New Sires 2026

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Bloodstock special New sires for 2026

Meet the class of 2026

Our Team

Charmein Phelan

Head of Bloodstock Racing Post & ANZ News charmein.phelan @racingpost.com

Editorial Lydia Symonds

Global bloodstock editor

For all your editorial stories, ideas or feedback, please feel free to email lydia.symonds @racingpost.com racingpost.com/bloodstock

Contents

Pages 2-8 A to Z of Britain and Ireland’s new sires

Page 6 Martin Stevens chats to Ed Harper about Whitsbury’s new recruit

Pages 9 Kitty Trice takes a look at the French

newcomers

Pages 10-11 David Appleton tells Mary-Jo Jackson about Darley’s quality new trio

Kitty Trice runs the rule over this year’s new names on the roster

Aesterius Age 4; Colour bay; Pedigree Mehmas - Jane Doe (Hallowed Crown); Standing at Bearstone Stud ; Price £6,500; Racing Post; Rating high of 108

A typically precocious and pacy son of Mehmas, Aesterius joins Group 1-producing sires Dream Ahead and Washington DC at Bearstone Stud this year.

The £380,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale graduate was a tough and talented juvenile for Archie Watson and Wathnan Racing, winning his debut by a comfortable two and three-quarter lengths on at Bath in May before landing his first stakes contest in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown after a fifth-placed effort in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The colt was a close-up second to 2025 Sprint Cup hero Big Mojo in the Molecomb Stakes before capturing a maiden Group score in the Prix d’Arenberg at Longchamp that September. His career highlight came just 12 days later when reversing the form with Big Mojo in the Flying Childers Stakes. He was then far from disgraced when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at the end of the year.

Arizona Blaze 4, Bay, Sergei ProkofievLiberisque (Equiano), Irish National Stud, €12,500, 121

Another hard-knocking and high-class performer, Arizona Blaze showed admirable

consistency during his 17-race career, winning six times and placing in a further eight.

The son of Sergei Prokofiev had nine starts at two for Adrian Murray and Amo Racing, never finishing worse than fourth.

He won on the opening day of the Irish Flat turf season at the Curragh and followed on from a Listed second to fellow newcomer Whistlejacket to defeat subsequent dual Group 1 winner and Classic hero Camille Pissarro in the Marble Hill Stakes. He notched up four further Pattern placings including a half-length second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, while he also finished third in the Phoenix Stakes.

The likeable colt made a winning start at three on the

all-weather at Dundalk the following spring and went on to land three further Grouprace victories, including the Flying Five and Sapphire Stakes, both at the Curragh. He was also a narrow second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Camille Pissarro

4, Brown,Wootton BassettEntreat (Pivotal), Coolmore, €30,000, 119

A Group 1-winning juvenile and Prix du Jockey Club hero by the much-missed Wootton Bassett, Camille Pissarro ranks among the most exciting new stallion recruits this season.

Bought by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1.25 million guineas at Tattersalls Book 1, the colt bears a

remarkable physical similarity to his sire - and clearly inherited his talent too.

Camille Pissarro emulated his father with a victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, defeating the likes of Coventry Stakes victor Rashabar and fellow subsequent Classic heroes Field Of Gold and Henri Matisse.

A half-brother to Commonwealth Cup and Richmond Stakes victor Golden Horde, the four-yearold returned last year to finish third behind Henri Matisse in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, before going on to claim his own Classic laurels in the Prix du Jockey Club. He sustained a career-ending injury when a respectable fourth behind another new Coolmore recruit in Delacroix in the Eclipse.

Delacroix

4, Bay, Dubawi - Tepin (Bernstein), Coolmore, €40,000, 127

An important recruit to Coolmore’s ranks on account of being an outcross by Dubawi and out of brilliant American champion Tepin, Delacroix is also the most expensive of the trio at €40,000. With his physique, pedigree and race record, it is hard to argue that his fee isn’t excellent value.

Delacroix broke his maiden on his second start at two at the Curragh in August 2024 and went on to claim Group success in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket before posting a narrow second in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

He won two Derby trials in emphatic fashion the following

spring and bounced back from a defeat in the Epsom Classic to land the Eclipse, producing a sensational turn of foot to beat the top-class Ombudsman in the process.

After a second to that rival in the Juddmonte International, he showed his ability again in the Irish Champion Stakes when seeing off a quality field with another potent turn of foot. He concluded his career with a fourth in the Champion Stakes.

A half-brother to fellow Group 1 winner Grateful with the pair both being out of Tepin, a daughter of Bernstein who sold to MV Magnier for $8 million at Fasig-Tipton, Delacroix is undoubtedly one of the shining stars of the 2026 intake of new sires.

NEW SIREIN2026

Diego Velazquez

5, Bay; Frankel - Sweepstake (Acclamation), National Stud, £17,500, 121

Diego Velazquez arrived at the National Stud as a highly attractive proposition, being a 2.4 million guineas yearling purchase by Frankel and a Group winner at two, three and four, including the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Purchased by Magnier and White Birch from Croom House Stud at Book 1, Diego Velazquez originally sported the silks of the Coolmore partners to land the Champions Juvenile Stakes at two. He returned at three with a close-up fourth in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and, after attempts over longer trips,

Aesterius

Won Gr.2 Flying Childers Stakes, 5f, beating Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Magnum Force & Gr.1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Big Mojo “…showing bags of speed as usual…”

Timeform

Won Gr.3 Prix d’Arenberg, 5f

Won L Dragon Stakes, 5f

“Aesterius is a gorgeous looking colt with brilliant speed and a willing attitude. With his proven class, temperament and sire Mehmas’s record for producing top juveniles, he looks every inch an exciting young stallion prospect.”

