SHAMARDAL (by Giant’s Causeway) had an outstanding year in 2019. His brilliant sprint son Blue Point rounded off his track career with a Group 1 double at Royal Ascot in June, Castle Lady won the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas), and the two-year-olds Earthlight, Victor Ludorum and champion Pinatubo went into winter quarters as undefeated Group 1 stars.

The Kildangan Stud flagbearer was also the broodmare sire of the Group 1 Sprint Cup star Hello Youmzain (by Kodiac) and the grandsire of two more who hit the top in Europe thanks to his excellent son Lope De Vega. That Ballylinch Stud resident, a dual classic hero, has nine top-level winners to his name from more than 60 blacktype scorers, and in addition to the Australian sprinter Santa Ana Lane he was represented by Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan scorer Zabeel Prince and the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas star Phoenix Of Spain in 2019.