The race for the leading first-season sire in Britain and Ireland in 2021 was an open affair, with Tally Ho Stud’s Cotai Glory, a Group-winning sprinter son of Exceed And Excel, ultimately coming out on top. It could be very different this year.
Despite a field featuring several notable G1 winners, including Saxon Warrior, Cracksman, Harry Angel, Expert Eye, U.S. Navy Flag and the late Roaring Lion, two stallions dominate the market chalked up by bookmakers Fitzdares. Their opening show has Coolmore’s Sioux Nation 1/2 favourite, followed by Whitsbury Manor’s, Havana Grey at 9/4.
Both stallions certainly look to have the pedigree for the job. Caravaggio, a fellow son of Sioux Nation’s sire Scat Daddy, put up a solid effort last year and Havana Gold, sire of Havana Grey, went close himself back in 2017. It looks as if the sheer volume of runners could be the decisive factor this time around and Sioux Nation is well on top on that metric.
Outsider Kessaar has seen some interest at 25/1, in part due to Tally Ho Stud’s stranglehold on this prize in recent years.
“We absolutely love pricing up this market, which would be impossible were it not for Weatherbys’ Stallion Book, Global Stallions App and particularly their Return of Mares,” said Sam Hockenull, Fitzdares’ Head of Horseracing.
“It was not hard to pick out Sioux Nation as a short-priced favourite given the huge numerical advantage he has. We hope in the coming weeks to price up a total-prize-money market for the first time. In turn, this will hopefully offer a much more competitive market.”
Sires and odds
Sioux Nation 1/2
Havana Grey 9/4
Saxon Warrior 6/1
Expert Eye 10/1
Roaring Lion 14/1
Harry Angel 14/1
Kessaar 25/1
Cracksman 33/1
Massaat 100/1
U.S. Navy Flag 100/1
Tasleet 100/1
Gustav Klimt 100/1
Rajasinghe 200/1
Unfortunately 500/1
Washington DC 500/1
Lightning Spear 500/1
Smooth Daddy 500/1
James Garfield 500/1