Cover image courtesy of Yarraman Park Stud
Champion sire I Am Invincible has set a new Australian prizemoney record for a single season. The record was set in the 2017/2018 season by Snitzel who made history when setting the mark with 173 winners that earned $29,243,613.
With three months to go in the season, I Am Invincible has just ticked over 153 winners with earnings of $29,287,812, and Yarraman Park Stud note that he is within striking distance of a magical $30 million in seasonal earnings.
"We are immensely proud to witness I Am Invincible etch his name into Australian breeding history," said Arthur Mitchell. "This record-breaking feat achieved previously by Fastnet Rock, Street Cry and Snitzel - all breed shapers of our industry - is a testament to the extraordinary talent embodied by Vinnie and his progeny."
Vinnie's record-breaking season
Running at nearly 80 per cent winners to runners and 9.5 per cent stakes winners to to runners, I Am Invincible has the stats of a true champion sire with his stellar list of 107 stakes-winners headed by ten-time Group 1-winning $6.9million earner Imperatriz. He has ten sons at stud, led by Group 1 producing sires Hellbent, Brazen Beau, Santos and Overshare, while his Champion son Home Affairs will have his first yearlings offered at sales in 2025.
| 1 | I Am Invincible | 349 | 153 | 14 | $29,287,812 |
| 2 | Zoustar | 342 | 175 | 14 | $19,681,054 |
| 3 | So You Think (NZ) | 276 | 107 | 3 | $18,904,809 |
| 4 | Pride of Dubai | 196 | 75 | 7 | $18,176,318 |
| 5 | Written Tycoon | 290 | 136 | 7 | $13,467,474 |
| 6 | Snitzel | 245 | 109 | 9 | $13,206,663 |
| 7 | Dundeel (NZ) | 262 | 111 | 6 | $12,642,305 |
| 8 | Savabeel | 176 | 73 | 9 | $12,433,845 |
| 9 | Teofilo (IRE) | 35 | 11 | 3 | $9,833,920 |
| 10 | Capitalist | 283 | 126 | 6 | $9,702,252 |
Table: Leading Australia General Sires for 2023-24 Season
Leading the pack is the reigning champion, I Am Invincible, who is on course to clinch his third consecutive Champion Sires title having claimed over $29 million in prize money this season.
He leads his closest competitor, Zoustar, by nearly $10 million. Represented by four Group 1 winners this season, Zoustar has achieved his highest ever ranking on the general sires table, moving up from fifth last year. So You Think (NZ) holds third place as a consistently top performer, closely followed by stablemate Pride Of Dubai, who is enjoying his best season yet with seven stakes winners and over $18 million in earnings.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarrman Park Stud
The leading four sires have created a substantial lead, with Written Tycoon in fifth spot, having amassed $13 million this season and achieving seven stakes victories.
Four-time Champion Sire Snitzel from Arrowfield Stud has also accumulated just over $13 million, though down by $5 million from last year, while stablemate Dundeel (NZ) is having an outstanding season, nearly matching his previous best with close to $13 million in earnings.
Savabeel, who finished third in last year's premiership, is currently in eighth place, while Capitalist has made a significant leap, rising from 19th place last year to round out the top 10 in the current standings.
| 1 | Too Darn Hot | 21 | 8 | 1 | $1,991,900 |
| 2 | Tassort | 17 | 6 | 1 | $1,775,510 |
| 3 | Pierata | 20 | 5 | 2 | $1,758,810 |
| 4 | Royal Meeting | 7 | 1 | 1 | $1,730,505 |
| 5 | Alabama Express | 10 | 6 | 0 | $1,571,155 |
| 6 | Brutal | 16 | 5 | 0 | $725,850 |
| 7 | Zousain | 22 | 7 | 1 | $649,640 |
| 8 | Blue Point | 27 | 1 | 0 | $531,030 |
| 9 | Cosmic Force | 13 | 4 | 0 | $502,785 |
| 10 | Super Seth | 8 | 2 | 1 | $496,185 |
Table: Leading Australia First-Season Sires for 2023-24 Season
Too Darn Hot leading the charge
The competition for the Champion First-Season Sire Premiership is intensifying as the season draws to a close, with a mere $216,000 separating the top four.
As of May 5th, Darley's emerging shuttle sire Too Darn Hot (GB) is at the forefront with nearly $2 million in earnings and is consequently on the verge of becoming the first European shuttle stallion to secure a Champion First-Season Sires title. He leads as the first-season sire with the most winners, totalling eight, including Broadsiding, the G1 Champagne Stakes winner.
Close on his heels is Newgate Farm’s Tassort, trailing by just a few hundred thousand dollars.
