The brilliant middle-distance horse Montjeu (by Sadler's Wells) died quite young at stud but was already established as one of Europe's leading classic sires. That tally includes Marked Marvel, the three-length conqueror of Brown Panther in 2011's edition of the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster.

He stands at Haras d'Etreham in France, covered 55 mares in his initial season, and his first foals made up to €40,000.

The best of three stakes winners out of the Group 2 Falmouth Stakes runner-up Waldmark (by Mark of Esteem), those siblings include Walderche (by Monsun), the Group 3 Prix Penelope scorer whose Andre Fabre-trained son Waldgeist (by Galileo) won the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last November and failed by just a nose to beat Brametot in the Group 1 Qipco Prix du Jockey Club before finishing fourth to Capri in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Waldmark is a half-sister to the Group 1 Deutsches Derby winner and Haras du Thenney stallion Waldpark (by Dubawi), who also has his first yearlings in 2017, and their dam is the dual joint-champion Wurftaube (by Acatenango), a Group 1-placed filly who won both the Group 2 Gerling Preis and Group 2 Deutsches St Leger.

Her half-sister Wurfscheibe (by Tiger Hill)  was a multiple pattern winner in Germany and her stakes-placed half-sister Wurfspiel (by Lomitas) is the dam of last year's Grade 1 Man O' War Stakes winner Wake Forest (by Sir Percy), a colt who was Group 1-placed in Italy before crossing the Atlantic.

MASKED MARVEL (GB) - b.2008 - Montjeu - Waldpark, 4 wins inc St Leger (Gr1), Bahrain Trophy (Gr3), Cocked Hat Stakes (L), 2nd Craven Plate (Gr3), 3rd Coronation Cup (Gr1), Bacardi Hill Stakes (Gr2). Sire in France. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bc - Anecdotique (by Enrique)     Osarus     Sept     ​€15,000 (p/s)
bc - Miss Rodeo (by Linamix)     Arqana     Feb     €3,500

The impact that the triple Group 1 star and dynasty-making stallion has had on both flat and National Hunt circles has been remarkable and so it is understandable that breeders will flock to his male line descendants, especially when those horses were racehorses of the calibre of Leading Light.

A 520,000gns yearling buy, the Aidan O'Brien trainee was an odds-on winner of the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh on his fourth start, followed that with defeat of Feels Like Dancing in the Group 3 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and was not seen out again until beating that year's Oaks heroine Talent in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster.

He finished down the field in the Arc three weeks later but returned as a four-year-old to take the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes and Group 3 Curragh Cup, both times chased home by the Group 1 Irish St Leger scorer Royal Diamond, and between those two wins he narrowly beat Missunited to take the Group 1 Gold Cup at Ascot.

He chased home the runaway winner Brown Panther in the Group 1 Irish St Leger on his penultimate start, headed to Grange Stud in Co Cork a few months later and covered more mares in his first season than many popular horses do in their first few years combined: a total of 320.
 
There are some flat-bred mares as dams of his large first crop, but Leading Light is primarily a National Hunt stallion, which means that it will be the 2019/20 season before we start to see many of his early runners in action, likely in bumpers, maiden hurdles and point-to-points.

His first foals made up to €27,000.
 
He is out of Dance Parade (by Gone West), who won the Group 3 Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs at Ascot as a two-year-old and the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes over seven at Newbury the following spring. His grandam is the pattern-placed Italian stakes winner River Jig (by Irish River), a mare whose siblings include the dam of Group 1 Underwood Stakes winner and talented French stayer Always Aloof (by Alleged).
 
As one might expect, he has a lot of progeny who are inbred to Sadler's Wells (by Northern Dancer). Many also show inbreeding to Nijinsky (by Northern Dancer) and to Top Ville (by High Top), and the presence of Always Aloof in his family shows that Alleged (by Hoist The Flag) clicked with his family.
 
Whether that matters at all within the National Hunt context is open to debate, and Leading Light's appeal and potential as a sire of hurdlers and chasers stems from his top-class racing record, his physique and his sire line.

