Although it is the Sadler's Wells and Danzig branches of the Northern Dancer (by Nearctic) line that have become dominant in Europe, in the USA it is the Storm Cat branch, plus the non-related A.P. Indy (by Seattle Slew) lines that have proved to be two of the most powerful.

Lightly-raced Can The Man, who was a Grade 1-placed, six-furlong listed scorer at two and made all to win the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita from just two starts at three, is a son of notable sire Into Mischief (by Harlan's Holiday), which makes him a representative of the Storm Cat line.

The distaff side of his family is one that is well known around the world, and this Spendthrift Farm resident has been popular since retiring to Kentucky. He covered 114 mares in his first season and 133 in his second, and he looks a likely candidate to do well as a source of stakes-winning offspring, with maybe the occasional Grade 1 performer among them.

A half-brother to the dual juvenile stakes winner Martha's Moon (by Malibu Moon), he is out of Smolensk (by Danzig), a smart miler who won the Group 2 Prix d'Astarte and Group 3 Prix de Sandringham and chased home Ridgewood Pearl in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.

His grandam is the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Grade 1 Santa Susana Stakes heroine Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), his third dam is the Comely Stakes winner and US Broodmare of the Year Best In Show (by Traffic Judge), and so he comes from a branch of the family whose stallions feature Aldebaran (by Mr Prospector), El Gran Senor (by Northern Dancer), Good Journey (by Nureyev), Hurricane Sky (by Star Watch), Manhattan Rain (by Encosta De Lago), Redoute's Choice (by Danehill), Spinning World (by Nureyev), Umatilla (by Miswaki), and many others who have sired at least one winner at the highest level.

Those horses are between distant and remote in their relationship to Can The Man, but there are plenty of major winners more closely related.

His dam's siblings, for example, include Maryinsky (by Sadler's Wells) – who is the Group 1-placed dam of Group 1 stars Peeping Fawn (by Danehill) and Thewayyouare (by Kingmambo) – and Better Than Honour (by Deputy Minister) – the Grade 2-winning dam of classic stars Rags To Riches (by A.P. Indy) and Jazil (by Seeking The Gold) and grandam of both Grade 1 heroine Streaming (by Smart Strike) and Grade 2 scorer and young Japanese stallion Casino Drive (by Mineshaft).

Best In Show's sons Malinowski (by Sir Ivor) and Gielgud (by Sir Ivor) were pattern winners in England, daughter Monroe (by Sir Ivor) was a Group 3-winning sprinter in Ireland, and that filly's many notable descendants include her Group 1-winning son Xaar (by Zafonic) and Grade 1-winning grandson Senure (by Nureyev).

It is Best In Show's unraced daughter Sex Appeal (by Buckpasser) who gave us the aforementioned juvenile champion, dual classic star and successful classic sire El Gran Senor, plus his Group 1-winning full-brother Try My Best (by Northern Dancer) whose male line descendants include Acclamation (by Royal Applause) and his son Dark Angel.

Nijinsky's Best (by Nijinsky), another daughter of Best In Show, was the unraced dam of triple Grade 1 star Yagli (by Jade Hunter), while Show Lady (by Sir Ivor), who was also unraced, is the mare from whom the above-noted Group 1 stars and sires Redoute's Choice, Manhattan Rain, Hurricane Sky and Umatilla descend, among others of note.

Then there's Minnie Hauk (by Sir Ivor), the stakes-placed dam of Group 1 winners Chief Contender (by Sadler's Wells) and Aviance (by Northfields), with the latter being the dam of Group 1 stars Denon (by Pleasant Colony) and Chimes Of Freedom (by Private Account) and grandam of multiple Grade/Group 1 standouts Aldebaran and Spinning World, plus Grade 1 Atto Mile winner Good Journey and German Group 1 scorer Saddex (by Sadler's Wells).

There are many other stakes and pattern / graded winners in the branches of just these first few generations of the pedigree. Can The Man was bred to achieve anything on the track, and he showed talent in what was a short career. It will be no surprise if he compensates for that at stud.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
c - Blackhawk Honey (by Malabar Gold)     Keeneland     Sept     $20,000
c - Brittney Brat (by Pikepass)     Keeneland     Sept     $35,000
f - Dalis On Stage (by Yankee Gentleman)     Keeneland     Sept     $19,000
g - Flamingo Key (by Include)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $1,000
c - Golden Desert (by Vindication)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Halo River (by Irish River)     Fasig-Tipton Saragota     Aug     not sold
f - Hey Julie (by Strong Hope)     Keeneland     Sept     $18,000
c - Love To Gamble (by Brahms)     Keeneland     Sept     $6,000
c - Lutethetill (by Midnight Lute)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
​c - Makeitagame (by El Corredor)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $50,000
f - Oceanic Queen (by Invasor)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     not sold
f - Pi Bella (by Pioneering)     Keeneland     Sept     $11,000
c - Picata (by Rizzi)     Equine Sales LTBA     Aug     $5,500
c - Pleasant Angel (by Pleasantly Perfect)     Equine Sales LTBA     Aug     withdrawn
c - Saint Dinorah (by St Averil)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     not sold
​f - Scarlet Hall (by Graeme Hall)     Equine Sales LTBA     Aug     $5,000
​c - Seaside (by Aldebaran)     Barretts     Aug     $30,000
f - Secret Forest (by Forestry)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $10,000
f - Stormy Blast (by Kayrawan)     Keeneland     Sept     ​$13,000
c - Sweet Jacqueline (by Songandaprayer)     Texas Thoroughbred Association     Aug     withdrawn
c - Too Lake Now (by Raj Waki)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $30,000

Cairo Prince is by the sire of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah and he has been a very popular addition to the team at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. He covered 148 mares in both his first two seasons and his first foals made up to $200,000.

He ran just five times, three of them as a juvenile including victory in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes over a mile and second place in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes over a furlong farther. In January of his three-year-old season he was a wide-margin winner of the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes over eight and a half furlongs at Gulfstream Park.

The best of three blacktype horses out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Holy Bubbette (by Holy Bull), Cairo Prince's siblings include Nonna Mia (by Empire Maker), the Grade 1-placed dam of last year's Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Outwork (by Uncle Mo), who took up stallion duties at WinStar Farm in the spring.

Sum Runner (by Summing), a half-sister to Holy Bubbette, won the Grade 2 Forward Gal Breeders' Cup Stakes, and their dam, Juliac (by Accipiter), was out of Prioress Stakes third Juliet (by Nearctic) and so a half-sister to Grade 3 scorer Marauding (by Warfare).

