Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland

Highflyer, who was champion sire 13 times

The title of champion, or leading, sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland is awarded to the stallion whose offspring have won the most prize money in Britain and Ireland during the flat racing season. The current (2023) champion is Frankel, who earned his first title in 2021.

Unlike the similar title for leading sire in North America, the stallion in question does not need to have resided in Great Britain or Ireland during his stud career, although the vast majority have done so. Northern Dancer is the most notable example of a North American-based stallion who won this title. The Northern Dancer sire line has dominated the list for the last several decades, mostly through his son Sadler's Wells (14 titles) and grandson Galileo (12 titles). ^[1]

The 2016 novel Mount! by Jilly Cooper describes the process to gain the fictional title for global leading sire. ^[2]

Records

Most championships: ^[3]

• 14 – Sadler's Wells – 1990, 1992–2004
• 13 – Highflyer – 1785–1796, 1798
• 12 – Galileo – 2008, 2010–2020
• 10 – Sir Peter Teazle – 1799–1802, 1804–1809
• 9 – St. Simon – 1890–1896, 1900–1901
• 8 – Regulus – 1754–1757, 1761, 1763, 1765–1766; Herod – 1777–1784

Champion sires 1721–1997

• 1721 – Acaster Turk (1)
• 1722 – Darley Arabian (1)
• 1723 – Thoulouse Barb (1)
• 1724 – Bay Bolton (1)
• 1725 – Bald Galloway (1)
• 1726 – Bay Bolton (2)
• 1727 – Bay Bolton (3)
• 1728 – Alcock's Arabian (1)
• 1729 – Bay Bolton (4)
• 1730 – Flying Childers (1)
• 1731 – Fox (1)
• 1732 – Bay Bolton (5)
• 1733 – Bay Bolton (6)
• 1734 – Bay Bolton (7)
• 1735 – Fox (2)
• 1736 – Flying Childers (2)
• 1737 – Partner (1)
• 1738 – Godolphin Arabian (1)
• 1739 – Bloody Buttocks (1)
• 1740 – Partner (2)
• 1741 – Partner (3)
• 1742 – Bartlett's Childers (1)
• 1743 – Partner (4)
• 1744 – Bolton Starling (1)
• 1745 – Godolphin Arabian (2)
• 1746 – Blacklegs (1)
• 1747 – Godolphin Arabian (3)
• 1748 – Crab (1)
• 1749 – Crab (2)
• 1750 – Crab (3)
• 1751 – Blaze (1)
• 1752 – Cade (1)
• 1753 – Cade (2)
• 1754 – Regulus (1)
• 1755 – Regulus (2)
• 1756 – Regulus (3)
• 1757 – Regulus (4)
• 1758 – Cade (3)
• 1759 – Cade (4)
• 1760 – Cade (5)
• 1761 – Regulus (5)
• 1762 – Blank (1)
• 1763 – Regulus (6)
• 1764 – Blank (2)
• 1765 – Regulus (7)
• 1766 – Regulus (8)
• 1767 – Snap (1)
• 1768 – Snap (2)
• 1769 – Snap (3)
• 1770 – Blank (3)
• 1771 – Snap (4)
• 1772 – Matchem (1)
• 1773 – Matchem (2)
• 1774 – Matchem (3)
• 1775 – Marske (1)
