Australia’s Busiest Second and Third Crop Sires 2023

Our analysis of Australian Studbook covering statistics for 2023 continues with a look at the second and third crop sires last year and these are the guys whose first foals were being born last spring and whose first yearlings are selling right now.

They are a super interesting cohort of sires as breeders still have no idea if their progeny can run when they are booking mares to them, so they can only go on what they are seeing in foals and weanlings and sometimes that proves a good guide and other times not so much.

It is normal for a marginal drop off in numbers as that shiny newness of ‘first season sire’ fades and reality sets in, but if breeders are liking what they are seeing an increase in numbers or steady support can be a good clue for future success.

When I Am Invincible kicked off at a fee of $11,000 in 2010 he covered 133 mares. The next three seasons he covered 140, 154, 175 and finally 211 when he first stood for $27,500 after the cat was out of the bag.

Coolmore based Home Affairs was the busiest first season sire in 2022 and maintained that ranking last year with his first foals an impressive bunch that had breeders booking back and his stock are poised to make a big impact at the 2025 yearling sales.

Second Season Sires – covered 60 or more mares

Third Season Sires – covered 60 or more mares

Kia Ora Stallions foundation sire Farnan is a Golden Slipper winning Champion 2YO colt and Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk is a Caulfield Guineas and Golden Rose winning Champion 3YO colt, so no surprise to see them at the top of the list after three years at stud.

Below are snapshots of their yearling sale data for this year along with Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB), who has been the dominant first season sire at the sales, albeit he is a well proven G1 sire in the Northern Hemisphere.

Wootton Bassett Sale Data

Farnan Sale Data

Ole Kirk Sale Data