There is a variety of other stakes and graded winners to be found under the branches of the first four generations of the family, including the tragically ill-fated Canadian champion Cotton Carnival (by Dixieland Band), but their connection to Cairo Prince ranges from distant to remote.

CAIRO PRINCE (USA) - gr/ro.2011 - Pioneerof The Nile - Holy Bubbette, 3 wins inc Holy Bull Stakes (Gr2), Nashua Stakes (Gr2), 2nd Remsen Stakes (Gr2). Sire in USA. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
f - Academic d'Amour (by Royal Academy)     Keeneland     Sept     $55,000
f - Affluenza (by Giant's Causeway)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $40,000
f - Aray (by Rahy)     Keeneland     Sept     $60,000
f - Bourbon And A Kiss (by Sky Mesa)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Call The Kitty (by Langfuhr)     Keeneland     Sept     $50,000
f - Cara Mia (by Dixie Union)     Keeneland     Sept     $52,000
c - Central Moves (by Pico Central)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Chanel Number Mine (by Value Plus)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Church By The Sea (by Harlan's Holiday)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Comfort And Joy (by Harlan's Holiday)     Keeneland     Sept     $200,000
f - Cooking Mama (by Bandini)     Keeneland     Sept     $50,000
c - Current Event (by Curlin)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $300,000
c - Datts Lady Di (by Proud Citizen)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Discreet Woman (by Discreet Cat)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $115,000
f - Elle Nicole (by El Corredor)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Exclusive Rosette (by Ecliptical)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Feline Flatline (by Lion Heart)     Keeneland     Sept     $320,000
c - Fly In For The Win (by Birdstone)     Keeneland     Sept     $60,000
f - Fought The Fight (by War Front)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Four Bears (by Hennessy)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $120,000
c - Garden City (by Carson City)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $500,000
f - Gold N Shaft (by Mineshaft)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Helluva Hangover (by Grand Slam)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $130,000
f - High Style (by Giant's Causeway)     Keeneland     Sept     $320,000
f - Honky Tonk Rose (by Forest Wildcat)     Keeneland     Sept     $210,000
f - Hunting Hill (by Hard Spun)     Keeneland     Sept     $100,000
f - Incarnate Memories (by Indian Charlie)     Keeneland     Sept     $400,000
f - Jurys Out (by Lawyer Ron)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Kittery Point (by Include)     Keeneland     Sept     $900,000
c - Krakowviak (by Tale Of The Cat)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $225,000
c - La Belle Cat (by Tale Of The Cat)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $130,000
c - Lovers Spat (by Yankee Gentleman)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     withdrawn
f - Luminaire Mystique (by Forestry)     Keeneland     Sept     $55,000
c - Maggies Storm (by Stormy Atlantic)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $95,000
f - Maid In Heaven (by Yes It's True)     Keeneland     Sept     $195,000
c - May Fine (by In Excess)     Keeneland     Sept     $180,000
c - Miss Sharondipity (by Malibu Moon)     Keeneland     Sept     $200,000
c - Money Madam (by A.P. Indy)     Keeneland     Sept     $50,000
f - Nakiska Moon (by Malibu Moon)     Keeneland     Sept     $135,000
c - Nathan's Mom Becky (by Wildcat Heir)     Keeneland     Sept     $60,000
f - No Such Word (by Canadian Frontier)     Keeneland     Sept     $475,000
c - Ode To Sami (by Lion Heart)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Perfect Pegasus (by Fusaichi Pegasus)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $160,000
c - Praising (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept     $110,000
c - Precious Princess (by Horse Chestnut)     Keeneland     Sept     $350,000
c - Putyourdreamsaway (by Put It Back)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Raebella (by Menifee)     Keeneland     Sept     $30,000
f - Ravionetta (by Touch Gold)     Keeneland     Sept     $57,000
c - Reserved Indian (by Indian Charlie)     Keeneland     Sept     $200,000
f - Rey Lake (by Meadowlake)     Keeneland     Sept     $260,000
f - Robbery Suspect (by Tactical Cat)     Keeneland     Sept     $25,000
f - Sass And Class (by Harlan's Holiday)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Sassy Molly (by Mineshaft)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $27,000
f - Savvy Hester (by Heatseeker)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000
c - Seattle Grey (by Friends Lake)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Shesakitty (by Tapit)     Keeneland     Sept     $70,000
f - Silent Joy (by Kitten's Joy)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
c - Silky Finish (by A.P. Indy)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Soundwave (by Friends Lake)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     not sold
f - Sovereignoftheseas (by Boston Harbor)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $65,000
f - Spanish Post (by Flatter)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $115,000
f - Sparky Three (by Monarchos)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Successful Year (by Successful Appeal)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Summer Shade (by Stephen Got Even)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $100,000
c - Tanita Belle (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept     $30,000
f - Tart's Knickers (by Ghostzapper)     Keeneland     Sept     $160,000
f - That's Ok (by Not For Love)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     withdrawn
c - Toasty (by Polish Numbers)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $50,000
c - Tu Tu Larue (by Theatrical)     Keeneland     Sept     $37,000
​c - Turtle Beach (by Out Of Place)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $265,000
f - Two Hearts (by Deputy Minister)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $230,000
c - Unbridled Mistress (by Unbridled's Song)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $420,000
c - Visavis (by Indian Charlie)     Keeneland     Sept     $360,000
f - West Kentucky (by Yankee Victor)     Keeneland     Sept     $100,000
c - Whisper Number (by First Samurai)     Keeneland     Sept     ​$85,000
f - Witch Woman (by Awesome Again)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $80,000
f - Yang N Ying (by Forestry)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $20,000

Unraced at two, Atreides four four of his five starts at three, from six furlongs to a mile, and he won a listed contest over the latter trip by an easy 17 and a half lengths. He stands at Hill 'N' Dale Farm in Kentucky, covered 73 mares in his first season and 60 in his second.

The son of leading sire Medaglia d'Oro (by El Prado) is out of Grade 1 Test Stakes and Grade 1 Prioress Stakes heroine Dream Rush (by Wild Rush) and that makes him a half-sister to Dreaming Of Julia (by A.P. Indy).