Richard Brown, on behalf of Wathnan Racing

“He’ll be getting around 25 of our very speedy mares, including some of the best.”

Terry Holdcroft, Bearstone Stud

(0)1630 647197

+44 (0)7974 948755 - Mark Pennell

Bearstone Stud The source of speed

Fee: £6,500 Oct 1st SLF A few competitive breeding rights available

Bloodstock special New sires for 2026

found his niche as a high-class miler when completing the season with wins in the Solonaway and Meld Stakes. He landed another Grouprace win on his second start at four last year in the Minstrel Stakes, before carrying the iconic Sangster silks in his career-defining victory in the time-honoured Prix Jacques le Marois in August after he was purchased by Sam Sangster Bloodstock.

The now five-year-old is a three-parts brother to fellow top-level victor Broome and multiple Group winner and Group 1-placed Point Lonsdale, while the further family includes Group 1 winner and sire Zoffany.

Electrolyte

4, Bay, Hello YoumzainBibury (Royal Applause), Norton Grove Stud, £3,000, 103

The first son of Haras d’Etreham’s exciting up-andcomer Hello Youmzain to retire to stud, Electrolyte joins the Norton Grove team as a smart prospect for breeders. From the smart family of Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage and a half-sibling to Group scorer Calderon, the four-year-old inherited plenty of his sire’s pace and precocity.

Trained by Archie Watson for Wathnan Racing, the £220,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up purchase got off the mark at the first attempt when comfortably scoring at Ayr that June. He was narrowly denied by Rashabar in the Coventry Stakes before snaring his own Group success in the Prix

saw him defeat subsequent Classic hero Camille Pissarro, as well as high-class performers Cool Hoof Luke, Symbol Of Honour and Cowardofthecounty.

Elite Status

5, Bay, Havana Grey - Dotted Swiss (Swiss Spirit), Whitsbury Manor Stud, £8,000, 119

The highest-rated performer by the brilliant Havana Grey, Elite Status is the latest of his sire’s sons to head to stud and will stand alongside his father at Whitsbury Manor Stud, where he was bred.

A 325,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 purchase by Karl and Kelly Burke, Elite Status sported the silks of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid to Group and Listed victories at two and three. His juvenile success was spearheaded by his victory in the Prix de Cabourg and he added the Carnarvon and Hackwood Stakes to his record the following campaign. In the latter contest he defeated rivals who included Group 1 winners Kind Of Blue and Regional, while he twice ran the fastest six furlongs ever recorded at Newbury.

A brother to Listed-winning two-year-old Soldier’s Heart and from the same family as Diego Velazquez, Elite Status should be warmly received by commercial breeders and he will also undoubtedly have plenty of home support to boot.

Henri Matisse

4, Bay, Wootton BassettImmortal Verse (Pivotal), Castlehyde, €20,000, 119 Henri Matisse (pictured below), another top-class son of Wootton Bassett, will join the Castlehyde roster this year, and is another with impeccable credentials who will attempt to follow in his late sire’s footsteps. Out of multiple Group 1 winner and seven-figure Tattersalls December Mare Sale purchase Immortal Verse, he is notably a halfbrother to champion twoyear-old Tenebrism - a winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes and Prix Jean Prat - as well as unbeaten Group 2-winning juvenile Statuette. Henri Matisse was himself a top-class juvenile, winning on his track bow at the Curragh that May before capturing the Railway Stakes on his next outing. The bay added a second Group 2 score to his name in the Futurity Stakes before going on to Grade 1 success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November.

return before winning the Poule d’Essai des Poulains in course record time. He was also second to Field Of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes and third in the Sussex Stakes.

Inisherin

5, Bay, Shamardal - Ajman Princess (Teofilo), Dalham Hall Stud, £12,500, 120 One of two new recruits to Darley this year who hail from the fabulous Reem Three family – following in the footsteps of Triple Time –Inisherin is also by the late, great Shamardal, so it is a pedigree which is hard to fault.

The son of Prix Jean Romanet scorer Ajman Princess began his racing career with a second-placed finish at Newmarket on his debut in the September of his two-year-old season.

He defeated subsequent Group 1 heroine Kalpana on the Newcastle all-weather in March of his three-year-old year, pulling clear by three and a half lengths.

A respectable sixth to Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas, Inisherin was dropped back to sprint trips and went on from victory in the Sandy Lane Stakes to a decisive win in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. He also captured the Duke Of York Stakes at four the following season.

As a grandson of blue hen Reem Three, he is therefore closely related to fellow Darley stallions Triple Time and Rosallion, the latter also new to the Dalham Hall roster for 2026. Ajman Princess is also the dam of 2025 Strensall Stakes scorer King Of Cities and there is every chance of further black-type updates in this coming campaign.

