The English page - The stallion scene in Germany

The stallion situation for 2018 in Germany is unfortunately much weaker than has been the case for several years. Monsun (Königsstuhl), undeniably one of the most successful international sires of this century, died in 2012 and the members of his small last crop will be five year-olds in a few days´ time. His contemporaries Lando (Acatenango) and Sternkönig (Kalaglow) are also long gone. Several international stallions imported to fill the gap have since departed and are mainly now N.H. stallions in Ireland – Sholokhov and Black Sam Bellamy (both sons of Sadler´ s Wells) for example, where they join other German-bred and –raced stars such as Shirocco and Getaway – both sons of Monsun. It should not be forgotten that they are also capable of siring top class flat performers, Sholokhov being the sire of champion Night Magic and Shirocco of this year's German Derby winner Windstoß.  Another son of Monsun, Network, winner of the 2000 Union-Rennen, is now a highly respected N.H. stallion in France, and sire of English champion Sprinter Sacre, the highest-rated chaser since Arkle. Now it has been announced that Qatari-owned but German-trained Karpino (Cape Cross), brilliant winner of the German 2,000 Guineas two years ago is also to cover N.H. mares in Ireland; he follows Jukebox Jury (Montjeu), who has been at Gestüt Etzean since 2013, and who it was announced this week is also to relocate to Ireland. His first crop are the 3yo´s of 2017 and several have already shown talent over hurdles.

Dabirsim (Hat Trick), owned by Munich bookmaker Simon Springer, was the champion European two-year-old of 2011 and started his stud career at Gestüt Karlshof in 2014; he stood there for two years, attracting very large books by German standards, but was moved to France in 2016. His first crop, the two-year-olds of 2017, all conceived at Karlshof, have been very successful and as a result he is now one of the hottest young sires in Europe, with his yearlings fetching high prices. His fee for 2018 has been raised to 30,000 euros and he is apparently already fully booked, but probably by very few German breeders. The grey Reliable Man (Dalakhani), winner of the Prix du Jockey Club in 2011, started his stud career in New Zealand in 2013 but has been shuttling to Gestüt Röttgen; his first crop two-year-olds this year have also done very well, and include Germany´s top juvenile filly and colt. However his international owners were not satisfied with the number of mares he was getting and he is also moving to France. The same goes for Pastorius (Soldier Hollow), a multiple Group One winner, who stood at Fährhof for three seasons and has also made a good start. Arguably the two best German-bred and –raced colts of this decade are King George winner Novellist (Monsun), who stands in Japan, and 2014 German Derby winner Sea The Moon (Sea The Stars) who has stood at Lanwades Stud in Newmarker right from the start of his stud career, and whose first crop, two-year-olds in 2018, are regarded as highly promising. The export of these stallions is a huge loss to German breeding.

Of the stallions remaining in Germany, two sons of In The Wings stand out: Soldier Hollow and Adlerflug. The former, a remarkably tough and genuine performer who won stakes races for six successive seasons, has been a success right from the start of his stud career in 2008; he now stands at 25,000 euros (the highest fee in Germany) at Gestüt Auenquelle. His best winner in 2017 was Group One winner Dschingis Secret, whose yearling full brother was the top lot at the big BBAG yearling sale. Adlerflug, who won the German Derby in 2007, has a real stallion´s pedigree; his second dam is an own sister to Allegretta (Lombard), the dam of Arc winner Urban Sea, herself the dam of world class stallions Galileo and Sea The Stars. Adlerflug started his stud career at Harzburg, but has now moved to Schlenderhan, who bred him, while Harzburg is renovated: his fee has almost trebled to 15,000 euros, which certainly seems justified, as his small early crops include two Group One winners this year.

The only two other German-based stallion with a five figure fee are Maxios, another son of Monsun, who stands at Gestüt Fährhof for 10,000 euros and Areion (see below). While many Monsuns are noted for their stamina, Maxios was a top miler in France, winning the Prix du Moulin in 2013 for the Niarchos family, who bred and owned him and are also members of the syndicate that now owns him. His first crop two-year-olds in 2017 did well, especially when one considers that he was a late developer and (like many Monsuns) not really the type to get precocious juveniles.

Perhaps the most surprising success story among recent German stallions is that of Areion, who like his sire Big Shuffle, was best at six furlongs. He is now approaching the veteran stage, but is champion sire this year for the fourth time. His fee has always been relatively modest and he gets not only speedy youngsters but also older horses that stay a mile and more. His son Wonnemond won a valuable race in Turkey this year over a mile. He is to move in 2018 at the age of 23 to Gestüt Etzean and his fee has been put up to 11,000 euros.

Tertullian (Miswaki) is the same age but considerably cheaper. Closely related to Urban Sea, he has had a long and honourable innings and was champion sire in 2014. His fee at Gestüt Erftmühle has been reduced to 4,000 euros. Lord of England succeeded his own sire Dashing Blade at Etzean in 2007, has done well and now stands at 7,500 euros. His best son Isfahan won the German Derby last year and was retired to stud without another run. His fee of 4,000 euros is very reasonable and Isfahan was very popular in 2017, his first year at stud, covering 89 mares, making him the third most popular sire in Germany after Soldier Hollow and Maxios. He is based at Gestüt Ohlerweiherhof in the Saarland, together with Tai Chi (High Chaparral), who has had several good performers from very small books and could still be a bargain at 4,500 euros (up from 3,000).

Grosser Preis von Baden winner Ito (Adlerflug) stands at Gestüt Ammerland in the extreme south of the country for 5,000 euros, the same fee as Lucky Lion (High Chaparral), who beat Frankel´s brother Noble Mission at Munich in 2014, at Gestüt Graditz in the east. Protectionist (Monsun), the Melbourne Cup winner that year, stands at Röttgen for 6,500 euros and we are looking forward to his first foals, expected in 2018. The only other stallion standing at more than 4,000 euros is Amaron (Shamardal) at Etzean, costing 4,500 euros; one of the best German milers of recent years, his first crop will be yearlings in 2018.

With the exception of Isfahan and Protectionist, almost all of Germany´s leading performers in 2016 and 2017 are still in training. There are sometimes whispers that the one or the other is going to be retired or sold, but that has so far not happened. We therefore hope to see Savoir Vivre (Adlerflug), Dschingis Secret (Soldier Hollow), Guignol (Cape Cross), Iquitos (Adlerflug), Windstoß (Shirocco) and Colomano (Cacique) all running in 2018 which will make Germany´s top races very tough to win. However it does leave the stallion scene here looking rather weak. At the time of writing, only two new stallions have been announced, the Group Three winner Nordico (Medicean) at Janine Casey's farm, and far more exciting the Australian-bred Counterattack (Redoute's Choice), who is to shuttle from his Australian base at Kitchwin Stud to Gestüt Karlshof for the European season, where he will cover Northern Hemisphere mares at 6,500 euros. He is bred along similar lines to Australian champion sire Snitzel, being out of a Snippets mare, and was one of the top six furlong horses down under. As is well known, Australian-bred sprinters are world class, and his best performance came when he was half a length runner-up to their champion Redzel in the Doomden 10000 last spring. It is of course impossible to say how he will fit with German mares, but the experience of Big Shuffle certainly gives one hope for optimism. Counterattack's speed coupled with the stamina-laden local mares could well be the next formula for success in German breeding.

David Conolly-Smith