LEADING LIGHT (IRE) – b.2010 – Montjeu – Dance Parade, 8 wins inc Gold Cup (Gr1), St Leger (Gr1), Gallinule Stakes (Gr3), St Leger Trial (Gr3), Vintage Crop Stakes (Gr3), Queen's Vase (Gr3), 2nd Irish St Leger (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bf - Annellis (by Diesis)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
chg - Another Flower (by Presenting)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     €8,500
bc - Ask Sally (by Definite Article)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €5,000
bf - Belle Rebelle (by In The Wings)     Goffs     Dec     €1,200
bf - Blackwater Babe (by Arctic Lord)     Goffs     Feb     withdrawn
bf - Caoba (by Hernando)     Goffs UK     Jan     not sold
bc - Castle Jane (by Westerner)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €18,000
bc - Chapel Queen (by Jolly Jake)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €5,500
bg - Chapel Queen (by Jolly Jake)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     not sold
bf - Christmas Kate (by Kris Kin)     Goffs     Oct     ​€3,000
bc - Claras Mighty (by Shantou)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan      €15,500
bc - Come The Dawn (by Gunner B)     Goffs UK     Jan      £11,000
bf - Definite Lady (by Definite Article)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €600
bc - Fantasia Filly (by Dadarissime)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €1,200
bg - Fantasia Filly (by Dadarissime)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     €3,000 (p/s)
chc - Gee Whizz (by Turgeon)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan      not sold
chf - Have More (by Haafhd)     Goffs     Feb     not sold
chf - Just Cassandra (by Eurobus)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
chf - Just Cassandra (by Eurobus)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     not sold
bf - Labeille (by Laveron)     Goffs     Feb     withdrawn
bc - Liss Rua (by Bob Back)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
bc - Material Leader (by Supreme Leader)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €14,500
bf - Milanella (by Milan)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
chg - Milly's Gesture (by Milan)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     €30,000
bg - Morning Breeze (by Bigstone)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     €9,000
chc - Mullagh Abu (by Mull Of Kintyre)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
chc - Princess Oriane (by Manduro)     Goffs UK     Jan     not sold
bg - Queen Of Cool (by King's Theatre)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     €15,500
bc - Reconsider Baby (by Refuse To Bend)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     
bc - Sea Jewel (by Flemensfirth)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     €5,200
bf - Sheadogue Molly (by Oscar)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
bc - Strong Roe (by Vinnie Roe)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
bg - Tax Evasion (by Anshan)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     not sold
bc - Taxie Lady (by Flemensfirth)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold
bc - Threads Of Destiny (by Oscar)     Tattersalls IRE     Jan     not sold

Montjeu (by Sadler's Wells) was a brilliant middle-distance horse who became both a leading international classic and Group 1 sire and a source of notably successful stallion sons, both flat and National Hunt.

Joshua Tree raced from two to seven years of age, winning in Ireland, England, France, Qatar, and Canada. In the latter country he became something of a celebrity as he made one of their best races his own. He won the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine as a three-year-old, was runner-up to Sarah Lynx at four, then won it again at five and six.

In addition to the array of countries in which he was a winner, Joshua Tree was also Group 1-placed in Germany and Group 3-placed in Dubai. His career earnings topped £2.4 million, he stands at Haras du Grand Courgeon, in France, and covered 47 mares in his first season.

Joshua Tree is the best of several winners out of the Grade 3 scorer Madeira Mist (by Grand Lodge) and that half-sister to multiple South African Grade 1 heroine Inara (by Trippi) is also a half-sister to Misty Heights (by Fasliyev), who was a pattern-placed stakes winner in Ireland.

His grandam is the one-time scorer Mountains Of Mist (by Shirley Heights) and that half-sister to Group 2 Lowther Stakes winner Enthused (by Seeking The Gold) is out of the Group 1 Coronation Stakes star Magic Of Life (by Seattle Slew). Those who descend from that talented miler also include the European pattern winners Norman Invader (by War Chant), Energizer (by Monsun), and Group 1-placed Nova Hawk (by Hawk Wing).

