IN the best of years, sire rankings often requires lengthy sifting through to find a clear picture of the leading stallions. Mare quality, foal crop numbers and performers landing in the right yards and ownership are all important factors in a stallion making a name for himself in time for breeders to take notice.

2020 certainly wasn’t the best of years and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on a curtailed competition year is evident. With no Olympics, World Cup finals, fewer shows and just one five-star three-day-event (Pau) taking place, progeny had far less opportunities to earn prize money and rankings points.