious value.
Castlevecchio
Not only did he break his maiden at his first start he won the $2m Inglis Millennium (Listed) at his second start. By his fifth start, he had been placed in the Sires Produce (Group 1) and won the Champagne Stakes (Group 1). All in his two-year-old year. At three he won the Rosehill Guineas (Group 1) and placed in both the Champion stakes (Group 1) and the Cox Plate (Group 1). He beat the likes of Loving Gaby and Prince Fawaz. He is also the most successful son of Dundeel.
Stallion Stats
His original stud fee was $33,000 and he covered 248 mares in his first two seasons, with a 76.1% fertility success rate. However, for the 2022 covering season, his service fee was dropped to $27,500. He is also completely free for Danehill.
First Crop
At this year’s Magic Millions sale trainer Gary Portelli bought the top Castelvecchio colt for $360,000. Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott Racing with Kestrel Thoroughbreds paid $330,000 for a Castlevecchio colt. Mystery Downs also paid a handsome sum of $150,000 for a filly from Glenlogan. She has now been officially named Castelvetrano. He currently has 95 two years old’s eligible to race this season. He stands at Arrowfield who also stands for his father, Dundeel. John Messara is no stranger to standing industry-changing stallions so I would be watching this one closely.
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