The fourth dam of of Joshua Tree is the prolific Larida (by Northern Dancer) whose wins featured the Grade 2 Orchid Handicap and placings included second in the Grade 1 Demoiselle Stakes.

His better flat representatives are likely to be middle-distance horses and stayers and, given how the Montjeu stallions are doing with their jumpers, it seems likely that he will get some talented performers in that sector in time.

JOSHUA TREE (IRE) - b.2007 - Montjeu - Madeira Mist, 7 wins inc Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Gr1 - 3 times), Prix Kergorlay (Gr2), Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr2), 2nd Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Gr1), Princess of Wales's Stakes (Gr2), Prix Kergorlay (Gr2), Dubai Gold Cup (Gr3), 3rd Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr1), Coronation Cup (Gr1), Prix Foy (Gr2), Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr2). Sire in France. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bf - Kaziyma (by Daylami)     BBAG     Oct     €10,000
bf - Namat (by Daylami)     BBAG     Oct     €7,500

A champion at two and three, Camelot won the 2000 Guineas, Derby and Irish Derby before suffering a three-quarter-length defeat by Encke in the St Leger when bidding to become the first Triple Crown hero since Nijinsky swept the series in 1970.
 
He was a beaten favourite behind Solemia on heavy ground in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe several weeks later, and although showing plenty of ability when he stayed in training as a four-year-old, it was below the level of what he achieved at three.
 
He kicked off that third campaign with an odds-on success in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes over 10 furlongs at the Curragh, was again odds-on when chasing home Al Kazeem in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup three weeks later, and then finished a four-length fourth behind that same rival in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot, on what was his final start.
 
Camelot, who stands at Coolmore Stud, is a son of the brilliant middle-distance horse and outstanding classic sire Montjeu (by Sadler's Wells) and so he is by the sire of the notably successful stallions Authorized and Motivator. There are 128 known offspring in his first crop.

He is out of the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes winner Tarfah (by Kingmambo), who is, in turn, out of the listed scorer Fickle (by Danehill), and the stakes winners under his third dam include that mare's grand-daughter Fireglow (by Teofilo), who was fourth behind Minding in the 1000 Guineas in early May, but surprisingly bypassed the Oaks and did not step up to 12 furlongs until late last month when she added another listed race win to her tally.
 
Camelot's fourth dam is the Group 3 Lancashire Oaks and Group 3 Cheshire Oaks winner One Over Parr (by Reform), a full-sister to 1974's Group 1 Oaks winner and Group 1 1000 Guineas runner-up Polygamy, and his fifth dam is the Princess Royal Stakes scorer Seventh Bride (by Royal Record).
 
His pedigree and racing profile suggest that he will get late-season juveniles who go on to fare best over middle-distances at three and beyond. His pedigree does not offer any solid clues as to his potential to get pattern and Group 1 horses, but the reception that his yearlings have been getting is a very positive one, so clearly his progeny are looking the part.