Lead Artist 5, Bay, Dubawi - Obligate (Frankel), Banstead Manor Stud, £12,500, 122

As a threeyear-old, Henri Matisse won the Leopardstown Guineas trial on

Lead Artist is a typically blueblooded Juddmonte homebred being a son of a Group 2-winning granddaughter of blue hen Hasili and by the brilliant Dubawi, whose sons are in huge demand. They are led by British and Irish champion sire Night Of Thunder, who is bred on the Dubawi-Galileo cross and Lead Artist himself is bred on a variation of that nick, being out of the high-class Frankel mare Obligate.

Like Night Of Thunder, Lead Artist claimed victory in a strong renewal of the Lockinge Stakes. The colt defeated three Guineas winners in Notable Speech, Rosallion, multiple Group 1 winner Fallen Angel and Sun Chariot Stakes heroine Tamfana.

Lead Artist was a winner on his second start at three, striking at York by just over four lengths, and he claimed two Group wins later that term in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Darley Stakes.

From the stallion-making

family of former Juddmonte champion sire Dansili, as well as top-level scorers and sires Cacique and Champs Elysees among many other top-flight performers.

Los Angeles

5, Brown; CamelotFrequential (Dansili), Castlehyde Stud, €7,500, 124 A Group 1 winner at two, three and four, Los Angeles retires to Coolmore’s National Hunt ranks as a well-credentialed, well-bred son of 2024 European champion sire Camelot.

An imposing horse with plenty of scope and power, Los Angeles made two starts as a juvenile, following up a Tipperary maiden score that September with victory in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud the following month.

He landed the Leopardstown Derby Trial on his seasonal comeback in May and followed up a fine third behind City Of Troy in the Derby, before securing a Classic success in the Irish equivalent. He next captured the Great Voltigeur Stakes and was also a close-up fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes. He was also third in the Arc that autumn. His two victories last term came in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Mooresbridge Stakes. Out of the Dansili mare Frequential - the same cross as 2024 Arc heroine Bluestocking - the brother to Group performed winners Be Happy and Hector De Maris, Los Angeles also hails from the formidable family of Allegretta, Urban Sea, Galileo and Sea The Stars.

NEW STALLIONS IN BRITAIN

Kyprios

8, Chestnut, Galileo - Polished Gem (Danehill, The Beeches Stud, €5,000, 128 One of the greatest stayers of his - or any - generation, Kyprios retires to Coolmore’s National Hunt ranks with a formidable racing CV to go alongside one of the best pedigrees in the stud book. A winner of 17 of his 21 starts, including two Gold Cups, two Goodwood Cups and two Prix du Cadrans, Kyprios achieved his RPR best of 128 when landing the 2022 Prix du Cadran by an astonishing 20 lengths. That victory saw him defeat highclass rivals such as Princess Zoe and Quickthorn, while his regular sparring matches and wins over Stradivarius were

Continues

NEW FROM THE SHAMARDAL LINE CHAMPIONS

The

Even

Whitsbury Manor banking on a home advantage with exciting newcomer Elite Status

By Martin Stevens

WHITSBURY MANOR STUD’S

two most recent stallion signings are very much in the mould of its past offerings. Both Elite Status, who joined the Hampshire farm this year, and Dragon Symbol, who retired there in 2024, were high-class sprinters and are being offered to the market at competitive fees.

Elite Status, by Whitsbury Manor’s own hotshot sire Havana Grey and a brother to Listed-winning two-year-old Soldier’s Heart, was a 325,000gns yearling who was sent out by Karl Burke to win the National Stakes and Prix de Cabourg at two and the Carnarvon and Hackwood Stakes at three. He beat topnotchers Lake Forest, Kind Of Blue and Regional in the lastnamed race.

Dragon Symbol meanwhile is a Cable Bay half-brother to Sandy Lane Stakes winner Symbol Of Honour who finished first past the post in the Commonwealth Cup and found only Starman too good in the July Cup. He also ran

second to Suesa in the King George Stakes and third behind Winter Power in the Nunthorpe.

What is unusual about Whitsbury Manor’s young guns, though, is that they were both born and raised at the operation, when none of its other residents of recent times were similarly homegrown.

Former stalwart Cadeaux Genereux spent some time there in his formative years, but was foaled at his breeder Bobby Kennard’s farm.

The occurrence is no coincidence: as stud director Ed Harper (pictured below) explains, Elite Status and Dragon Symbol were targeted precisely because they were homebreds.

“We don’t race our own colts like the bigger operations, we have to sell everything we produce as foals or yearlings, so we’re usually going after stallion prospects who were bred elsewhere,” he says. “But in the last few years we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to buy back some of our homebred colts who flourished on the racecourse for other people.

“It’s an enormous advantage, as it takes some of the peril out of getting a new stallion. You already know something about his and his family’s physical and mental traits, which he might pass on to his foals, whereas you’re usually buying blind.”

Harper gives the frank example of two former Whitsbury Manor Stud residents who he might not have stood if he had known more about their characters.

He says: “We knew that Sakhee’s Secret and Foxwedge were top of the pops on the track, one in Britain and the other in Australia, as they had the Group 1 victories and high ratings to prove it, but we didn’t know much about them otherwise.