That talented filly was won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes and finished third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at two and went on to add the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks at three. She was also runner-up in the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes and Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes that year and missed out on another top placing when fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

There are a few minor blacktype earners in the next three generations of the family and, although she is only contributing 3.125% to Atreides, his fifth dam is Reine Mathilde (by Vaguely Noble), who won the Group 2 Prix de l'Opera, Group 2 Prix de Mallaret and Grade 2 E P Taylor Stakes and was placed in both the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

ATREIDES (USA) - b/br.2011 - Medaglia d'Oro - Dream Rush, 4 wins inc Monarchos Stakes (L). Sire in USA. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
c - Class Above (by Quiet American)     Keeneland     Sept     $61,000
f - Elusive Allie (by Elusive Quality)     Keeneland     Sept     $82,000
c - Entitled (by Vindication)     Keeneland     Sept     $2,000
c - Frisky Janelle (by Henny Hughes)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     withdrawn
f - Gone To Party (by All Gone)     Barretts     Aug     $27,000
f - Hatpin (by Smart Strike)     Keeneland     Sept     $5,000
f - Henny's Hurricane (by Henny Hughes)     Keeneland     Sept     $11,000
c - Livia Drusilla (by Roman Ruler)     Keeneland     Sept     $30,000
f - Melody's Spirit (by Scat Daddy)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $135,000
f - She Prints Money (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept     $22,000
f - She's A Rainbow (by Giant's Causeway)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July          not sold
c - Smart Indeed (by Smart Strike)     Keeneland     Sept     $26,000
c - Speechifying (by Activist)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     not sold
f - Spooky Minister (by Deputy Minister)     Keeneland     Sept     $175,000
c - Tasley (by Mr Greeley)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $20,000
f - Toula (by Bold Executive)     Keeneland     Sept     $25,000
f - Tra (by Farma Way)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Wonderful Luck (by Trust N Luck)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000

Verrazano was among the leading fancies for the 2013 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby after wins in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes, but he finished down the field behind Orb. He bounced back several weeks later to take an eight and a half-furlong Grade 3 contest at Monmouth Park.

It was late the following month that he put up the most impressive performance of his career, a nine and three-quarter length defeat of Power Broker in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes over nine furlongs at that same venue.

He then disappointed behind Will Take Charge in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga and behind Goldencents in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita before, on his final start for Todd Pletcher, taking third to Flat Out in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct.

In what was an unusual move for a top dirt horse, Verrazano came to Europe in the spring of his four-year-old season, but he failed to win in three starts for the Aidan O'Brien stable. The final of those was a last-place finish behind Mukhadram in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

His first run had resulted in third to Olympic Glory in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, a month before he chased home Toronado in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Verrazano is one of 19 top-level winners for leading international sire More Than Ready (by Southern Halo) and that tally includes the major Australian stallion Sebring.

He is the second foal out of Enchanted Rock (by Giant's Causeway), his older half-brother is Grade 2 winner and current freshman sire El Padrino (by Pulpit), and his dam is a half-sister to the Grade 2 scorers Waldboro (by Lyphard) and Tara Roma (by Lyphard).

Chic Shrine, the grandam of Verrazano, is a full-sister to the champion older mare Queena, who won the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes, Grade 1 Maskette Stakes and Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap, and their dam is the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes heroine Too Chic (by Blushing Groom).

Other Grade 1 winners who appear in branches of the family include Keen Ice (by Curlin), Harmonize (by Scat Daddy), and Somali Lemonade (by Lemon Drop Kid).

The fifth dam is too far back to be making any meaningful contribution (just 3.125%) but as she is European champion Monade (by Klairon), her presence in the pedigree cannot be ignored, especially as her descendant will have runners in Europe.

She was such a narrow winner of the 1962 Oaks that, as Timeform reported "it took the judge a quarter of an hour to decide in favour of Monade." Her victory in the Prix Vermeille was clear-cut, and she chased home Soltikoff in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, finishing the year with a Timeform rating of 129.

That figure dropped to 126 as a four-year-old when she won the Prix de Pomone and Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte, was runner-up in the Prix d'Ispahan and Prix Jacques le Marois, and fourth in the Champion Stakes.

Verrazano is by a top stallion whose sons include a leading sire, he has European connections on the distaff side of his family, and proved his ability to perform with credit at the highest level on both sides of the Atlantic. He will, of course, get two-year-old winners, but his best results may come with his three-year-olds and older horses, from around seven to 12 furlongs.

