breednet.com.au

First Season Sire Covering Stats for 2018

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday March 5
At the start of every breeding season there is always a new intake of sires to consider and they are invariably popular as everyone loves to discover the next big thing, so we've had a look at the covering stats for the new recruits of 2018 which include one high profile horse that is now back in training.

Menari is back in trainingNewgate Farm had high hopes for stunning Snitzel colt Menari, but after covering 64 mares and getting just 18 in foal he is now back in work with his original trainer Gerald Ryan.

"The syndicate that purchased him as a stallion have retained ownership and he's back in work," said Newgate Farm's Henry Field.

"We're aiming towards the 2019 Everest and we're planning to eventually give him another try at stud at Newgate in the future…. We're hoping he can do a Starspangledbanner!"

Snitzel had six sons go to stud including Menari with Newgate Farm's other Snitzel son Russian Revolution proving extremely popular in covering 226 mares with Aquis Farm's Invader the next best with 155 followed by Sun Stud's Thronum on 122.

Merchant Navy was the busiest first season sire in 2018As popular as the Snitzel horses were, it was Coolmore's Merchant Navy that emerged the most popular first season horse covering 246 mares at a fee of $55,000. This dual Group I winning son of Fastnet Rock has a potent mix of pedigree, performance and constitution to make him one of the most desirable stallion prospects seen for a long time.

Victorian breeders couldn't get enough of Lonhro's Group I winning son Impending, who covered 185 mares at a fee of $22,000 to be the busiest sire in Victoria last year. His supporters will be hoping he can follow win the footsteps of Lonhro's champion son Pierro, now one of the best sires in the country.

Yarraman Park might have missed out on standing the first Group I winning son of their superstar sire I Am Invincible in Brazen Beau, but they do have the second in Hellbent and he was super popular covering 182 mares at a fee of $27,500.

Below are the leading first season sires by covering statistics for 2018 at March 1 courtesy of Australian Studbook.






Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 21
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mega Maiden Bonus for Up-And-Comer Chilling Out (NZ)
A lucrative victory in Wednesday’s NZB Mega Maiden Series (1400m) at Ruakaka could be a stepping stone to bigger things for Chilling Out (NZ) (Savabeel).
Autumn Carnival Awaits King’s Secret
Arguably in need of the run when a first-up third, Joe Pride’s consistent sprinter King’s Secret (Shalaa) appeared a class above his rivals on Saturday with black type races now on the horizon for the half-brother to $12.8m earner Private Eye.
Rising Northern Hemisphere Star for Ghaiyyath
As we come to the end of 2025, the stallion sitting on top of the Australian Second Season Sires table is Ghaiyyath (IRE) and one of his promising three year-olds in the Northern Hemisphere this year is Opera Ballo, a commanding winner of the Group II Al Rashidiya (1m1f) at Meydan overnight.
Sires With Winners - Friday December 19
Here is the full list of 78 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Apulia Unleashes Devastating Perth Cup Trial
Lightly raced five year old entire Apulia produced one of the best Perth Cup trials seen in years when he produced a finish Bernborough himself would have admired to take the weight for age G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes at Ascot.
First HK Winner for Sebring Sun
Bargain priced Glenthorne Park based sire Sebring Sun had his first winner in Hong Kong on Saturday when The Red Hare saluted at Sha Tin.
Widden Fairytale - Unit Five Delivers in $250,000 MM Victoria 2YO
There was a real mixture of tears and happiness for everyone at Widden Stud when the two year-old Supido colt named for the late Stud Manager David Merrick made a winning debut in the $250,000 Magic Millions Victoria 2YO Classic (1100m).
Sword of State Yearlings to Lure Buyers to Karaka
Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by yet another highly promising two-year-old when the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
G3 Eulogy Shines Spotlight On Emerging NZB Filly of the Year Contenders
Undefeated filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) has dominated the early stages of the 2025-26 NZB Filly of the Year Series, but the complexion of the series might start to change with this weekend’s fifth leg.