Order Of St George the busiest new sire in Britain and Ireland this year

Coolmore accounted for the three busiest new recruits to the stallion ranks in Britain and Ireland this year, led by Gold Cup hero Order Of St George. Elsewhere, a number of inexpensive options appear to have struggled for support in a season when some breeders on a budget were reported to be cutting back.

Order Of St George covered 275 mares in his jumps sire role at Castlehyde Stud according to returns lodged with Weatherbys and available to view online.

Among the accomplished racemares and/or producers in the son of Galileo's book were Asian Maze, a four-time Grade 1 winner and dam of useful hurdler Cup Final; Pomme Tiepy, a Grade 2-winning chaser and dam of Grade 1-placed Mortal; Fashionista, the dam of Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Bobs Worth; and Augest Weekend and Norabelle, mothers respectively of Total Recall and Invitation Only.

Fellow Coolmore colour-bearer Sioux Nation was the second busiest new sire this year, and the most in-demand designated for Flat breeding.

The Phoenix Stakes winner, a son of popular outcross stallion Scat Daddy, received 241 mares including 14 who were black-type winners themselves. They include the Group 1 winners Chinese White and Hula Angel, as well as Molecomb Stakes scorer Lady Alexander, whose offspring Anthem Alexander and Dandy Man were gifted sprinters.

Saxon Warrior surveys his surroundings at CoolmoreCredit: Patrick McCann

Racing Post Trophy and 2,000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior, a son of Deep Impact, rounded out the trifecta for Coolmore in the popularity stakes this year, with 165 mares.

His tally of 33 stakes scorers covered gives a clue to the conspicuous high quality contained in his debut book. Group 1 winners Gilt Edge Girl, Homecoming Queen, Lily's Candle and Music Show feature, along with the dams of top-class talents Channel, Coronet, Meandre and Robin Of Navan.

Love And Bubbles, who clicked with Deep Impact to produce Japanese Derby victor Deep Brillante, was also among those who visited the late sire's son, while a very special member of the cohort was Cassandra Go, the excellent sprinter who produced three-time Group 1 heroine Halfway To Heaven – in turn the dam of three elite scorers in Flying The Flag, Rhododendron and Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes winner Magical.

The fourth busiest new sire in 2019 overall, with the lengthiest dance card of any debutant in Britain, was last year's joint-world champion Cracksman at Dalham Hall Stud.

The son of Frankel was sent 147 mares, including 31 black-type winners. Among the highlights of the book were the dams of Al Kazeem, City Light, Dream Castle and Mutual Trust, as well as Mount Elbrus, the maternal granddam of crack juvenile Pinatubo, and 1,000 Guineas winner Speciosa.

Not far behind Cracksman in terms of numbers covered was Whitsbury Manor Stud newcomer Havana Grey on 145.

The son of Havana Gold's book included Satsuma, the dam of this season's classy two-year-old filly Good Vibes, Rebecca De Winter, mother of Cornwallis Stakes winner Mrs Danvers, and Copy-Cat, who has produced stakes winners Chil The Kite and Pastoral Player.

Next came Breeders' Cup Mile winner Expert Eye, who stood his first season at Banstead Manor Stud, and star sprinter Harry Angel, new to Dalham Hall Stud, each having received 139 mares.

Cracksman: the busiest new sire in Britain this yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Expert Eye, a son of Acclamation, covered 29 black-type winners including the likes of Beyond Desire, Pontenuovo and Starlit Sands, along with the dams of Lilbourne Lad, Monarchs Glen and Projection.

Harry Angel, by Acclamation's son Dark Angel, attracted 16 black-type winners including the Classic-placed mares Saoirse Abu and Sundrop. Among the proven producers in his book were the dams of Justice Day, Kachy, Rangali and Tis Marvellous.

Some 133 concubines graced the court of the late Roaring Lion at Tweenhills in what turned out to be his only covering season. The son of Kitten's Joy served more black-type winners – 46 – than any other sire in the class of 2019.

The Coolmore-based pair of US Navy Flag and Gustav Klimt, plus high-class sprinter Tasleet at Nunnery Stud, also covered three-figure debut books.

But a number of sires received fewer mares than might have been expected when considering their talent on the track.

Hawkbill, Jungle Cat, Poet's Word and Rajasinghe, who stood at £10,000/€10,000 or less, each covered fewer than 40 despite variously having enticing racing records or decent pedigrees.

Assuming there were no mitigating health issues, those books might be indicative of smaller breeders having downsized their operations this year, or in some cases the general decline in stamina breeding.

Full details of covering numbers will be available in the Return of Mares published by Weatherbys in November, with final figures that can include late returns submitted after the September 1 deadline made official in the Supplement to the Return of Mares next year.

BUSIEST NEW SIRES IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN 2019

Order Of St George
Sire Galileo
Stud Castlehyde, Ire
Mares covered 275
Black-type winners covered 14

Sioux Nation
Sire Scat Daddy
Stud Coolmore, Ire
Mares covered 241
Black-type winners covered 14

Saxon Warrior
Sire Deep Impact
Stud Coolmore, Ire
Mares covered 165
Black-type winners covered 33

Cracksman
Sire Frankel
Stud Dalham Hall, GB
Mares covered 147
Black-type winners covered 31

Havana Grey
Sire Havana Gold
Stud Whitsbury Manor, GB
Mares covered 145
Black-type winners covered 4

Expert Eye
Sire Acclamation
Stud Banstead Manor, GB
Mares covered 139
Black-type winners covered 29

Harry Angel
Sire Dark Angel
Stud Dalham Hall, GB
Mares covered 139
Black-type winners covered 16

Roaring Lion
Sire Kitten's Joy
Stud Tweenhills, GB
Mares covered 133
Black-type winners covered 46

US Navy Flag
Sire War Front
Stud Coolmore, Ire
Mares covered 119
Black-type winners covered 13

Gustav Klimt
Sire Galileo
Stud Coolmore, Ire
Mares covered 117
Black-type winners covered 4

Tasleet
Sire Showcasing
Stud Nunnery, GB
Mares covered 107
Black-type winners covered 10

Kessaar
Sire Kodiac
Stud Tally-Ho, Ire
Mares covered 97
Black-type winners covered 2

Massaat
Sire Teofilo
Stud Mickley, GB
Mares covered 84
Black-type winners covered 4

Frontiersman
Sire Dubawi
Stud Overbury, GB
Mares covered 69
Black-type winners covered -

James Garfield
Sire Exceed And Excel
Stud Rathbarry, Ire
Mares covered 68
Black-type winners covered 1

Washington DC
Sire Zoffany
Stud Bearstone, GB
Mares covered 67
Black-type winners covered 1

Lightning Spear
Sire Pivotal
Stud Tweenhills, GB
Mares covered 55
Black-type winners covered 2

Unfortunately
Sire Society Rock
Stud Cheveley Park, GB
Mares covered 52
Black-type winners covered 2

Hawkbill
Sire Kitten's Joy
Stud Dalham Hall, GB
Mares covered 39
Black-type winners covered 1

Rajasinghe
Sire Choisir
Stud National, GB
Mares covered 33
Black-type winners covered -

Poet's Word
Sire Poet's Voice
Stud Nunnery, GB
Mares covered 30
Black-type winners covered 1

Jungle Cat
Sire Iffraaj
Stud Kildangan, Ire
Mares covered 19
Black-type winners covered -

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