Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In 2024/25, 47 stallions with three-year-olds made up the Second Season Sire Premiership. Which ones rose sharply from their first season standings?
Too Darn Hot stays at the top
While he’s technically not an improver, Too Darn Hot (GB) rates a mention here because it’s impossible to move higher than first place. Too Darn Hot topped the first season sire list in 2023/24, and he’s done the same in 2024/25 to become the leading second season sire. This season, he’s sired ten individual stakes winners in Australia, who have won 15 stakes races, and he leads the table with progeny earnings of $9.9 million heading into the final weekend of the season.
Too Darn Hot (GB) | Standing at Darley
“He’s obviously very quickly established himself as one of the leading sires in the world. We are delighted he’ll be back this season. His first crop were outstanding with a champion in Broadsiding, and he’s backed it up again this year,” said Darley’s Alastair Pulford.
“He’s obviously very quickly established himself as one of the leading sires in the world.” - Alastair Pulford
“Colts, fillies, it doesn’t matter. In his second season, he’s had 12 individual 2-year-old winners which puts him up there with the best stallions, and he had a very good one with Rivellino. It’s just onwards and upwards for him. He’s getting a great book this year, including the best mare in Australia, Winx. There are no negatives. He’s a fantastic stallion and we are very lucky to have him.”
His ten individual stakes winners for the season were led by G1 Golden Rose and G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Broadsiding, who trained on from two to take his record from two Group 1 wins to four. His other 3-year-old stakes winners were Shanwah (NZ), Too Darn Discreet, Too Darn Lizzie, Arabian Summer, Tropicus, Silmarillion, Superalloy, and Perspiration, while Rivellino was his sole 2-year-old stakes winner for the season.
Alastair Pulford | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Across both hemispheres, Too Darn Hot has already accumulated 24 stakes winners. He will stand at Darley for $275,000 including GST, and his son Broadsiding joins him at $66,000 including GST.
Castelvecchio is the biggest improver
Castelvecchio completed his first season in 2023/24 sitting in 21st on the table with two juvenile winners and no stakes winner. His stock have improved as they’ve turned three, and he’s risen the most number of spots of any stallion on the list to leap into third place with six individual stakes winners, led by G1 Australian Derby winning filly Aeliana and G1 Spring Champion Stakes winning colt El Castello.
“He’s arrived like a bolt of lightning with two outstanding animals supported by a lot of other winners. His two standout 3-year-olds of the year are El Castello and Aeliana, and we just had to wait a little bit for him. There's more to come as he has a strong book for this year,” said Arrowfield’s John Messara.
Castelvecchio | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
“His success underlines Dundeel’s capacity to make a stallion. Between him and Super Seth, they can both produce a high class horse, and it’s a great advertisement for the old man. We are looking forward to the new season. They seem adaptable, wet, dry, long, short, and they are simply talented horses who are part of the Dundeel dynasty that’s developing.”
“His (Castelvecchio) success underlines Dundeel’s capacity to make a stallion. Between him and Super Seth, they can both produce a high class horse.” - John Messara
Castelvecchio, winner of the G1 Champagne Stakes over a mile at two, improved at three to win the G1 Rosehill Guineas and place in the G1 Cox Plate. His progeny have shown a similar ability to improve from two to three and his six stakes winners are the two Group 1 winners already mentioned, as well as Double Market, Shangri La Spring, Verona Rose, and Comanche Miss.
He stands at Arrowfield Stud in 2025 for $49,500 inc GST.
Super Seth another Dundeel son on the move
Super Seth, based in New Zealand, has sired three individual Group 1 winners in Australia in 2024/25, and another in New Zealand as an added bonus. La Dorada (NZ), the Kiwi Group 1 winner, isn’t included in the Australian Second Season Sire Premiership figures.
Super Seth, a son of Dundeel like Castelvecchio, was 11th on the First Season Sire chart last season with seven winners led by stakes winner Linebacker (NZ). Linebacker improved this season at three to win the G1 Randwick Guineas. He was joined by G1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ), and G1 Queensland Derby winner Maison Louis (NZ).
Super Seth | Standing at Waikato Stud
“For him to have had such a good season in Australia, considering he doesn’t stand in Australia, is incredible. He’s the only stallion since Snitzel, so the only living stallion, who has left that many Group 1 winners in Australia with only two crops of racing age. It’s quite unbelievable,” said Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick.
“He’s (Super Seth) the only stallion since Snitzel, so the only living stallion, who has left that many Group 1 winners in Australia with only two crops of racing age.” - Mark Chittick
“Most stallions who are successful will get early success and improve, but the exciting thing is the continuous success when they go from two to three and when they begin to climb up the ranks, then we are heading in the right direction for long term success.”
All up, Super Seth has seven stakes winners, three in Australia (all at Group 1 level) and four in New Zealand. He stands at Waikato Stud in 2025 for NZ$75,000 plus GST.
Blue Point (Ire), who moved into second overall, Magna Grecia (Ire), and Vino Rosso (USA) all made big improvements, but none are returning to Australia for this season.
The only other stallion in the top ten, not yet mentioned, on the Second Season Sire table who improved his ranking from last season to this season was Yes Yes Yes.
Table: The biggest movers from 2023/24 to 2024/25.
| 3 | 21 | Castelvecchio | 65 | 30 | 49.00 | 6(9) | $6,140,227 | Aeliana - 2,258,025 | 18 |
| 19 | 28 | Magna Grecia (Ire) | 45 | 19 | 29.00 | 0(0) | $1,019,730 | Donwon - 103,575 | 9 |
| 5 | 11 | Super Seth | 55 | 30 | 46.00 | 3(3) | $4,641,870 | Feroce - 1,272,500 | 6 |
| 24 | 29 | Vino Rosso (USA) | 36 | 10 | 16.00 | 0(0) | $614,917 | Shadow Eagle - 94,865 | 5 |
| 2 | 6 | Blue Point (Ire) | 99 | 47 | 70.00 | 2(3) | $6,240,903 | Bosustow - 1,990,300 | 4 |
| 22 | 26 | Cliff's Edge | 16 | 6 | 10.00 | 0(0) | $661,750 | Winnasedge - 350,650 | 4 |
| 28 | 32 | Soul Patch | 11 | 5 | 6.00 | 0(0) | $295,340 | Purler Patch - 75,825 | 4 |
| 9 | 12 | Yes Yes Yes | 89 | 42 | 60.00 | 0(0) | $3,220,900 | Firm Agreement - 776,500 | 3 |
| 13 | 16 | I Am Immortal | 57 | 19 | 28.00 | 1(1) | $2,168,800 | McGaw - 601,400 | 3 |
| 27 | 30 | Ten Sovereigns (Ire) | 7 | 4 | 7.00 | 0(0) | $357,520 | Exit Fee - 143,450 | 3 |
