ACCLAMATION was a somewhat unexpected hit at stud. One of the best sons of the Group 1-winning sprinter Royal Applause (by Waajib), the great-grandson of Try My Best (by Northern Dancer) represented a somewhat unfashionable male line and had the added hinderance of having failed to win a stakes race until the age of four.

However, the Group 2 Diadem Stakes winner and Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes third quickly built up a following at Rathbarry Stud, where the now 21-year-old still holds court. His tally of stakes winners stands at a very respectable 52 and many of his stock are prolific, and there is no limit to what they can achieve.