“When we did get to know them and their offspring some more, we soon realised that the Sakhee’s Secrets were soft and the Foxwedges were stubborn. We only came to know that too late, but that’s the chance that stallion masters have to take.”

Conversely, Havana Grey –who has 57 black-type performers and counting, with his first more expensively bred crop set to race this year – was more a stroke of luck. He was bred by Mickley Stud and Lady Lonsdale and trained by Burke, so Harper had no hands-on experience of him before he struck the deal to stand him.

“There’s no point asking the people you’re hoping to buy a stallion prospect from, as of course you’ll only hear positive reviews,” adds Harper. “That’s no criticism of anyone, that’s the nature of trading horses. But as soon as Havana Grey arrived at Whitsbury Manor it was obvious he was made of the right stuff.

“He was lunging to get a pick of grass as soon as he was coming off the ramp of the lorry. That’s what he is: a tough, competitive horse, and he has passed those attributes

down to his offspring. His foals are always first at the feed trough, too.”

So, what were Whitsbury Manor’s homebred new recruits like as youngsters? What prompted him to snap them up and bring them back to their birthplace?

“Dragon Symbol stayed here until he was a yearling, when we sold him to good judges in Mags O’Toole and Norman Williamson, and he was always the most straightforward soul,” says Harper. “Anyone could lead him, he was just a lovely horse to know.

“His foals have the same simple, willing attitude and that probably helped them so well last year. In the last few years we’ve decided to push the foals just a little more in their prep, to do a bit more work with them, to keep up with other consignors who present their lots so well. The Dragon Symbols dealt with it all extremely easily.

“Elite Status was sold as a foal, but he made a big impression in the short time he was here. He was just one of those beautiful, strong, strapping young horses that always stand out in the field. It wasn’t a surprise he did what he did on the track.”

Naturally, Harper also knows more about the families of Dragon Symbol and Elite Status than he would about a stallion prospect bred elsewhere.

“Dad [Chris Harper] bought Good Enough, the granddam of Dragon Symbol, in the late 1990s,” he says. “She was Group 1-placed herself and became an excellent producer for us, breeding a lot of winners including Oasis Dancer, who was high-class, as well as the dam of Funny Story and Laugh A Minute. Dragon Symbol’s dam Arcamist was a winner who has produced two highclass horses now, so we’re very fond of her.

“Elite Status’s dam Dotted Swiss wasn’t bred by us, but she was from Swiss Spirit’s first crop so we made sure to look out for her, and she was a real dinger as a young horse. She stood out as a fantastic yearling at Doncaster and it was no surprise that Peter and Ross Doyle bought her to go to Richard Hannon.

“Remembering what a stunning yearling she was, we followed her racing career closely afterwards. She won three times for Richard and, fortunately, we were able to buy her privately when she retired. She’s clicked brilliantly with Havana Grey, producing Elite Status and Soldier’s Heart, and she goes to him every year now.”

Harper reports that Elite Status is nearly full – “we’re having to take our own mares off the list to put new ones on,” says Harper – and that Dragon Symbol is going well too. “It’s been easier to fill him this year than it was in his first season, as his first foals sold so well at the end of last year,” he adds.

YOU ALREADY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT HIS AND HIS FAMILY’S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TRAITS, WHICH HE MIGHT PASS ON TO HIS FOALS, WHEREAS YOU’RE USUALLY BUYING BLIND. ED HARPER

Elite Status and Dragon Symbol aren’t guaranteed to be successful just because they happen to have been bred at the stud at which they now stand, but you can see what Harper is thinking: better to have a horse whose personality and pedigree you know, than one who might have been talented on the track but comes with character defects.

“It just cuts out a significant element of risk,” he concludes.

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Have you added the new sires for 2025 to your tracker yet? including but not limited to: Aesop’s Fables, Al Hakeem, Arrest, Auguste Rodin, Big Evs, Big Rock, Bradsell, Bucanero Fuerte, Charyn, City Of Troy, Eldar Eldarov, Fantastic Moon, Feed The Flame, Go Bears Go, Henry Longfellow, Isaac Shalby, King Of Steel, Look De Vega, Metropolitan, Millsteam, My Prospero, Nietzsche Has, Puchkine, River Tiber, Sakheer, Shouldhavebeenaring, Vandeek, Zagrey.

Bloodstock special New sires for 2026

From page 4

among further highlights of his brilliant career.

Moyglare’s champion homebred is out of the blue hen Polished Gem, making him a brother to dual Irish St Leger heroine, as well as a close relation of Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor Free Eagle and six black-type winners or performers.

The eight-year-old is more than deserving of receiving his fair share of Flat mares and here’s hoping breeders give him that chance.

Magnum Force

4, Bay, Mehmas - Tropical Rock (Fastnet Rock), Ballyhane Stud, €7,500, 113

Another high-class son of Mehmas to join the British and Irish stallion ranks for this year, Magnum Force retires as a smart prospect to Ballyhane Stud.

The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Isa Al-Khalifa homebred struck on his second outing as a juvenile when scoring comfortably at Cork that August. He stepped forward with a neck second in the Roses Stakes at York, a performance he followed up with a third behind fellow new sire Aesterius and Big Mojo in the Flying Childers Stakes. His career highlight undoubtedly came when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar that November, beating another fellow new stallion in Arizona Blaze, as well as Big Mojo and Prix Morny victor Whistlejacket. Also behind him that day was Aesterius, as well as Norfolk Stakes victor Shareholder.

