3 minute read
Changing of the Guard.
In recent years, there has been a growing concern in the breeding sector of the trotting industry that bloodlines are becoming dominated by 'super-sires' such as Ready Cash and Love You. A glance at the top ten stallions by earnings for the last five raced generations (E to J) would only confirm suspicions with Ready Cash topping the table in four of the five years. However, the standings for the 'J' generation would indicate a changing of the guard with the super-sire currently in twelfth.
There is little doubt the influence of Ready Cash continues to spread. Many of the top ten 'J' stallions are sired by the champion. Charly du Noyer currently heads the rankings with the Group Two winning Jamaica Turbo as his main standard-bearer in the generation. Prodigious continues to feature in the top ten represented by Jet Set Bond, winner of the G3 Prix Marcel Dejean (2200m) as a two-year-old. However, breeders are clearly looking to younger (and perhaps cheaper) options for their sire choices with new faces such as Eridan and Django Riff emerging. We take a closer look at some of these new stallions:
Eridan (Ready Cash)
Standing in at Haras de Trotteurs in Australia for AU$9700, Eridan won the G1 Criterium Continental (2100m) in 2018 and achieved a further five victories in Group Two company. Although unlikely to make an impact in France for the foreseeable future as one of Haras de Trotteur's up-and-coming sires, he produced 39 qualifiers from 69 foals in the J generation (44.3%). His leading offspring is Jaguar Wit who was placed in the G3 Prix Timoko (2200m) at Vincennes in early December. Haras des Trotteurs mission is to 'provide the very best European trotting bloodlines'.
Django Riff (Ready Cash)
Touted as a star in the breeding industry, Django Riff currently tops the 'J' generation rankings (at time of writing: February 2022). Standing for a mere 4000 euros at Haras de Bouttemont, the G1 Prix Albert Viel (2700m) winner has enjoyed a successful start to the new breeding season with 51.6% qualifiers. His top horse is multiple Group Two winning filly Jazzy Perrine, who impressed with her easy victory in the G2 Prix Roquepine (2700m) on Grand Prix d'Amérique weekend.
Dollar Macker (Coktail Jet)
Advertised as the 'perfect out-cross' for daughters of Ready Cash, Dollar Macker is likely to prove popular with breeders looking to dilute the dominance of Ready Cash. A three-time winner as a juvenile, it is unsurprising that the chestnut is producing precocious offspring. Although he would be best known as the sire of mounted star Ici C'est Paris (G2 Prix Raoul Balliere(2175m)), his 'J' generation are also catching the eye. Joyner Sport has placed multiple times at Group Two level and has the potential to improve further.
Ecu Pierji (Tucson)
Successful in the 2017 renewal of the G1 Prix de l'Etoile (2150m), Ecu Pierji was comparatively lightly raced with only twenty starts over a three-season career. He has produced 23 qualifiers in the 'J' generation including winners Jeridia Menuet and Jazz Up. Ecu Pierji's best form undoubtedly came during his three-year-old campaign, and it would be no surprise to see his 'J' generation flourish in the upcoming year.
Dragon des Racques (Love You)
With an impressive qualifying rate of 55.2% (16 qualifiers from 29 offspring), Dragon des Racques deserves a mention as a possible stallion to follow. Winner of the G3 Prix de Given and Prix de Faulquemont at Vincennes, the stallion is an affordable option at 2000 euros. Although yet to sire a winner in the 'J' generation, it seems only a matter of time before his name becomes more familiar in the breeding sector.