• 1776 – Marske (2)
• 1777 – Herod (1)
• 1778 – Herod (2)
• 1779 – Herod (3)
• 1780 – Herod (4)
• 1781 – Herod (5)
• 1782 – Herod (6)
• 1783 – Herod (7)
• 1784 – Herod (8)
• 1785 – Highflyer (1)
• 1786 – Highflyer (2)
• 1787 – Highflyer (3)
• 1788 – Highflyer (4)
• 1789 – Highflyer (5)
• 1790 – Highflyer (6)
• 1791 – Highflyer (7)
• 1792 – Highflyer (8)
• 1793 – Highflyer (9)
• 1794 – Highflyer (10)
• 1795 – Highflyer (11)
• 1796 – Highflyer (12)
• 1797 – King Fergus (1)
• 1798 – Highflyer (13)
• 1799 – Sir Peter Teazle (1)
• 1800 – Sir Peter Teazle (2)
• 1801 – Sir Peter Teazle (3)
• 1802 – Sir Peter Teazle (4)
• 1803 – Trumpator (1)
• 1804 – Sir Peter Teazle (5)
• 1805 – Sir Peter Teazle (6)
• 1806 – Sir Peter Teazle (7)
• 1807 – Sir Peter Teazle (8)
• 1808 – Sir Peter Teazle (9)
• 1809 – Sir Peter Teazle (10)
• 1810 – Waxy (1)
• 1811 – Sorcerer (1)
• 1812 – Sorcerer (2)
• 1813 – Sorcerer (3)
• 1814 – Selim (1)
• 1815 – Rubens (1)
• 1816 – Walton (1)
• 1817 – Orville (1)
• 1818 – Walton (2)
• 1819 – Soothsayer (1)
• 1820 – Phantom (1)
• 1821 – Rubens (2)
• 1822 – Rubens (3)
• 1823 – Orville (2)
• 1824 – Phantom (2)
• 1825 – Election (1)
• 1826 – Whalebone (1)
• 1827 – Whalebone (2)
• 1828 – Filho da Puta (1)
• 1829 – Blacklock (1)
• 1830 – Emilius (1)
• 1831 – Emilius (2)
• 1832 – Sultan (1)
• 1833 – Sultan (2)
• 1834 – Sultan (3)
• 1835 – Sultan (4)
• 1836 – Sultan (5)
• 1837 – Sultan (6)
• 1838 – Camel (1)
• 1839 – Priam (1)
• 1840 – Priam (2)
• 1841 – Taurus (1)
• 1842 – Touchstone (1)
• 1843 – Touchstone (2)
• 1844 – Bay Middleton (1)
• 1845 – Slane (1)
• 1846 – Venison (1)
• 1847 – Venison (2)
• 1848 – Touchstone (3)
• 1849 – Bay Middleton (2)
• 1850 – Epirus (1)
• 1851 – Orlando (1)
• 1852 – Birdcatcher (1)
• 1853 – Melbourne (1)
• 1854 – Orlando (2)
• 1855 – Touchstone (4)
• 1856 – Birdcatcher (2)
• 1857 – Melbourne (2)
• 1858 – Orlando (3)
• 1859 – Newminster (1)
• 1860 – Stockwell (1)
• 1861 – Stockwell (2)
• 1862 – Stockwell (3)
• 1863 – Newminster (2)
• 1864 – Stockwell (4)
• 1865 – Stockwell (5)
• 1866 – Stockwell (6)
• 1867 – Stockwell (7)
• 1868 – Buccaneer (1)
• 1869 – Thormanby (1)
• 1870 – King Tom (1)
• 1871 – King Tom (2)
• 1872 – Blair Athol (1)
• 1873 – Blair Athol (2)
• 1874 – Adventurer (1)
• 1875 – Blair Athol (3)
• 1876 – Lord Clifden (1)
• 1877 – Blair Athol (4)
• 1878 – Speculum (1)
• 1879 – Flageolet (1)
• 1880 – Hermit (1)
• 1881 – Hermit (2)
• 1882 – Hermit (3)
• 1883 – Hermit (4)
• 1884 – Hermit (5)
• 1885 – Hermit (6)
• 1886 – Hermit (7)
• 1887 – Hampton (1)
• 1888 – Galopin (1)
