Social media has been hot in regards to the latest Australian First season Sire Champion.
It traditionally is awarded to the stallion whose progeny earns the most money that first year.
But this year, some farms with their own agenda are driving the cry for other criteria to be recognised as higher distinction points.
For the record, Telemon Thoroughbreds in Queensland is the home of the official Champion First Season Sire of Australia. His name is SIDESTEP (Exceed and Excel – Dextrous).
He won that primarily by his daughter Kiamichi winning the Gr 1 Golden Slipper. All his babies earned $2,557,890 all up in prizemoney. That was over half a million more than his nearest rival.
He had 6 individual winners in Australia at a stunning success rate of 28.6%.
But the possible problem lies here.
Better Than Ready had a 48.8% success rate as he had a whopping 23 individual winners.
But was was 2nd overall on the prizemoney list.
And then there are honourable mentions going out to Rubick with 15 winners and Deep Field with 21 winners.
No doubt all of them look at the ‘paltry’ 6 by the crowned champ and ponder if that really should be so.
Hell yeah, I say.
Sidestep only had 21 runners. Better Than Ready had 47, Rubick a huge 51 and Deep Field a staggering 57.
What’s not taken into consideration are the overseas winners sired by Sidestep.
Just recently he had another one salute in Germany (Akatino) and another win in France (Autumnal).
That means his individual 2YO winners reach up to 12! And his prizemoney haul is now $809,000 more than his nearest rival.
He can boast winners in 3 different countries….none of the others can. And those overseas winners make his success rate stat climb to 33 still behind Better Than Ready, but in front of Rubick and Deep Field.
And his best baby, Kiamichi, is about to step out again, this time as a 3YO, and wow us with her breakneck speed, most likely this weekend at Randwick at stakes level.
And if her recent trail is anything to go by, she should win comfortably.
As for Sidestep, he will stand for $22k this year….a staggeringly generous price when compared to Deep Field at $44,000 and Rubick at $38,500, while Better Than Ready is a whopping $33,000!
Sidestep will be joined at Telemon by multiple Gr 1 winner JUNGLE CAT (Ifraaj-Mike’s Wildcat), who himself at $13,200 is a bargain and should mean he’s in the running when his time is due, for Champion First Season Sire honours too!