NEWS
Freshman Sire Blog: Generation MMX
Posted: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 1:26 PM
by John Egan
It does not seem so long ago that I was first looking at how the format of the 2011 Freshman Sire competition would come together, when the beginning of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale has now got me thinking about those freshman sires of 2012.
The first foals by the freshman sires of 2012 were born in 2010 (MMX in Roman numerals) and that first crop now sell as yearlings this year. The top three stallions to keep an eye on – in accordance to stud fee anyway – are Curlin, Big Brown, and Henrythenavigator.
Curlin appears to currently have the edge out of the three in the sales arena. On the second day of Book 1 at Keeneland, West Point Thoroughbreds took home a filly by Curlin out of the stakes winning mare Tears I Cry for $700,000. The third dam is Helen Street, who is the dam of Street Cry (Ire) and granddam of Shammardal, so certainly a lot to like on the female side of the family with this yearling.
Amerman Racing LLC went to $310,000 to take home a colt by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, also on the second day of the sale. The second dam of Hip 196 -- Smooth Charmer -- is the dam of graded stakes winner Sea Chanter. This colt also comes from the same family as Mutakdim.
Whereas Curlin and Big Brown will be expected to have progeny more than capable of handling the dirt -- and in my opinion enough to also make an impression on the grass -- Henrythenavigator will almost certainly be a sire with a heavy bias to turf horses. By Kingmambo out of a Sadler’s Wells mare it is unlikely that sons and daughters of this stallion will like the main track at all.
Dr. D.L. O’Byrne signed the ticket to Hip 162, a three-quarters brother to 2004 Betfair.com St. Leger (Eng-G1) winner and Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) runner-up Rule of Law. It would be assumed that much is expected from this $625,000 purchase, but more than likely from the stable of Aidan O’Brien.
Other freshman sires looking to get some positive vibes from the sales ring include Midnight Lute, Street Boss, and Tiz Wonderful and it will be interesting to follow the first crop of yearlings by some of these stallions as we approach the second week of selling at Keeneland.
For those of you who have dismayed at how your stallion barn has performed to date in the 2011 Freshman Sire Competition – don’t worry, I’m right there with you – then please don’t lose hope. There is always next year.
The beauty of these two weeks of September in Lexington, Kentucky, is that we know we have seen some of the youngsters who next year will shine on behalf the freshman sires; it is the mystery of exactly which ones these will be.
Previous Freshman Sire blogs:
Spring at last
It's a marathon, not a sprint
Alright son, you're nicked!
Remembering Rags to Riches
Is 2011 a safe bet for a Darley double?
What is your name? What is your favorite color?
A change of pace
Small victories
Spin around
The passing of a legend
Zen proves to be good karma
Let's Sheikh on it
I saw him first
Royal Ascot, Part 1
Royal Ascot babies for Thursday, Friday, Saturday
A 'Flash' of brilliance
Spa treatment
Frankly amazing
Dark Angel is the dark horse
A new hope
Awesome 'Wells'
When one can make a Hat Trick
About John Egan
A native Londoner, John Egan has been a racing enthusiast from a very young age and even owned interests in Thoroughbred racehorses with his parents. After graduating from University with a business degree in 1997, John spent three years working in the London insurance market before pursuing his desire to work in the racing industry. He began work as an assistant to a trainer and was predominately based at Wolverhampton racecourse in England. After a spell in training, John then went to work for Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's farms of Watership Down in England and Ireland before relocating to Kentucky and Lane's End Farm in 2002. After two years at Lane's End, John decided to combine his experience in the horse and insurance industries and became an equine insurance agent, which he did for three years, before making the transition to underwriter for a large multi-national insurance company. In 2008, he became underwriting manager of the Lexington office of Markel Insurance Company, which was opened in October of that year with the primarily focus of writing Thoroughbred equine mortality insurance.
With the launch of the Lexington office, John has become actively involved in Thoroughbred media to help promote Markel. He appeared on the Horse Racing Radio Network's Saturday morning show in 2009 and 2010 to discuss horses on the Kentucky Derby trail. In 2009, John also began a freshman sire competition and created a newsletter with that competition called The Freshman. That contest caught the eye of THOROUGHBRED TIMES and a partnership was formed to present the Freshman Sire Contest together in 2010. The partnership continues with the 2011 competition also being presented by Markel and THOROUGHBRED TIMES.
John lives in Lexington and is married to Melissa, who is a small animal veterinarian.
Also check The Freshman Facebook page for more freshman sire information.
