Coolmore pair Caravaggio and Churchill the busiest new boys of 2018

Caravaggio and Churchill were inundated with mares at Coolmore this year, covering more than 200 each to make them the most active new stallions in Britain and Ireland.

Caravaggio was busiest of all, with a book of 217 according to stallion returns lodged with Weatherbys and available to view online.

His popularity is easy to understand as he is by the late sire sensation Scat Daddy and showed top-class form at two, when he landed the Coventry Stakes and Phoenix Stakes, and at three, when he took the Commonwealth Cup.

The number of black-type winners sent to a stallion each year provides a useful yardstick as to the regard in which he is held, and the figure of 34 belonging to Caravaggio illustrates he is highly respected indeed.

Those stakes performers who visited him include star sprinter Airwave, dam of Meow and consequently granddam of Churchill and Clemmie; Immortal Verse, the dual Group 1 winner who was the former record-priced broodmare in Europe at 4,700,000gns; multiple top-level scorer Peeping Fawn, who has produced the classy September; and 1,000 Guineas heroine Yesterday.

Caravaggio also covered the dams of Group 1 winners Astaire, Beethoven, Chachamaidee, La Collina, Nightime, Peniaphobia, Signs Of Blessing and Wigmore Hall.

It is evident that the four-year-old has been identified by Coolmore and other breeders as a worthy outcross for Galileo mares, as his book contained 33 daughters and ten granddaughters of the phenomenal sire.

Champion two-year-old and dual 2,000 Guineas hero Churchill, who stands alongside his sire Galileo, was granted 211 mares, 42 of whom were black-type winners such as Lady Jane Digby and Music Show.

More eye-catching, though, is the awesome firepower of proven producers in his debut book. It contained Cassandra Go (dam of Halfway To Heaven); Cloghran (Robin Of Navan); Danetime Out (Estidhkaar and Toormore); Frappe (Curvy, Power and Thakafaat); Hveger (Highland Reel and Idaho); Love And Bubbles (Deep Brillante); New Orchid (African Rose) and Sharp Lisa (Foundry).

The third new recruit to Coolmore in Ireland this year, globe-trotting Group 1 hero Highland Reel, was also in strong demand with 167 names on his dance card including 18 black-type winners.

Darley were likewise overrun with applications from breeders to use Kildangan Stud debutant Profitable, resulting in the King's Stand Stakes winner by Invincible Spirit serving 185 mares – 16 of whom were black-type winners.

Profitable's fellow newcomer to Kildangan, the brilliant miler Ribchester, in turn covered 154 mares, including 17 who struck in stakes company.

Ribchester: top miler was popular with breedersCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Smart sprinter Cotai Glory, a son of the increasingly influential Exceed And Excel, will have numbers on his side when he has his first runners in 2021, as he covered 180 mares at Tally-Ho Stud.

The County Westmeath operation also did its customary good job in drumming up business for its new sires as Galileo Gold, the 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes victor, attracted 140 concubines.

Irish Derby and Dubai Sheema Classic winner Jack Hobbs was the busiest new sire in Britain and the most active beginner designated for jumps breeding on either side of the Irish Sea.

Ardad: Overbury Stud's new recruit at full stretch

The son of Halling covered 167 mares including the dams of National Hunt celebrities Ballyandy, L'Ami Serge and Presenting Percy.

Overbury Stud also welcomed Ardad, the Flying Childers Stakes-winning son of Kodiac, in 2018 and he was similarly in favour with breeders, as a book of 132 attests.

It was Aclaim, a Prix de la Foret scorer by the ever popular Acclamation, who was the busiest new Flat stallion in Britain this year, however, with 160 mares covered at the National Stud.

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 2018

Caravaggio
Sire Scat Daddy
Stud Coolmore, Ire
Mares covered 217
Black-type winners covered 34

Churchill
Sire Galileo
Stud Coolmore, Ire
Mares covered 211
Black-type winners covered 42

Profitable
Sire Invincible Spirit
Stud Kildangan, Ire
Mares covered 185
Black-type winners covered 16

Highland Reel
SireGalileo
Stud Coolmore, Ire
Mares covered 184
Black-type winners covered 23

Cotai Glory
Sire Exceed And Excel
Stud Tally-Ho, Ire
Mares covered 180
Black-type winners covered 3

Jack Hobbs
Sire Halling
Stud Overbury, GB
Mares covered 168
Black-type winners covered 19

Aclaim
Sire Acclamation
Stud National, GB
Mares covered 160
Black-type winners covered 9

Ribchester
Sire Iffraaj
Stud Kildangan, Ire
Mares covered 154
Black-type winners covered 17

El Kabeir
Sire Scat Daddy
Stud Yeomanstown, Ire
Mares covered 146
Black-type winners covered 7

Galileo Gold
Sire Paco Boy
Stud Tally-Ho, Ire
Mares covered 140
Black-type winners covered 8

Ardad
Sire Kodiac
Stud Overbury, GB
Mares covered 132
Black-type winners covered 5

Ulysses
Sire Galileo
Stud Cheveley Park, GB
Mares covered 115
Black-type winners covered 25

Postponed
Sire Dubawi
Stud Dalham Hall, GB
Mares covered 112
Black-type winners covered 21

Time Test
Sire Dubawi
Stud National, GB
Mares covered 111
Black-type winners covered 10

Decorated Knight
Sire Galileo
Stud Irish National, Ire
Mares covered 66
Black-type winners covered 5

National Defense
Sire Invincible Spirit
Stud Irish National, Ire
Mares covered 64
Black-type winners covered 11

Dartmouth
Sire Dubawi
Stud Shade Oak, GB
Mares covered 61
Black-type winners covered 1

Pillar Coral
Sire Zamindar
Stud Annshoon, Ire
Mares covered 61
Black-type winners covered -

My Dream Boat
Sire Lord Shanakill
Stud Bridge House, Ire
Mares covered 60
Black-type winners covered 2

Divine Prophet
SireChoisir
Stud Tara, Ire
Mares covered 59
Black-type winners covered 2

Peace Envoy
Sire Power
Stud Worsall Grange, GB
Mares covered 59
Black-type winners covered 4

Spill The Beans
Sire Snitzel
Stud National, GB
Mares covered 33
Black-type winners covered 1

Barney Roy
Sire Excelebration
Stud Dalham Hall, GB
Mares covered 31
Black-type winners covered 1

Mahsoob
Sire Dansili
Stud Hedgeholme, GB
Mares covered 22
Black-type winners covered 1

Forever Now
Sire Galileo
Stud Norton Grove, GB
Mares covered 21
Black-type winners covered 1

Karpino
Sire Cape Cross
Stud Glenview, Ire
Mares covered 8
Black-type winners covered -

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