In recent weeks we have put Australia’s leading first and second season stallions of the last decade under the microscope, comparing star performers from different seasons through an analysis of key statistics. Let’s now widen our focus.
The precociousness and class of Australia’s 2-year-olds has become one of the hallmarks of its thoroughbred industry. Which sires have been the biggest contributors to that top echelon of two-year-old talent in the last decade?
We will now identify the standout performers by a number of different measures – premiership titles, numbers of winners, numbers of stakes winners, and prizemoney earnings as a percentage of the total stakes from that particular season.
While a number of the top performers had the benefit of at least 60 or 70 runners per season, we will also make special mention of those who have overcome the disadvantage of much smaller representation to figure prominently in the tables.
Sire Premierships
| 2019 | I Am Invincible (AUS) 2004 - 2010 | 57 | 17 | 23 | 8(10) | $3,119,600 | Loving Gaby - 580,750 |
| 2018 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 56 | 13 | 17 | 4(6) | $3,648,965 | Estijaab - 2,335,075 |
| 2017 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 75 | 32 | 46 | 8(8) | $4,973,335 | Invader - 960,125 |
| 2016 | Written Tycoon (AUS) 2002 - 2007 | 24 | 10 | 21 | 3(6) | $4,337,706 | Capitalist - 3,508,700 |
| 2015 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 48 | 15 | 21 | 5(5) | $3,412,760 | Le Chef - 1,199,200 |
| 2014 | Mossman (AUS) 1995 - 2000 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 2(6) | $3,012,805 | Mossfun - 2,500,500 |
| 2013 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 44 | 16 | 27 | 7(14) | $5,320,480 | Overreach - 2,342,800 |
| 2012 | Lonhro (AUS) 1998 - 2004 | 34 | 8 | 13 | 1(6) | $3,419,680 | Pierro - 2,946,150 |
| 2011 | Elusive Quality (USA) 1993 - 1999 | 32 | 5 | 9 | 1(5) | $3,059,590 | Sepoy - 2,908,500 |
| 2010 | Stratum (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 50 | 13 | 25 | 2(5) | $3,053,290 | Crystal Lily - 2,289,250 |
| 2009 | More Than Ready (USA) 1997 - 2001 | 55 | 22 | 30 | 6(7) | $4,631,260 | Phelan Ready - 3,256,000 |
2-year-old sire premierships
Two sires have won more than one juvenile premiership in Australia during this period – Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and Exceed and Excel (Danehill {USA}) in 2012-13 and 2014-15.
The other premiership winners were More Than Ready (USA) (Southern Halo {USA}) in 2008-09, first season sire Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) in 2009-10, Elusive Quality (USA) (Gone West {USA}) in 2010-11, Lonhro (Octagonal {NZ}) in 2011-12, Mossman (Success Express {USA}) in 2013-14 and Written Tycoon (Iglesia) in 2015-16.
In the current season, I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) leads Snitzel by $400,000 in prize-money. They have sired 18 winners each, while I Am Invincible leads the stakes winners standings by eight to three.
I Am Invincible leads the current 2-year-old sire premiership by $400,000 in prizemoney
The sire who won a premiership with the smallest number of starters in the last decade was Mossman in 2013-14. He had 22 starters for seven winners and $3 million in prize-money, headed by Golden Slipper winner Mossfun. Just behind him in second place that year was Testa Rossa (Perugino), who also had 22 runners. Four of them were winners, and his progeny earned $2.2 million, with most of that amount contributed by Magic Millions hero Unencumbered.
The second placing for Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago) in the 2016-17 season is another notable result. He had just 18 runners that season, with six winners and more than $2.8 million in prize-money – headed by Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign.
Winners
Snitzel’s record-breaking 2016-17 season puts him well on top in terms of two-year-old winners across the last 10 years.
Snitzel sired 32 individual juvenile winners in that extraordinary season, which puts him three ahead of I Am Invincible’s 29 in the same term.
Snitzel also sired 29 winners in 2015-16, giving him two of the top three totals of winners from the last decade. I Am Invincible is also close up again courtesy of his 2017-18 season, which featured 25 individual winners.