VERRAZANO (USA) - b.2010 - More Than Ready - Enchanted Rock, 6 wins inc Haskell Invitational Stakes (Gr1), Wood Memorial Stakes (Gr1), Tampa Bay Derby (Gr2), Pegasus Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Queen Anne Stakes (Gr1), 3rd Lockinge Stakes (Gr1), Cigar Mile Handicap (Gr1). Sire in USA. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
b/brc - Allegory (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept     $625,000
chc - Azha (by Tapit)     Keeneland     Sept     $77,000
b/brf - Bettarun Fast (by Kelly Kip)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bc - Beyondallboundarys (by Saint Liam)     Keeneland     Sept     $7,000
b/brf - Big Miss (by Chief Honcho)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
chc - Binavicar (by Wild Again)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
chc - Blitzing (by Montbrook)     Keeneland     Sept     $3,000
b/brf - Blue Sky High (by Unbridled)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $125,000
chf - Boodles (by Mr Greeley)     Keeneland     Sept     $130,000
b/brf - Brianna Rose (by Distorted Humor)     Keeneland     Sept     $310,000
bc - Brilliant Humor (by Distorted Humor)     Keeneland     Sept     $60,000
bf - Buleria (by Empire Maker)     Keeneland     Sept     $7,000
bc - Candy Cat Can (by Langfuhr)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
chc - Champagne Rhythm (by Eddington)     Keeneland     Sept     $3,000
bf - Chaotic Cat (by Tale Of The Cat)     Keeneland     Sept     $160,000
chc - Chilling Effect (by Gold Fever)     Keeneland     Sept     $85,000
b/brf - Consider It Done (by Green Dancer)     Keeneland     Sept     $110,000
bf - Cove (by Pine Bluff)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     not sold
b/brf - Cruisin'nthebridle (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
bc - Deceit (by Danzig)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
b/brf - Dootsie (by Dixieland Band)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $77,000
b/brc - East India (by Mizzen Mast)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $285,000
chc - Esher (by King Of Kings)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     not sold
b/brf - Evita's Sister (by Candy Ride)     Keeneland     Sept     $130,000
chf - Expo Gold (by Johannesburg)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
bc - Fanfire (by Elusive Quality)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
b/brf - Force One (by Dansili)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     
bc - Friend Of A Friend (by Crafty Friend)     Keeneland     Sept     $70,000
b/brf - Guilty Pleasure (by Pine Bluff)     Keeneland     Sept     $62,000
bc - I Thirtyfive (by Malibu Moon)     Keeneland     Sept     $95,000
bf - J J's Pattern (by Langfuhr)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     
bf - Josette (by Danehill)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     
b/brf - Juneau (by Mr Greeley)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     withdrawn
b/brc - Kathern's Kitten (by Kitten's Joy)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
b/brf - Kelly Pond (by Deputy Minister)     Keeneland     Sept     $32,000
chf - Las Malvinas (by Lord At War)     Keeneland     Sept     $12,000
b/brc - Little Green Light (by Smarty Jones)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     withdrawn
b/brf - Lobshot (by Langfuhr)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
​bf - London Bid (by Rainbow Quest)     Arqana     Aug     €30,000 (p/s)
bf - Love You Loads (by Giant's Causeway)     Keeneland     Sept     $25,000
chf - Magic Show (by Notebook)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $150,000
chf - Martita Sangrita (by Johar)     Keeneland     Sept     $140,000
bf - Mary's Angel (by Hat Trick)     Keeneland     Sept     $20,000
bc - Miss Inclined (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
chf - Miss Mary Pat (by Service Stripe)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bc - Miss Sea Oats (by Langfuhr)     Keeneland     Sept     $32,000
bc - Modesty Blaise (by A.P. Indy)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
b/brc - Moon Meeting Too (by Malibu Moon)     Keeneland     Sept     $16,000
b/brf - Mula Mula (by Follow The Money)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bc - Mylittledeucecoupe (by Lion Heart)     Keeneland     Sept     $65,000
chc - Night And Day (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept     $250,000
chf - Nite In Rome (by Harlan's Holiday)     Keeneland     Sept     $30,000
bc - Opulence (by Giant's Causeway)     Keeneland     Sept     $110,000
b/brf - Parchisi (by Street Cry)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $57,000
chc - Possibly A Ten (by Seeking The Gold)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
b/brf - Put Me In (by Take Me Out)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
b/brc - Quite Honestly (by Lion Heart)     Keeneland     Sept     $110,000
bc - R Obsession (by Notebook)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $100,000
bf - R Vicarious Girl (by Vicar)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
bc - Relaxing Green (by Formal Gold)     Keeneland     Sept     $185,000
bf - Roots Run Deep (by Forestry)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $125,000
b/brc - Royal Wonder (by Kingmambo)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
b/brf - Saphiria (by Touch Gold)     Keeneland     Sept     $60,000
gr/roc - Sauvignon Blanc (by Tapit)     Keeneland     Sept     $3,500
bf - Search And Seizure (by War Chant)     Keeneland     Sept     $425,000
gr/roc - Sentimental Charm (by Silver Charm)     Keeneland     Sept     $22,000
b/brf - She's A Wow (by Speightstown)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $230,000
b/brc - Sheer Beauty (by Mizzen Mast)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bf - Single (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
b/brf - Sky Bird (by Birdstone)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bf - Sky High Bertie (by Sky Mesa)     Keeneland     Sept     $75,000
b/brc - Special Brush (by Broad Brush)     Keeneland     Sept     $45,000
b/brf - Stella's Dream (by Pioneerof The Nile)     Keeneland     Sept     $70,000
b/brc - Successful Sarah (by Successful Appeal)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
chf - Talullah Lula (by Old Trieste)     Keeneland     Sept     $75,000
chc - Tamdiid (by Horse Chestnut)     Keeneland     Sept     $28,000
chc - Ten Out Of A Ten (by Malibu Moon)     Keeneland     Sept     $27,000
b/brc - Thin Disguise (by Yes It's True)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     withdrawn
chf - Three Degrees Mon (by Maria's Mon)     Keeneland     Sept     $180,000
gr/rof - Timeless (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept     $575,000
bc - Transplendid (by Elusive Quality)     Keeneland     Sept     $650,000
bc - Trisha Even (by Even The Score)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     
chf - True Religion (by Yes It's True)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bf - Very Very (by Royal Academy)     Keeneland     Sept     $30,000
chf - Via Pavion (by Mr Greeley)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000
bc - Villa d'Este (by Street Sense)     Keeneland     Sept     $12,000
bf - Westside Tapstress (by Lookin At Lucky)     Keeneland     Sept     $30,000
chc - Woodflower (by Woodman)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
bc - Young Royalty (by Royal Academy)     Keeneland     Sept     $15,000

A dual Grade 1 winner by Bernardini, Alpha is a grandson of A.P. Indy (by Seattle Slew), whose descendants have forged one of the most powerful dynasties in North America.

This young stallion was runner-up to Union Rags in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at two, dead-heated with Golden Ticket in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at three and beat Flat Out on a muddy track in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at four.

He stands at Sequel Stallions in New York, covered 68 mares in his first season and 78 in his second one. He is unlikely to have many representatives in Europe, but his first crop includes a colt catalogued in the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Alpha is out of Munnaya (by Nijinsky), who won the Listed Oaks Trial Stakes at Lingfield, and that makes him a half-brother to several blacktype earners, notably the pattern-placed French stakes winner Mystic Melody (by Seattle Slew) and triple Grade 2-placed Lavender Sky (by Mt Livermore).

The mare is a half-sister to the pattern-placed French listed scorers Sheer Reason (by Danzig) and Mall Queen (by Sheikh Albadou) and out of Hiaam (by Alydar), who won the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot in 1986.

That useful European form adds interest to the prospects of any runners the stallion may have here and yet the achievements of those relations are just the tip of the iceberg. That's because the third dam of Alpha is the Canadian champion Kamar (by Key To The Mint).

In addition to being the dam of the US Grade 1 stars Gorgeous (by Slew O'Gold) and Seaside Attraction (by Seattle Slew) – among others of note – she is the ancestor of top-level winners on three continents, including the European Group 1 scorers Music Show (by Noverre), Desert Lord (by Green Desert), and Fantastic Light (by Rahy).

