Fabulous foals: the crop of 2024

Cover image courtesy of Widden Stud

The breeding statistics for 2024 are not in yet but in recent years there have been between 12,500 and 13,300 foals born each season in Australia. Breeders and stud masters look forward each spring to seeing the fruits of their mating plans, watching those foals progress and figuring out future plans.

Which foals will go to which sales, which will be retained, who will train them, what will a good name be, all the fun things breeders do as they dream of their next big winner.

The importance of first impressions

Trelawney's Brent Taylor is one example of a breeder who has his thinking cap on right from the start of a young horse's life.

“During their first few months I've pretty much made up my mind which fillies I want to keep for our future racing/breeding team,” he said.

“Sometimes it's because we don't have a filly from a particular mare, or I just really like the mating and am taken by the resulting foal.”

He has been happy with the 2024 crop, noting that “we have been fortunate to produce some very good foals again this year.”

With the planning and care that goes into breeding thoroughbreds, it is usual for a stud to be pleased by the overall quality of their foals; of course, there will always be the disappointments but against that there are those moments of delight; the standout foals.

And first impressions can be so important, Taylor already knowing which foal is the Trelawney favourite.

“As soon as I saw the Savabeel filly from Vamos Bebe I knew she was a keeper for the race team,” he said.

“She is a beautiful, quality filly; bold in her attitude and a standout on type from a fast mare who has produced a standout colt (also by Savabeel) for Karaka 2025.”

A stakes-placed three-time winner, Vamos Bebe (I Am Invincible) (a $200,000 yearling) is a daughter of the G1 Myer Classic winner Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow) who has done a good job at stud with her five winners including the dual Group 3-winning sprinter Holyfield (I Am Invincible).

Gallery: Trelawney's Savabeel x Vamos Bebe (filly) foal, images courtesy of Trelawney Stud

Those Zoustar ears

Breeders with foals by their own stallions are, understandably, always going to be particularly pleased by nice types. Widden Stud is one example, each year producing another nice crop by their star stallion Zoustar.

The stud's Taylor Foley highlights two of his 2024 progeny, a daughter of the G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt) and a colt out of Listed winner The Actuary (Sebring).

Gallery: Some of the Widden Stud foals by Zoustar, image courtesy of Widden Stud

“A very well-bred filly with exceptional presence and quality” how Foley describes the former, a full sister to the dual Group-winning sprinter Schwarz (a $1.25 million yearling) hailing from the same prolific Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) family as Redoute's Choice to whom she is line-bred 3 X 3.

One of the joys of standing a stallion over time is noting the traits they pass on, Foley happy to see The Actuary's colt carrying “those trademark Zoustar ears!”

“He is a well-marked colt and the first foal to really grab your attention, he has such a beautiful way about him.”

This fellow is a three-quarter brother to the triple Group 1 winner Zougotcha (Zoustar) and the Listed winner Persuader (Zoustar) from the family of the Golden Slipper S. heroine Crystal Lily (Stratum).

The Actuary's first foal, the $760,000 colt Algorithmic (Zoustar), has trialled nicely for the Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes stable.

Jacquinot's legacy begins

The progeny of first-season stallions are always keenly anticipated and the first foals by Widden's dual Group 1 winner Jacquinot have the stud excited with everyone at the farm particularly taken by the first foal for the stakes-placed All Sassed Up (Shalaa {Ire}).

Gallery: The Jacquinot x All Sassed Up (colt), images courtesy of Widden Stud

“He is a favourite of the staff, a classy colt who has so much of his sire's qualities, and he dominates the paddock hierarchy!” Foley said.

His family is a strong one, amongst his relations being the big-race winners Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Danelagh (Danehill {USA}), Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}) and Pinot (Pierro).

A first crop son of Anamoe impressing Foley

Successful studs are also always happy to utilise the services of well-credentialled stallions standing at other farms and Foley is happy to be overseeing a member of the first crop of Darley's multiple Group 1 winner Anamoe.

Four of the first 19 winners bred on a Street Boss (USA)/Lonhro cross are stakes winners and this Anamoe colt out of the Listed winner Secret Trail (Denman) may add to this list in the future.

