Last weekend saw the current batch of first season sires reach 13 individual stakes winners, equalling the 2009 record that comprised freshman stallions like FASTNET ROCK, HIGH CHAPARRAL, SAVABEEL, SHAMARDAL, NOT A SINGLE DOUBT & AL MAHER!
With six weeks still to run on the 2020-21 calendar, Australasia’s first season sires have annexed a whopping 23 stakes races including 2YO majors like the Golden Slipper, Blue Diamond, Magic Millions & Champagne Stakes.
In addition, six sires have earned more than $1 million in prizemoney. To put that into perspective, only 17 others have broken through the million-dollar barrier in the last 12 years (average 1.4).
So you would have to say that collectively, they have proven themselves to be one of the best first season sire crops in Australasia.
This year Proven acquired six yearlings by sires from this high-achieving cohort, including STAR TURN (pictured), ASTERN & WINNING RUPERT.
STAR TURN x EXTREME MEASURE colt (O’Dea/Hoysted) – $1,727.27 + GST (2.5%)
ASTERN x DUHALLOW filly (Pride) – $1,727.27 + GST (2.5%)
ASTERN x BEACH BABE colt (O’Dea/Hoysted) – $1,704.55 + GST (2.5%)
WINNING RUPERT x DON’T TELL MAMA filly (O’Dea/Hoysted) – $3,863.64 + GST (2.5%)
Perhaps the most exciting aspect is that STAR TURN, ASTERN and WINNING RUPERT all improved markedly as 3YOs so the fact their first crop of 2YOs share 33 wins between them bodes well for next season.