Ireland’s busiest sire in 2017 and 2018 duly headed the open race sires table, though it would be a huge injustice to suggest that dominance was merely down to volume of progeny – writes Floyd Amphlett.

The beaten 2013 English Derby finalist, who finished third on the 2018 sires table, ticked all the boxes required to be top dad, by producing for all distances.

His sprinters included the likes of Lemon Jetson, Coal Bunker, Madabout Rose and Tree Top Jet.

There were stayers too, with Antigua Rum, Ten More, Miles Of Smiles and Woodmancote Anna.

But the former Fraser Black runner was a middle distance specialist, and that is proving his greatest strength as a sire.

While Ireland might have been feting his son Lenson Bocko, Britain had Bockos Doomie, plus Seaglass Phantom, Troy Zico, and Forest Jason.

And we can expect an equally big impression from the Jet in 2020 thanks to the likes of Droopys Addition, Levante Beach and Tasty Treat.

 

If Jet was the sire of the year, Kinloch Brae was the sire of the decade.

Having dominated the ‘200?’ decade with Australian Top Honcho, Portlaoise stud keeper changed the game again with American imports Hondo Black and now Kinloch Brae.

2019 Droopys Jet (RU Kinloch Brae)

2018 Kinoch Brae

2017 Kinoch Brae

2016 Kinoch Brae

2015 Droopys Scolari (RU Kinloch Brae)

2014 Droopys Scolari

2013 Hondo Black

2012Droopys Scolari

2011 Westmead Hawk

2010 Westmead Hawk

 

In a very good year for British breds, the former McNair trained pair Leamaneigh Turbo and Eden The Kid have both done extremely well.

Although most of his progeny are Irish bred, it is perhaps worth noting that Aero Majestic is still available at Merefield Stud.

Majestic is arguably the best sire of stayers (pup for pup) in either Britain or Ireland. They are normally tough buggers too – Aayamza Breeze, Goldies Hotspur and Roxholme Poppy.

Finally – sires to look out for.

I am a huge fan of Laughil Blake whose first progeny were so impressive in 2018 and immediately became popular with breeders. 2020 should be his best year to date. Droopys Sydney was almost an experimental stud dog but after throwing Bubbly Bluebird from his first crop has cracked on this year and looks the real deal. Although he has had the pick of some of the top broods in Ireland, Droopys Roddick, a son of Droopys Jet, has also had a particularly strong year and will definitely progress, though the big progress should be seen in the 2021 tables.