“He is all strength and he has such independence for a youngster,” Foley noted.

Secret Trail's first three foals are all winners including the stakes-placed Spywire (Trapeze Artist) and her previous foal Dragon Scroll (Zoustar) is a $950,000 member of the Clayton Douglas stable.

Yulong's future stars: foals by Tagaloa, Diatonic, and Pierata shine bright

Yulong has a strong roster and the stud's Sam Fairgray highlights eye-catching foals by their G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa, the popular Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) horse Diatonic (Jpn) and the up-and-coming young horse Pierata.

A Tagaloa standout is a daughter of a mare we all know so well, the eight-time Group 1-winning star More Joyous (More Than Ready).

Purchased for $450,000 from the Strawberry Hill dispersal last year, she has five winners amongst her first five foals including the Group 2-placed Joyous Legend (Snitzel). Her first foal for Yulong is, Fairgray said, “A beautiful, athletic, well-balanced filly.”

He is also very happy with a colt by Diatonic, a son out of the imported winner Accepting (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is “a solid colt with size and scope.”

He is the first foal for his dam, a daughter of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) whose son Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) is a Group 3 winner in the UAE.

Another colt to impress is one with a very Yulong pedigree, a son of impress is a colt by Pierata out of Melisma (Written Tycoon); “A very powerful colt with a big shoulder and quarters; he looks a jump-and-run type,” Fairgray said.

He is the second foal for his two-time winning dam whose first foal, a filly by another Yulong rising star in Alabama Express, is in the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, due to go through the ring as Lot 652. It's a family that always fares well at that sale, one which has produced the wonderful filly Sunlight (Zoustar) whose son Dawn Service (Justify {USA}) shows plenty of talent.

As a proudly international operation, showcased by their spring carnival successes with the imported mares Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai), Yulong also have youngsters by stallions with famed reputations overseas.

An Australian Baaeed

There were five foals born in Australia this year by Shadwell's star Baaeed (GB), the multiple Group 1-winning miler who stands at Beech House Stud at a fee of £65,000 (AU$128,600) and one of those is a Yulong filly out of the well-related import Bureaucracy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

A half-sister to the Group 3 mare Beauty Bright (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) out of the Group 3 mare Dietrich (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}), she hails from a family that has enjoyed local success with the Listed winners Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Pacific Padrino (Street Boss {USA}).

“She is a strong, quality filly who really catches your eye in the paddock.”

Her pedigree also catches the eye, Baaeed being a son of the great Sea The Stars (Ire), half-brother to Galileo (Ire), providing for a 3 X 3 cross of the wonderful race and broodmare Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}).

Stronger proving popular

Another stud with a young stallion proving popular with breeders is Aquis Farm, home to Stronger, a Not A Single Doubt horse who won at Group 3 level locally before heading to Hong Kong where he secured victory in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup.

Aquis' Jonathan Davies has a lot of time for his debut crop son of the four-time winner Prickles (Hinchinbrook), half-sister to the Listed winner Soft Sand (Dansili {GB}) and to the dam of the Listed winner A Very Fine Red (Deep Field).

“He is a bold, forward colt with great depth and balance.

“He really pleases the eye,” Davies continued, “He has lovely angles, a short back with plenty of leg under him and a good action.”

“He is just one of the many many reasons we are thrilled with Stronger and looking forward to a big future with this stallion.”

Davies is also excited by the colt's pedigree, noting his 4 X 5 cross of the proven line-breeding force Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}) via her grandson Not A Single Doubt and son Snippets.

Those two stallions have combined in the pedigrees of 10 stakes winners amongst 101 winners with two Group 1 winners; Miracles Of Life (Not A Single Doubt) and Espiona (Extreme Choice).

Boutique babies

Australia is also home to a number boutique broodmare farms who send their mares off to a variety of stallions. Such as Two Bays Farm whose Rob Carlile said that they “have a lovely bunch of foals this year.”