​CAMELOT (GB) – b.2009 – Montjeu – Tarfah, 6 wins inc Derby (Gr1), Irish Derby (Gr1), 2000 Guineas (Gr1), Racing Post Trophy (Gr1), Mooresbridge Stakes (Gr3), 2nd St Leger Stakes (Gr1), Tattersalls Gold Cup (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2015.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED (updated)
bc – Acquainted (by Shamardal)     Tattersalls     Oct     60,000gns
bc - Across The Galaxy (by Cape Cross)     Tattersalls     Nov     26,000gns
bc – Alstemeria (by Danehill)     Tattersalls     Oct     65,000gns
bc – Amourette (by Halling)     Arqana     Aug     €200,000
bc – Anklet (by Acclamation)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc – Applause (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls     Oct     270,000gns
bf – Apticanti (by Aptitude)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bf – Aqua Aura (by Distorted Humor)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     $10,000
bf – Athenaire (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Baden-Baden     Sep     €130,000
bc – Awe Struck (by Rail Link)     Arqana     Aug     (p/s) €120,000
bf – Batik (by Peintre Celebre)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc – Bay Swallow (by Daylami)     Baden-Baden     Sep     €5,000
bc – Brigid (by Irish River)     Tattersalls     Oct     35,000gns
bf – Brooklyn's Storm (by Storm Cat)     Tattersalls     Oct     160,000gns
bc – Catch The Eye (by Oratorio)     Goffs     Oct    not sold
bc - Chocolat Chaud (by Excellent Art)     Arqana     Oct     €40,000
bc – Cinnamon Rose (by Trempolino)     Goffs     Oct     €55,000
bf – Clodovina (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Arqana     Aug     €110,000
bc – Condition (by Deploy)     Goffs     Oct     €240,000
bc – Conniption (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls     Oct     70,000gns
bc – Contiguous (by Danzig)     Arqana     Aug     €130,000
grc – Convocate (by Exchange Rate)     Tattersalls     Oct     65,000gns
bf – Dea Mhein (by Indian Ridge)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bf – Definite Opinion (by Kheleyf)     Goffs     Oct     €16,000
bf – Dixie Dance (by Orpen)     Arqana     Aug     €65,000
bf – Effervesce (by Galileo)     Goffs     Oct     €320,000
bc - Elbaaha (by Arazi)     Arqana     Oct     withdrawn
bf – Elusive Galaxy (by Elusive City)     Arqana     Aug     (p/s) €55,000
bc – Elusive Girl (by Elusive City)     Tattersalls     Oct     200,000gns
bc – Enchanted Evening (by High Chaparral)     Tattersalls     Oct     155,000gns
bf – Endure (by Green Desert)     Tattersalls     Oct    52,000gns
bf - Fabulouslyspirited (by Selkirk)     Arqana     Oct     €15,000
bf – Falling Rain (by Danehill Dancer)     Goffs     Oct     €70,000
bf – Fanditha (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc – Field of Hope (by Selkirk)     Tattersalls     Oct     170,000gns
bc – First Breeze (by Woodman)     Arqana     Aug     not sold
bf – Flora Trevelyan (by Cape Cross)     Goffs     Oct     €50,000
bf – For Evva Silca (by Piccolo)     Goffs     Oct     €80,000
bc – For Joy (by Singspiel)     Tattersalls     Oct     150,000gns
bc – Foreign Language (by Distant View)     Tattersalls     Oct     45,000gns
bc - Gifted Icon (by Peintre Celebre)     Arqana     Oct     €72,000
bc – Give A Whistle (by Mujadil)     Goffs     Oct     €45,000
bc – Grace Lady (by Muhtathir)     Arqana     Aug     €180,000
bf – Great Artist (by Desert Prince)     Arqana     Aug     €50,000
bc – Healing Music (by Bering)     Goffs     Oct     €360,000
bc – Hector's Girl (by Hector Protector)     Tattersalls     Oct     80,000gns
bf – Hypnology (by Gone West)     Tattersalls     Oct     67,000gns
bf – Illandrane (by Cape Cross)     Tattersalls     Oct     32,000gns
bf – Indigo Lady (by Sir Percy)     Tattersalls     Oct     155,000gns
bc – Iowa Falls (by Dansili)     Tattersalls     Oct     400,000gns
bf – Jewel In The Sand (by Bluebird)     Tattersalls     Oct     38,000gns
bc – Just Little (by Grand Slam)     Arqana     Aug     €120,000
bc – Just Wondering (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls     Oct     100,000gns