Maranoa Charlie

4, Bay, Wootton BassettKoubalibre (Galileo), Tally-Ho Stud, €20,000, 120 Tally-Ho Stud has picked up another son of the star-crossed Wootton Bassett with the Prix de la Foret scorer Maranoa Charlie joining the powerpacked roster.

The four-year-old made his significant talents clear straight away with a comfortable score on his debut in a valuable Arqana Series race at Deauville. He followed that up with an eight-length victory in the Prix Thomas Bryon, having won a Chantilly conditions event by the same margin beforehand.

He returned at three to capture a second Group 3 in the Prix Djebel, before adding a third two starts later when winning the Prix Paul de Moussac. Two narrow Group 1 placings followed in the Prix Jean Prat and City Of York Stakes, Maranoa Charlie then produced a powerful frontrunning win in the Prix de la Foret on Arc day at Longchamp, defeating Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Zarigana, as well as Prix Maurice de Gheest victor Sajir in the process.

Maranoa Charlie is bred on the potent Wootton BassettGalileo cross being out of Koubalibre, a half-sister to champion two-year-old filly and Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Tiggy Wiggy. He is standing at a stud which launched the brilliant Starman last year and he is sure to prove highly popular.

Rosallion

5, Bay, Blue Point - Rosaline (New Approach), Dalham Hall Stud, £40,000, 124

The late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s legacy to bloodstock will be felt for decades to come, not least among the Darley ranks with three of his homebreds joining the allconquering Dubawi. One of the two newcomers to have sported his silks to top-level success is Rosallion, a Group 1 winner at two and Classic hero at three who was unlucky not to add further top-level laurels last term at four with several fast-finishing places.

Another grandson of blue hen Reem Three, being out of her unraced New Approach daughter Rosaline, Rosallion is highest-rated performer both on RPRs and official ratings for Darley’s immensely exciting young sire Blue Point.

Rosallion struck on his debut at Newbury in June of his juvenile year before running away with a red-hot edition of the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot, among his conquered rivals were subsequent Group 1-winning two-year-olds Sunway and Ancient Wisdom, as well as the Dewhurst runnerup Alyanaabi. He bounced back from Champagne Stakes defeat to land the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere from subsequent Breeders’ Cup scorer and fellow new sire recruit Unquestionable.

NEW STALLIONS IN IRELAND

Rosallion built on a 2,000 Guineas second to Notable Speech with his own Classic win in the Irish equivalent and displayed a pulsating turn of foot to nail Henry Longfellow in a strong edition of the St James’s Palace.

Unfortunately Rosallion missed the rest of the season due to a respiratory infection, although he returned last year at four with some fine efforts in defeat. They included neck seconds in the Queen Anne, Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin. He now heads to stud as an exciting prospect for Darley and European breeders alike.

Royal Scotsman

6, Bay, Gleneagles - Enrol (Pivotal), Genesis Green Stud, £6,000, 117

The highest-rated two-year-old to retire to stud in Britain this year, courtesy of his recordbreaking Richmond Stakes victory and narrow Dewhurst second, Royal Scotsman takes up residence at Genesis Green Stud.

A son of Gleneagles and Pivotal mare Enrol, making him a three-parts sibling to Hong Kong Group scorer Encountered, the six-year-old is a welcome addition to the British stallion ranks.

He was a high-class juvenile for Paul and Oliver Cole, winning by five lengths on his

second start at Goodwood that May before finishing third to Bradsell in the Coventry. He landed his first Group score in the Richmond back at Goodwood and was a neck second to subsequent 2,000 Guineas hero Chaldean in the Dewhurst that autumn.

Royal Scotsman trained on to finish third in the 2,000 Guineas the following spring, while he also landed the Diomed Stakes at Epsom the following year.

Scorthy Champ

4, Chestnut, Mehmas - Fidaaha (New Approach), Barton Stud, £8,500, 113

Barton Stud welcomes a juvenile Group 1-winning son of Mehmas and the flashy looking chestnut has the physique and pedigree to match his high-class two-yearold form.

The colt was a two-length winner at Leopardstown on his debut that May, a performance he followed up with a third behind Henri Matisse in the Futurity Stakes. He reversed the form with that rival when defeating him in the National Stakes at the Curragh. Aside from that subsequent Classicwinning rival, Scorthy Champ also got the better of high-class performers Seagulls Eleven, Aomori City and Cowardofthecounty.

The four-year-old is out of the New Approach mare Fidaaha, making him a brother to two Group winners in Malavath and Knight. The former won the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at two and was also second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Prix de la Foret. Knight, meanwhile, captured the Horris Hill Stakes as a juvenile before placing second in the Celebration Mile the following season.

Shadow Of Light 4, Chestnut, Lope De VegaWinters Moon (New Approach), Kildangan Stud, €17,500, 119

Shadow Of Light is one of only three horses to pull off the Middle Park-Dewhurst double since 1980 and he shapes as a hugely exciting new recruit for Darley’s Kildangan Stud.

