Bill Oppenheim: 33 European Value Sires

Whereas in the U.S., we used $25,000 as our stud fee cutoff for consideration in our 'value sire' edition, for European sires we are using a cutoff of 15,000 (whether Sterling, which is worth more, or Euros). We begin with England, where Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud has advertised itself as “the independent option,” in contrast to what she characterizes as the behemoths of Darley and Coolmore. But maybe she should just go as the “good value” option, because all four Lanwades stallions make this list. Leroidesanimaux is a very well-bred horse (as it turned out) who was a top-class grass miler in America and is the sire of Animal Kingdom. He hasn't had a strong commercial profile but is a great “owner-breeder's horse.” Aussie Rules doesn't have sensational overall numbers but is a little bit of an 'under-the-radar' sire. Archipenko has one of the best pedigrees on the planet, being by Kingmambo out of Bound, a stakes-winning, Grade I-placed Nijinsky three-quarter sister to Nureyev and half-sister to Fairy Bridge, the dam of Sadler's Wells. He's very much holding his own as a sire; with his first foals now 4-year-olds, he has seven black-type winners and 11 black-type horses from 124 foals of racing age. And Lanwades's newest addition, Sea The Moon, is by Sea The Stars out of a Monsun mare who is a full-sister to three Classic winners. He was a runaway winner of the G1 German Derby and Germany's third-straight favorite for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when injury intervened.

Speaking of being under the radar, Newsells Park's Equiano, whose first foals are 3-year-olds this year, looks a little under the radar to us at £7,000 for 2016. He ranks sixth on the European Second-Crop Cumulative Sire List, with three group SWs including Strath Burn, a Group 3 winner who was beaten a short head in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup. He also has 25 2-year-old winners this year, two of them black-type winners and five black-type horses.

Darley always has some interesting prospects, one of which is the reverse shuttler Sepoy, an Australian-bed sprinter by Elusive Quality who ran truly world-class numbers winning 10 of his first 11 starts in Australia. His first Australian yearlings sold at Magic Millions last January and he had two of the top three sold, including the A$1.2-million saletopper, to Spendthrift Farm. His 55 yearlings sold 'up north' averaged the equivalent of $113,581. Darley also stands Farhh, one of three horses whose chances of sire success are enhanced by their having had the best losing form against Frankel (the other two are Nathaniel and Excelebration). Farhh's last seven races were all in Group 1 company: as a 4-year-old, he was second four times and third once in five Group 1 starts, including two seconds (at respectable margins, six and seven lengths) to Frankel; at five he ran twice and won twice, at a mile and 10 furlongs. From 10 career starts he had five wins, four seconds, and one third. Six foals from his first crop averaged the equivalent of $69,037 at the recent sales.

Toronado is one of several young stallions standing at stud who raced under the Al Shaqab banner of Qatari Sheikh Joaan Al Thani. Most of them stand at their Haras Du Bouquetot in France, but Toronado is at England's National Stud. He was three-for-three at two, including the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster, for his original owner, and for Sheikh Joaan he won the G1 Sussex S. at three and the G1 Queen Anne S. at four, also running second in three other Group 1's, all at a mile. Among sires retiring to stud in England for the 2016 season, the drums are beating for Cable Bay, a son of Invincible Spirit who was a real seven-furlong specialist. He won two group races at that distance this year as a 4-year-old, including the G2 Challenge S. at Newmarket. He had run second in the corresponding race last year as a 3-year-old, while as a 2-year-old he had been second to War Command in the G1 Dewhurst S. He's getting a big thumbs up from all the judges I know who have been to see him.

FRANCE

Dalakhani is not hugely in favor these days–especially with commercial breeders, as he has an amazingly low 0.13 ABC Index for 2-year-olds–but 15 of his 31 A Runners (48%) are G1/G2 winners, which is very high since 21% is the norm; such a high proportion usually reflects class. He has moved from Gilltown in Ireland to the Aga Khan's French stud, Haras Du Bonneval. Being by Darshaan, he also figures to do well as a broodmare sire. Youmzain, at Haras du Quesnay, is best known for being runner-up in the 'Arc' three times (to Dylan Thomas, Zarkava, and Sea The Stars) and didn't actually have the most commercial profile, but his first crop, now three, includes the Group 2-winning filly Sea Calisi, and the second includes Suits You, who won the Chesham S. at Royal Ascot and was sold to Hong Kong for a packet. Youmzain stands for only €4,000.