ALPHA (USA) - b.2009 - Bernardini - Munnaya, 6 wins inc Travers Stakes (Gr1), Woodward Stakes (Gr1), Jim Dandy Stakes (Gr2), Withers Stakes (Gr3), Count Fleet Stakes (L), 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (Gr1), Champagne Stakes (Gr1),, 3rd Alydar Stakes (L). Sire in USA. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bc - Forever Valentine (by Silver Deputy)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     withdrawn
bf - Frances G (by Officer)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $15,000
chf - Girl Show (by Wild Rush)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     ​$35,000
c - Humble Street (by Street Sense)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
chc - Listed City (by Cuvee)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     withdrawn
c - Moss Rose (by Elusive Quality)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     ​withdrawn
bc - Palestrina (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €17,000
c - Royal Discovery (by Allen's Prospect)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $2,000
f - Sassy Me (by Henny Hughes)     Equine Sales LTBA     Aug     $1,000
c - So Sharp (by Saint Liam)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Stormy Peron (by Hard Spun)     Keeneland     Sept     ​$12,000

The presence or absence of successful sires in the family is one of the things that we look for when trying to assess the potential of any young stallion, and in the case of Noble Mission, this is a test that he passes with flying colours. The triple Group 1 star is the year-younger full-brother to Frankel.

That Timeform 147-rated great has already come up with 10 pattern winners from his first crop, which is a very promising start, and although the tally includes the Japanese champion and classic heroine Soul Stirring, it does not include the dual Derby-placed colt Cracksman.

​The support that Frankel received made it odds-on that he would get a long list of stakes winners from his first crop, and it is to be hoped that his first European Group 1 stars will be crowned soon.

His full-brother 'only' won three times at the highest level and although that Timeform 128-rated bay stands at the famous Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, it would not be fair to expect him to come up with similar first-crop results.

There is, however, every reason to hope that Noble Mission, like a growing number of son of prolific champion sire Galileo (by Sadler's Wells), will become a source of stakes winners, at all levels, and it will be fascinating to see how his career turns out, especially as he is a middle-distance turf horse standing in the USA.

He covered 146 mares in his first season, he will have some runners in Europe and it seems likely that his two-year-old winners here will come over seven furlongs and farther, with his three-year-olds and older horses needing at least a mile.

NOBLE MISSION (GB) - b.2009 - Galileo - Kind, 9 wins inc Champion Stakes (Gr1), Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Tattersalls Gold Cup (Gr1), Huxley Stakes (Gr3), Gordon Richards Stakes (Gr3), Gordon Stakes (Gr3), Newmarket Stakes (L), Tapster Stakes (L), 2nd Grosser Dallmayr Preis - Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Gr1), King Edward VII Stakes (Gr2), St Simon Stakes (Gr3), John Porter Stakes (Gr3), Fairway Stakes (L), 3rd Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Gr3), John Porter Stakes (Gr3). Sire in USA. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
f - Alexandria Wa (by Bluegrass Cat)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Ambling (by Chester House)     Keeneland     Sept     $75,000
chf - Avaricity (by Carson City)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     ​$75,000
c - Bargain Blitz (by Rahy)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Beebe Lake (by Grand Slam)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Belleski (by Polish Number)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Blading Gold Ring (by During)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Bromelia (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bc - Cast Call (by A.P. Indy)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     $85,000
f - Cor Cor (by Smoke Glacken)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
gr/rof - Cozy Gain (by Cozzene)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     $100,000
​bc - Crane Beach (by Anabaa)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
c - Crossing The Tape (by Johannesburg)     Keeneland     Sept     $90,000
c - Destiny Calls (by With Approval)     Keeneland     Sept     $50,000
f - Dreaming Of Cara (by North Light)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bf - Empiress (by Empire Maker)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     not sold
c - Ender's Sister (by A.P. Indy)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Fashion Insider (by Indian Charlie)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Forgotten Miss (by Afleet Alex)     Keeneland     Sept     $62,000
f - Fort Alfeet (by Northern Afleet)     Keeneland     Sept     $42,000
f - Geographic (by Empire Maker)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
chf - Gush (by Empire Maker)     Goffs     Sept     ​​€18,000
c - Honimiere (by Fasliyev)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Humor Me (by Indian Charlie)     Keeneland     Sept     $10,000
bc - Invigor (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     $100,000
c - Joustabout (by Apalachee)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
f - Kissin Party (by Kissin Kris)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
​bc - Knysna (by Maria's Mon)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €38,000
bf - Laurel Lassie (by Shinko Forest)     Tattersalls     Oct     50,000gns
f - Lemon Bay (by Bernardini)     Keeneland     Sept     $20,000
c - Lemons And Limes (by Lemon Drop Kid)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
chc - Lilac Lily (by Bluegrass Cat)     Tattersalls     Oct     45,000gns (p/s)
f - Lilbourne Eliza (by Elusive City)     Keeneland     Sept     $7,000
c - Limonar (by Street Cry)     Keeneland     Sept     $125,000
c - Madam Lagonza (by Kingmambo)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bc - Mahkama (by Bernardini)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     $27,000
b/brf - Major Idea (by Cherokee Run)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     withdrawn
c - Make Music (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept     $250,000
chc - Maxine's Hymn (by Seeking The Gold)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     withdrawn
bc - Mayoress (by Machiavellian)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     $150,000
c - Miner's Secret (by Mineshaft)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000
c - Nebraska (by Street Cry)     Keeneland     Sept     $110,000
c - Play It True (by Yes It's True)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Pyramid Love (by Fusaichi Pegasus)     Keeneland     Sept     $20,000
c - Queen Daenerys (by Street Sense)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
bc - Ransomed Bride (by Cape Cross)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     not sold
c - Refining (by Malibu Moon)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Reunited (by Dixie Union)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Romacara (by Running Stag)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
chc - Rouwaki (by Miswaki)     Goffs     Sept     €40,000
c - Salute Regina (by Salute The Sarge)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
bf - Samurai's Honor (by First Samurai)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     not sold
chc - Sandsarita (by Street Boss)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     not sold
bc - Sarah's Pleasure (by Street Cry)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $80,000
c - Sarah's Secret (by Leroidesanimaux)     Keeneland     Sept     $20,000
c - Seal Of Approval (by Vindication)     Keeneland     Sept     $200,000
c - Sharbat (by Dynaformer)     Keeneland     Sept     $200,000
b/brf - Shared Dreams (by Seeking The Gold)     Tattersalls     Oct     110,000gns
bc - Shared Hope (by Gone West)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     withdrawn
f - Special Charm (by Dansili)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
chf - Striking Example (by Empire Maker)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     not sold
f - Taegu (by Halo)     Keeneland     Sept     $25,000
f - Top Spin (by Street Cry)     Keeneland     Sept     $5,000
chc - Trappings (by Seeking The Gold)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     withdrawn
​chc - Trappings (by Seeking The Gold)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
chc - Trappings (by Seeking The Gold)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
chc - Two Harbors (by Pulpit)     Fasig-Tipton KY     Sept     $90,000
c - Watrugonnadorosie (by Curlin)     Keeneland     Sept     $2,000
f - Win For Kitten (by Kitten's Joy)     Keeneland     Sept     $31,000
c - Winendynme (by Dynaformer)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
​bc - Zaharias (by Grand Slam)     Goffs     Sept     €30,000