brc – Katch Me Katie (by Danehill)     Goffs     Oct     €110,000
bc – Keegsquaw (by Street Cry)     Arqana     Aug     €200,000
bc – Kiss Me Goodbye (by Raven's Pass)     Tattersalls     Oct     125,000gns
bf – La Sylvia (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs     Oct     €45,000
bc – Lazeyma (by Fantastic Light)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bf – L'Ile Aux Loups (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Tattersalls     Oct     110,000gns
bc – Madeira Mist (by Grand Lodge)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bc - Madeira Mis (by Grand Lodge)     Tattersalls     Nov     12,000gns
bf - Maid Of Dawkins (by Kendor)     Arqana     Oct     not sold
brf – Massada (by Most Welcome)     Goffs     Oct     €170,000
bc - Melovia (by Cape Cross)     Arqana     Oct     €26,000
bc – Miss Emma May (by Hawk Wing)     Arqana     Aug     €320,000
bf – Miss Intimate (by War Chant)     Tattersalls     Oct     50,000gns
bc – Miss Mariduff (by Hussonet)     Tattersalls     Oct     90,000gns
bf – Mohican Princess (by Shirley Heights)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bf - Mohican Princes (by Shirley Heights)     Tattersalls     Nov     70,000gns
bc – Mona Lisa (by Giant's Causeway)     Arqana     Aug     €50,000
bc – Mount McLeod (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €22,000
bc – Nasanice (by Nashwan)     Arqana     Aug     €120,000
bc – Nasij (by Elusive Quality)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bf – Navajo Moon (by Danehill)     Goffs     Oct     €44,000
bf – Necklace (by Darshaan)     Arqana     Aug     €50,000
bc – Nigh (by Galileo)     Arqana     Aug     €200,000
bf – Portrait of A Lady (by Peintre Celebre)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bf – Preach (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €36,000
bf – Queen Jock (by Repent)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €32,000
bc – Question Times (by Shamardal)     Tattersalls     Oct     65,000gns
bc – Quixotic (by Pivotal)     Goffs UK     Aug     £70,000
bc – Red Blooded Woman (by Red Ransom)     Tattersalls     Oct     16,000gns
bf – Reine Des Plages (by Danehill Dancer)     Arqana     Aug     €160,000
bf – Rouge Noir (by Saint Ballado)     Tattersalls     Oct     95,000gns
bf – Roxelana (by Red Ransom)     Arqana     Aug     €260,000
bf – Rumored (by Royal Academy)     Arqana     Aug     €320,000
bf – Santolina (by Boundary)     Tattersalls     Oct    75,000gns
bf - Seracina (by Nathan)     Arqana     Oct     withdrawn
bf – Signella (by Selkirk)     Tattersalls     Oct     60,000gns
bf – Silent Act (by Theatrical)     Tattersalls     Oct    80,000gns
bf - Sister Agnes (by Dr Fong)     Arqana     Oct     €42,000
bc – Southern Queen (by Anabaa)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bf – Splendid (by Mujtahid)     Tattersalls     Oct     110,000gns
bc – Spritza (by Spectrum)     Tattersalls     Oct    300,000gns
bf - Star Force (by Blu Air Force)     SGA     Sept     €50,000
b/brf - Star Rating (by Dansili)     Keeneland     Sept      withdrawn
bf – Stravina (by Platini)     Goffs     Feb     €80,000
bf – Stravina (by Platini)     Goffs     Oct    not sold
bc - Synergy (by Victory Note)     Tattersalls     Nov     62,000gns
grf - Tasharowa (by Linamix)     Arqana     Oct     €150,000
bc – Teddy Bears Picnic (by Oasis Dream)     Tattersalls     Oct     260,000gns
bc – Though (by Dansili)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bf – True Verdict (by Danehill Dancer)     Goffs     Oct     €95,000
bf – Uncharted Haven (by Turtle Island)     Goffs     Oct     €240,000
bf – Ursula Minor (by Footstepsinthesand)     Goffs     Oct    €60,000
bc - Victorinna (by Gentlewave)     Arqana     Oct     €25,000
bf – Wanna (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls     Oct     330,000gns
bc – Wind Surf (by Lil's Lad)     Tattersalls     Oct     35,000gns
bc – Wishing (by Danehill Dancer)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bc – Za'hara (by Raven's Pass)     Goffs     Oct     ​€230,000