A similar type to his sire Lope De Vega as a strong chestnut with plenty of physical presence, Shadow Of Light was a champion twoyear-old who hails from a family replete with top-class juvenile talent. He is out of the New Approach mare Winters Moon, who was third behind City Of Troy’s dam Together Forever in the Fillies’ Mile.

Winters Moon is also the dam of Prix Morny and Middle Park victor Earthlight and Wild Desert, a son of Too Darn Hot who was second in last year’s Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine. His page also traces back to Venetian Sun, winner of last year’s Prix Morny, Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Albany Stakes.

Shadow Of Light won his first two starts at two at Yarmouth and Newmarket before finishing a three-quarter length second to Cool Hoof Luke in the Gimcrack Stakes at York.

He then produced a potent performance when defeating Prix Morny victor Whistlejacket in the Middle Park and then followed up with a brave display in the Dewhurst.

Shadow Of Light further demonstrated his liking for the Rowley Mile when finishing a length third to stablemate Ruling Court and Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas, while he was also a half-length fourth in the Prix Jean Prat.

Topgear

7, Black, Wootton Bassett - Miss Lech (Giant’s Causeway); Capital Stud, €7,500, 120 Topgear is yet another son of Coolmore’s late titan to head for stud duties this year and he also holds excellent credentials for his second career. He was unbeaten as a two-year-old for Christopher Head, with his three wins

concluding in Group-race success in the Prix Eclipse, while he bounced back from a broken pelvis to win three more Pattern contests as an older performer. The highlight came when trouncing Group 1 rivals in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, pulling five and a half lengths clear of Royal Scotsman. The following spring he defeated subsequent Prix Maurice de Gheest victor Sajir in the Prix du PalaisRoyal at Longchamp. He is out of a Giant’s Causeway half-sister to American Grade 2 winner Guilt Trip and the family also includes Prix du Conseil de Paris winner and Group 1-placed juvenile Majorien.

Unquestionable

5, Bay, Wootton BassettStrawberry Lace (Sea The Stars), Rathbarry Stud, €10,000, 113

Unquestionable rates another attractive new stallion prospect by Wootton Bassett as a Breeders’ Cup-winning juvenile who hails from the fabled Best In Show family of top-level-winning sires Bated Breath and Cityscape. The bay started his career in Listed company when a fine third in the First Flier Stakes and he duly broke his maiden on his following start with a four and a length quarter strike at the Curragh. He stepped up to Group company thereafter and the highlights came that autumn when a second to Rosallion in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere was followed by victory in the Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. He also finished fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes a three.

Unquestionable is out of the Sea The Stars mare Strawberry Lace and comes from the famous Juddmonte family which has not only produced Cityscape and Bated Breath, but also the likes of Logician, Whitebeam and Estrange, among many other top-class performers.

HARAS D’ETREHAM

welcomes Lope De Vega’s multiple Group-winning and Group 1-placed son Beauvatier to its roster.

The five-year-old was a Group winner or performer from two to four-years-old, headlined by his comfortable victory in last year’s Challenge Stakes. He captured the Prix la Rochette at two and was also third to Rosallion in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while he placed in three Group 1s the following season, namely the Prix Jean Prat, Maurice de Gheest and Prix de la Foret.

A half-brother to the Groupplaced Lhakpa, and from the family of German Group 1 hero Empoli, he stands for an opening fee of €7,000.

Grey Man landed the Prix Francois Boutin in Deauville as a juvenile and he ran consistently in three seasons of racing, including when placing in the Prix de Fontainebleau as a threeyear-old in 2024. Another son of Wootton Bassett to retire to the stallion ranks this term, he is out of dual Group 3 winner Top Toss, making him a half-brother to French 2,000 Guineas runnerup Dastarhon and dual Group 3 winner Lesstalk In Paris, herself Group 1-placed when second in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Coronation Stakes.

The five-year-old will cover his first book of mares at Karwin Farm for a fee of €3,000.

A son of two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners in Sea The Stars and Solemia, Internaute enters the Haras de la Hetraie ranks as a particularly wellbred prospect for National Hunt breeders.

The Wertheimer homebred struck in Listed company as a four-year-old last year and also finished third behind subsequent dual Australian Group 1 winner Sir Delius in the Prix du Lys at Chantilly the previous year. Internaute was also Group-placed over staying trips last term, including when second to subsequent Group 1 victor Sibayan in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil.

His debut fee has been set at €3,200.

Kitty Trice takes a look at France’s fresh stallion recruits for 2026

Lovemac De Houelle retires to stud as a smart son of Haras de Montaigu’s promising young sire Beaumec De Houelle and he is in turn a half-brother or close relation to several smart winners.

The five-year-old landed the prestigious Prix Grandak at Auteuil in March of his threeyear-old season and picked up black type when third in the Listed Prix des Platanes at the same track that September. His career was unfortunately cut short not long after but he stands his first season as a wellbred son of one of France’s best young jumps sires. His fee has been set at €2,500.

Marhaba Ya Sanafi is one of two new stallions for new stallion farm Haras de Castillon and the French 2,000 Guineas hero of 2023 has plenty to recommend him with a tough racing record and smart pedigree.