• 1889 – Galopin (2)
• 1890 – St. Simon (1)
• 1891 – St. Simon (2)
• 1892 – St. Simon (3)
• 1893 – St. Simon (4)
• 1894 – St. Simon (5)
• 1895 – St. Simon (6)
• 1896 – St. Simon (7)
• 1897 – Kendal (1)
• 1898 – Galopin (3)
• 1899 – Orme (1)
• 1900 – St. Simon (8)
• 1901 – St. Simon (9)
• 1902 – Persimmon (1)
• 1903 – St. Frusquin (1)
• 1904 – Gallinule (1)
• 1905 – Gallinule (2)
• 1906 – Persimmon (1)
• 1907 – St. Frusquin (1)
• 1908 – Persimmon (2)
• 1909 – Cyllene (1)
• 1910 – Cyllene (2)
• 1911 – Sundridge (1)
• 1912 – Persimmon (3)
• 1913 – Desmond (1)
• 1914 – Polymelus (1)
• 1915 – Polymelus (2)
• 1916 – Polymelus (3)
• 1917 – Bayardo (1)
• 1918 – Bayardo (2)
• 1919 – The Tetrarch (1)
• 1920 – Polymelus (4)
• 1921 – Polymelus (5)
• 1922 – Lemberg (1)
• 1923 – Swynford (1)
• 1924 – Son-in-Law (1)
• 1925 – Phalaris (1)
• 1926 – Hurry On (1)
• 1927 – Buchan (1)
• 1928 – Phalaris (2)
• 1929 – Tetratema (1)
• 1930 – Son-in-Law (2)
• 1931 – Pharos (1)
• 1932 – Gainsborough (1)
• 1933 – Gainsborough (2)
• 1934 – Blandford (1)
• 1935 – Blandford (2)
• 1936 – Fairway (1)
• 1937 – Solario (1)
• 1938 – Blandford (3)
• 1939 – Fairway (2)
• 1940 – Hyperion (1)
• 1941 – Hyperion (2)
• 1942 – Hyperion (3)
• 1943 – Fairway (3)
• 1944 – Fairway (4)
• 1945 – Hyperion (4)
• 1946 – Hyperion (5)
• 1947 – Nearco (1)
• 1948 – Big Game (1)
• 1949 – Nearco (2)
• 1950 – Fair Trial (1)
• 1951 – Nasrullah (1)
• 1952 – Tehran (1)
• 1953 – Chanteur (1)
• 1954 – Hyperion (6)
• 1955 – Alycidon (1)
• 1956 – Court Martial (1)
• 1957 – Court Martial (2)
• 1958 – Mossborough (1)
• 1959 – Petition (1)
• 1960 – Aureole (1)
• 1961 – Aureole (2)
• 1962 – Never Say Die (1)
• 1963 – Ribot (1)
• 1964 – Chamossaire (1)
• 1965 – Court Harwell (1)
• 1966 – Charlottesville (1)
• 1967 – Ribot (2)
• 1968 – Ribot (3)
• 1969 – Crepello (1)
• 1970 – Northern Dancer (1)
• 1971 – Never Bend (1)
• 1972 – Queen's Hussar (1)
• 1973 – Vaguely Noble (1)
• 1974 – Vaguely Noble (2)
• 1975 – Great Nephew (1)
• 1976 – Wolver Hollow (1)
• 1977 – Northern Dancer (2)
• 1978 – Mill Reef (1)
• 1979 – Petingo (1)
• 1980 – Pitcairn (1)
• 1981 – Great Nephew (1)
• 1982 – Be My Guest (1)
• 1983 – Northern Dancer (3)
• 1984 – Northern Dancer (4)
• 1985 – Kris (1)
• 1986 – Nijinsky (1)
• 1987 – Mill Reef (2)
• 1988 – Caerleon (1)
• 1989 – Blushing Groom (1)
• 1990 – Sadler's Wells (1)
• 1991 – Caerleon (2)
• 1992 – Sadler's Wells (2)
• 1993 – Sadler's Wells (3)
• 1994 – Sadler's Wells (4)
• 1995 – Sadler's Wells (5)
• 1996 – Sadler's Wells (6)
• 1997 – Sadler's Wells (7)

