First-Season Sires: Starman Leads the Way in GB and Ireland

As the 2025 Flat season continues to unfold, the race among first-crop sires in Great Britain and Ireland is heating up. With the early crops of these stallions hitting the track, some names are already asserting dominance both in terms of volume and quality of runners. Here’s a closer look at the current standings and the best progeny each sire has produced so far.

1. Starman – The Undisputed Leader

Winners/Runners: 15/50 (30%)
Total Earnings: £458,225
Best Performer: Venetian Sun (Gr.3 winner at Royal Ascot and recent Gr.2 winner at Newmarket July Festival)

Starman has hit the ground running, leading not only in the number of winners but also in prize money and stakes success. His progeny have delivered two stakes winners from 11 runners, and he tops the earnings table with over £450k banked already. Venetian Sun heads a growing list of star progeny as she is unbeaten in three starts, culminating in a Gr.2 success last time out.

2. Palace Pier – High Strike Rate

Winners/Runners: 7/15 (47%)
Total Earnings: £92,265
Best Performer: Pacifica Pier (smart debut winner, RPR of 92)

With a striking winners-to-runners ratio of 47%, Palace Pier's early runners are showing class, if not yet the same quantity of runners or depth of black-type success as Starman. The Godolphin owned and bred Pacifica Pier was an eyecatching debut winner at Sandown earlier this month.

3. A’Ali – Speed Influence Starting to Show

Winners/Runners: 4/23 (17%)
Total Earnings: £107,731
Best Performer: Ali Shuffle (Gr.2 placed in France)

A’Ali’s progeny have made a solid start, with Ali Shuffle carrying the flag. Though no stakes wins yet, she finished second in a Group 2 in France. His offspring are proving competitive and likely to develop further with time and experience.

4. Lope Y Fernandez – Quietly Building

Winners/Runners: 4/23 (17%)
Total Earnings: £49,120
Best Performer: Saucy Jane (winner, peak RPR of 84)

Lope Y Fernandez hasn’t yet had a breakout star, but his progeny are showing potential. Saucy Jane was beaten two lengths in fourth in a Listed race at York in May.

5. Nando Parrado – Steady Start

Winners/Runners: 3/18 (17%)
Total Earnings: £59,044
Best Performer: Indigo Dawn (winner, peak RPR of 83)

Nando Parrado’s early crop is progressing slowly but surely, with a handful of winners. His best performer so far has been Indigo Dawn, who was a winner on debut before being outclassed in a Group 2 behind Venetian Sun.

6. Ubettabelieveit – Good Return on Limited Numbers

Winners/Runners: 3/21 (14%)
Total Earnings: £84,905
Best Performer: Tricky Tel (unbeaten in two starts, RPR of 96)

While not yet hitting the stakes level, Ubettabelieveit's runners are making a decent impression, with Tricky Tel looking ready for a step up in class.

7. Victor Ludorum – Low Numbers, Moderate Success

Winners/Runners: 2/9 (22%)
Total Earnings: £37,000
Best Performer: Commander’s Intent (novice winner, RPR of 84)

Victor Ludorum’s limited runners have made a fair impression, with Commander’s Intent a winner at York in May. He may see more success as more runners emerge later in the season.

8. St Mark’s Basilica – Big Reputation, Quiet Start

Winners/Runners: 2/20 (10%)
Total Earnings: £65,217
Best Performer: Thesecretadversary (second in Listed race, RPR of 99)

Despite his superstar race record, St Mark’s Basilica is yet to see his progeny catch fire on the track. That said, many of his runners boast stronger RPRs than sires ahead of him in this list, including Thesecretadversary who was second in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

9. Space Blues – Yet to Sparkle
Winners/Runners: 2/21 (10%)
Total Earnings: £124,975
Best Performer: Do Or Do Not (placed in two Group 2s, RPR of 104)

Space Blues has yet to sparkle on the numbers, but has had some smart performers in his first batch of runners, including Do Or Do Not, who was second at Royal Ascot in the Gr.2 Coventry and filled the same position at the Newmarket July Festival last time out.

10. Lucky Vega – Still Seeking a Breakthrough

Winners/Runners: 2/22 (9%)
Total Earnings: £44,961
Best Performer: Within The Law (Gr.2 winner and Gr.1 placed in Australia)

Lucky Vega’s early signs are modest, though he has sired one of the smartest two-year-olds in this list, Within The Law, who won a Group 2 in March at Randwick and most recently was narrowly beaten in a Group 1.

It’s still early days for the first-season sires of 2025, but Starman has clearly set the pace in both quality and quantity. Palace Pier’s strike rate suggests a strong upward trajectory, while several others look poised to make an impact as the season progresses. As the juveniles develop and more runners hit the track, these rankings could shift, but for now, Starman is the one to catch.