Two of the things that we look for when assessing the future potential of any young stallion are the strength of his sire line and the presence or absence of any successful stallions in the distaff side of his family. Mustajeeb passes both tests and yet he has been somewhat unpopular so far.

He began his career at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, but covered just 34 mares in his first season, resulting in 20 foals, and he is to stand the 2019 season from a new base, Haras de Fleury in France.

This Timeform 121-rated horse is by the sire of classic sire Tamayuz (by Nayef), is closely related to that horse, represents a branch of the Mr Prospector (by Raise a Native) line, and comes from a branch of the famous sire-producing family of Galileo (by Sadler’s Wells), Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross), King’s Best (by Kingmambo), and Adlerflug (by In The Wings).

He chased home War Command in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on the last of three starts at two – earning a Timeform rating of 110 – and kicked off his three-year-old campaign with defeat of Brendan Bracken in the one-mile Group 3 Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown before taking third to Kingman in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas.

The ground was heavy that day but good when he landed the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot a few weeks later. He then chased home half-length winner Bow Creek in the Group 2 Boomerang Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown, was beaten by less than five lengths when out of the frame behind Karakontie in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, and then made a winning return at four to beat Maarek in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes over six at the Curragh.

​His final start was a somewhat disappointing fifth to Undrafted in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot a month later, and his Timeform mark that season was 119.

Mustajeeb is the best of several foals out of Rifqah (by Elusive Quality) and that half-sister to ill-fated Group 3 Prix Miesque winner Aboulie (by Exceed And Excel) is a daughter of Anja (by Indian Ridge), a half-sister to classic star and somewhat successful sire Anabaa Blue (by Anabaa).

Anja’s siblings also include the stakes winning fillies Measured Tempo (by Sadler’s Wells) and Reunite (by Kingmambo) and the notably successful broodmare Al Ishq (by Nureyev). That one’s blackhorse offspring are headed by the aforementioned Group 1-winning miler and classic sire Tamayuz.

Third dam Allez Les Trois (by Riverman) won the Group 3 Prix de Flore over 10 and a half furlongs at Saint-Cloud, and as she is out of Allegretta (by Lombard) she is, of course, a half-sister to Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine and phenomenal broodmare Urban Sea (by Miswaki).

The dam of Derby heroes and outstanding stallions Galileo and Sea The Stars, plus the top-level winners Black Sam Bellamy (by Sadler’s Wells) and My Typhoon (by Giant’s Causeway), her many descendants of note include Group/Grade 1 stars Bracelet (by Montjeu), Athena (by Camelot) and Masar (by New Approach).

Urban Sea’s siblings include classic star and classic sire King’s Best, her three-parts brother Tertullian (by Miswaki) was a leading sire in Germany, and if you go back another generation and look at the descendants of Allegretta’s siblings then you will find top-level winners such as A Raving Beauty (by Mastercraftsman), Azzurro (by Bluebird), and the aforementioned Adlerflug.

Mustajeeb was a classic-placed, Group 2-winning sprinter-miler whom Timeform rated 121, he represents one of the most famous stallion-producing families in the world, and every blacktype success for his close relation Tamayuz is another advert for his potential. What a pity then that he faces such an uphill battle.

​Some of his offspring will win as two-year-olds, but his best results look likely to come from three-year-olds and older horses, likely in the broad six to 12-furlong range.

MUSTAJEEB (GB) - ch.2011 - Nayef - Rifqah, 4 wins inc Greenlands Stakes (Gr2), Jersey Stakes (Gr3), Amethyst Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Boomerang Mile (Gr2), Futurity Stakes (Gr2), 3rd Irish 2000 Guineas (Gr1). Sire in England & (from 2019) France.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED
Bc - Albida (by Dansili)     Arqana     October     ​€4,000
Chc - Classic Falcon (by Dubawi)     Tatts IRE     September     withdrawn
Chc - Dance Away (by Pivotal)     Goffs     February     not sold
Chc - Dance Away (by Pivotal)     Goffs     November     €2,000 (p/s)
Chf - Felwah (by Aqlaam)     Goresbridge     October     €1,100
Bf - Firebelly (by Nicolotte)     Tatts IRE Ascot     September     £10,500
Bc - Ghaidaa (by Cape Cross)     Goresbridge     October     €1,600
Bf - Kafaala (by Shamardal)     Goffs     November     €20,000
Bf - Lukrecia (by Exceed And Excel)     Arqana     November     €4,000
Bf - Mahsooba (by Hard Spun)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Shemriyna (by King Of Kings)     Tattersalls     October     28,000gns
​Bc - Shemriyna (by King Of Kings)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Chc - Transvaal Sky (by Avonbridge)     Goffs UK     October     not sold
Chc - Trump Street (by First Trump)     Tatts IRE     September     ​€2,000
Bf - Unequivocal (by Observatory)     Arqana     November     ​€6,000

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