2005 Freshman Year Top 10
What a year, 2005 was. Who was the pick of the Freshman Sire Crop…Some suprises, some not. Those who bagged Smarty Jones as a failure will be suprised…Lets look at the top 10 Sires and find out who were the best in 2005.
No.1 Speighstown – (Gone West – Storm Cat)
53.8 % Winners with a total of 106 runners.
Earnings $4,729,741.
Top Earner was 33754 – Zytown (Speighstown – Street Cry – Anabaa) owned by Zyro.
Overall Speighstown had 3 Graded winners and a few multiple winners. A suprise for the top spot. Maybe, but he had quite a few great runners. Quite a bit of sucess breeding to AP Indy and Seattle Slew with a Graded win between them. Most of his better runners were Dirt Sprinters. Most of his top 2YO crop have progressed nicley in there early 3YO Career.
No. 2 Smarty Jones – (Elusive Quality – Smile)
59.5% Winners with 116 runners.
Earnings $3,712,482.
Top earner was 26309 – Magic Merlin (Smarty Jones – Sadlers Wells – Wild Again) owned by Lordbyron.
Smarty Jones really did well and had 2 Graded Winners with Magic Merlin Winning one plus a G2. A few bagged him out for being a bust, but the stats disagree. His best runners were bred to Seattle Slew, Storm Cat and Deputy Minister. His 2YO Progeny have had most success on Dirt and have been both Sprinters and Routers. His top 2YO’s have really progressed nicely especially over some ground with one LOCKITINEDDIE cracking the 100 SP barrier.
No. 3 Medalio D;Oro – (El Prado – Bailjumper)
Earnings $3,325,709.
52.8 % Winners with 108 Runners.
Top earner was 96746 – Espresso D’Italia (Medalio D’Oro – Miswaki – Seeking the Gold) owned by lasthope1.
Medalio D’Oro did quite well and may have suprised a few people with his 3rd place finish. He had one Graded Winner. His 3YO’s should really start to develop and will improve over ground one would think. Best runners were bred to Nureyev and Danzig. Good mix of Dirt and Turf Runners both Sprinting and Routeing. Very well balanced mix. His top 2YO’s have progressed well albeit nothing mindblowing. But his crop seem to be improving with distance. All looks good for the future.
No. 4 Peace Rules – (Jules – Hold Your Peace)
Earnings $2,752,783.
47.7% Winners with only 86 Runners.
Top Earner was 55854 – Peacenik – (Peace Rules – Broad Brush – Black Tie Affair) owned by oaklawn66.
A real suprise here, at least for me. Peace Rules really impressed in his first year and may do better as his 3Yo’s should improve over ground. Best runners were bred with Gone West as the Dam Sire. He had one Graded Winner and that was Peacenik. May be one to keep an eye on this year. Dirt seems to be the preferred surface and a mix of sprints and distance horses. His top runner has loved the added distances and that may be this sires forte. Peacenik looks a nice derby horse in the making. 2 of his top 2 horses have done it on the Turf, Funnily enough. Look for his 3YO’s to improve over ground.
No. 5 Congaree – (Arazi – Maris Book)
Earnings $2,493,292.
39.4% Winners with 104 Runners.
Top Earner was 99674 – Miss Congeniality – (Congaree – Mr Greeley – Vaguely Noble) owned by paddy.
I bred a few horses with Congaree with a little success, and am hopeful his progeny improve with age and ground. Forty Niner and Sadlers Wells were successfully used as Dam sires and he had 1 Graded Winner. Another who may improve this year and hopefully to his 3YO’s. Dirt and Sprinting seem to be his forte as his crop tells the story. A few of his top 2YO’s have regressed alarmingly. Will this be the trend. I’ve sold off my only 2 runners, Very dissapointed as I thought he would be good. Remains to be seen how his 3yo’s will fair.
No. 6 Tapit – (Pulpit – Unbridled)
Earnings – $2,454,428.
41.6% Winners with 101 Runners.
Top Earner was 96453 – Lulu’s First Tap (Tapit – Kingmambo -Sadlers Wells) owned by Epic.
