Mehmas, Shalaa, The Gurkha Head First-Season Sire Market

Mehmas (Ire), Shalaa (Ire) and The Gurkha (Ire) jointly head Fitzdares's market for champion first-season sire of 2020 at 5-1. Also featuring prominently are Territories (Ire) (6-1) and Pride of Dubai (Aus) (8-1) as well as Adaay (Ire), Awtaad (Ire) and Twilight Son (GB), all at 12-1. The odds are for win only, with the champion first-season sire to be determined by number of winners.

“This year's market has an open look with co-favourites Mehmas and Shalaa having plenty of firepower to go on the track,” said Glyn Warne, head of anteposte and international at Fitzdares. “Both were devastatingly quick 2-year-olds themselves, and Mehmas in particular had a similar racing career to last season's champion first-season sire by winners Gutaifan, having raced early and solely as a juvenile.

“There have been encouraging reports about Territories, and his yearlings have obviously made a good impression at the sales, while an interesting selection could be Pride Of Dubai who, like fellow Australian sprinter Brazen Beau last year, has already started well Down Under.”