Snitzel is the leading sire of 2-year olds across the last 10 years
Even though he has not won a premiership, Not a Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) has proven to be an outstanding source of two-year-old winners. He sired 25 winners in the 2013-14 season and 23 in 2014-15, giving him two entries in the top six on this table. He also sired 20 winners in 2017-18 from just 36 runners – the most by any stallion with under 50 runners.
This season’s rookie stallion Better Than Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) has also produced an impressive winners-to-starters ratio. His 18 winners have come from 39 runners.
Stakes winners
| 2017 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 75 | 32 | 46 | 8(8) | $4,973,335 | Invader - 960,125 |
| 2019 | I Am Invincible (AUS) 2004 - 2010 | 57 | 17 | 23 | 8(10) | $3,119,600 | Loving Gaby - 580,750 |
| 2013 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 44 | 16 | 27 | 7(14) | $5,320,480 | Overreach - 2,342,800 |
| 2009 | More Than Ready (USA) 1997 - 2001 | 55 | 22 | 30 | 6(7) | $4,631,260 | Phelan Ready - 3,256,000 |
| 2009 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 67 | 19 | 23 | 5(6) | $1,745,815 | Reward for Effort - 764,000 |
| 2018 | Spirit of Boom (AUS) 2007 - 2014 | 52 | 18 | 28 | 5(5) | $1,942,370 | Outback Barbie - 309,350 |
| 2018 | Sebring (AUS) 2005 - 2009 | 50 | 16 | 20 | 5(5) | $1,350,061 | Futooh - 191,950 |
| 2015 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 48 | 15 | 21 | 5(5) | $3,412,760 | Le Chef - 1,199,200 |
| 2016 | Hinchinbrook (AUS) 2007 - 2011 | 37 | 12 | 19 | 4(7) | $1,497,871 | Whispering Brook - 635,350 |
| 2012 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 37 | 14 | 25 | 4(7) | $2,877,855 | Snitzerland - 874,500 |
| 2018 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 56 | 13 | 17 | 4(6) | $3,648,965 | Estijaab - 2,335,075 |
| 2017 | Fastnet Rock (AUS) 2001 - 2005 | 44 | 15 | 24 | 4(6) | $2,780,420 | Catchy - 1,102,000 |
| 2012 | More Than Ready (USA) 1997 - 2001 | 49 | 16 | 21 | 4(6) | $2,234,135 | Samaready - 1,225,150 |
| 2011 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 54 | 23 | 32 | 4(6) | $1,862,745 | Helmet - 677,300 |
| 2018 | Not a Single Doubt (AUS) 2001 - 2005 | 36 | 20 | 26 | 4(5) | $1,587,378 | Fundamentalist - 199,760 |
| 2014 | Sebring (AUS) 2005 - 2009 | 40 | 11 | 16 | 4(5) | $1,472,105 | Bring Me the Maid - 499,500 |
| 2018 | I Am Invincible (AUS) 2004 - 2010 | 61 | 25 | 30 | 4(4) | $3,446,175 | Oohood - 996,100 |
| 2011 | Stratum (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 55 | 14 | 15 | 4(4) | $914,039 | Running Tall - 238,000 |
| 2019 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 31 | 8 | 12 | 3(6) | $2,286,400 | Microphone - 1,588,600 |
| 2016 | Written Tycoon (AUS) 2002 - 2007 | 24 | 10 | 21 | 3(6) | $4,337,706 | Capitalist - 3,508,700 |
Top 2-year-old sires by stakeswinners in a season
This season’s headline act I Am Invincible has equalled the best tally of 2-year-old stakes winners in a season throughout the last decade – eight. With the likes of recent Group 2-placed Garibaldi still representing him during the ongoing Queensland winter carnival, he has the chance to take an outright lead before season’s end.
But he currently shares that mark with Snitzel, who sired eight stakes winners among his 32 individual winners in his sensational 2016-17 term.
Among the top eight stallions on this particular list, only two have been represented by under 50 runners in their respective season. On both occasions it was Exceed and Excel. He sired seven stakes winners from 44 runners in 2012-13, and five stakes winners from 48 runners in 2014-15.
