Few areas of the standardbred breeding scene come under as much scrutiny as each year’s new first crop two-year-old sires. A breakout first season for a stallion can in many cases set up a long and successful stud career.

A well represented first season sire by numbers this year is Alabar Bloodstock’s Ride High, who has 61 eligible two-year-olds including colts from the class racemares Abettorrose, Come Dance With Me NZ, Hear No Secret, Somerocksomeroll and Look And Listen NZ and fillies out of the Harness Jewels winner Joyfuljoy NZ, the Ladyship Cup winner Jazzam, Village Witch, Red Hot Roxy, Call Her Julie, Charli Springfield and As It Is In Heaven.

The 2020 USA Horse of the Year Tall Dark Stranger (Empire Stallions) and Capt Midnight (Cobbitty Equine Farm) both have 60 two-year-olds to represent them.

Among the Tall Dark Stranger progeny are colts out of the Australian Pacing Gold victor Jilliby Jitterbug, the Victoria Oaks winner Niki No No, Ima Mystery Girl, Sarah Goody, Chevron’s Reward NZ, Prophesy and Helen’s Bonus and fillies from the Breeders Crown winner Speak No Evil, the dual Vicbred champion Tell Me Tales, The Archduchess, Broadway Play and Rich Heritage.

Capt Midnight’s first racing crop include colts from Tact Hayley’s Delight NZ, the dual QBred Triad winner Smart As Camm Be, Bold Life and Karalta Crown and fillies from the millionairess Fleur De Lil, the Queensland Oaks winner Forever Gold, Bridget Blue Chip NZ, Belle Of Brooklyn NZ, Delightful Tara and Rocknrollhighlight.

Other stallions with strong numbers of two-year-olds are the Western Australian-based duo Ultimate Sniper (Allwood Stud Farm) with 36 and Captain Ahab (Westbred Pacing) with 30 as well as Alabar New Zealand’s Bettor’s Wish (28).

The Hunter Cup and Victoria Cup winner Lochinvar Art, who was exported to North America, has 12 two-year-olds from his initial crop while mixing racing with stud duties.

Trotting stallions with their oldest stock as two-year-olds include Alabar Bloodstock’s Elite Stride (37), the French horse Classic Connection (Haras Des Trotteurs) with 26 and Propulsion (Trump Bloodstock) 11.

Five-year-old The Narcissist, who completed a hat trick with his tough win at Melton last Saturday, was bred by popular Rochester couple Garry and Kay Coghill

Veteran Melbourne breeder John Eichhorn brought out two winners last week in Western Sonador, who captured the Wedderburn Pacing Cup, and the talented Followtheace, both members of the same family

Secret Bonus, a broodmare owned by Rochester’s Sue-Ellen Thompson, left winners on consecutive days with Good Day (Maryborough) and Guaranteed Secret (Kilmore). Both were sired by former ‘Cups King’ Guaranteed, who was also bred and raced by Thompson and her husband Mark