Such as “a beautiful, athletic” filly by Zoustar out of the G3 Pam O'Neill S. winner Nudge (Fastnet Rock).

“She is very tall, she moves very well and she has a great attitude,” he said of the filly bred on the same successful Zoustar/Fastnet Rock cross as the Group 1 winners Zougotcha, Joliestar and Climbing Star.

Boasting duplications of the terrific mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Sans Tares (GB) (Sind {GB}), she is a granddaughter of the triple Listed winner Julinsky Princess (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).

Second to Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the 2021 G1 Tattersall's Tiara, Nudge is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Julinsky Prince (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). This filly is her second foal and her first filly is an entry in the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 360.

Carlile is a fan of Swettenham Stud's reliable stallion Toronado (Ire) and Two Bays Farm is home to two “very good moving, strong bodied colts with great bone,” sons of the city winner Foxpack (Foxwedge) and the imported stakes placed four time winner Spin Me A Kiss (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}).

Bred on the same Toronado/Fastnet Rock cross as Helios Express who charged home late behind boom sprinter Kai Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in the G1 Hong Kong International Sprint on Sunday, the first colt is out of a three-quarter sister to the Listed winner Kentucky Miss (Foxwedge) out of a daughter of the imported dual stakes winner Twelve Pack Shelly (USA) (Deputy Storm {USA}).

Gallery: The Toronado (Ire) x Spin Me A Kiss (USA) (colt), image courtesy of Two Bays Farm

He is the third foal for Foxpack whose second by Street Boss (USA) is in the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale having been sold at this year's Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale for $230,000.

The second colt's dam Spin Me A Kiss also has a Toronado yearling who was sold for $140,000 at the Great Southern. Her first foal Brazen Diva (Brazen Beau) won a jump-out for the Greg Eurell stable last month.

Carlile is also happy with a “really sharp, very attractive" Rubick filly out of the two time winner Excelsior Island (Exceed And Excel) whose half-brother Warhorse (NZ) was NZ Champion 2Y0.

Sentiment in breeding

There is a great deal of sentiment in breeding horses, soft spots for those who have done particuarly well for a farm. Little wonder that the four-time Group winner Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai), who was in good form over the spring, is a favourite of Miranda Park's Gary O'Meara.

And he was excited by the arrival, in late September, of her full brother.

“I could not be happier with him,” he enthused. “He has size and strength, and he is well-proportioned and correct.”

Sirileo Miss was at first a disappointment for O'Meara who had hoped she'd fetch more than the $60,000 she did at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. But he was able to remain in the ownership and what a great job she has done for her happy owners amassing over $1.03 million in prizemoney.

A half-sister to the Listed-winning juvenile Spectrolite (Stratum), Sirileo Miss' dam She's Sirius (Galileo {Ire}) has produced another six winners including the stakes placed Sophia's Choice (Fastnet Rock). Her yearling filly by Hanseatic is a member of Miranda Park's Inglis Melbourne Premier draft (Lot 459).

On the back of She's Sirius' success, O'Meara is understandably a fan of Galileo (Ire) mares and he is also happy with the Lucky Vega (Ire) colt produced by his imported daughter Khatereh (GB), a full sister to the four-time Group winner Kite Wood (Ire).

“From one of Coolmore's best families, he is a very athletic colt with good size and scope.”

Attending stallion parades to keep an eye on young stallions, O'Meara had his eye caught by Widden Stud Victoria's Group 3-winning Snitzel horse Bruckner and he is thrilled with the foal produced by the Group 2-placed Silk Belt (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}).

Gallery: Image courtesy of Miranda Park

Bred on highly successful Redoute's Choice/Last Tycoon (Ire) cross that has produced 16 Group 1 winners, “he is an absolute belter of a colt!”

“I could not be more impressed. He has great presence and very fluid movement.”

Silk Belt's yearling colt by Headwater is another heading to the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 756.

Another horse by a young stallion in Fierce Impact (Jpn) has O'Meara excited, describing a filly out of Amphlett (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) as “a gorgeous filly who is well balanced and very strong. She has a lovely action, she floats around the paddock.”

