BREEDING GROUND - 20 JUNE 2025
Floyd Amphlett looks at where the next 'supersire' may come from in the latest edition of Breeding Ground.
Following his third English Derby and Irish Oaks wins, breeders will be tempted to predict the successor to Droopys Sydney who now moves firmly into ‘supersire’ status.
The bad news is, it probably won’t be one of his sons.
There is now a growing list of potential candidates, some of whom have made great starts.
The three leading contenders would be Broadstrand Bono, Ballymac Cashout and Deerjet Sydney, all of whom would have a head start on the likes of Wicky Ned, King Memphis, Churchfield Syd, Aayamza Sydney and any others chosen for fatherhood.
While the most obvious reason is a lack of opportunities, with so many of the best available broods being Sydney’s daughters, history suggests there are other reasons too.
It was once easier. Go back half a century and Monalee Champion was the ‘Sydney’ of the late 60s and early 70s.
Although none of his sons quite matched dad’s success, several became excellent stud dogs; Sole Aim, Linda’s Champion, and Tain Mor to name but three.
The next supersire was American import Sand Man, who was succeeded by the likes of Whisper Wishes, Easy And Slow and Flashy Sir.
Back then, there was sufficient diversity in the breeding pool to give each of the sons a chance.
So what has changed?
Two things.
The first was the growth of improved breeding techniques. For years, all matings were ‘natural’, which limited the number of pups that could be sired.
This was due to a number of factors with the most successful and active sires being used roughly five times a fortnight.
Then factor in the guesswork about the correct time for matings, there might be two bitches at different stages of estrus meaning one could not be covered.
More significantly, the semen could be stored, even before the dog went to stud, and the ejaculate split to produce several parts. With progesterone testing and infection swabbing for the bitches, fertility rates soared.
This meant a huge escalation in the number of litters that a sire could produce and thus dominate the sector.
However, equally as relevant, is the decline in breeding overall. The Irish breed less than half the pups they were breeding 25 years ago. The Brits, less than a fifth.
Last but not least, the great likelihood is that the next supersire – if there is enough opportunity to produce one – will come out of ‘left field’.
Nobody predicted Sand Man, I’m Slippy, or Top Honcho as the next big thing in breeding. And nobody, but nobody, saw Droopys Sydney coming.