The son of Muhaarar was a winner at two and followed up the following spring with a win at Chantilly before supplementing a second place in the Prix de Fontainebleau with a gritty win over Isaac Shelby in the French 2,000 Guineas. Third to subsequent unbeaten Arc hero Ace Impact in the French Derby, Marhaba Ya Sanafi also won the Prix

Bertrand du Breuil the following season and ran consistently well in black-type company throughout the remainder of his career.

The six-year-old is out of the Galileo mare Danega and his further family includes Dewhurst victor Intense Focus and Group 1-winning juvenile and Irish Derby runner-up Sholokhov. He stands his first season for €6,000.

Godolphin’s durable and high-class miler Tribalist landed a stellar running of the Prix du Moulin, defeating champion older miler Charyn, Group 1-winning two-year-old Henry Longfellow and 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech in the process. The son of Farhh was the most successful European miler in the last decade, winning or placing at stakes level no fewer than 16 times during a racing career which spanned from two to six years old. His career also included three Prix du Muguets, while he was also Classic-placed when third to

fellow Darley stallion Modern Games in the French 2,000 Guineas.

The chestnut, who stands under the Darley umbrella at Haras de Castillon for €6,000, is also in possession of a topclass pedigree. He is out of the unraced Nathaniel mare Fair Daughter, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Crowded House. The page also includes Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Brando and American Grade 1 scorer Ticker Tape.

Prix Morny winner Whistlejacket is another exciting prospect for French breeders this term and he takes up covering duties at Haras de Grandcamp for a fee of €14,000.

By No Nay Never and a brother to champion two-yearold Little Big Bear, Whistlejacket was himself a top-class juvenile with the Deauville Group 1 his career highlight. He also won the July Stakes and finished second in the Phoenix and Middle Park Stakes, having broken his

NEW STALLIONS IN FRANCE

maiden on his second in May when defeating Arizona Blaze by nearly four lengths in the Listed First Flier Stakes. He also struck in Listed company on his three-year-old bow at Navan and was second in the Lacken Stakes on his next start. Haras de la Tuilerie welcomes a high-class son of Zarak in Zarakem to its ranks this year. The now six-year-old gained his career highlight when landing the Prix d’Harcourt but he also ran dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin to three-quarters of a length in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot that June. He is a half-brother to 2025 Listed winner and Prix de Royallieu third Rabbit’s Foot, while the page goes back to high-class performers such as top-class miler Bigstone, whose top-level wins included the Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Prix de la Foret.

Zarakem has been introduced to breeders at a fee of €4,000.

Bloodstock special New sires for 2026

Rosallion headlines depth and quality in Darley’s powerpacked new line-up

Mary-Jo Jackson catches up with David Appleton about three exciting new recruits

DARLEY’S latest intake of stallions unsurprisingly arrive with depth, quality and pedigree firepower. The new British and Irish-based trio is headed by Classic-winning miler Rosallion, who will stand alongside his close relation Inisherin at Dalham Hall, while champion two-year-old Shadow Of Light joins the Kildangan Stud roster.

Described by Richard Hannon as the best horse he has ever trained, Rosallion retires to Dalham Hall with three excellent Group 1 victories to his name, those coming in the St James’s Palace, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and from his illustrious Reem Three family, the son of Blue Point boasts the page to back up his racetrack prowess and undoubtedly shapes as a very smart addition to the British stallion ranks.

Rosallion struck on debut at two and quickly had Listed success with a runaway win in the Pat Eddery Stakes. A defeat on soft ground in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes followed, but he swiftly made amends, ending his season by winning the Lagardere – won in previous years by the likes of

Wootton Bassett and Siyouni –in record time.

He began his three-year-old campaign with an agonising second to Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas, yet once again got his career back on track on his next start, claiming Classic honours in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.

Rosallion underlined his star status among his generation by landing the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot in strong style.

While he didn’t race again at three, Rosallion returned in 2025 and came frustratingly close to adding a fourth, fifth and even sixth Group 1 to his haul.

Returning after a 300-day absence to place in the Lockinge at Glorious Goodwood, he was then denied by a nose in the Queen Anne, a neck in the Sussex, and a short head in the Prix du Moulin.

While not quite realising the heights of his previous two seasons last year, Rosallion’s durability was firmly put on show, and his career in its entirety surely places him among the most talented British-trained milers of the past decade.

Out of unraced New Approach mare Rosaline, Rosallion is the grandson of Mark Of Esteem mare Reem Three – the dam of nine individual winners, eight of them stakes winners or performers. Among them are Group 1 winners Ajman Princess and Triple Time, the latter also standing at Dalham Hall.

Darley nominations manager David Appleton said breeders are responding well to the new recruit.

“All the very serious operations are seeing that he’s a superior racehorse from a fantastic family and his book is shaping up nicely,” he said.

“The pedigree you can access there is one of the best in Europe, one of the best we’ve seen in a long long time. Reem Three just keeps throwing up wonderful racehorses and broodmares. The top operations are recognising that and we’re delighted with the support he’s getting so far.”

The horse has reportedly made a fine impression on prospective breeders.

“He’s let down very easily and taken to his new job well,” Appleton said. “He’s a beautifully made horse with a great walk. His walk is what stands out physically for most people. Much like his father –

Blue Point has a great action too – he covers a lot of ground with a big stride and so much fluidity. We’re really excited about him and people have loved him when they’ve come down to see him.”

