2007 FRESHMEN SIRES
Taken from TBH Market Watch
By Frank Mitchell and Micheal Youngs
Pedigree, Athleticism, and Conformation
Of the five leading freshmen sires of 2007 by yearling median –
Aldebaran, EMPIRE MAKER, Mineshaft,
Sky Mesa, and Vindication – the leader is EMPIRE MAKER, which means he offers something
exceptional.
EMPIRE MAKER is the sort of
stallion that commercial breeders wish they could breed to every
year. The classic American horse in spirit and
type, EMPIRE MAKER combines
an excellent racing record with excellence in pedigree and
conformation, and he leads this year’s crop of freshmen sire’s with
a median yearling price of $270,000 for 32 yearlings sold in
2006.
Athletically, EMPIRE MAKER was a
talented juvenile who bloomed at three to become a classic winner.
He is a big horse by an even bigger horse, Unbridled, who also
progressed at three to become a classic winner. EMPIRE MAKER has many of the traits of Unbridled:
good size, scope and classic stamina.
But EMPIRE MAKER also is
significantly influenced by his dam, the El Gran Senor mare
Toussaud. An extraordinary broodmare who is the dam of four grade/
group 1 stakes, Toussaud moderated the size of Unbridled and added
a bit of finesse to EMPIRE MAKER,
which was one of the traits of champion El Gran Senor.
Adding to EMPIRE MAKER’s value is that he is a fairly rare product:
a combination of race record and exceptional pedigree. It does not
hurt that a relatively modest number of his offspring are available
for purchase. EMPIRE MAKER, whose fee
remained at $100,000 since he began his stud career, had the
smallest number of yearlings amoung this ranking, followed closely
by Mineshaft.
North American First Crop Sire Leaders
| Sire |
2006 Yearling Median |
Number sold |
| EMPIRE
MAKER |
$270,000 |
32 |
| Mineshaft |
$200,000 |
38 |
| Vindication |
$200,000 |
65 |
| Sky Mesa |
$100,000 |
61 |
| Aldebaran |
$80,000 |
42 |
| Harlan's Holiday |
$72,000 |
61 |
| Kafwain |
$45,000 |
58 |
| Posse |
$45,000 |
43 |
| Proud Citizen |
$40,000 |
55 |
Date:
16 February 2007