SHOWCASING (Oasis Dream) was a Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes winner over six furlongs at York at two who, in an abbreviated three-year-old campaign, came within half a length of adding another Group 2 over that same course and distance, the Duke of York Stakes. He had also been placed in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, finishing a length in front of future Group 1-star Poet’s Voice, when finishing third.

Whitsbury Manor Stud’s grandson of Green Desert (Danzig) has become one of the most sought-after stallions in Britain and already has several popular sons at stud, with a clear expectation that he is going to become a noted source of successful sires.

Group 1-winning sprinter Advertise whose foals made up to 135,000gns in 2021, ace miler Mohaather who covered 146 mares, and the speedy Tasleet whose yearlings realised up to 80,000gns, stand in England, but Soldier’s Call is here.

Added attraction

The latter has covered triple-digit books so far at Ballyhane Stud, his first foals include a 100,000gns colt sold in Newmarket in late November, and he has the added attraction of being by a stallion whose first sire-son, Cappella Sansevero, got a juvenile Group 2-scorer in his initial crop.

The broodmare sire of Soldier’s Call was a regally-related Group 2 Coventry Stakes winning, but short-lived, son of Polar Falcon, the sire of Pivotal, and his fourth dam is the Flying Childers Stakes and Queen Mary Stakes heroine Abeer (Dewan). No wonder this son of juvenile stakes winner Dijarvo (Iceman) is both popular and expected to make an impact.

Royal Ascot’s listed five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes was the second win of his career, and he went on to add the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg in France and Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster before failing by only a head and short head to beat Mabs Cross and Gold Vibe in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, with Battaash half a length behind in fourth – an outstanding effort for a two-year-old.

Soldier’s Call short-headed Mabs Cross when finishing third to Blue Point and Battaash in a vintage edition of the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes the following summer, and then chased home the latter in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Soldier’s Call was only beaten by a total of two lengths when fourth in the Group 1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, a race in which Fairyland short-headed her stablemate So Perfect, with Invincible Army, also a popular young stallion now, third. This was another excellent effort.

Leading candidate

Soldier’s Call is obviously a leading candidate to challenge for freshman sire honours in 2023, both the actual championship title, decided on earnings, and the other rankings decided by winners and races won.

Beyond that, he looks likely to supply plenty of sprinters and milers of note, possibly even the occasional classic performer.

SOLDIER’S CALL (GB), Bay or Brown 2016. Champion 2yr old colt in France in 2018. Won four races, £349,377, over 5 furlongs, at 2 years including, Wainwrights Flying Childers Stakes, Doncaster, Gr.2, Prix d’Arenberg, Chantilly, Gr.3, Windsor Castle Stakes, Ascot, L, also placed second in Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, York, Gr.1, and third in King’s Stand Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp - Longines, Parislongchamp, Gr.1, Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.3, BSS EBF Westow Stakes, York, L.

Retired to Stud in 2020, first crop now yearlings.

Stands at: Ballyhane Stud, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, R93 K095, Ireland.

Contact: Joe or Jane Foley

Telephone: +353 (0)59 9722068 or +353 (0)86 2524135 (Joe) or +353 (0)86 8066000 (Jane)

Email: info@ballyhane.com

Web: www.ballyhane.com

Fee: €7,500