There are a number of promising sires who have gone to stud in France; a bit like New York state, they are following the money (in the French-bred program). Even if it doesn't attract a rush of outside stallions, it keeps the ones there who you'd like to see there. French Freshman sires of 2016 will include Rio De La Plata, who won the 2007 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, France's top race for 2-year-old colts, and won two other Group 1's and placed in another five, including the Poule d'Essai des Poulains–French 2000 Guineas. He was tough, sound (30 starts over six seasons), and consistent (ran RPRs of 118-119 10 different times), and 22 yearlings from his first crop averaged the equivalent of $48,916, so the buyers liked them well enough. He must surely be the last major son of Rahy to go to stud. The same can certain be said of Rajsaman, undoubtedly the last son of a serious class influence, Linamix, to go to stud. Rajsaman upset Siyouni in the 2010 G3 Prix De Fontainebleau and went on to win three more group races, including the 2011 G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, in which he defeated Rio De La Plata. He stands at Haras De La Cauviniere, the team which brought you Le Havre, so that's another plus.

In 2014, four stallions retired to Germany at stud fees of €5,000 or more, whereas none retired in France. One of the four, Dabirsim, from the first crop of Hat Trick, was unbeaten in five starts at two in France in 2011, including the G1 Prix Morny and the G1 Lagardere, which made him the undisputed Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in France. He did his first two seasons in Germany, but moves for 2016 to Haras de Grandcamp. France has two strong candidates who retired to stud this year: one is Goldikova's full brother, Anodin (Anabaa), who improved at four in 2014 to place in four Group 1's, including the Queen Anne (third to Toronado and Verrazano), Jacques Le Marois (second to Kingman), and the Breeders' Cup Mile (second to Karakontie). The other is Olympic Glory (Choisir), bought by Al Shaqab after two Group 2 wins at two, and for whom he won not only the — yep, you guessed it, the Lagardere — but also three more Group 1's, including, in his final career start, a red-hot edition of the 1400-meter Prix de la Foret, which the clock said he won in 1:17.73. It was a career best for a horse who had always been thought better with give in the ground, because you don't break 1:18 for 1400 meters unless the ground is fast. Olympic Glory went to the owner's Haras de Bouquetot. A total of 14 mares sold in foal to him this autumn, for an average equivalent to $56,277.

Retiring for 2016 to Haras de Montaigu in Nonant-Le-Pin is Prince Gibraltar (Rock of Gibraltar), who won

the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two; the G2 Prix Greffulhe at three; and the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden this year at four; he was also third to The Grey Gatsby in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club — French Derby and second in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at three. Overall he won or placed in nine group 1 or group 2 races. Also retiring for 2016 is The Wow Signal, another Al Shaqab buy, who goes to Bouquetot. He won the G2 Coventry and the

G1 Morny (defeating Hootenanny) at two, and is especially interesting as he is by Starspangledbanner, who was clearly cut out to be a very good sire, but pretty clearly has big fertility issues.

GERMANY

Germany's leading sire the past few years, since the passing of Monsun, has been Soldier Hollow, a grandson of Sadler's Wells, by In The Wings. He's the sire of Pastorius, who defeated subsequent G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Novellist twice when both were 3-year-olds, and won the

G1 Prix Ganay in France as a 4-year-old, defeating Maxios. Soldier Hollow's second crop included (Our) Ivanhowe, the only horse to defeat Sea The Moon, in the 2014 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, and subsequently third in Australia in the G1 Caulfield Cup this October. However, as Soldier Hollow's 2016 fee is listed as Private (he was €15,000 in 2015) he's ineligible for inclusion in the feature, but we can mention another son of In The Wings, Adlerflug, who has sired three GSW and eight graded stakes horses from only 89 foals in three crops, including 2015 Group 1 winner Ito. Clearly In The Wings is a line that does well in Germany.

We mentioned earlier that four stallions went to stud for €5,000+ stud fees in Germany in 2014, whereas none retired that year in France. Two of them, Dabirsim and Pastorius, we've mentioned above. The two others are Maxios, who stands alongside Pastorius at Gestut Fahrhof, and Reliable Man, who stands at Gestut Rottgen. Maxios is a Group 1-winning half-brother to 'Arc' winner Bago, by Monsun out of a Nureyev daughter of Coup de Genie, herself a champion full-sister to Machiavellian. Maxios could just about be described as the first really syndicated, commercial sire in Germany. Fahrhof brought him to Newmarket for a stallion parade at the 2014 December Sale, and to Deauville for their December Sale this year. He's had the most international commercial exposure before having runners of any horse who's stood in Germany, ever, and the project is looking quite promising so far, as he had 12 foals from his first crop sell, from 12 offered at the mixed sales, for an average equivalent to $79,131, and a median equivalent to $57,596, just about five times his €10,000 stud fee. That's a strong commercial performance in any country. Reliable Man is a very interesting prospect himself: by Dalakhani, he won the 2011 G1 Prix du Jockey-Club — French Derby, in only his third lifetime start, and concluded his career in Australia, where he won the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., also at 10 furlongs. He's a popular sire in both hemispheres, because he's a group 1 winner in both hemispheres — and a Classic winner 'up north.'

