The first juvenile race won't be run until the end of next month but the buzz and feedback on the stock of young stallions always starts early, and Fitzdares has already opened a market on the first-season sires' championship. We'll be asking a number of horsemen and women for their opinions over the coming weeks and today, bloodstock agent Cathy Grassick gives us her view.
TDN: Who do you think will be leading first-season sire?
CG: More than ever it is very difficult to single out one horse from the pack due to the increased number of first-season sires this year.
While Muhaarar (GB) is a gorgeous horse with exceptional talent, he was at his best, in my opinion, at three and this combined with having Linamix (Fr) as his broodmare sire makes me think we might not see the best of his progeny until the second half of the year.
I have high hopes for Gutaifan (Ire) to emulate his sire, Dark Angel (Ire), as he was a very good 2-year-old himself and he has a fantastic number of 2-year-olds to run for him.
TDN: Did you see/purchase many by first-season sires at the yearling sales?
CG: This year, more by chance than design, I did not actually purchase any yearlings by first-season sires but I did see a large percentage of their yearlings offered at the major sales in Europe. I was particularly impressed by the yearlings by Gutaifan as they looked very athletic individuals and I really like his pedigree. Hot Streak (GB) was another horse who really appealed to me after seeing the quality of his yearlings. We break a number of yearlings here at Newtown Stud every year and my pick of the first-season horses that have been through our hands was a Golden Horn (GB) filly. I think that his stock will be very interesting to follow later in the year.
TDN: Which stallion do you think will go on to be the best of this intake?
CG: I would love to have the crystal ball to answer that question! It's a hard one to call with so many horses to choose from but I think Muhaarar, Golden Horn and Gutaifan all have all the right ingredients: the pedigrees, performances and support of good books of mares, and I can see them all being well-established sires of the future.
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