The number of harness racing mares served in Australasia by individual pacing stallions in the 2013/2014 season makes for some very interesting reading.
The usual suspects are near the top of the list but it is surprisingly headed by the first season sire Auckland Reactor. While it was always expected that Auckland Reactor would serve a large book in New Zealand and he did with 212 mares, his book of 182 mares in Australia was larger than even his most ardent supporters would have predicted. A very realistic service fee of $3,000 certainly helped and means Auckland Reactor has been given every chance to prove himself at Stud.
Shadow Play served a huge book in Australia of 295 with a further 80 in New Zealand. That was off the back of some great results with his two year olds in Canada in 2013 but those breeders will be feeling a bit anxious at the moment as his two year olds in both Australia and New Zealand are yet to make an impact.
Bettors Delight continues to serve huge books with 249 in New Zealand and 125 in Australia while Art Major served similar numbers with 266 in Australia and 94 in New Zealand.
Rock N Roll Heaven was well received by breeders, especially in Australia where he served 225 with a further 41 in New Zealand. Mach Three was thereabouts again with 160 in New Zealand and 99 in Australia along with American Ideal who covered 141 in New Zealand and 109 in Australia.
The champion North American sire Somebeachsomewhere continued to be very well supported (by frozen semen) with 135 in Australia and 88 in New Zealand even though his progeny to date down under have not set the world on fire yet.
Betterthancheddar had an excellent first year as he didn't arrive until late October yet still served 102 in Australia and 98 in New Zealand to give him a great start to his career.
The surprising stat amongst the other stallions was the numbers served by champion sire Christian Cullen. He served just 83 in New Zealand and 26 in Australia. With horses of the class of Christen Me, Franco Nelson, Locharburn and Libertybelle Midfrew starring on the track one would have thought he could have easily doubled his numbers.
Of the remaining New Zealand based stallions, Changeover stood out with 142 in New Zealand and 39 in Australia while newbie stallion Sir Lincoln did very well serving 114 in New Zealand and 23 in Australia to make a total of 137.
Australian stallions to serve large books included Artistic Fella with 182 in Australia, Sportswriter with 155 in Australia and 17 in New Zealand, Always a Virgin with 145 in Australia and 10 in New Zealand, Courage Under Fire with 127 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand, Roll With Joe with 124 in Australia and 15 in New Zealand and Western Terror with 125 in Australia.
At the other end of the spectrum, Elsu managed just 16 in New Zealand and 20 in Australia which would tend to indicate that he is nearing the end of his commercial career.
MOST POPULAR SIRES IN AUSTRALASIA IN 2013/2014
STALLION NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIA TOTAL
Auckland Reactor 212 182 394
Shadow Play 80 295 375
Bettors Delight 249 125 374
Art Major 94 266 360
Rock N Roll Heaven 41 225 266
Mach Three 160 99 259
American Ideal 141 109 250
Somebeachsomewhere 88 135 213
Betterthancheddar 102 98 200
Artistic Fella - 182 182
Changeover 142 39 181
Sportswriter 17 155 172
Always A Virgin 10 145 155
Courage Under Fire 19 127 146
Roll With Joe 15 124 139
Sir Lincoln (Lincoln Royal) 114 23 137
Western Terror - 125 125
Grinfromeartoear 34 90 124
Modern Art - 111 111
Christian Cullen 83 26 109
Four Starzzz Shark - 109 109
When assessing the trotting stallion numbers it soon became clear that everyone was chasing Majestic Son. With 161 mares served in New Zealand and 90 in Australia for a total of 251, this son of Angus Hall looks set to dominate the trotting scene in the immediate future with such a massive numerical advantage over all his competition.
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