Over the last few years, Usha Stud has always been assured of a consolation prize courtesy of their great stallion Razeen. Since he won his first Champion Maternal Grandsire title in 2006-07, the son of Northern Dancer had a made it a habit of picking up the top honours in this category. The No.1 finish this year was his eighth in ten years the last four coming on the trot. The two times he missed out was in 2008-09 and 2011-12 when his old adversary Placerville upstaged him. This year, he strolled away to an emphatic win over his barn-mate Steinbeck with almost Rs. 6 crores in hand.

Myrtlewood, Aster Rose, Star Nijinsky and Whomakestherules made significant contributions to his tally and as three of them are 3YOs, Usha Stud will be optimistic that he can add another title to his list. This year's top spot takes him past Malvado who had seven titles to his credit. With 110 Classic wins provided by 57 Classic winners, Razeen has no peer as a sire. Neither does he as a broodmare sire, his daughters having produced 39 winners of 64 Classics. Grey Gaston and Malvado with 24 Classic winners each are next best while Malvado and Riyahi have 40 wins apiece. Of Razeen's last 15 Classic winners as a damsire, 10 have been sired by Multidimensional. Usha Stud does have the largest collection of Razeen mares -- about 35 of them -- and Multidimensional will only be fourteen come the next covering season so there is plenty in the pipeline..

Razeen's perennial companions in this category for about a decade are two sons of Mr. Prospector, Placerville and Steinbeck. Both started their stud careers in India at the same time, their first crops being born in 1995. However, it was Steinbeck who first made it to the top five in 2005- 2006 and he has maintained that position ever since, his runner-up spot this year being his best. Desert God, out of his first crop daughter Running Flame, has contributed about 60 % his total earnings with Setaflame and La Dona also chipping in. Steinbeck always remained in the shadows of Razeen and the numbers were not on his side. That meant that Placerville usually got the better of him. Steinbeck, though, can take comfort from the fact his daughters have produced 21 Classic winners as against 14 to Placerville's name.

Placerville stepped into the top quintet in 2006-07 and like Razeen and Steinbeck has never been out of it  When Razeen slipped up a bit in 2008-09 and 2011-12, Placerville was on hand to take advantage and win his two titles. Otherwise, he has usually been the runner-up to Razeen. A probable reason for this is Ace and Arazan's progeny has had a low strike rate in big races. Those two stallions covered a number of Placerville mares but failed to come up with the goods.

Sadler's Wells was an exceptional broodmare sire and it is no surprise to see his son Alnasr Alwasheek in the top five. He first reached the upper echelons in 2010-11 but missed the cut for the next four years. Perhaps, like Placerville, he suffered from Ace and Arazan failing to come up to required expectations. He should, however, consolidate his position as old stalwarts inevitably begin to fade. Ice Glacier was his Classic winner during the year.

Burden of Proof made it to the top five last year when he was fourth. He retains his position despite slipping down a rung. Kunigal stud has a fair number of Burden of Proof mares  and a lot will depend on how Air Support fares. His daughters did well with Admiralofthefleet with the unfortunate Admiralty and Cameron being out of his daughters. He has also had Call Me Classy who won a couple of Classics in Chennai.

PAST THE POST

Some stallions do better through their daughters, Habitat being a prime example. Qutab Stud's Asopo (Nimbus - Assmenta) did so in India, Being the Champion Maternal Grandsire five times. Asopo was a winner of the Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) and he was fairly successful as a sirel, getting five winners Classic winners. Four of his five Classic winners were fillies including Rare Gem, his best, who won the Bangalore Derby, Gr.1. The higher percentage of fillies in his Classic winners clearly indicated that he would do better as a broodmare sire and he didn't disappoint. His daughters produced nine Classic winners of 28 Classics, among them Midnight Cowboy and his half-brother Easter Parade, full-brothers Grand Parade and Aristocrat and the Indian Derby, Gr.1 winner Sir Bruce.