With the advent of the first "babies" races in North America early next month, the spotlight will be firmly focused on the first crops of several high-profile stallions.
Two sires of interest, particularly to Australian and New Zealand breeders, are the dual NZ Horse of the Year and Inter Dominion champion Lazarus 1:48.8 ($4.1 million) and the Canadian 2YO Colt of the Year and Breeders Crown winner Stay Hungry 1:47.6 ($1.3 million).
Lazarus, who shuttles between Deo Volente Farms, New Jersey in America and Alabar Bloodstock’s Auckland farm, will be represented by 92 foals from his first crop. Last spring his yearlings grossed $2.3 million at the sales, with six selling for $100,000 or more including a colt which realised $210,000 at Lexington.
A son of Somebeachsomewhere, Stay Hungry is located at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania and his frozen semen is available to "down under" breeders from Empire Stallions in Victoria.
Stay Hungry, the winner of the Cane Pace and Messenger Stake at three years, has 108 foals to represent him from his first crop. A total of 78 were sold as yearlings, grossing $3.5 million with five making six figures.
The great Canadian pacer All Bets Off 1:48 ($3 million), a son of Bettor’s Delight, the Rocknroll Hanover horse Boston Red Rocks 1:48.4 ($1.3 million), a former USA 2YO Colt of the Year, and the Somebeachsomewhere horse Check Six 1:48.2 ($1.6 million) are among other sires with their initial crop racing in 2022.
All Bets Off is based at Seelster Farms in Ontario, Canada, Boston Red Rocks stands at Melinda Farms in Kentucky and Check Six is part of the roster at Ivy Lane Farm, Indiana.
On the trotting side, the Muscle Hill horse Tactical Landing (1:50.4), who stands at Southwind Farms in New Jersey and is available via frozen semen from Stallions Australasia, Crazy Wow 1:51.2 ($2.5 million) and former Canadian 3YO Trotting Colt of the Year International Moni head up an impressive list of rookie sires.