A grandson of the juvenile star and brilliant Group 1 2000 Guineas winner Zafonic (by Gone West), Xtension is the best son of 1997's two-year-old champion Xaar and although he did not share their brilliance at two, he was Timeform 116-rated at that age having won the Group 2 Vintage Stakes and been placed in both the Group 2 Coventry Stakes and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.

He finished fourth to Makfi in the Group 1 2000 Guineas and then third to Dick Turpin in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat. He was sent out to Hong Kong a few months later and became a dual Group 1 star there, taking the BMW Champions' Mile at Sha Tin at both four and five years of age. Timeform rated him 123.

He was third to Able One in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile and he was placed in several of the region's top non-pattern events, races such as the Hong Kong Derby, Stewards' Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup, which carry only local top-level status, rather than international status, thereby counting only as listed events.

Xtension, who covered 31 mares in his first season at Rathbarry Stud, had only a handful of his first foals sold last year.

He is out of Great Joy (by Grand Lodge), the stakes-placed grandam of this year's Group 1 July Cup hero Harry Angel (by Dark Angel). She is a half-sister to listed scorer A La Carte (by Caerleon) and also to the dam of Group 1-placed juvenile stakes winner Wathab (by Cadeaux Genereux).

Cheese Soup (by Spectacular Bid), the unraced grandam of Xtension, was out of the prolific Avum (by Umbrella Fella), a blacktype scorer whose progeny included Grade 2 scorer Minneapple (by Riverman), pattern-placed stakes winner Lyphard's Princess (by Lyphard) and also the Grade 3 scorer and notable broodmare Baroness Direct (by Blushing Groom).

What makes that mare of interest is that her Grade 1-placed daughter Immerse (by Cox's Ridge) became the dam of Grade 1 star and somewhat successful sire Stephen Got Even (by A.P. Indy) and she is the grandam of the dual Grade 1-winning filly Artemis Agrotera (by Roman Ruler). Lyphard's Princess, on the other hand, was the dam of Grade 2 Ohio Derby scorer Private Man (by Private Account).

Small numbers will not help Xtension's prospects of getting noticed – although his relationship to Harry Angel may help – but given the record that Rathbarry Stud has in coming up with stallions who sire winners at all levels, it would not be a surprise to see him get the occasional high-class performer.

XTENSION (IRE) – br.2007 – Xaar – Great Joy, 4 wins inc Champions' Mile (Gr1-twice), Vintage Stakes (Gr2), 2nd Coventry Stakes (Gr2), Hong Kong Classic Mile (L), Hong Kong Derby (L), Hong Kong Gold Cup (L), Sha Tin Trophy (L), Stewards' Cup (L), 3rd Hong Kong Mile (Gr1), Prix Jean Prat (Gr1), Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1), Jockey Club Mile (Gr2), Hong Kong Gold Cup (L). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bc - Brave Madam (by Invincible Spirit)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €6,500
grf - Bysshe (by Linamix)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €14,000
bf - Elevator Action (by Lord Shanakill)     Goffs     Oct     ​€2,800
brf - Intimate Secret (by Invincible Spirit)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bc - Izola (by Beat Hollow)     Goffs     Sept     ​​withdrawn
bc - Lyca Ballerina (by Marju)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €58,000
bf - Meadow (by Green Desert)     Goffs     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Park Glen (by Tagula)     Goffs UK     Aug     £115,000
bc - Subtle Affair (by Barathea)     Goffs     Sept     €70,000
​bc - Too Close (by Danehill Dancer)     Goffs     Feb     not sold
bf - Unknowndestination (by Authorized)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bf - Voom Voom (by Bahamian Bounty)     Goffs     Oct     €4,500 (p/s)

Danzig (by Northern Dancer) was one of the world's greatest stallions and there are two major branches of his line dominant in Europe, those forged by Danehill and Green Desert.

It is too early yet to know a third one might develop from among his final sons to go to stud, but with an ever-growing list of pattern winners on both sides of the Atlantic, and with his initial stallion sons including notable second-crop sire The Factor (Grade 1 winner in his first crop) and freshman Declaration Of War (sire of Group 3 winner Actress), there is a chance that War Front could achieve that feat.

War Command was among his early racing stars in Europe and the Timeform 120p-rated juvenile star was one of the most popular new stallions of 2015, covering 152 mares at Coolmore Stud. His first foals made up to 100,000gns.

He made a winning debut over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in early June, took the Group 2 Coventry Stakes by six lengths, added a three-length score in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and rounded off the year with defeat of Cable Bay in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. His only defeat that year was a shock third-place finish to Sudirman in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

War Command ran only three times as a three-year-old, earning a Timeform rating of 119 despite not making the frame in any of those appearances. His best placing was fourth behind Kingman in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot, in which he was beaten by three and three-quarter lengths.

A half-brother to the Group 3 Prix de Conde scorer Naval Officer (by Tale of The Cat), War Command is the best of nine winners out of the Grade 2 E P Taylor Stakes scorer Wandering Star (by Red Ransom), a full-sister to the dam of New Zealand's 2011/12 juvenile champion and subsequent classic star Rollout The Carpet (by Holy Roman Emperor).

His grandam, Beautiful Bedouin (by His Majesty), was an unraced daughter of the Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Gris Vitesse (by Americo) and that made her a half-sister to the dual Derby-placed pattern scorer and leading sire Silver Hawk (by Roberto).

Having a successful stallion in the family augurs well for War Command's prospects – especially when that classic sire is somewhat closely related to his dam, Wandering Star – and, of course, this is added to the attraction of him being a Group 1-winner by a leading son of Danzig.

War Command looks like a leading candidate for 2018's champion freshman sire title race and, if he lives up to the promise of his pedigree, he could become a source of classic and other top performers at around eight to 10 furlongs.

