THE days of being able to breed to Showcasing (Oasis Dream) for £4,500 are long gone, his current fee now 10 times that and with good cause.

A Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes winner who was third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and runner-up in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes, Showcasing never ran beyond six furlongs, but he went to stud with the potential to get high-class sprinters and milers, in addition to juvenile talent.

He has done all that and more, and it looks like just a matter of time before he achieves the accolade of classic sire, a descriptor that attaches to a stallion who supplies at least one winner of a Group/Grade 1 classic.His half-brother Camacho (Danehill) earned the label when Teppel landed the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas in 2018.

Showcasing’s Dice Roll (Poule d’Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas), Raghu (New Zealand Derby) and Xpression (New Zealand 1000 Guineas) have been placed in such races, whereas Tropbeau just missed out on joining them when fourth in last year’s French 2000 Guineas.

His more than 50 stakes winners include Advertise and Quiet Reflection, both successful in Royal Ascot’s Group 1 Commonwealth Cup. Might Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes scorer Alkumait make it a third winner of the race in 2021?

Advertise, who covered 138 mares in his maiden season at the National Stud last year, also won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Quiet Reflection added the Group 1 Sprint Cup to her Ascot success, her four other pattern wins included the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes, and her first foal is an as yet unnamed juvenile son of Galileo.

The Group 1-placed sprint Group 2 victors Soldier’s Call (Ballyhane Stud, foals) and Tasleet (Nunnery Stud, yearlings) are also high on his roll of honour. The likes of Prize Exhibit and Projected provided early evidence of their sire’s ability to get talented milers, and it was in 2020 that he had his first Group 1 star over the distance. Mohaather, whose Group 1 Sussex Stakes victory earned race reviews, is now in his first season at Nunnery Stud.

Of course, the race to be crowned the first son of Showcasing to sire a group winner is over because Starfield Stud’s Group 1-placed pattern scorer Cappella Sansevero has supplied the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Pierre Lapin.

Showcasing’s yearlings and foals made up to 310,000gns and €150,000 respectively in 2020. He is only 14 but well established as one of England’s most important sires.

SHOWCASING (GB), Bay 2007. Won two races, £129,563, over 6 furlongs, at 2 years including, Irish TB Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, York, Gr.2, also placed second in Duke of York Blue Square Stakes, York, Gr.2, and third in Shadwell Middle Park Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1.

Retired to Stud in 2011, and sire of the winners of 1,280 races, and £20,468,249, including MOHAATHER (GB), ADVERTISE (GB), QUIET REFLECTION (GB), SHOWOROSES (NZ), ALKUMAIT (GB), BODHICITTA (GB), TROPBEAU (GB), SOLDIER’S CALL (GB), PROJECTED (GB), TASLEET (GB), XPRESSION (NZ), PRIZE EXHIBIT (GB), SHOWBOY (NZ), TOOCOOLFORSCHOOL (IRE), MAGNETO (NZ), OPALESCENCE (NZ), PLAY THAT SONG (NZ), BIT LIPPY (NZ), DEVANT (FR), DICE ROLL (FR), CARNIVAL (NZ), CAORUNN (NZ), CONSELICE (GB), CYLINDER BEACH (NZ), CAPPELLA SANSEVERO (GB), ALL ABOUT MAGIC (NZ), SHOWEMHOWITSDONE (NZ), BOOMBA (NZ), SHOWMANSHIP (NZ), SWEET GARDENIA (GB), WEKAFORCE (NZ), FLAUNTING (NZ), FORSA ECLIPSE (NZ), LADY IN FRANCE (GB), RAINBOW DASH (NZ), SAY GOOD BUY (GER), ATENARTIN (NZ), BE BEE (NZ), ENCRYPTED (GB), SHOWOUT (GB), SO FAR SOKOOL (NZ), BIG ROLE (NZ), DE BRUYNE HORSE (GB), MAXIMUM AURELIUS (FR), OSCAR EIGHT (NZ), SHOWEMUP (NZ), MOONLIT SHOW (GB), RAGHU (NZ), HARDLINE (NZ)

Stands at: Whitsbury Manor Stud, Nr. Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 3QP, England.

Contact: Phil Haworth or Ed Harper

Telephone: +44 (0)1725 518254

Email: enquiries@whitsburymanorstud.co.uk

Web: www.whitsburymanorstud.co.uk

Fee: £45,000