Sons Of Giant’s Causeway Leading First Season Sires By Wins/Runs And AEPR
KZN stallions are leading the way for the first season sires in South Africa so far this season in AEPR and Winners to Runners percentages, and the stats make for interesting reading (from www.nhra.co.za as of 15 November).
The current stats on nhra.co.za show two sons of Giant’s Causeway top the log when it comes to winners to runners percentages of an impressive 33.3% respectively and Average Earnings Per Runner.
As luck would have it, both stallions mentioned below arrived late for their respective breeding seasons in their first year – with Await The Dawn reportedly covering a mare shortly after arrival.
Await The Dawn is indeed a sad loss to breeding in KZN, after being the leading sire of 2yo’s by winners to runners, he is leading by Average Earnings Per Runner and in Winners to Runners percentages – not far behind him is Scott Bros’ Eightfold Path, another son of Giant’s Causeway whose stats are impressive for the limited book of mares he received in his first year.
Await The Dawn has been further thrown into the spotlight with Big Bear’s impressive win in the CTS Ready To Run Cup.
Await The Dawn also made history as a stallion in South Africa as the Summerhill staff were part of his syndicate, along with Piemonte Stud. The CTS Ready To Run Sale takes place today and a filly that should be of interest is Gr1 winner Brave Mary’s chestnut half-sister by Await The Dawn.
Eightfold Path has one of the best pedigrees imported to South Africa, out of 5-time Gr1 winning mare Divine Proportions – and Eightfold Path is a dead-ringer in looks for his speedy dam. On the racetrack, Eightfold Path showed early brilliance for leading French trainer, Pascal Bary, winning on debut and then following up with a third placed effort behind subsequent Group One performers, Buzzword and Siyouni, in the Group Three Prix La Rochette over 1400m.
Eightfold Path closed off his two year old campaign with a stylish victory in the Group Three Prix Eclipse over 1200m.
Racing in the famous Niarchos colours, Eightfold Path was one of Bary’s leading hopes for the 2010 Classic season, but plans had to be shelved when he sustained an injury during the build up to the French 2000 Guineas.
On his return at four years, he won another two races including a Listed mile event at Deauville.
Eightfold Path represents excellent value at this point when comparing stats and services fees – only standing for a fee of R10 000 since his start at stud and a reputable breeder very recently purchased five shares in the stallion based on his performances.
The Crusade’s are clearly coming through and his three year olds are bringing home the winners each week, in particular enjoying a double on the day at Greyville recently and flying winners at Kenilworth such as Wings Of Honor and Velvet Dawn.
There is no doubting Crusade’s pedigree, as his Galileo sister Seventh Heaven is a dual Gr1 winner with his other half-siblings – Cristoforo Columbo and Coat Of Arms both Gr1 and Gr2 placed.
Crusade has produced 18 individual winners to date and Stakes Placed Butchie Boy in Zimbabwe.
The first Maiden Juvenile plate will be run on 1 December – keep a look out for the outstanding progeny of Noble Tune who needs no introduction, and the handsome progeny of Redoute’s Promise – the few that went to sales this year impressed buyers and this is the first South African crop to come from grandsire Redoute’s Choice.
Yellow Star’s grey son of Galileo, The Assayer, will see his first 2yo’s coming through along with Scott Bros homebred international Group winner, The Apache.
Highlighted below are the KZN sires taken from the current stats www.nhra.co.za as of 15 November 2017.
| Name | rnrs | rns | AEPR | wns | wnrs | Wnrs/rnrs | BT Wnrs/rnrs | plcs | stks |
| WHAT A WINTER b.s 10y 2007 | 50 | 111 | 20173 | 11 | 11 | 22.0% | 0.0% | 60 | 1008625 |
| ORATORIO (IRE) b.s 16y 2002 | 49 | 134 | 20478 | 12 | 12 | 24.5% | 0.0% | 55 | 1003400 |
| TWICE OVER (GB) b. or br.s 13y 2005 | 40 | 97 | 21909 | 13 | 13 | 32.5% | 0.0% | 43 | 876350 |
| CRUSADE (USA) b. or br.s 9y 2009 | 42 | 123 | 20845 | 11 | 11 | 26.2% | 0.0% | 56 | 875500 |
| AWAIT THE DAWN (USA) b.s 8y 2007 | 24 | 81 | 34097 | 12 | 8 | 33.3% | 0.0% | 40 | 818325 |
| EIGHTFOLD PATH (USA) b.h 11y 2007 | 15 | 40 | 29267 | 6 | 5 | 33.3% | 0.0% | 17 | 439000 |
| BYWORD (GB) ch.s 12y 2006 | 28 | 58 | 13217 | 5 | 5 | 17.9% | 0.0% | 20 | 370075 |
| MARCHFIELD (CAN) b.s 14y 2004 | 23 | 56 | 12913 | 3 | 3 | 13.0% | 0.0% | 23 | 297000 |
