The Annual Breeding Statistics published by Stud Book Authority of India have different categories and the three most important have already been discussed. Some of the other categories are of only academic interest while some have significance for the future. Let's take the academic ones first.

Champion Sire (Winners, Wins and AE Index) - Noverre and Multidimensional

Sohna Stud's Noverre finished on top as the sire with most winners as well as most wins. 86 of his progeny won at least one race during 2015-16 and he was followed by Burden of Proof (76), Phoenix Tower (70), Rebuttal (68) and Ace (65). Noverre's 86 winners won a total of 148 races and the first four finishers were in exactly the same order as the wins table -- Burden of Proof (141), Phoenix Tower (127) and Rebuttal (115) with Arazan replacing his erstwhile barn-mate Ace with 104 wins.

The best AE Index was recorded by Multidimensional (2.71) and he topped the table. Ikhtyar, helped by Sergeant At Arms was second with 2.58 and Burden of Proof  third with 2.49. The next two stallions, Intikhab and Iffraaj, stand abroad. Then came Marcus Andronicus (how many where he is standing and what he produced ?), Jeremy (standing abroad), Admiralofthefleet (1.79) and Win Legend (1.72)

Champion Family - Mumtaz Mahal

The table reads:-

The Mumtaz Mahal family won its first title last year and it seemed unlikely that it would provide an encore. With Desert God invincible throughout the year, the Affection family looked set fair to land its first Championship. It led at the end of the first quarter but Accolade's victory in the Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million, Gr.1 meant that the reigning champion grabbed top spot narrowly at the half-way stage. Affection was back in front going into the last quarter but Accolade's two Classic wins saw the Mumtaz Mahal family seal the Championship in the closing stages. The grey Mumtaz Mahal was one of the old Aga Khan's earliest purchases when he embarked on racing in a big way in England. The racing press dubbed her the "Flying Filly" but the cockney appellation of "Mumty", by which her East London fans called her, was more affectionate and endearing. Accolade and Angel Dust were the star runners tracing to Mumtaz Mahal during the year. The other three families in the top five have all won the Championship previously; Schiaparelli has nine titles. Pretty Polly seven and Simon's Shoes two.

Mumtaz Mahal was a daughter of The Tetrarch out of Lady Josephine. Lady Josephine's daughter by Son-in-Law, called Lady Juror, has also founded family of her own. It is a matter of coincidence that Accolade and Serjeant At Arms, the two best juvenile colts of 2015-16, should trace to the half-sisters Mumtaz Mahal and Lady Juror. Mumtaz Mahal was discussed in some details last year and interested viewers, if any, can refer to the article in the Archives. 

Champion Juvenile Sire - Multidimensional

This table ranks the stallions based only on the performance of its 2/3YO crop; in this case, the crop born in 2013. This is the crop which will be contesting the Winter Classics. As such, it can be indicative of what's coming. In the last five years, three Champion Juvenile Sires -- Always A Rainbow, twice and Multidimensional -- went on to become the Champion Sire the following year but two -- Always A Rainbow and Phoenix Tower -- failed to do so. In racing, a trend is only an indicator of what could happen; not an infallible pointer.

Multidimensional with Rs. 5.5 crores in stakes headed the table this year followed by Arazan (Rs. 4.01 crores), Burden of Proof (Rs. 3.37 crores), Phoenix Tower (Rs. 2.99 crores) and Rebuttal (Rs. 2.92 crores).

Champion Freshman Sire - Whatsthescript

There was never any doubt that Whatsthescript (Royal Applause - Grizel by Lion Cavern), owned by Broadacres Stud but standing at Capricorn Stud, would bag the Champion Freshman Sire honours. Only seven stallions commenced their careers in 2012 of whom the three Indian-breds --Aboline, Becket and Gentleman's Deal -- had just  7 foals between them. Whatsthescript, on the other hand, had 52 foals in his first crop, 18 more than Green Coast. So it was very much on the cards that Whatsthescript would waltz away with the title. He did just that, well ahead of Green Coast in the second place.

The first crops statistics of Whatsthescript read -- 52 foals, 39 starters, 17 winners, 25 wins, stakes of Rs. 2,11,46, 020 and an AE Index of 1.28. Germanicus, a winner of the S.A. Poonawalla Multi-Million, Gr.3 and second in the Kingfisher Ultra Pune Derby, Gr.1 was the shining star his crop. Whatsthescript comes from a speedy branch -- Royal Applause, Waajib, Try My Best -- of the Northern Dancer male line and his DI of 3.44 doesn't presage stamina. He looks to be a sire in the Phoenix Tower, Kingda Ka mould -- a good winner producer found a bit wanting at the highest level. Besides, he has a small second crop as the emphasis shifted to his barn-mate Western Aristocrat.

PAST THE POST

A Champion Freshman Sire is competing only against rivals who started their careers along with him. In the last forty years, only seven Champion Freshmen Sires have gone to become Champion Sires later on in their careers. As a matter of interest, here's the list of those Champion Freshmen Sires along with their AE Index of their first year -- Everyday II (3.45), Malvado (1.30), Riyahi (not known), Razeen (6.19), Placerville (4.59), Burden of Proof (4.27) and Multidimensional (3.64).