For only the second time this millennium, six Freshmen Sires ended the year with an AE Index higher than 1.00 in the same year. An Index of 1.00 denotes an average stallion and it is well known that stallions rarely better the mark they achieved in their first year at stud. As the number of runners increase with passage of time, the Index tends to drop, the older horses earning less than the younger ones. The last time six Freshmen Sires had an index of plus 1 was in 2011-12. Those six stallions were Ace, Noverre, Marcus Andronicus, Mathematician, Mull of Kintyre and Home Affairs. None of them has had a lasting impact on breeding in India.

In 2007, Hazara Stud had shifted from Ambala to a much more spacious complex near Yamuna Nagar. That was also the year it stood its first stallion in the shape of Rebuttal. Rebuttal's first crop, raised on virgin land, exceeded all expectations and the stallion finished the year as the Champion Freshman Sire, his 34 starters earning Rs. 2,52,98,242 (AE Index 2.22). It also contained four Classic winners in Dandified, Toroloco, Lovely Kiss and Pedalo. Rebuttal, unfortunately, had to be put down in September 2013 . As his replacement, his younger full-brother Net Whizz was installed in the vacant stall at Hazara and his first crop took to the courses in 2017-18. He was quickly off the blocks and headed the table throughout, chased by Tazahum and Air Support. Averaging about 5 winners each quarter, he clung on to the advantage he had in numbers and like his full-brother finished as the Champion Freshman Sire. So far so good. However, if his statistics, with greater numbers at his disposal are compared to those of Rebuttal, he has achieved much less and if there is a Dandified or a Toroloco in his first crop, that horse is not easily identifiable. Net Whizz was not as well performed as Rebuttal and it shows in the results. Besides, Saamid, who was also introduced along with him, has been given more mares in the next the next two years.

Like Hazara, Sans Craintes launched two new stallions in Tazahum and Knight's Tour and by a strange coincidence, both of them finished the year with an identical AE Index. Both were the only sons of their sires in India. Tazahum was the first of the new stallions to have a Classic winner with his daughter Saving Grace winning the Nilgiris 1000 Guineas, Gr.3 but the Knight's Tour colt Eastern Star has shown himself to be a leading light at Calcutta. Tazahum died towards the end of 2016 and that opens up more opportunities for Knight's Tour. We have had some Australian-bred stallions before but Knight's Tour has hinted at greater possibilities.

It was always going to be tough to follow in the footsteps of Burden of Proof, but Kunigal's Air Support had the paper credentials to live up to the expectations. His first runner -- the smart filly Catalonia -- was a winner but then went off the boil. He has two fair-sized crops to follow so will not be lacking in material to redeem himself and he also has the incentive provided by a rival -- Kunigal's new stallion Sanus Per Aquam -- as his neighbour.

Why the former Godolphin runner Saamid, despite being much better performed than Net Whizz was given step-motherly treatment in his first year is hard to say but he has had a better patronage in the next two years. He is the only son of his sire in India who won the Neptune Investment Management Champagne Stakes, Gr.2 at Doncaster. Net Whizz, on the other hand, had no black-type to his credit.

Not featuring in the table above but ending the year with an AE Index of 1.45 was Bishan Stud's Gusto (Oasis Dream - Pickle). A winner of four Listed sprints in England and France, he had just 10 runners and has to his credit probably the most significant runner of all Freshmen stallions. That is Knotty Ash who almost won the Pune Derby, Gr.1. Though he has shown promise, he will be dogged by lack of sufficient opportunities.

The disappointment was Manjri Stud's Strong Suit. A well performed son Rahy, standing at a leading stud and represented by 22 first crop foals, it was hardly expected that he would finish below someone like Gusto, who had a lesser number of foals from inferior mares. Like Air Support, his first runner was a winner but then Strong Suit tapered off.

PAST THE POST

Not every Champion Freshman Sire goes on to become a Champion Sire subsequently. In the last forty-odd years, only Everyday II, Malvado, Riyahi, Razeen, Placerville, Burden of Proof, Multidimensional and now Excellent Art have done it. That offers a clue. To be a future Champion Sire, a Champion Freshman Sire needs to have an AE Index of 3.00 or more with his first crop.