Group One Sirelines Set the Agenda

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday June 27
Group I racing is what the commercial breeding industry revolves around and success goes a long way to dictating service fees and yearling prices, so it pays to know what the landscape looks like.

Australian racing has for years been shaped by the Danehill sireline and still is.

17 of the 55 Australian Group I winners for this season are by Danehill line sires or 30.9%.

Three of his key sire sons in Redoute's Choice (pictured below) , Fastnet Rock and Flying Spur were responsible for all of his success this season with imported Harlem (GB), the only Danehill line Group I winner bred outside of Australia being by Champs Elysee.



Redoute's Choice sired a Group I winner of his own in The Autumn Sun and as a grand-sire accounted for seven more – Snitzel (Estijaab, Russian Revolution, Redzel, Trapeze Artist), Not a Single Doubt (Mighty Boss), Beneteau (Prompt Response) and Time Thief (In Her Time). He also sired the dams of four Group I winners (Ace High, Kementari, D'Argento and Levendi).

Fastnet Rock sired four Group I winners in Shoals, Comin' Through, Unforgotten and Merchant Navy and also had success with his sire sons Hinchinbrook (Seabrook) and Wanted (Leicester). He also sired the dam of triple Group I winner Santa Ana Lane.

Flying Spur sired Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time and his sire son Magnus delivered Great Shot, a Group I winner in Western Australia. He also sired the dam of Group I winner Shillelagh.

The next most successful sireline was that of Sadler's Wells with 11 Group I winners or 20%.



High Chaparral (IRE) (pictured above) led the way with four Group I winners in Ace High, Rekindling (IRE). Hiyaam and Youngstar, while his champion son So You Think sired two more in D'Argento and Sopressa.

Authorized (IRE) chimed in with Hartnell (GB) and Pounamou, while Galileo struck with Foundry (IRE) and his star son Teofilo (IRE) added two to the tally in Happy Clapper and Humidor.

The Sir Tristram (IRE) line always makes its presence felt and produced six Group I winners or 10.9% with Golden Slipper winner Pierro promising to unleash a new era of success for Cambridge Stud's legendary stallion.



Lonhro sired two Group I winners (Kementari, Impending) and his champion son Pierro (pictured above)  two more (Levendi, Pinot), while Savabeel (Shillelagh) and Yamanin Vital (Who Shot the Barman) added one apiece.

Take into account Zabeel was the most successful broodmare sire with five Group I winners and you can see why the power of this somewhat obscure bloodline that has achieved no real traction anywhere else in the world is in no hurry to dwindle and disperse.

A few years ago it seemed every farm wanted a son of Red Ransom (USA) and while none are still at the Hunter Valley farms they started out at, they have made an impact on Group I racing this season.



All American sired Dark Dream to win the BRC Queensland Derby, Duporth sired Hey Doc to win the MVRC Manikato Stakes and Domesday (pictured above) sired Daysee Doom to win the ATC Coolmore Classic.

Charge Forward sired the dams of two Group I winners in Estijaab and She Will Reign, while Domesday sired the dam of triple Group I winner Trapeze Artist.




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