The 2018 edition of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. proved that the race can do as much, if not more for the future breeding prosperity of the sire of the winner as it can for the winner itself.
The virtues of emerging Widden Stud stallion Zoustar were well known before Sunlight, Zousain and Lean Mean Machine trifecta-ed the Coolmore for the then second season stallion last year, but that performance is viewed by many as his graduation to status as heir apparent to the title of Australia's next superstar stallion.
His filly Sunlight became the fourth generation of her family to win the race, following in the footsteps of her great grand-sire Encosta De Lago, who won it when it was called the G2 Ascot Vale S. in 1996, her grand-sire Northern Meteor, who won it in 2008 and her sire, who was victorious in 2013.
The 2018 Zoustar trifecta
A look back through the sires of the winners since the race became a Group 1 in 2006 shows you how hard it is to get a winner in it. Those 13 editions have been won by 12 different sires, with Fastnet Rock the only one to have multiple winners.
It's hard enough to even get a horse in the race as indicated by the fact Zoustar is without a representative in 2019 after his domination last year, while of those 12 sires represented among the winners' list, only Fastnet Rock and I Am Invincible have runners in the field this year.
The stallion who could logically follow in Zoustar's steps and use this race as a boost to his own stud career this year is Darley's Brazen Beau, who won the Coolmore himself in 2014.
Darley's Brazen Beau relished the Flemington straight, but will his progeny?
Momentum has been building for the second season son of I Am Invincible, who has five stakes winners already including a stakes double at Moonee Valley last week.
He has two representatives, Accession, who like his sire is prepared by Chris Waller who is looking for his fourth win in this race, and the John Sadler-trained Sartorial Splendor, a winner of the G3 Red Anchor S. last Saturday.
It's an interesting point to note that while Brazen Beau relished the Flemington straight, winning two Group 1 races, his progeny are yet to win down the famous straight.
Exceed's trio look for straight success
The stallion with the best representation is another Darley resident in Exceed And Excel. The 2004 Newmarket H. winner has three representatives, all of whom are up near the top of the market.
Bivouac is aiming to become the first horse to do the Golden Rose - Coolmore Stud double since Zoustar, while stablemate Microphone is aiming to become the first horse ever to win both the G1 Inglis Sires' and this race. The Team Hawkes' trained Exceedance, who beat Bivouac in the G3 San Domenico earlier in the spring, is also given a big chance.
Gallery: Exceed And Excel representatives
Again, the performance of Exceed And Excel's progeny down the Flemington straight does not yet measure up to the sire himself and he has never sired a winner in any of the four Group 1 Flemington sprints.
The other two second season sires represented in the race are both from that sireline which has enjoyed so much luck in this race.
Deep Field is a son of 2008 winner Northern Meteor and did win himself down the Flemington straight on Derby Day, albeit as a 4-year-old in a Group 2 sprint. The Newgate stallion is represented by last start G2 Roman Consul S. winner Cosmic Force.
Rubick, who ran 12th behind Brazen Beau in this race in 2014, looks certain to win the title of Champion Second Season Sire after Yes Yes Yes' win in The Everest and the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Ruuca flies the flag for the young Coolmore stallion in this race.
As mentioned earlier, his sire Encosta De Lago is on the honour roll of this race in its earlier incarnation.
Chance to further build Redoute's legacy
Champion sire Redoute's Choice, who contested the race as the Ascot Vale S. back in 1999, has never had one of his progeny win the Coolmore Stud S., with Alabama Express a chance to break that drought on Saturday. The legendary stallion also features as the broodmare sire of Ruuca.
Similarly, Redoute's Choice's three-time Champion Sire son Snitzel, who is represented by Cardiff, will also be looking for his first winner in the race, as will barnmate Not A Single Doubt, who has Dubious engaged.
Their former Arrowfield barnmate Smart Missile, now at Twin Hills, is represented by last-start Moonee Valley Listed winner Broadwayandfourth.
Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible got his first Group 1 winner in this race with Brazen Beau and five years later, Libertini is looking to repeat the dose and become the fifth filly to win the race since it was upgraded to Group 1 status.
Krupt, the son of Flying Spur, who stood at Kooringal Park and then Tasmania's Kingsley Park before his death two years ago, has his best performed filly Li'l Kontra in the race.
Rosemont Stud will be cheering hard for Brooklyn Hustle who not only sports its famous red and white colours but the filly is also by its recently returned stallion Starspangledbanner.
Brooklyn Hustle will sport the Rosemont colours whilst also representing their stallion Starspangledbanner
More Fastnet success rests with Exeter
As mentioned, Coolmore's Fastnet Rock is the most successful sire in the Group 1 era of the race, perhaps appropriately, sponsored by the stud he resides at.
He was a three-time winner down the Flemington straight himself, including in a 1200 metre 3-year-old race on Derby Day 15 years ago, run then as a Group 2 race and since altered to an open age race.
Fastnet Rock's filly Nechita upset the colts in this race back in 2012, while Merchant Navy, now also standing at Coolmore, was successful in a thrilling finish two years ago. The Lindsay Park-trained Exeter is his hope this year.
Will Fastnet Rock's flag bearer Exeter, upset the field this year?
