Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday July 31
Since the turn of the century just three stallions have earned the honour of champion sire without the benefit of a single million dollar earner for the season.

 The great Danehill achieved it in season 2002-03 when his main contributor was Platinum Scissors with just over $508,000.

In 2008-09, Encosta de Lago achieved the feat with Manhattan Rain supplying $757,000 of the near $10 million.

Fellow Coolmore stallion Fastnet Rock earned his second champion sire title this season with earnings of almost $10.3 million.


His main earner was the 3yo filly First Seal with seasonal earnings of over $833,000.

But Fastnet Rock led the way with number of stakes-winners (15), stakes wins (20), Group winners (9) and equal leader for number of Group 1 winners (3).

The hulking son of Danehill had just six 2-year-old winners for the season.

His leading juvenile earner Lake Geneva was not one of them. Carrying the colours of Coolmore Stud, the $1 million yearling placed in all four of her start including the Group 1 Blue Diamond and Group 1 Golden Slipper.

Coolmore also share in the ownership of Land's End who became one of Fastnet Rock's six two-year-old winners when making a winning debut at Warwick Farm on July 1.

The Gerald Ryan-trained colt was let go off at $12 on that occasion but it is unlikely he will be anywhere near that in Saturday's Structaflor Yellow Tongue Plate (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Compared to Lake Geneva, Land's End was a more moderate $700,000 purchase.

He is the fifth foal of the Galileo mare Hummingbird who won a 2-year-old race at Newcastle over 900 metres in a career restricted to four starts.

A half-sister to Group II Royal Sovereign Stakes winner Flying Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus), Hummingbird is a daughter of Group II Silver Shadow Stakes winner Cashier (Danehill) who was bred and trained by Bart Cummings.

Land's End is bred on the Fastnet Rock – Galileo cross that was responsible for this year's Epsom Oaks heroine Qualify and Queensland Derby winner Magicool.

Ryan has hopes that Land's End will develop into a Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes contender this preparation.

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