Champion sires since 1998

Year	Champion stallion	Winning horses	Total wins	Total prize money	Leading earner	Runner-up stallion	Ref.
1998	Sadler's Wells (8)	41	54	£1,594,536	Dream Well	Alzao	[4] [5]
1999	Sadler's Wells (9)	44	57	£1,921,619	Montjeu	Fairy Bridge	[4] [5]
2000	Sadler's Wells (10)	56	78	£2,483,888	Montjeu	Storm Cat	[4] [5]
2001	Sadler's Wells (11)	60	81	£4,068,991	Galileo	Danehill	[4] [5]
2002	Sadler's Wells (12)	67	87	£3,625,423	High Chaparral	Danehill	[4] [5]
2003	Sadler's Wells (13)	80	104	£3,455,160	High Chaparral	Danehill	[4] [5]
2004	Sadler's Wells (14)	83	104	£4,044,565	Doyen	Danehill	[4] [5]
2005	Danehill (1)	68	97	£3,487,488	Oratorio	Montjeu	[4] [6]
2006	Danehill (2)	65	92	£3,579,413	Dylan Thomas	Danehill Dancer	[4] [6]
2007	Danehill (3)	57	81	£3,751,607	Dylan Thomas	Galileo	[4] [6]
2008	Galileo (1)	61	86	£3,974,492	New Approach	Danehill Dancer	[4] [7]
2009	Danehill Dancer (1)	91	119	£3,827,297	Mastercraftsman	Cape Cross	[4] [8]
2010	Galileo (2)	66	89	£4,943,102	Cape Blanco	Dansili	[4] [7]
2011	Galileo (3)	90	121	£5,283,068	Frankel	Montjeu	[4] [7]
2012	Galileo (4)	108	154	£5,774,558	Frankel	Montjeu	[4] [7]
2013	Galileo (5)	115	162	£4,733,222	Ruler of the World	Dubawi	[4] [7]
2014	Galileo (6)	119	146	£7,193,916	Australia	Invincible Spirit	[4] [7]
2015	Galileo (7)	91	120	£5,735,195	Found	Dubawi	[4] [7]
2016	Galileo (8)	104	143	£10,489,764	Highland Reel	Dubawi	[4] [7]
2017	Galileo (9)	113		£11,698,680 [a]	Ulysses	Dubawi	[9]
2018	Galileo (10)	89	125	£6,680,143		Dubawi	[10]
2019	Galileo (11)	82	124	£11,945,529 [b]	Waldgeist	Sea the Stars	[10] [11]
2020	Galileo (12)	85	116 [10]	£5,274,968	Magical	Dubawi	[10] [12]
2021	Frankel (1)	87	144	£5,232,910	Adayar	Galileo	[10] [13]
2022	Dubawi (1)	99	152	£6,419,420	Naval Crown	Frankel	[14] [15]
2023	Frankel (2)	87	124	£7,066,134		Dark Angel	[16]

1. £15,145,613 in Europe
2. £16,145,540 in Europe

Top sire lines

Excluding any championships by the foundation stallions themselves, the following sire-lines have produced champion sires (1721–2016): ^{[3] [4]}

• Darley Arabian – 88 stallions, 188 championships. all titles since 1964
• Byerley Turk – 17 stallions, 59 championships, most recently Tetratema in 1929
• Godolphin Arabian – 12 stallions, 32 championships, most recently Chamossaire in 1964
• D'Arcy White Turk – 3 stallions, 10 championships, most recently Bolton Starling in 1744
• Curwen's Bay Barb – 2 stallions, 4 championships, most recently Crab in 1750
• Acaster Turk, Bloody Buttocks, St. Victor's Barb, Thoulouse Barb – 1 championship each

