Young Apex Stars

The year when sires have their first 4-year-olds racing (they are referred to as ‘third-crop’ sires, meaning their third crop of 2-year-olds has reached racing age) is a critical one: with more horses racing, we have a chance to see whether the sires who made such a fast start look like they’re progressing, or look like ‘one-hit wonders’; and, crucially, sometimes those which have made a slow start have had a chance to recover. For example, sires with no good 3-year-olds in their first crop, but good 3-year-olds in their second crop, would fall into the latter category.