WAR COMMAND (USA) – b.2011 – War Front – Wandering Star, 4 wins inc Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1), Futurity Stakes (Gr2), Coventry Stakes (Gr2), 3rd Phoenix Stakes (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
​bf - Abama Lady (by Mr Greeley)     Goffs     Feb     €1,500
bf - Abama Lady (by Mr Greeley)     Goffs     Oct     €30,000
bf - Acts Out Loud (by Mr Greeley)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €7,500
bc - Aguinaga (by Machiavellian)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Aguinaga (by Machiavellian)     Tattersalls     Nov     6,000gns
bc - Alland (by Teofilo)     Goffs     Sept     €50,000
bc - Amor Fatal (by Kheleyf)     Goffs UK     Aug     not sold
bc - Amzara (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Feb     withdrawn
bc - Archina (by Arch)     Goffs UK     Aug     £26,000
bf - Areeda (by Refuse To Bend)     Tattersalls     Oct     140,000gns
bf - Art Fair (by Alzao)     Goffs     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Asgardella (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs UK     Aug     not sold
​bc - Asgardella (by Duke Of Marmalade)     BBAG     Oct     €15,000
bf - Attracted To You (by Hurricane Run)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €50,000
bc - Aurelia (by Rainbow Quest)     Tattersalls     Oct     ​33,000gns
bf - Boundless Joy (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Feb     withdrawn
bf - Boundless Joy (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Oct     €8,500
bf - Causeway Queen (by Giant's Causeway)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €35,000
bc - Celestial Dream (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs UK     Aug     £26,000
bc - Chantry (by Galileo)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Chatham Islands (by Elusive Quality)     Goffs     Sept     €60,000
grf - China In My Hands (by Dark Angel)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €35,000
bc - Dandia (by Teofilo)     Goffs     Feb     not sold
bf - Darsan (by Iffraaj)     Goffs     Oct     €5,500
bf - Deora De (by Night Shift)     Tattersalls     Oct     14,000gns
bc - Divine Grace (by Definite Article)     Tattersalls     Nov     10,000gns
bc - Divisme (by Elusive Quality)     Tattersalls     Oct     52,000gns
bf - Doctors Nurse (by Kingmambo)     Arqana     Aug     €55,000
bf - Drifting Mist (by Muhtathir)     Tattersalls     Oct     40,000gns
bf - Dundel's Spirit (by Invincible Spirit)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €42,000
bc - Emeralds Spirit (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Fabulouslyspirited (by Selkirk)     Osarus     Sept     €30,000
bc - Fikrah (by Medicean)     Goffs UK     Aug     £40,000
bc - Final Opinion (by King's Theatre)     Goffs     Sept     €14,000
​bf - Flying Finish (by Priolo)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bf - Foreplay (by Lujain)     Goffs UK     Aug     £92,000
grc - Glowing Star (by Clodovil)     Tattersalls     Oct     32,000gns
bc - Glympse (by Spectrum)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €11,000
bc - Gold Bubbles (by Street Cry)     Goffs     Sept     €100,000
bf - Hairicin (by Hurricane Run)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €16,000
bc - Hi Katriona (by Second Empire)     Goffs     Sept     €26,000
bf - Highindi (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Feb     ​not sold
bf - Highlindi (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Sept     ​€40,000
bc - Histoire De Jouer (by Kaldounevees)     Arqana     Aug     €35,000
bf - Holy Alliance (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Goffs     Oct     ​withdrawn
bc - Icing (by Polar Falcon)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €19,000
bf - Intapeace (by Intikhab)     Goffs     Sept     not sold
bc - Kotdiji (by Mtoto)     Goffs     Sept     €62,000
bc - Laka (by Oasis Dream)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €27,000
bc - Lana Girl (by Arch)     Arqana     Aug     €135,000
bc - Lesotho (by Excellent Art)     Goffs     Sept    not sold 
bf - Lisselan Diva (by Barathea)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €18,000
bc - Lumiere Noire (by Dashing Blade)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Lumiere Noire (by Dashing Blade)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc - Mackenzie's Friend (by Selkirk)     Goffs UK     Aug     £30,000 (p/s)
bf - Mad About The Girl (by Excellent Art)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €10,500 (p/s)
bf - Madhulika (by Marchand De Sable)     Arqana     Aug     not sold
bc - Means Of Assent (by Empire Maker)     Arqana     Aug     not sold
bf - Megaspiel (by Singspiel)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     withdrawn
bf - Megaspiel (by Singspiel)     Tattersalls     Nov     14,000gns
bf - Minnie Hazel (by Excellent Art)     Goffs UK     Aug     £3,500 (p/s)
bc - Miss Crystal (by Montjeu)     Goffs UK     Aug     £22,000
bc - Monzza (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Mooching Along (by Mujahid)     Goffs UK     Aug     £95,000
grf - Morning Jewel (by Dalakhani)     Goffs     Sept     not sold
bc - Natural Choice (by Teofilo)     Goffs UK     Aug     £26,000
bc - New Plays (by Oratorio)     Goffs     Sept     ​withdrawn
bf - Nizhoni (by Mineshaft)     Tattersalls     Oct     33,000gns
bf - Nouvelle Lune (by Fantastic Light)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bf - Olvia (by Giant's Causeway)     Arqana     Aug     €60,000
bc - Paradise Place (by Compton Place)     Goffs UK     Aug     £18,000
bc - Parsley (by Zebedee)     Goffs UK     Aug     £75,000
bc - Pearl Magic (by Speightstown)     Tattersalls     Oct     42,000gns
bf - Pina Colada (by Sabrehill)     Goffs     Sept     €16,000
bc - Ponte Sanangelo (by Authorized)     Arqana     Aug     €42,000
bf - Portrait of A Lady (by Peintre Celebre)     Goffs     Sept     not sold
bf - Princess Patsky (by Mr Greeley)     Goffs UK     Aug     £42,000
bf - Regatta (by Layman)     Arqana     Oct     not sold
bf - Regency Girl (by Pivotal)     Goffs UK     Aug     £95,000
bc - Retiens La Nuit (by Grand Slam)     Arqana     Oct     not sold
​bf - Samya (by Invincible Spirit)     SGA     Sept     €70,000
bf - Silkenveil (by Indian Ridge)     Tattersalls     Oct     16,000gns (p/s)
bf - Skysweeper (by Hurricane Run)     Arqana     Aug     €30,000
grc - Sopran Enery (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
​bf - Star of Gibraltar (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Goffs UK     Aug     £40,000
bf - Starchy (by Cadeaux Genereux)     Goffs     Sept     ​€3,000
bf - Starlight Princess (by Mastercraftsman)     Tattersalls     Oct     4,000gns (p/s)
bf - Strawberry Fledge (by Kingmambo)     Goffs     Sept     €300,000
brc - Summer Bliss (by Green Desert)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Tina Donizetti (by Monsun)     Tattersalls     Oct     38,000gns
bc - Todber (by Cape Cross)     Tattersalls     Oct     52,000gns
bf - Tohaveandtohold (by Pivotal)     Tattersalls     Oct     40,000gns
bc - Xarzee (by Xaar)     Goffs     Sept     ​€12,000
bc - Zeyran (by Galileo)     Goffs UK     Aug     £32,000

