European Stallions: Who's in charge?

The latest table listing European Sires in terms of 2007 Stakes winners is a revelation of the complete dominance of that environment’s racing scene by two stallion colossi, SADLER’S WELLS and DANEHILL, and by influence of Coolmore Stud.

Between them and their respective sire sons, Sadler’s Wells and Danehill occupy eight of the top ten slots, which is quite remarkable given the number of stallions at stud in Europe, and the extent of the competition.

          

From a Summerhill perspective, it’s encouraging to see the horse we’ve backed so strongly, Danehill, so prominently placed at a relatively young age (as a sire of sires), particularly given the fact he’s performed so admirably in both hemispheres (his dominance down south is absolute), and the versatility (or indeed, preference) his lineage has displayed for top-of-the-ground conditions. It’s all very well having these Danehill’s on board though, but then they have to produce the goods.

Solskjaer and Way West are both highly performed and beautifully bred, and mercifully, on the basis of what we’re now seeing on the ground, we can look forward to strong performances from their first crops at the sales at least.

After that, it’s all in the lap of the Gods, as we’ve so often been reminded.