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Storm Cat set to establish global sire dynasty from the Thoroughbred Village Storm Cat is set to establish a sire dynasty based on the phenomenal success of his progeny both on and off the track this season. Currently the hottest property in North America, both as a sire of major stakes winners and as a leading sire at sales across the country, he is renowned for endowing his progeny with outstanding speed and class. Last year he was the champion juvenile sire standing in North America, the fourth time he has taken this title. In 1999, his progeny are literally dominating the US racing scene. No less than four of the top 3-Y-O's in the current crop are either sons or grandsons of Storm Cat, including; Cat Thief, winner of the Swaps and leading 2-Y-O earner for the stallion in '98; Exploit, winter favourite for the Kentucky Derby and a dominant force in early 3-Y-O races before going amiss; Vision and Verse, runner-up in the Belmont and Travers and likely to capture a major prize in the late season; and last but not least, Menifee, a member of the first crop of the brilliant Storm Cat speedster, Harlan, and winner of the Blue Grass, Haskell Invitational and late-finishing runner up in both the Derby and Preakness. With Exploit retiring to Taylor Made Farm, Kentucky, and several other sons including Harlan and Hennessy showing great promise, there is every likelihood that Storm Cat's influence will be felt for many years to come. Storm Cat was an outstanding racehorse himself, a grade 1 winner of the Young America Stakes, and runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, however with nine crops of racing age, he has become arguably the leading sire in North America with 61 stakes winners to the conclusion of '98. Standout progeny prior to the current season include the classic winner Tabasco Cat (Preakness and Belmont in 1994), Hennessy (1995), Mountain Cat (1992), Tactical Cat (Hollywood Futurity), and the fillies Sharp Cat, his leading earner last year, and Calando. He has also sired champions in England and Europe including the very smart Godolphin colt, Aljabr (Prix de la Salamandre, Sussex Stks), from just a small number of runners. Storm Cat is by the Northern Dancer stallion Storm Bird from the Secretariat mare, Terlingua, a half sister to outstanding racehorse and now highly successful sire, Royal Academy. This sire line is all the rage at the moment with another son of Storm Bird, Summer Squall, siring the Derby and Preakness winner, Charismatic. Storm Cat has stood at Overbrook Farm, Kentucky, since 1988. Although he has never been syndicated, a number of lifetime breeding rights to the stallion were recently sold to Coolmore for an undisclosed sum. His service fee is expected to rise to $250,000 next year, but even at $200,000 for the 99 season, this calculates to quite a tidy sum from the 111 mares serviced (only 13 were owned by Overbrook!). Breeders now are willing to pay any amount for the opportunity to utilize his services. At the recent July Select Sale in Keeneland he was the top stallion with 7 of his yearlings totalling a phenomenal US$8.9 million, icing on the cake for what truly has been a sensational year for the 16-Y-O stallion. Sons of Storm Cat starting to hit antipodean shores will be keenly sort after, as the style of his progeny appear suited to Australian racing conditions. Storm Cats are juvenile champions that go on to win major races in the following year, as typified by Cat Thief. Recent arrivals are Hennessy (first crop were top sellers across the US sales this year) and Tale of The Cat (Cambridge NZ) both of whom will service full books of mares. |