Her city-winning dam has already been represented by five runners, all winners with four of those successful at metropolitan level including the Hong Kong based Regent Glory. Amphlett is a half-sister to the Listed winner Atlantic Waves (Ire) from the family of the G1 Epsom Derby hero Pour Moi (Ire).

The stars of Cambridge

The bigger studs also have their favourite mares and it will come as no surprise that the New Zealand Horse of the Year Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is much loved by everyone at Cambridge Stud.

The four-time Group 1 winner foaled a filly by Cambridge Stud's Almanzor (Fr) last year and chosen for her second mate was Arrowfield Stud's stalwart Snitzel.

“There is an added sense of expectation when it comes to Probabeel,” Cambridge's Scott Calder said. “So it's just so satisfying to have another healthy filly on the ground this year.”

“Neither of Probabeel's foals have been particularly big, but they are good bodied and very attractive. There is no doubt they have a bit of x-factor about them. And this filly is certainly bred to be a champion!”

Calder continues to be happy with the progeny sired by Almanzor and he has two favourites this year, both fillies out of daughters of Fastnet Rock who is doing such a grand job as a broodmare sire; 15 Group 1 winners amongst 132 stakes winners.

“I love the Almanzor/Fastnet Rock cross,” he said, one which has already produced the stakes winner Unanimous Consent (GB) in America.

“Almanzor thrives with mares from the Danehill line, many of his stakes winners (10 of his 22) have Danehill in their pedigrees and physically I think the two lines complement each other very well.”

“Almanzor is a beautiful horse with plenty of leg and the substance of Fastnet Rock suits him.”

These statements show how much thought goes into mating plans and it is always satisfying when the end product pleases, Calder noting that the cross he planned on has yielded “two very nice foals.”

Both of them being fillies, daughters of Elegant Achiever (Fastnet Rock) who has already produced the dual Group 3 winner Luberon (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) and Word Games (Fastnet Rock) whose exciting son El Castello (Castelvecchio) created a big impression over the spring carnival winning the G1 Spring Champion S. and the G3 Gloaming S.

Gallery: Two of Cambridge Stud's Almanzor foals, image courtesy of Cambridge Stud

“Luberon is a very fast filly we race here in New Zealand, one who we hope can measure up in the Group 1 sprints later in the season. This filly has the typical Almanzor quality, but her dam has provided plenty of substance and muscle to go with it.”

“The Word Games filly has thrown more to the sire and is an attractive, finer type. Given she's a half to a Spring Champion winner you would have to think she has good prospects as a staying filly.”

The pedigree of the Elegant Achiever is particularly interesting, she being bred on the same Wootton Bassett (GB)/Cape Cross (Ire) cross as the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), one which provides for a cross of the high-class race and broodmare Park Appeal (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}); grandam of Iffraaj (GB) and dam of Cape Cross.

Whilst Probabeel is the star mare at Cambridge, another in Las Brisas (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) is in the spotlight with her colt by resident stallion Sword Of State “the only foal on the farm who rivals Probabeel's in terms of celebrity!”

“He has been followed from birth by the Guerin Report here on Trackside TV. Its worked out well as her son Ceolwulf has won two Group 1 races since he was born.”

“Physically this colt is a very good representative of his sire. We've found the Sword Of State foals are very consistent. They are well built, powerful foals who look a lot more precocious than what we would normally produce here.”

Another young Cambridge horse in Hello Youmzain (Fr) also has Calder excited an he is very happy with the colt out of the imported mare Anchovy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) whose dam is a half-sister to the star galloper Duke Of Marmalade (Ire).

“Anchovy is passing on the quality you expect from the Galileo line,” Calder said.

“We've found she crosses very well with the Danehill line on type,” he said, noting that her Fastnet Rock colt, the promising West Indies, fetched $525,000 at the Magic Millions.

“And she has a very nice Hello Youmzain to Magics (Lot 154) again next year. This foal is an athletic type and he moves particularly well which is a hallmark of Hello Youmzain's stock.”

Hopefully there are some good ones to follow amongst this group of favourite foals for 2024!