In an industry where the search for ‘the next big thing’ never stops, the trajectory of boom stallion New Bay is relevant to owners, breeders and trainers worldwide.
Halfway through 2022, the Ballylinch based stallion is Britain and Ireland’s Leading 3rd Crop Sire – a status that has him tracking in the footsteps of stallion luminaries Night of Thunder (2021), Kingman (2020), Camelot (2019) and Frankel (2018) who all claimed the crown in the preceding four years. And, like his predecessors, he is siring premium runners with a regularity superior to his peer group.
Following a Royal Ascot carnival where New Bay was represented by two impressive group winners, a runner-up in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes and a further two placegetters, there is every reason to believe that the New Bay wave may start to sweep across some of the world’s major centres before the year is out.
“New Bay is shaping as an elite stallion in the making and there is every reason to believe that as more of his runners hit the track that his impact can be felt beyond Europe at major carnivals across Asia, America, Australasia and the Middle East” – Matt Houldsworth
At the time of writing:
- Saffron Beach (G1 winner) is set to target America’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships;
- Bay Bridge (2nd G1 Prince of Wales’s Stks) has the depth of talent and distance profile to compete for an Arc, breeders’ Cup Turf, Hong Kong Cup, Japan Cup or Dubai Sheema Classic;
- Claymore (G3 winner at Royal Ascot) may target G1 company in France;
- Bayside Boy (twice G1 placed at two) and New Energy (2nd G1 Irish 2000 Guineas) could contest notable group races across Europe or may be emboldened to target lucrative races in wider markets;
And the expectation is that New Bay may well have progressive juveniles emerge in the second half of the season.
New Bay’s Bay Bridge (right) was second in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot
“Every week it seems there is a promising New Bay emerging and the results from his progeny at Royal Ascot were exceptional. His current runners are all bred off a service fee of €20,000 or less,” said Matt Houldsworth, China Horse Club’s European Representative.
“New Bay is shaping as an elite stallion in the making and there is every reason to believe that as more of his runners hit the track that his impact can be felt beyond Europe at major carnivals across Asia, America, Australasia and the Middle East.
“New Bay has covered more than 360 mares in the past two seasons at fees of €20,000 and €37,500 respectively. The increase in demand and upgrading of the collective quality of mares sent to him augurs well for him in the immediate term. It really is an exciting period ahead for this young stallion.”
A further reflection of New Bay’s growing status is that he is currently sixth by total number of black type winners this season behind four champion sires in Galileo (deceased), Sea The Stars, Frankel and Dubawi (his own sire) as well as his long established Ballylinch stablemate, the exceptional Lope de Vega.
At the end of last year, John O’Connor, a man careful with his words and actions, was glowing when assessing the impact the 2015 G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner is having at stud. Ballylinch Stud’s Managing Director can certainly see breeders who support New Bay parlaying racetrack results into success in the auction ring.
“New Bay has made the breakthrough to the top level with his first crop of runners, and he is set to cover an outstanding book of mares in 2022 with the support of most of Europe’s top breeders,” O’Connor was reported as saying in Racing Post.
“The exceptional statistics for his runners have led to him becoming one of the most in-demand young stallions in Europe.”
Breeders have continued to swoon in support of the last four champion 3rd Crop stallions Night of Thunder (2021), Kingman (2020), Camelot (2019) and Frankel (2018) irrespective of spectacular service fee rises. Three of the four have demonstrated million-dollar sales results with Frankel holding the high watermark of 3.1 million guineas in 2019 for a half-brother for Arc and Derby winner Golden Horn.
The ‘Frankel factor’ is present in almost every market. At last month’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in Australia, 10 mares covered by Frankel change hands for an average AUD880,000 with four million-dollar plus sales. Mares in foal to Camelot realized up to AUD420,000 at the same sale. While yearlings by Kingman have sold for up to AUD1,800,000.
The march of New Bay appears irrepressible. Watch out. His talented sons and daughters could be coming your way.
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