Several stallions with their first crop on the track this season have made very encouraging starts.
In fact, a case can be made for all currently residing in the top ten.
It's pleasing to see Animal Kingdom (USA) returning to Arrowfield this spring while Excelebration (IRE) has made a strong case for a return to Coolmore.
A 4-time Group I winning son of Exceed And Excel, Excelebration (IRE) (pictured) did not get the usual take-up of Coolmore stallions.
He covered 109 mares in his first season in 2013 at a fee of $27,500 but support had dropped three years later, serving just 49
That sealed his fate for 2017, however, Coolmore may be regretting that decision now.
In his first crop, Excelebration (IRE) has sired the Chris Munce-trained Saint Patricks Day who captured the$100,000 Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm and was fourth in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Another youngster with a promising future is Australian Bloodstock's Excelamour, a fast-finishing winner in the $100,000 Inglis Scone 2YO Classic.
In the northern hemisphere, Excelebration (IRE) has one of the best three-year-olds in Europe, the Group I St James's Palace Stakes hero Barney Roy.
The Robert and Luke Price-trained Can Party might not be of that class however he became another winner for Excelebration (IRE) when successful at Kembla Grange at his most recent start.
A $30,000 purchase from the
A half-brother to three winners, Can Part descends from a family that has served the Cummings clan well over the decades.
The flying filly Storm Queen carried the purple, green sleeves and white cap of Bart Cummings' brother Pat to victory in a host of top races including the 1966 Golden Slipper, AJC Champagne Stakes, Caulfield Guineas, VRC Sire's Produce Stakes and VRC Lightning Stakes.
Storm Queen was one of four stakes winners out of the Bloodhorse Breeders' Plate and Gibson Carmichael Stakes winner Storm Gleam who was owned by Pat Cummings and his father Jim.
They were all by the champion SA stallion Coronation Boy.
The first was Ana Rose whose wins included the VATC One Thousand Guineas and VRC Bloodhorse Breeders' Plate.
Her family became synonymous with Newhaven Park.
Ana Rose's daughter New Bid (Wilkes) produced the VATC Blue Diamond Stakes winner New Gleam and the STC Shannon Quality winner For All Seasons.
Another daughter of Ana Rose, Creation (Gaul), produced the very useful racemare French Gown (Buoy), in
The winner of four races in Melbourne, Damzelle was third in the Group I South Australian Oaks.
She played her part in a little bit of history with two of her sons, Dodge (Canny Lad) and Tenor (Star Watch) winning the Group I Queensland Derby.
A three-quarter sister to Dodge is the three-time winner Canny Dancer (Canny Lad) the dam of Can Party.