Exceed And Excel
Prizemoney percentages
| 2009 | More Than Ready (USA) 1997 - 2001 | 55 | 22 | 30 | 6(7) | $4,631,260 | Phelan Ready - 3,256,000 | 1.10% |
| 2013 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 44 | 16 | 27 | 7(14) | $5,320,480 | Overreach - 2,342,800 | 1.08% |
| 2017 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 75 | 32 | 46 | 8(8) | $4,973,335 | Invader - 960,125 | 0.82% |
| 2012 | Lonhro (AUS) 1998 - 2004 | 34 | 8 | 13 | 1(6) | $3,419,680 | Pierro - 2,946,150 | 0.78% |
| 2016 | Written Tycoon (AUS) 2002 - 2007 | 24 | 10 | 21 | 3(6) | $4,337,706 | Capitalist - 3,508,700 | 0.76% |
| 2010 | Stratum (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 50 | 13 | 25 | 2(5) | $3,053,290 | Crystal Lily - 2,289,250 | 0.71% |
| 2011 | Elusive Quality (USA) 1993 - 1999 | 32 | 5 | 9 | 1(5) | $3,059,590 | Sepoy - 2,908,500 | 0.71% |
| 2012 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 37 | 14 | 25 | 4(7) | $2,877,855 | Snitzerland - 874,500 | 0.66% |
| 2015 | Exceed and Excel (AUS) 2000 - 2004 | 48 | 15 | 21 | 5(5) | $3,412,760 | Le Chef - 1,199,200 | 0.65% |
| 2014 | Mossman (AUS) 1995 - 2000 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 2(6) | $3,012,805 | Mossfun - 2,500,500 | 0.59% |
| 2012 | Fastnet Rock (AUS) 2001 - 2005 | 51 | 15 | 25 | 3(5) | $2,548,760 | Driefontein - 1,428,000 | 0.58% |
| 2018 | Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 | 56 | 13 | 17 | 4(6) | $3,648,965 | Estijaab - 2,335,075 | 0.56% |
| 2018 | I Am Invincible (AUS) 2004 - 2010 | 61 | 25 | 30 | 4(4) | $3,446,175 | Oohood - 996,100 | 0.53% |
| 2015 | Medaglia d'Oro (USA) 1999 - 2005 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 1(4) | $2,775,265 | Vancouver - 2,362,000 | 0.52% |
| 2010 | General Nediym (AUS) 1994 - 1999 | 43 | 11 | 16 | 2(5) | $2,215,775 | Military Rose - 1,527,000 | 0.52% |
| 2012 | More Than Ready (USA) 1997 - 2001 | 49 | 16 | 21 | 4(6) | $2,234,135 | Samaready - 1,225,150 | 0.51% |
| 2011 | Not a Single Doubt (AUS) 2001 - 2005 | 24 | 10 | 24 | 2(2) | $2,137,545 | Karuta Queen - 1,514,000 | 0.50% |
Top 2-year-old sires by prizemoney percentage
In our analysis of first and second season sires, comparing the stallions’ earnings as a percentage of the total prizemoney for that particular season proved to be a good way of levelling the playing field across different seasons and adjusting for the major recent stakes increases.
More Than Ready comes out on top for his 2008-09 season by this assessment. His runners earned $4.6 million that year, with more than two-thirds of that amount coming from the Golden Slipper and Magic Millions winner Phelan Ready. More Than Ready’s earnings work out to be 1.1% of the total stakes on offer that season.
Just behind him at 1.08% is Exceed and Excel from the 2012-13 season. He is the only other sire to get above 1% in this analysis. His progeny earned $5.3 million in that season, with his Golden Slipper winner Overreach contributing $2.3 million of that amount.
The next two are Snitzel in 2016-17 and Lonhro in 2011-12, who returned percentages of 0.82% and 0.78% respectively. Snitzel is the highest-ranked sire on this list who does not feature a Golden Slipper winner among that season’s progeny – his highest earner in 2016-17 was ATC Sires’ Produce S. winner Invader with $960,125, when his progeny filled the trifecta.
Written Tycoon achieves an impressive top-five finish here for his 2015-16 season. While More Than Ready had 55 runners, Exceed and Excel 44, Snitzel 75 and Lonhro 34, Written Tycoon was represented by only 24 runners. They amassed $4.3 million, or 0.76% of the season’s total, led by Capitalist.
Two sires feature twice in the top 10 on this list. Snitzel is third with his 2016-17 season and eighth with his 2011-12 season, while Exceed and Excel features with his 2012-13 and 2014-15 juvenile crops.