The BBAG yearling sale in Baden-Baden attracts more and more 'internationals' every year, and in 2016 it could be one of the hottest yearling sales in Europe, because it will feature the first yearlings by the four 'new' sires mentioned above: Maxios, Reliable Man, Dabirsim, and Pastorius. That sale will be September 2, 2016 — the Friday before U.S. Labor Day. That will definitely be on my 2016 sales calendar. It will maybe be their best sale ever; it will certainly be their most interesting, and Baden-Baden, by the way, is a gas.

IRELAND

Clodovil, the 2003 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains — French 2000 Guineas winner, by Danehill out of a Linamix mare, has had to do it the hard way, with decidedly moderate mares for the most part, and has become a dependable “lower mid-range” proven sire. The same could be said for Big Bad Bob, who has 'stood the raise' with bigger crops beginning in 2012. Footstepsinthesand is another in this price range who has proven a very useful sire. It's very difficult to find proven sires standing in the €10,000 range, but these three Irish stallions are among the best values in Europe at that level. Tamayuz costs slightly more but appears to be cut from the same cloth. He's by Nayef but out of a Nureyev mare, and was one of the top 3-year-old milers in Europe is 2008, defeating Raven's Pass in the G1 Prix Jean Prat, and defeating Natagora in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. He's proving a useful sire of sprinters and milers, his best so far being 2014 G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner G Force.

For 40 years, the Irish Thoroughbred industry benefitted from a tax exemption on stallion nomination revenue which was instituted in 1969 and in the opinion of many observers was a huge reason why Coolmore and others started standing top stallion prospects in Ireland and was instrumental in the sustained growth of the whole Irish industry. Whether the revocation (or expiration) of that tax break, combined with the grounding of the Celtic Tiger, has contributed to a shift of top prospective stallions to England, France, and even Germany is open to debate. But one thing we can observe: Darley is based in England; Juddmonte is based in England; Shadwell is based in England; Tweenhills is in England; and the Al Shaqab stallions are based even more in France, as well as England.

Coolmore is the only operation at that level based in Ireland, and they have a number of promising younger stallions standing at €15,000 and under. Three of their sires with first 2-year-olds in 2016 look particularly interesting: Excelebration (Exceed An Excel; 53 yearlings sold, average equivalent to $89,725), as mentioned is one of three horses whose proximity to Frankel on the racecourse tips them as potential good sires (the other two: Nathaniel and Farhh); Power (Oasis Dream; 48 yearlings, avg $59,794), winner of the G2 Coventry S., the G1 National S., and the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas; and So You Think (High Chaparral; 32 yearlings, avg $59,020), winner of 10 Group 1 races — 5 in Australia, 5 in Europe. He ran RPR's of 127-129 11 times, which really is a remarkable record of top-class consistency at the highest level.

The 2013 G1 Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World (Galileo) is by consensus a very classy individual standing his second season in 2016 for a very reasonable €10,000 fee, especially considering his half-brother Duke of Marmalade had such a (belated) breakthrough year; and Coolmore also stands War Command, the 2013 G2 Coventry S. and G1 Dewhurst S. winner by War Front. Among those retiring to Coolmore for 2016 is Ivawood (Zebedee), a top sprinting 2-year-old of 2014 who ran third to Gleneagles in both the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas. The consensus here is, what he might lack in pedigree he more than makes up for in looks; he's worth the trip to go and see, you won't be disappointed, and you'll probably book your mare on the spot. Another really interesting debutante for 2016 is Gutaifan, who has been bought from Al Shaqab by Morristown Lattin, to stand alongside his sire Dark Angel. It's all evolving form, as like his sire he's only raced at two and will be covering at three next year, but he won two group 2 races, the Robert Papin and Flying Childers, and was second to 'stablemate' (well, same owners) Shalaa in the G1 Prix Morny. That looks like very good form.

NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR (KENTUCKY):

A good word was put in for Calumet Farm's Oxbow, the 2013 GI Preakness S. winner by Awesome Again. He had five foals sell for an average of $89,000, which is good, but our correspondent tells us they have some very good-looking ones on the farm, and Calumet will be racing a lot of them. He's officially $17,500. And, we are told, don't forget about Successful Appeal, at Walmac for just $10,000. His 12th crop are now 2-year-olds, and he's the sire of 45 black-type winners (a high 7% of foals) and 88 black-type horses, including the Grade I-winning 3-year-old filly this year, Her Emmenency.