Coming into the 2011 flat racing season, it was clear that Cockney Rebel (Val Royal) was up against some stiff competition for the title of leading first season sire. However, his ability to pass on a combination of his tenacity, speed and stamina to his progeny has meant that Cockney Rebel has surpassed all expectations and has produced outstanding results from his first crop of runners.
The dual classic winner has sired the winners of 15 races to date and has produced a European Listed placed performer in Taloubet (Hector Protector) who was third in the Winterfavorit-Trial in Cologne. He is additionally the sire of 7 Group level performers in 2011. Cockney Rebel currently holds an impressive 41% strike rate (%age winners/ runners (www.racingpost.com) which far outstrips those of his competitors in the leading two year old sires list. Excellent Art, Amadeus Wolf, Teofilo, Dylan Thomas and Law Man all stood for vastly higher stud fees in their first season but have failed to produce strike rates that match that of Cockney Rebel in 2011. His ability to produce such impressive results emphasises his value for money as a stallion.
Cockney Rebel’s commercial viability as a sire has once again proved a big attraction for buyers this year. Top agents including: BBA Ireland, Bobby O’Ryan and Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock have invested in his yearlings on behalf of some leading trainers.
Within his 2011 book of more than 90 mares (his largest book to date), over 41% were either winners or Listed winners as well as a good number of black type performers such as Listed placed Sweet Afton (Mujadil), who is the dam of Cockney Rebel’s top selling 2011 yearling and Medicea Sidera (Mediciean) who was placed in both the Boadicea Stakes (L.) at Newmarket and the October Stakes (L.) at Ascot. The dams of three Group winners were also included in his 2011 book: Forest Fire (Never So Bold) the dam of multiple Gr.1 and Gr.2 winner Presvis; Fur Will Fly (Petong) dam of Flying Childers (Gr.2) winner Sand Vixen and Chrysalis (Soviet Star) dam of Gr.3 winner Moth Ball. He also covered a number of black type producing mares including Moidart (Electric), dam of
Listed winner Eilean Shona, and Vino Veritas (Chief ’s Crown) dam of Slim Shadey who was placed 4th behind Frankel in the 2011 QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
This increasingly illustrious list of mares acknowledges Cockney Rebel’s growing popularity and standing within the community of Thoroughbred breeders in the UK. His success in 2011 paves the way for further achievements in 2012.
