MANY years ago I was involved on a number of occasions with hosting stallion parades, but they were something that stud masters in Ireland frankly didn’t embrace.

They have a place in Britain however, perhaps due in part to the huge distances breeders might have to travel to see a sire they wish to consider.

The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association this week announced the return of the National Hunt Stallion Showcase. Taking place on the first day of the Goffs UK January Sale, Tuesday, January 25th, it will feature some 18 stallions.

The sires, many of whom are amongst the record 31 stallions registered to the 2022 TBA Elite NH Mares’ Scheme, will be on show at the Goffs UK sales complex.

“There is an increasingly exciting selection of British-based stallions available to National Hunt breeders and this showcase provides an ideal opportunity for breeders to review the stallions at their leisure ahead of the breeding season and to talk to stallion owners about their choices,” said the TBA NH committee chairman, Bryan Mayoh.

“The event will also play host to the TBA’s silent auction of National Hunt nominations, which provides valuable funds towards the association’s National Hunt activities over the year.”

This year the British stallion ranks have been bolstered by a number of high-class recruits. The Group 1 St Leger hero and Shade Oak Stud resident Logician (Frankel), and Chapel Stud’s Group 2 York Stakes winner Bangkok (Australia), are both among this group.

Also new to the British stallion ranks for 2022 is Dunraven Stud’s Leading Light, a two-time Group 1 winner and sire of the hugely promising Grade 1 runner-up Three Stripe Life, and Walzertakt. The latter will stand at Chapel Stud and was a dual Group 2 winner on the track. Both are sons of Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells).

Opportunity

The event will also provide the first opportunity to view stallions in a public space who came to Britain ahead of the 2021 season. Sire of Nube Negre, the Spanish classic winner Dink (Poliglote) stands at the Skelton family’s Alne Park Stud, while LM Stallions will show Diplomat (Teofilo), a dual Group 2 winner on the flat in Italy and Germany and who also won over hurdles at Auteuil.

Another who arrived in 2021 was Yorton Stud’s Arrigo, a Shirocco (Monsun) half-brother to Adlerflug (In The Wings). Arrigo was a Group 2 winner and runner-up at Group 1 level.

Established sires on show include Chapel Stud’s Group 1 Prix Ganay scorer Planteur (Danehill Dancer), sire of the brilliant stayer and Group 1 winner Trueshan, Peel Hall Stud’s Frammassone (Fraam), a multiple Grade 1-winning hurdler in Italy and sire of dual Cheltenham winner Lively Citizen, and Dragon Dancer (Sadler’s Wells), the narrow Group 1 Derby runner-up who stands at Nunstainton Stud and is sire of seven-time winner Goodbye Dancer.

Italian classic scorer Gentlewave (Monsun), sire of the high-class Easysland, as well as last season’s Grade 1-placed novice hurdler Gentlemansgame, Group 2 winner and Arc de Triomphe-placed Masterstroke (Monsun), sire of Grade 3 winner Floridee and Grade 1-placed Hades, and the Group 1 Coronation Cup hero Pether’s Moon (Dylan Thomas), sire of the listed-placed hurdler Anneloralas, will be brought by Yorton Stud, in addition to the previously mentioned Arrigo.

Group 2 winner Telescope (Galileo) has five-year-olds and they include the debut bumper winner I Spy A Diva. He stands at Shade Oak Stud and will join Logician and Dartmouth, a dual Group 2-winning son of Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), whose first crop have just turned three, on the day.

Busiest sire

Another stallion whose first crop have just turned three is Jack Hobbs (Halling). This Group 1 Irish Derby winner was the busiest British-based National Hunt sire in 2021 and stands at Overbury Stud. He will be joined by Frontiersman, one of the best bred stallions at stud, being a son of Dubawi and the great Ouija Board (Cape Cross), making him a half-brother to the champion and Group 1 sire Australia (Galileo).

The line-up is completed by the National Stud-based Flag Of Honour. A son of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and winner of the Group 1 Irish St Leger, his first crop are yearlings.

A nomination to each of the stallions nominated to the 2022 TBA Elite NH Mares’ Scheme, and those in attendance at the stallion showcase, have been made available by their respective owners for the TBA’s silent auction of nominations.