Two of New Zealand studs would have been celebrating after the weekends’ racing in the Northern Hemisphere. With Frankel siring his second European Derby winner this year and sons of Kodiac continuing to dominate the major juvenile races.
Brighthill Farm’s Eminent, who will have his first crop sell as yearlings in the Southern Hemisphere next year. Eminent was the first son of Frankel to stand at stud in Australasia. The continuing run of success by Frankel’s progeny can only bring a smile to stud master, Nick King’s face. Hurricane Lane, son of Frankel, went two places better than his third in the Derby at Epsom. Outmuscling Lone Eagle in the Irish equivalent, Frankel also sired 4 other winners in Great Britain including the quinella in the Listed Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket. In the last calendar month prior to Saturday, Frankel has supplied the first and third in the afore-mentioned Derby at Epsom, sired 2 stakes-winners and a Group 1 second during Royal Ascot week. He’s sired his second Australian Group 1 winner with Converge winning the JJ Atkins Plate at Eagle Farm. Hence currently siring an outstanding 15.4% stakes-winners to runners and just under 10% stakes-winners to foals.
Eminent, who has covered just under 200 mares in his first two seasons at Brighthill stands for a service fee of NZ$7,500.
Tally-Ho Stud’s Kodiac, a son of Danehill and a half-brother to successful sire Invincible Spirit, is hitting the headlines for not only his stakes-winning progeny. Capanelle won the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot 2 weeks ago, albeit on protest, as a prime example, but also for his growing reputation as a sire of sires. With his first son Hello Youmzain to retire to Cambridge Stud later this year. Kodiac certainly shone in 2020 by supplying four of the top 12 first season sires in Great Britain. Including second place finisher Kodi Bear who provided Go Bears Go, recently seen running second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, to win the Group 2 Railway Stakes on Irish Derby day. Go Bears Go, a half-brother to five other winners and from a half-sister to Group 1 winner Nahrain. Herself the dam of Caulfield Stakes victor Benbatl, has as his fourth dam New Zealand Horse of the Year and Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly La Mer, winner of 24 races including the New Zealand Oaks and Air New Zealand Stakes.
Other sons of Kodiac who featured on that 2020 leading first season sire list included Prince of Lir, sire of 2020 Norfolk Stakes winner The Lir Jet, and Coulsty. Who to date has sired 3 stakes winners from his first crop including Group 3 winner Santosha. This year, Kodiac’s son Ardad leads the Great Britain first season sire table. After supplying the winner of the afore-mentioned Norfolk Stakes in Perfect Power, therefore giving sons of Kodiac the quinella in that race.
Hello Youmzain, a Group 1 winner at both Ascot and Haydock, will stand for a fee of NZ$30,000 in 2021.