I love Tapit’s breeding and used him a few times with no success, a few ALW wins but nothing spectacular. I thought that he may have done better, but his 3YO’s may prove to come into there own as 3YO’s. Danzig and Storm Cat proved very successful as Dam Sires for Tapit. Dirt Sprints again for his 2YO’s, will it be different for his 3YO’s. His early 3YO’s having exactly been setting the sim on fire, although his crop seem to improve with a little ground. We shall see how he fares this year.
No. 7 Pleasantly Perfect – (Pleasant Colony – Affirmed)
52.9 % Winners with 104 Runners.
Earnings – $2,389,659.
Top Earner was 96361 – Doctor Speights – (Pleasantly Perfect – Forty Niner – Storm Bird) owned by irishcrown.
Pleasantly Perfect had a Pleasantly Perfect year, well almost. His runners exceeded expectations (Except Mine). He had a fairly good year and his progeny may be even better as 3YO’s. Storm Cat and Saddlers Slew were used with success as Dam Sires. Funnily enough Dirt has been his first season crops forte. With a mix of both Sprint and Route. His Breeding Screams Turf. His top 3YO’s have not done much so far, but they may change with more ground as his early 3YO’s seem to be excelling over the extra distances.
No. 8 Reset (AUS) – (Zabeel – Zedative)
Earnings – $2,253,948.
47.1% Winners with only 85 runners.
Top Earner was 97623 – I’m Set (Reset – Forty Niner – Green Desert) owned by angaston.
Well at last an Aussie sire to be proud of. Had a great year especially amongst the Giants. Never even thought that an Aus sire would make the top twenty. APIndy and Broad Brush were used with success as Dam sires. Good mix of Dirt and Turf, but sprinting seems to be his crops go. His top 2YO’s haven’t done alot as early 3YO’s. He seems to throw sprinters over both Dirt/Turf. Will be interesting to see if he can maintain his spot this year.
No. 9 Strong Hope – (Grand Slam – Deputy Minister)
Earnings – $2,036,026.
48.3% Winners with 89 runners.
Top Earner was 85260 – Isle of Revenge (Strong Hope – Nureyev – Nodouble) owned by Braylee.
Another big suprise here with Strong Hope. Although he has very nice breeding but was not high on my list. A very good year and expect the same again. Storm Cat was very successful as a Dam Sire. Dirt/Sprints have been his 2YO’s best so far. His top 2YO’s have progressed very nicely in there early 3YO careers. A nice sire with plenty of Scope especially if looking to breed a dirt sprinter.
No. 10 Refuse To Bend – (Saddlers Wells – Gulch)
38.5% Winners with 96 runners.
Earnings – $1,983,207.
Top Earner was 70708 – Ladys Honor (Refuse To Bend – Kris.S – Round Table) owned by celticros.
Really thought that he would place much higher as a first season sire. My horses were very dissapointing, although my Horse First Refusal was his second biggest earner (Mostly earnt early on). My horse seemed to fizzle as the season progressed and it seems his runners are early types. Most of his top earners (In fact the first two) are bred to Kris.S. Turf Sprints have been for the most part very successful for his first crop. His 3YO’s seem to have regressed slightly and seem to struggle over ground. Would have thought given his breeding he would like some ground, remains to be seen.
Then Came
Johar
Perfect Soul
Lion Heart
Ballingarry
Ten Most Wanted
One Cool Cat
Saarland
Birdstone
Stroll
The Cliffs Edge
Who will take the Top Spot this year, Most would have there money on Ghostzapper taking the prize and he has certainly started off well. Grand Reward has the Top Spot (Due to the weight of runners so far).Kittens Joy, Powerscourt, Afleet Alex, Eddington, North Light or Rock Hard Ten could all be up there and with the Aussies, carrying the Flag will be Elvestroem, Starcraft, Savabeel and a host of others. Or will there be a suprise like Eurosilver, Mingun, Doyen or Oratorio.
Will be a most exciting year, with a great Freshman Crop.
Who will take out the Title ????? Tune in next year.