IT is far too early to make any predictions about the year ahead for stallions with their first runners, though there are a couple of sires already making waves.

The interim leader of the pack, and from a farm with a strong recent history when it comes to making sires, is Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy). The Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion was making his fourth juvenile start by the time Royal Ascot came around, where he was third to Calyx and Advertise in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes. By then his victories included a listed race at Naas. He took his racing well and won the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes afterwards in an eight-race two-year-old season.

It is hardly surprising then that Sergei Prokofiev is quickly off the mark with his first crop of nearly 120 juveniles, and they include winners in Britain (three) and Ireland, and a placed runner in France. The Canadian-bred is fully booked this year at £6,000, and hats off to the breeders who have used him until now at this fee.

In France, another Canadian-bred son of Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) has been making his mark, and he was a direct contemporary of Sergei Prokofiev at Ballydoyle. Van Beethoven is in his second season at Karwin Stud, having started at Haras de Grandchamp for a fee of €6,000. This year he commands €4,500.

Highlight

In a mirror of Sergei Prokofiev, Van Beethoven also raced eight times at two, the highlight of his season being his victory in the Group 2 Railway Stakes from Marie’s Diamond. At three he ran a good second in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park before transferring to Chad Brown. He does not have the firepower of Sergei Prokofiev, with just 33 juveniles registered in France from his first year standing at Grandcamp, and a similar number of yearlings following on.

Nevertheless, Van Beethoven’s three runners are made up of two debut winners, while the third has been placed on all three outings to date. What a start.

Ballyhane Stud’s Sands Of Mali (Panis) won the Group 2 Gimcrack Stud at two before progressing to become a Group 1 winner at three when beating Harry Angel in the British Champions Sprint Stakes. His first trio of runners have yielded a winner in France and a placed horse in Ireland, and he will have plenty of runners this season to represent him. His representatives come off his opening fee of €6,500, but that was reduced to €5,000 for his second and subsequent seasons.

Romanised (Holy Roman Emperor), an Irish classic winner and a French Group 1 winner the following season, is off and running, and five starters have seen him record his first success, and also sire a placed runner. Of the sires mentioned already, he is one that you feel will get better as the season goes on. Romanised remains at €7,000 for the fourth successive year at Haras de Bouquetot.

Most expensive

Earthlight (Shamardal) is the most expensive of the sires with their first winners, and his €15,000 fee at Kildangan Stud is down from an opening €20,000. A champion at two when he won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny, he has had three starters, a winner and a pair who have finished second, all on their debuts. With 116 juveniles, Earthlight will be challenging for honours at the end of the season.

Jim Bolger’s Verbal Dexterity (Vocalised), winner of the Group 1 National Stakes at two, has had one runner and one winner. Monotone was placed on his first start at the Curragh, and was back at headquarters to win at the second time of asking. The sire has just eight living juveniles and two yearlings, all bred by Bolger.

A Group 3 winner and runner-up in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas, Hey Gaman (New Approach) will be relatively unknown to most. Standing this year at Haras du Taillis for only €1,900, he has been poorly supported at stud and numbers just 10 named juveniles in his first crop. However, his son Eagle Gate has won twice, and is the sire’s only starter to date.

Another French stallion with a 100% record is Stunning Spirit (Invincible Spirit). This Group 3 winner stands at Haras de Beaumont and his daughter Pastisse gave him the perfect start when she won on her debut. She is one of 24 foals in the sires initial crop. Stunning Spirit covers this year at €3,000.

In the USA

Three sires in the USA with their first runners have offspring in the winners’ circle.

Complexity (Maclean’s Music) stands at Airdrie Stud at an unchanged $12,500, and his two runners have produced a winner and a placed horse. These are from a crop of more than 120 for the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes winner at two. Complexity won half of his 10 starts and his yearlings sold have averaged some $85,000. They obviously met with approval in the market place.

Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby) stands for $5,000 at Buck Pond Stud in Kentucky but he made the ideal start when his only runner to date, Perfect Shances, won at the first time of asking. With just 34 juveniles, he will be limited with opportunities, but this Grade 2 winner who was runner-up to Mitole in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint has made an early statement about his ability to get winners.

Spendthrift Farm’s Thousand Words (Pioneerof The Nile) is another stallion who commands $5,000 at stud, but he will have plenty of chances on the track with his offspring, having more than 120 possible representatives. He got off to the perfect start thanks to his daughter The Queens M G, a winner on her only outing at Keeneland.