The latest list of leading sires, as of the end of February, 2019, couldn’t be more telling. The changing of the millennium has marked a tidal shift in leading stallions, except for grand old Malibu Moon (1997), a perennial leading sire and cranky old man. When you go to see him at Spendthrift Farm, you are warned about his lack of patience and bad temper, but he is still magnificent, with his huge hind end, glorious shoulder, and sturdy, strong-boned look of his sire, A.P. Indy. Having owned a Malibu Moon mare who had inherited all of his good looks, I know how he stamps his offspring.

Otherwise, the first five represent the first five years of the 2000s, with Tapit, Street Sense, Curlin, Scat Daddy and, surprisingly, English Channel, in that order, holding onto the top five, with Tapit leading all others by just over a million dollars in progeny earnings. The next group, however, represent the change that is coming to the North American stallion ranks.

Uncle Mo, perhaps the most startlingly masculine and astonishingly handsome stallion you can lay eyes upon, is number six, and The Factor is number seven, both born in 2008. That they have surfaced so far up the list, at eleven years of age, marks the beginning of a new era, and represents, too, new sirelines indicating that A.P. Indy’s monopoly in terms of leading sires, as well as the influence of Mr. Prospector and Storm Cat, may be coming to a close.

Then there’s the true enfant terrible at number 13, Violence. A son of Medaglia d’Oro, from his 2010 crop, the flashily handsome Violence represents the next wave of greatness, as there’s absolutely no indication that his offspring will not continue their winning ways. Medaglia d’Oro has long been a favorite at auctions, with million dollar prices for yearlings being the rule rather than the exception, and Violence seems poised to inherit this grand sire’s mantle.

Three stallions born in 2006 must also be mentioned, Munnings, at number 14, Blame at number 15, and hovering just off this list is Quality Road. Munnings, by Speightstown, Blame, by Arch, and Quality Road, by Elusive Quality, all represent a new generation of sires and the future of the thoroughbred breed. It’s worth noting that these three are free of A.P. Indy/Seattle Slew influence, and also free of the Unbridled/Fappiano influence that has become so significant in thoroughbreds.

That they are poised to continue their success, because they should be successful with the plethora of mares from those two sirelines with whom they may be mated, seems without question. The future of the thoroughbred breed is upon us already. The times they are a-changing.

-- Roberta Smoodin