Continuing our series assessing the chances of the first-season sires with runners in 2019, bloodstock agent Alex Elliott gives us his verdict.
TDN: Who do you think will be leading first-season sire?
AE: I think Gleneagles (Ire) is the horse with the racetrack performance, stallion's pedigree and number of troops on the ground to win the war. We managed to buy a filly out of Sogno Verde (Ire) (Green Desert), making her a half-sister to Lilbourne Lad (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), at Tattersalls October Book 1 for 300,000gns, and the early reports are good. She is in training with Michael Bell.
TDN: Did you see/purchase many by first-season sires at the yearling sales?
AE: I found myself 'all in' on Gutaifan (Ire) and ended the year having bought four by the Yeomanstown Stud freshman. One of my favourite yearling purchases of the whole season was the colt out of Bali Breeze (Ire) (Common Grounds {GB}) that we purchased for €105,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale. He is also in training with Michael Bell.
Among the others to take the eye were the Darley duo of Night Of Thunder (Ire) and Brazen Beau (Aus). We didn't add any Night of Thunders to the team but bought a filly by Brazen Beau at the Goffs UK Premier Sale for 20,000gns on behalf of Ontoawinner. She is with Michael Bell and appears sharp.
TDN: Which stallion do you think will go on to be the best of this intake?
AE: Muhaarar (GB) oozed quality throughout his career and he certainly appears to have passed that onto his offspring, if looks are anything to go by. A tremendously fast son of Oasis Dream (GB), he holds realistic claims at being able to emulate his father's ability at stud somewhere down the line.
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