COVERING numbers for the 16 stallions who stand at Coolmore in Co Tipperary are available to view on Weatherbys Bloodstock Reports online, before they are published in print in the comprehensive Return of Mares in November. They reveal that the stud’s high-profile new acquisition from France, Wootton Bassett, was welcomed to Ireland this year with a glittering book of 244 mares.

The Group 1-winning son of Iffraaj has made his name by supplying superstars such as Almanzor, Audarya and Wooded, despite covering small books at a low fee in the early years of his stallion career at Haras d’Etreham. So it boggles the mind to think what he might achieve now that he is covering the cream of the European broodmare population.