In this TDN series we ask a group of experts for their predictions for the 2020 flat season in Europe. Today we hear from Ed Sackville.
TDN: Who do you think will be the leading first-season sire this year?
ES: Through the likes of Cable Bay (Ire) and Kingman (GB), Invincible Spirit (Ire) is doing a good job as a sire of sires, so I will go for either of his sons Shalaa (Ire) and Territories (Ire). Both were top-class 2-year-olds themselves and I liked their yearlings very much.
TDN: Have you bought any by Shalaa or Territories? Do they typically stamp their stock?
ES: Disappointingly I didn't buy any by either stallion, but I certainly saw plenty of their stock. They were all sharp looking precocious types who looked as if they would be 2-year-olds.
TDN: Hope for the 2020 flat season?
ES: My good friend Tom Dascombe very sadly lost his stable star Kachy (GB) at Lingfield last weekend. I'd love to be able to put a well-deserved smile back on Tom's face and see him and his team in the winners enclosure with some nice horses.
TDN: We have been running a series in TDN recently on value sires. What European stallion(s) do you think represents the best value?
ES: At €22,500 I think Starspangledbanner (Aus) is great value. He's had two Group 1 winning 2-year-olds in The Wow Signal (Ire) and Millisle (Ire) and I suspect the best is yet to come. Another sire I have always had a soft spot for is Dandy Man (Ire) and I think he's exceptional value at €15,000.
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