Appleton said Rosallion shapes as exactly the type of sire to generate commercial success for breeders and pinhookers heading to the foal sales next year.

“I think in a market where commercial breeders are looking to sell foals, he’s the sort of horse everyone should be using really. We’ve seen such a huge swing towards the big pinhooking outfits buying foals by first-season sires. I think that was more apparent than ever last year.

“I think anyone who isn’t using Rosallion is probably going to wish they had to be honest.”

Given his own elite two-yearold record, combined with strong juvenile influence through his sire and grandsire, Rosallion is expected to produce early runners, while also passing on a tough constitution.

“I’m a believer that the most important form for any stallion is their two-year-old form and he was a Group 1 winner,” Appleton said. “His sire is well able to get two-year-olds, as was Shamardal, so logic would tell you that he should be able to do the same thing. We’d expect early two-year-olds, as well as horses that maybe are late-developing as well, and

that’s what every stallion needs.

“Rosallion danced every dance and that goes to show how tough he was; he had a great constitution. You’d like to think he’d be able to breed tough, sound horses much in his own mould.”

Rosallion’s sire Blue Point was introduced to the Darley roster at €45,000 and will cover his seventh book of mares at an unchanged fee of €100,000.

Appleton believes his son’s similar opening price point offers genuine value for a horse the team sees as an elite prospect.

“We’re in a challenging

market, and value is subjective,” he said. “The foal crop is reducing and breeders are, probably quite rightly, being more selective. But for a horse with that record and that pedigree, he is fantastic value.

“A Group 1 winner at two and three who was hugely unlucky not to add to that last year. He lost nothing in defeat, only beaten by tiny margins.

“He’s retired at a fee we saw to be right, we put him in that bracket with horses at that sort of level, like Too Darn Hot, like Palace Pier, who’ve both proven themselves to be really exciting young stallions.

“We’d hope Rosallion can be

the next cab off the rank, the next Blue Point or, hopefully down the line, the next Shamardal. We certainly view him as an elite prospect.

“He’s got to go and do it, we’re a few years off knowing what we have, but we just have to give him the best chance.”

Closely related to Rosallion is the champion three-year-old Inisherin and he will also join the Dalham Hall roster for 2026.

The son of Shamardal was trained by Kevin Ryan to win the Commonwealth Cup and Sandy Lane Stakes at three, and added the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes to his CV at four. He is one of two Group winners out of Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Ajman Princess, a daughter of Reem Three, making her a close relation to Rosaline, Rosallion’s dam.

“Inisherin is from a very strong branch of that family,” Appleton said. “He’s exceptional value, a beautiful looking horse with a great head. He’s very athletic, a good mover with size and strength, so he’s everything that the commercial market wants.

“When breeders see him they love him. He just has great presence. He’s a big, strong, masculine horse with a wonderful head. Last week particularly on our open days, he has started to move the best I’ve seen him move. He really used himself well.

“He’s the sort of horse that will appeal to everybody. All those pinhookers will be walking around saying, ‘Can I see the Inisherins?’

“I’d say you’re going to wish you had a door card on it that says Inisherin if you haven’t got one.”

Darley’s new British and Irish recruits are completed by Shadow Of Light, a champion two-year-old from another illustrious family.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Lope De Vega won four of his five starts at two, and became just the third

horse to complete the Group 1 Middle Park-Dewhurst Stakes double. He returned as a threeyear-old to run a length-third in the 2,000 Guineas behind stablemate Ruling Court, and was later a half-length fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat.

A homebred for Godolphin, Shadow of Light is a three parts-brother to fellow champion juvenile Earthlight and a half-brother to Group 1-placed juvenile filly Wild Desert.

He is out of New Approach mare Winters Moon, herself a Group 1-placed juvenile and a half-sister to both Mandaean, another Group 1 winner at two, and Wavering, winner of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at three.

“The market wants precocious two-year-olds and that’s exactly what he was. Any horse that can complete a Middle Park, Dewhurst double must be taken incredibly seriously,” Appleton said.

“And he was actually a good three-year-old – he ran well in the Commonwealth Cup when fifth not beaten far, he was fourth in a Group 1 at Deauville too. He was an

THE PEDIGREE YOU CAN ACCESS THERE IS ONE OF THE BEST IN EUROPE, ONE OF THE BEST WE’VE SEEN IN A LONG LONG TIME. DAVID APPLETON ON ROSALLION

excellent third in the Guineas, everyone forgets that. He was only just behind Ruling Court and Field Of Gold, and there were other Group 1 winners in the field.

“A champion two-year-old by a top class sire in Lope De Vega from a fantastic family. He’s another from our Shamardal line, and he’s very exciting.

“We had him here [at Dalham Hall] in December for our open days over the breeding stock sales and he showed himself really well. He’s a great looking horse. The team at Kildangan are really happy with him and he is going down well with breeders.”

“It’s so exciting for us We hope we will be here [in Ireland] in two years time to see all his babies that he will have thanks to the support of the Irish breeders, and hopefully we will be able to secure a few of them He [Mr Saito] will be behind them for sure! He wants to race the babies of his stallions!”

Sébastien Desmontils, Racing Manager to Mr Saito