Too Darn Hot (GB) | Standing at Darley
Despite having four fewer runners than Too Darn Hot, Tassort has produced six winners and amassed $1.7 million in earnings, propelled by Manaal’s victory in the G1 Sires' Produce Stakes. Victorian based stallions, Pierata and Alabama Express representing Yulong, along with Leneva Park's Group 1 producing Royal Meeting (Ire), complete the top five.
| 1 | Trapeze Artist | 96 | 38 | 3 | $5,727,503 |
| 2 | Justify (USA) | 59 | 26 | 2 | $5,381,427 |
| 3 | The Autumn Sun | 79 | 35 | 4 | $5,155,275 |
| 4 | Harry Angel (IRE) | 69 | 32 | 4 | $4,330,562 |
| 5 | Grunt (NZ) | 63 | 17 | 2 | $2,995,375 |
| 6 | Written By | 67 | 29 | 2 | $2,613,366 |
| 7 | Brave Smash (JPN) | 52 | 22 | 2 | $2,530,365 |
| 8 | Prized Icon | 44 | 13 | 1 | $1,501,820 |
| 9 | Encryption | 65 | 18 | 2 | $1,482,211 |
| 10 | Saxon Warrior (JPN) | 30 | 17 | 0 | $1,169,120 |
Table: Leading Australia Second-Season Sires for 2023-24 Season
The race for the top spot on the leading second-season sire tables is tightly contested this year, with Widden Stud's Trapeze Artist currently leading. His G1 Caulfield Guineas-winning colt, Griff, has contributed significantly to this position by earning a robust $2.1 million this season, boosting his sire’s total earnings to $5.7 million.
Hot on his heels is last year’s Champion First-Season Sire, Justify, who is less than $400,000 behind. Meanwhile, The Autumn Sun is making a strong showing, tied for the highest number of stakes winners among second-season sires, with four to his credit.
Close behind, Harry Angel (Ire), who finished third in last year’s first-season premiership, continues to perform well with four stakes winners this season and earnings of $4.3 million.
| 1 | Written Tycoon | 28 | 7 | 1 | $4,216,445 |
| 2 | Justify (USA) | 8 | 2 | 1 | $2,737,550 |
| 3 | Too Darn Hot (GB) | 21 | 8 | 1 | $1,991,900 |
| 4 | Snitzel | 26 | 8 | 3 | $1,856,750 |
| 5 | Tassort | 17 | 6 | 1 | $1,775,510 |
| 6 | Pierata | 20 | 5 | 2 | $1,758,810 |
| 7 | Royal Meeting (IRE) | 7 | 1 | 1 | $1,730,505 |
| 8 | Alabama Express | 10 | 6 | 0 | $1,571,155 |
| 9 | Hellbent | 19 | 3 | 1 | $1,520,755 |
| 10 | Exceed and Excel | 21 | 4 | 1 | $1,457,015 |
Table: Leading Australia 2YO Sires for 2023-24 Season
Written Tycoon is well on his way to securing his second leading 2-year-old Sire Premiership, bolstered by this year’s G1 Golden Slipper winner, Lady Of Camelot.
He currently holds a lead of almost $1.5 million over Justify (USA), who has accumulated $2.7 million this season, largely due to MM 2YO (RL) winner Storm Boy. In the third spot, first-season sire Too Darn Hot is just ahead of the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Sire, Snitzel. Although Snitzel is fourth in terms of prize money, he leads with the highest number of juvenile stakes winners this season. His notable progeny include G2 Todman Stakes winner Switzerland, G3 Canonbury Stakes winner Prost, and Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL) victor Highness.
| 1 | Fastnet Rock | 628 | 268 | 18 | $32,166,459 |
| 2 | Encosta de Lago | 626 | 249 | 12 | $26,286,072 |
| 3 | Street Cry (IRE) | 294 | 118 | 12 | $21,677,449 |
| 4 | O'Reilly (NZ) | 314 | 138 | 13 | $21,350,662 |
| 5 | Exceed and Excel | 448 | 194 | 12 | $18,652,908 |
| 6 | Lonhro | 461 | 214 | 11 | $18,609,232 |
| 7 | Flying Spur | 382 | 156 | 3 | $18,169,729 |
| 8 | Redoute's Choice | 598 | 232 | 7 | $17,714,125 |
| 9 | More Than Ready (USA) | 497 | 216 | 7 | $17,645,768 |
| 10 | Shamardal (USA) | 138 | 64 | 6 | $17,290,120 |
Table: Leading Australia Broodmare Sires for 2023-24 Season
Although he has been retired from stud duties, the influence of Fastnet Rock continues through his broodmare daughters, positioning him to secure his first title as Champion Broodmare Sire this season. With his daughters' progeny amassing $32 million in earnings this season, he is on course to set a record as the highest-earning broodmare sire in a single season.
Fastnet Rock’s legacy includes five individual Group 1 winners this season: Zougotcha, Veight, Joliestar, Lady Of Camelot, and Climbing Star. Trailing behind him is the multiple-time leading broodmare sire Encosta De Lago, who has earned almost $6 million less, while Street Cry (Ire) is in third place, nearly $5 million behind Encosta De Lago.
