Fifth over a mile at Gowran Park on his only start as a juvenile, Harzard burst onto the scene with a 16-length defeat of Sword Fighter over 10 furlongs on heavy ground at Cork in late March. The runner-up went on to win the Listed Queen's Vase and Group 2 Curragh Cup, and Harzard went on to become one of the brightest stars of 2016.

Two weeks after this maiden success, Harzand took on Idaho in the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes over the same trip at Leopardstown and, when the latter took up the running more than a furlong from home, the son of Galileo looked set for victory. But then Harzand made his move, passed Idaho and won by one and a quarter lengths, with that colt finishing seven and a half lengths clear of the third.

I reviewed Harzard's pedigree for The Irish Field after that race, explaining why there was reason to believe that he could become both a classic winner and one of the top Group 1 horses of 2016, and noting too that Idaho's performance was also enough to suggest that he also remained a live classic prospect. Neither colt disappointed.

Harzand went on to beat US Army Ranger and Idaho in the Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom and then followed-up with by again beating Idaho in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Sadly, his final two starts did not go as smoothly, injured when down the field behind Almanzor in the Group 1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and then unplaced behind Found in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.​

Like runaway classic star Sea The Moon, whose first crop were notably successful in 2018 and include juvenile pattern winners, Harzand is an early stallion son for the Timeform 140-rated superstar Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross). 

This is the Green Desert branch of the powerful Danzig (by Northern Dancer) sire line, and as Sea The Stars is a half-brother to the great Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) there is every reason to hope that he too will get some top-class sire sons.

Hazariya (by Xaar), the dam of Harzand, won the Group 3 Athasi Stakes and her four previous winners include listed scorer Hazarafa (by Daylami), pattern-placed Haziyna (by Halling), and Group 1-placed Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes winner Harasiya (by Pivotal).

The mare is a half-sister to the classic-placed Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes winner Hazarista (by Barathea), to the dam of middle-distance listed scorer Humphrey Bogart (by Tagula), and also to Handaza (by Be My Guest).

That mare is the dam of the Group 3 Concorde Stakes winner Hamairi (by Spectrum), of pattern-placed listed scorer Hanabad (by Cadeaux Genereux), and of Hannda (by Dr Devious), the dam of Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mare Stakes heroine Seal Of Approval (by Authorized).

Their dam, Hazaradjat (by Darshaan), won twice and as she was out of the Prix de Royallieu runner-up and multiple stakes winner Hazy Idea (by Hethersett), she was a half-sister to the Timeform 125-rated juvenile Hittite Glory (by Habitat).

He won the Group 1 Flying Childers Stakes and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes in 1975, and although he failed to make an impact as a stallion that should not reflect negatively on Harzand's prospects. The classic star represents a notably successful male line, whereas Hittite Glory was by a major sire but one whose stallion sons tended to disappoint at stud.

Being bred to excel on the track is not necessarily the same thing as being bred for success at stud.

Hazy Idea's descendants also include the Australian juvenile champion Decision Time (by Foreplay) – a Group 2 scorer who was runner-up in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes – and also the outstanding filly Streama (by Stratum), whose wins include the Group 1 AJC Oaks, Group 1 Doomben Cup, Group 1 Coolmore Stud Flight Stakes and Group 1 George Main Stakes.

Harzand was indeed one of the top Group 1 horses of 2016 and this dual Derby hero, who stands at his owner-breeder's famous Gilltown Stud, has 62 registered foals in his first crop. He is a fascinating prospect – likely to be a source of milers, middle-distance horses, and stayers – and, as we are likely to see with all of the Sea The Stars horses who go to stud, it would be no surprise to see a fair number of his mares representing Galileo, his descendants, and others representing the Sadler's Wells line.

HARZAND (IRE) – br.2013 – Sea The Stars – Hazariya, 4 wins inc Derby (Gr1), Irish Derby (Gr1), Ballysax Stakes (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.

FOALS CATALOGUED:
Bf - Acampe (by Sky Mesa)     Tattersalls     December     1,000gns
Bf - Athenaire (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs     November     €35,000
Brf - Black Mascara (by Authorized)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bf - Bonnefio (by Teofilo)     Goffs     November     €25,000
Brf - Ezili (by Lawman)     Goffs     November     €26,000
Bf - French Friend (by Teofilo)     Goffs     November     €26,000
Bf - Isa (by Approve)     Tattersalls     November     withdrawn
Bf - Keepers Hill (by Danehill)     Goffs     November     €9,000 (p/s)
Bc - Kitoko (by Montjeu)     Goffs     November     €8,500
Bc - Lady Catherine (by Bering)     Goffs     November     not sold
Brc - Ligeia (by Rail Link)     Tattersalls     December     800gns (p/s)
Bf - Mean Lae (by Johannesburg)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Meetyouthere (by Sadler’s Wells)     Tattersalls     November     34,000gns
Bf - Morselle (by Showcasing)     Goffs     November     €5,000
Brf - Nictate (by Teofilo)     Tattersalls     November     withdrawn
Bf - Nunavik (by Indian Ridge)     Tattersalls     November     withdrawn
Bf - O’Connor’s Girl (by Roderic O’Connor)     Tattersalls     December     not sold
Bf - Oulianovsk (by Peintre Celebre)     Tattersalls     December     20,000gns
Bc - Pina (by Dansili)     Tattersalls     November     27,000gns
Bf - Scipio’s Dream (by Amadeus Wolf)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bf - Spate (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls     November     withdrawn
Bf - Spoil Yourself (by Distorted Humor)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Brf - Suite (by Invincible Spirit)     Goffs     November     €20,000
Bc - Weeping Wind (by Oratorio)     Goffs     November     ​€60,000