Classic-winning miler Dubawi (by Dubai Millennium) is well-established as being one of the world's leading sires, and although he has not yet made the sort of impact with his stallion sons as his great rival Galileo has done, there is no reason why some of his sons should not go on to become important sires.

Group 1 Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark is standing for a €3,000 fee, which suggests that the Haras du Thenney team member has some way to climb, but he is a well-bred horse – as one might expect – and he looks likely to get most of his flat blacktype horses in the mile to 14-furlong range.

Waldpark is out of dual joint-champion German runner Wurfaube (by Acatenango), whose string of blacktype wins featured the Group 2 Gerling Preis over 12 furlongs and the 14-furlong Group 2 Deutsches St Leger, in which she beat Night Petticoat by 11 lengths.

The mare's stakes-placed half-sister Wurfspiel (by Lomitas) is the dam of US Grade 1 scorer Wake Forest (by Sir Percy), her siblings also include Group 3 winner Wurfscheibe (by Tiger Hill), and her offspring include Group 2 Falmouth Stakes runner-up Waldmark (by Mark of Esteem).

That half-sister to Waldpark is the dam of Group 1 St Leger hero and Haras d'Etreham stallion Masked Marvel (by Montjeu), of mile listed race winner Waldnah (by New Approach), and of Walderche (by Monsun), the Group 3 Prix Penelope-winning dam of classic-placed Group 1 star Waldgeist (by Galileo).

WALDPARK (GER) - b.2008 - Dubawi - Wurftaube, 4 wins inc Deutsches Derby (Gr1), Iffezheimer Derby-Trial (L), 2nd Grosser Preis der Badischen Unternehmer (Gr2), Idee Hansa-Preis (Gr2), Preis von Dahliwitz-Rennen (L), Veuve Clicquot Cup (L), Grand Prix-Aufgalopp. Sire in France. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bf - Aline (by Tiger Hill)     BBAG     Sept     €10,000
bc - Ideal World (by Singspiel)     Osarus     Sept     ​€21,000
bf - Olonella (by Selkirk)     Arqana     Oct     €36,000
​bf - Romanticism (by Cape Cross)     Arqana     Feb     €5,000
chc - Roodee Queen (by Kyllachy)     Arqana     Aug     not sold
bf - Spirit Divine (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Arqana     Oct     €12,000
bf - Xachusa (by Xaar)     Arqana     Oct     ​€16​,000

Whytemount Stud, in Co Kilkenny, had a lot of success in recent years through the exploits of their star stallion Stowaway (by Slip Anchor). He died in February 2015, his progeny include standouts such as Champagne Fever, Hidden Cyclone, Outlander and Western Leader, and although the team's new stallion is no relation of his, there is every reason to hope that he too can become a National Hunt sire of note.

Valirann, a son of the regally-related Group 1 star and Group 1 sire Nayef (by Gulch), is a half-brother to Valyra (by Azamour), the undefeated star who, tragically, died shortly after her Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) victory in 2012.

He is also a half-brother to the multiple blacktype-placed filly Valasyra (by Sinndar), who had the misfortune to be disqualified after passing the post first in a Group 3 contest at Saint-Cloud, and he is a half-brother to the pattern-placed stakes winner Valiyr (by Alhaarth).

Their dam, Valima (by Linamix), was a lightly-raced seven-furlong listed scorer in France and she, in turn, is out of Vadlawsya (by Always Fair), a winning full-sister to the Group 2 Prix Hocquart winner Vadlawys and half-sister to 2001's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile star Val Royal (by Royal Academy).

Val Royal, who shuttled to South America, died young but those he left behind include nine Group/Grade 1 winners, among a total of 20 individual stakes winners, with the best-known of them, to European racegoers, being the dual Guineas hero Cockney Rebel.

Mile listed scorer Vadlamixa (by Linamix), a half-sister to Val Royal and Vadlawsya, has done her part for the family by becoming the dam of the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan and Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Valixir (by Trempolino) and also of two blacktype daughters who have also achieved top-level success at stud.

Celebre Vadala (by Peintre Celebre) is the stakes-winning dam of last year's Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp scorer Vadamos (by Monsun), who covered his first book at Tally-Ho Stud in 2017.

Vadaza (by Zafonic), on the other hand, is the dam of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary heroines Vadawina (by Unfuwain) and Vazira (by Sea The Stars) and also of the dual Group 3 scorer Vadapolina (by Trempolino).

Further updates to the family look likely before the year is out because Vadawina's four blacktype offspring include the Aidan O'Brien-trained juvenile The Pentagon (by Galileo), winner of the Group 3 JRA Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown in July and, at the time of writing, ante-post favourite for the 2018 Group 1 Investec Derby.

With family connections like these, combined with a race record that saw him win four times from five starts – including two important stayers' races in France – it is no surprise that Valirann covered 114 mares in his first season. His first foals made up to €21,000.

VALIRANN (FR) – b.2010 – Nayef – Valima, 4 wins inc Prix Chaudenay (Gr2), Prix de Lutece (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bc - All Notoriety (by Shantou)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €11,000
bc - Garryduff Bridge (by Taipan)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     withdrawn
bc - Garryduff Bridge (by Taipan)     Goffs     Dec     €3,000
chf - Grangeclare Star (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
bc - Hathamore (by Classic Cliche)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     withdrawn
bc - High Sunshine (by High-Rise)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €1,000
bc - Josh's Milan (by Milan)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
chc - Rinnce Moll (by Accordion)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
chc - Vertical Limit (by Anshan)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     ​not sold