Stallions traveling from North America to Sweden proved to be in great demand with Swedish breeders during the 2008 breeding season.
Flirtin Man, the Angus Hall stallion that won half of his 20 starts as a 3-year-old last year, bred the maximum of 150 mares in his first season in Sweden. They obviously responded to his performance and pedigree and overlooked the fact that he trotted with hobbles, which are strictly forbidden in Sweden.
(By contrast, Laddie, another son of Angus Hall from a Valley Victory mare, served just 32 mares in his first season.)
Another rookie stallion that met the maximum number of 150 mares in Sweden was Upfront Larry by Andover Hall. His pedigree is remarkably similar to Flirtin Man’s. They are sired by full brothers and both are from Valley Victory mares.
While on the “brotherly love” theme, Adams Hall, a brother to Angus and Andover, bred 150 mares in Sweden this year, too. He’s been successful combining racing and breeding in Sweden for several seasons now.
Dream Vacation stood in the United States for several seasons before his exportation to Sweden. His daughters far outperformed his sons and demand for his offspring waned. But he also welcomed 150 mares in Sweden this year.
Super Arnie, the 21-year-old champion stallion, is still going strong and he served a book of 150 mares, too, along with Juliano Star, the Franco-American stallion who sired the headliner Commander Crowe. Another Franco-American stallion, Zerberus, also bred 150 mares. He’s the sire of the top mare Sissel Godiva.
The mighty Varenne moved from Italy to Sweden and bred 134 mares this year. Viking Kronos, the son of American Winner so prized for siring early speed, served a book of 102 mares.
Here are a few other stallions that might be of interest to readers and the number of mares bred in 2008: Alf Palema (26), Banker Hall (47), Fast Photo (84), Lindy Lane (58), Mr Pine Chip (125), Pine Chip (54), Rotation (35), and Scarlet Knight (92).
Swedish breeders can import semen from foreign stallions and the most popular this year was the French sire Love You, whose semen was used on 115 mares. In North America, the most popular stallion with Swedish breeders was Credit Winner with 56 mares.
Other North American stallions whose semen was shipped to Sweden are listed with their numbers in parentheses: Andover Hall (17), Angus Hall (24), Broadway Hall (10), Cantab Hall (21), Conway Hall (18), Kadabra (28), Ken Warkentin (31), Muscles Yankee (13), Revenue S (28), Striking Sahbra (7), and Windsongs Legacy (8).
Dean Hoffman, one of North America's most prolific harness racing journalists and member of the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame, offers SC website readers his weekly look at international standardbred racing through his eyes.