FOALS CATALOGUED:
Bc - Bean Ki Moon (by King’s Theatre)     Tatts IRE     November     €13.500
Brc - Behana (by Halling)     Tatts IRE     November     €30,000
Bc - Benefit Miss (by Beneficial)     Tatts IRE     November     withdrawn
Bc - Coosan Belle (by Definite Article)     Goffs     December     
Bc - Etoile Margot (by Garde Royale)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bc - Figlette (by Darshaan)     Tatts IRE     November     €17,000
Bc - Fitanga Speed (by Oscar)     Tatts IRE     November     €2,000
Blc - Flaggora (by Beneficial)     Tatts IRE     November     withdrawn
Brc - Glenadoon (by Beneficial)     Tatts IRE     November     €20,000
Brc - Honey Away (by Stowaway)     Goffs     December     
Bc - Knockalane Beauty (by Stowaway)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bf - Leyhill (by Getaway)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bc - Medicine Woman (by Stowaway)     Goffs     December     ​
Brc - Monilea Lady (by Accordion)     Tatts IRE     November     €6,500
Bf - Morning Ruby (by Luso)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bf - Prima Dona Sivola (by Apple Tree)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bf - Reconbustible (by Mr Combustible)     Tatts IRE     November     €1,200 (p/s)
Bc - Sosua (by Exceed And Excel)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bc - Vertical Limit (by Anshan)     Tatts IRE     November     ​€18,000

The victory of Sea The Moon in 2014's Group 1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg was one of the most visually impressive performances of recent years as he beat the subsequent Group 1 scorer Lucky Lion by 11 lengths, extending his undefeated record to four.

He two-length defeat by Ivanhowe in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden two months later was almost as shocking as his classic victory was exciting, but an excuse emerged and he was retired. He stands at Kirsten Rausing's famous Lanwades Stud in Newmarket and he covered 132 mares in his first season.

A first-crop son of the Timeform 140-rated Arc, Guineas and dual Derby hero Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross), he is out of Sanwa (by Monsun), an unraced full-sister to the Group 1 Deutsches Derby heroes Samum and Schiaparelli and to the Deutsches Derby-placed Group 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) star Salve Regina.

Salve Regina's daughter Salve Germania (by Peintre Celebre) is a Grade 2 winner in the USA, her full-sister Sahel (by Monsun) is the dam of Group 1 Premio Lydia Tesio scorer Sortilege (by Tiger Hill), and half-sister sister Sasuela (by Dashing Blade) is the dam of Group 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Seismos (by Dalakhani).

These classic stars and top broodmares are all out of Sacarina (by Old Vic), an unraced half-sister to Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes third Brave Owen (by Welsh Pageant) and out of a four-times successful daughter of the German mile classic scorer Bravour II (by Birkahn).

Sea The Moon represents a branch of the Green Desert (by Danzig) sire line, his sire is a half-brother to Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) and his dam's classic-winning siblings include Samum, a horse who was champion sire in Germany. This Timeform 127-rated champion is a fascinating prospect who could become a notable sire of milers and middle-distance horses.

SEA THE MOON (GER) – b.2011 – Sea The Stars – Sanwa, 4 wins inc Deutsches Derby (Gr1), Oppenheim Union-Rennen (Gr2), Fruhjahrs – Preis des Bankhauses Metzler (Gr3), 2nd Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr1). Sire in England. First foals in 2016.

FOALS CATALOGUED (updated)
bc – Baltic Gift (by Cadeaux Genereux)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bf – Captain's Paradise (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Tattersalls     Nov     22,000gns
bf - Cloon (by Lure)     Arqana     Dec     ​not sold
bc – Danella (by Highest Honor)     Tattersalls     Nov     32,000gns
bc – Diablerette (by Green Desert)     Tattersalls     Nov     25,000gns
chf – Donnelly's Hollow (by Docksider)     Goffs     Nov     €40,000
bc – Ealaan (by Invasor)     Tattersalls     Nov     24,000gns
bc – Favorite (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Funseeker (by Halling)     Tattersalls     Nov     30,000gns
b/grc – Having A Blast (by Exchange Rate)     Tattersalls     Nov     26,000gns
chc – Marakabei (by Hernando)     Tattersalls     Nov     20,000gs
bf – Mark of An Angel (by Mark of Esteem)     Goffs     Nov     not sold
bc – Miss Chaussini (by Rossini)     Tattersalls     Nov     65,000gns
bc – Mouriyana (by Akarad)     Goffs     Nov     not sold
brf – Nenuphar (by Night Shift)     Tattersalls     Nov     160,000gns
bf – Persian Star (by Shamardal)     Tattersalls     Nov     not sold
bf - Red Tulip (by Kheleyf)     Arqana     Dec     withdrawn
chc - Scarlett's Pride (by Singspiel)     Arqana     Dec     not sold
bc – Shemriyna (by King of Kings)     Tattersalls     Nov     22,000gns
bc – Smartest (by Exceed And Excel)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Soft Morning (by Pivotal)     Tattersalls     Nov     78,000gns
chc – Songerie (by Hernando)     Tattersalls     Nov     not sold
chc – Soviet Terms (by Soviet Star)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Stormy Weather (by Nashwan)     Tattersalls     Nov     50,000gns
bc - Swarm (by Hurricane Run)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bf – Three Quid (by Clodovil)     Tattersalls     Nov     21,000gns
bc – Tickle Me Pink (by Groom Dancer)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Village Fete (by Singspiel)     Goffs     Nov    €90,000