Starman was the busiest new sire in Britain and Ireland in 2022, according to covering numbers available to view online now on Weatherbys Bloodstock Reports, ahead of the publication of the definitive Weatherbys Return of Mares.

The son of Dutch Art, who won the Duke of York Stakes and July Cup and finished a short-head second in the Haydock Sprint Cup last year, covered 254 mares at Tally-Ho Stud, which has launched the successful stallion careers of Danetime, Red Clubs, Society Rock and Kodiac, and more recently Mehmas and Cotai Glory. 

In Swoop, Santiago and Mogul, new recruits to Coolmore’s National Hunt ranks this season, proved highly popular. They covered 217, 209 and 168 mares respectively.

In Swoop, a son of much-missed German champion sire Adlerflug, took the scalp of Torquator Tasso to win the Deutsches Derby and also finished second in the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at three. He stands at The Beeches Stud alongside his Grand Prix de Paris conqueror Mogul, a Galileo full-brother to Japan, Secret Gesture and Sir Isaac Newton.

Castle Hyde Stud-based Santiago, by Derby hero and proven jumps influence Authorized, meanwhile achieved his biggest successes in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and the Irish Derby at the Curragh. 

Supremacy, the highlight of Mehmas’s record-breaking first crop of two-year-olds thanks to his triumphs in the Richmond Stakes and Middle Park Stakes, covered 187 mares in his debut book at Yeomanstown Stud.

Logician is a St Leger winner by reigning champion sire Frankel so it is not a complete surprise that he covered an unusually big book for a British National Hunt sire – 183 mares in his introductory season at Shade Oak Stud.

European champion St Mark’s Basilica, a Siyouni half-brother to fellow Classic winner and Coolmore studmate Magna Grecia, was welcomed to the breeding shed with 176 mares.

Space Blues, a son of Dubawi whose 11 career victories included the Prix Maurice de Gheest, Prix de la Foret and Breeders’ Cup Mile, received 160 mares in his debut season at Kildangan Stud. Palace Pier, another new addition to the Darley stallion ranks, covered 154 mares at Dalham Hall Stud. The son of Kingman won five Group 1 races and was crowned world champion miler.

Lucky Vega and Lope Y Fernandez, high-class sons of popular sire Lope De Vega who stand at National Studs on either side of the Irish Sea, were in strong demand. The former covered 152 mares in Ireland and the latter was sent 134 mares in Britain.

Nando Parrado, the Coventry Stakes-winning son of Kodiac who embarked on his stallion career alongside Lucky Vega at the Irish National Stud this year, also proved popular with 130 mares.

A pair of Flying Childers Stakes winners who both retired to stud in Britain in 2022 received warm welcomes too. A’Ali, by Society Rock, covered 114 mares at Newsells Park Stud, while Ubettabelieveit, a son of Kodiac, was sent 98 mares at Mickley Stud.

Alkumait, a Mill Reef Stakes winner by Showcasing, covered 105 mares at Castlefield Stud at the start of the year, since when his pedigree has received a significant upgrade, as he is a half-brother to Dewhurst hero Chaldean. Mirage Dancer, a Group 1-winning son of Frankel and Heat Haze who also retired to the dual-purpose operation for 2022, was sent 135 mares.

Another new sire who received a major boost to his pedigree this year was Rich History, who received 107 mares at Kedrah House Stud. The son of Dubawi was already a half-brother to top-notchers Amma Grace, Custom Cut, Falcon Eight, Free Eagle, Sapphire and Search For A Song, but another sibling, Kyprios, has announced himself as a stayer for the ages.

Derby and Gold Cup runner-up Dee Ex Bee was another popular recruit to the Irish jumps ranks, with the son of Farhh serving 136 mares at Arctic Tack Stud.

In-depth information on these and all British and Irish-based sires’ breeding activity will be published in the Weatherbys Return of Mares which is due out on 24th October.