Sire lines and selected dam lines of the leading sires, color-coded by sire line

Thoulouse Barb 1723 D'Arcy White Turk Tifter Hautboy Scarborough Colt Acaster Turk 1721 Curwen's Bay Barb St. Victor's Barb Byerley Turk Clumsey Grey Hautboy Scarborough mare Acaster Turk mare Alcock's Arabian 1728 Darley Arabian 1722 Bloody Buttocks 1739 Bald Galloway 1725 Sister to Mixbury Jigg Fox 1731, 1735 Bay Bolton 1724, 1726 1727, 1729 1732, 1733 1734 Sister to Antelope Easby Snake Crab 1748, 1749 1750 Bartlett's Childers 1742 Flying Childers 1730, 1736 Grey Bloody Buttocks Grey Robinson Godolphin Arabian 1738, 1745 1747 Roxana Partner 1737, 1740 1741 Meloria Bolton Starling 1744 Coalition Colt Mother Western Squirt Blacklegs 1746 Blaze 1751 Snip Regulus 1754, 1755 1756, 1757 1761, 1763 1765, 1766 Blank 1762, 1764 1770 Cade 1752, 1753 1758, 1759 1760 Sister to Miss Partner Tartar Coalition Colt mare Othello Marske 1775, 1776 Spilletta Squirrel Matchem 1772, 1773 1774 Herod 1777, 1778 1779, 1780 1781, 1782 1783, 1784 Grecian Princess Creeping Polly Eclipse Snap 1767, 1768, 1769, 1771 Brunette Conductor Woodpecker Highflyer 1785, 1786 1787, 1788 1789, 1790 1791, 1792 1793, 1794 1795, 1796 1798 Alexander King Fergus 1797 Potoooooooo Mercury Trumpator 1803 Buzzard Alexander mare Sir Peter Teazle 1799, 1800 1801, 1802 1804, 1805 1806, 1807 1808, 1809 Hambletonian Beningbrough Waxy 1810 Gohanna Sorcerer 1811, 1812, 1813 Selim 1814 Rubens 1815, 1821, 1822 Castrel Walton 1816, 1818 Haphazard Sir Paul Whitelock Orville 1817, 1823 Whisker Whalebone 1826, 1827 Golumpus Election 1825 Soothsayer 1819 Comus Sultan 1832, 1833 1834, 1835 1836, 1837 Pantaloon Phantom 1820, 1824 Filho da Puta 1828 Paulowitz Blacklock 1829 Muley Emilius 1830, 1831 Economist Camel 1838 Catton Sir Hercules Humphrey Clinker Bay Middleton 1844, 1849 Langar Windhound Partisan Cain Voltaire Morisco Priam 1839, 1840 Harkaway Touchstone 1842, 1843 1848, 1855 Royal Oak Birdcatcher 1852, 1856 The Flying Dutchman Epirus 1850 Venison 1846, 1847 Ion Taurus 1841 Slane 1845 The Baron Oxford Melbourne 1853, 1857 Ellington Thormanby 1869 Wild Dayrell Voltigeur King Tom 1870, 1871 Orlando 1851, 1854, 1858 Newminster 1859, 1863 Stockwell 1860, 1861 1862, 1864 1865, 1866 1867 West Australian Delight Atlantic Buccaneer 1868 Vedette Trumpeter Lord Clifden 1876 Adventurer 1874 Hermit 1880, 1881 1882, 1883 1884, 1885 1886 Blair Athol 1872, 1873 1875, 1877 Doncaster Sterling Solon Le Sancy Speculum 1878 Galopin 1888, 1889, 1898 Plutus Hampton 1887 Bend Or Isonomy Barcaldine Le Samaritain Rosebery St. Simon 1890, 1891 1892, 1893 1894, 1895 1896, 1900 1901 Flageolet 1879 Bay Ronald Bona Vista Ormonde Kendal 1897 Gallinule 1904, 1905 Isinglass Marco Amphion Persimmon 1902, 1906 1908, 1912 St. Frusquin 1903, 1907 Desmond 1913 Dark Ronald Bayardo 1917, 1918 Cyllene 1909, 1910 Orme 1899 John o'Gaunt Marcovil Vahren Roi Herode Sundridge 1911 Prince Palatine Chaucer Rabelais Son-in-Law 1924, 1930 Gainsborough 1932, 1933 Polymelus 1914, 1915 1916, 1920 1921 Lemberg 1922 Captivation Swynford 1923 Hurry On 1926 The Tetrarch 1919 Sunstar Rose Prince Prince Chimay Havresac Hyperion 1940, 1941 1942, 1945 1946, 1954 Solario 1937 Phalaris 1925, 1928 Kircubbin Blandford 1934, 1935 1938 Precipitation Tetratema 1929 Buchan 1927 Prince Rose Vatout Cavaliere d'Arpino Aureole 1960, 1961 Sickle Pharos 1931 Fairway 1936, 1939 1943, 1944 Chateau Bouscaut Blenheim Bahram Chamossaire 1964 Unbreakable Prince Chevalier Bois Roussel Bellini Vienna Nearco 1947, 1949 Fair Trial 1950 Chanteur 1953 Donatello Big Game 1948 Charlottesville 1966 Court Harwell 1965 Tehran 1952 Tenerani Nearctic Mossborough 1958 Nasrullah 1951 Court Martial 1956, 1957 Petition 1959 Alycidon 1955 Crepello 1969 Polynesian Ribot 1963, 1967 1968 Vaguely Noble 1973, 1974 Northern Dancer 1970, 1977 1983, 1984 Never Bend 1971 Never Say Die 1962 Honeyway March Past Petingo 1979 Native Dancer Danzig Sadler's Wells 1990, 1992 1993, 1994 1995, 1996 1997, 1998 1999, 2000 2001, 2002 2003, 2004 Nijinsky 1986 Be My Guest 1982 Mill Reef 1978, 1987 Wolver Hollow 1976 Red God Great Nephew 1975, 1981 Queen's Hussar 1972 Pitcairn 1980 Atan Danehill 2005, 2006 2007 Galileo 2008, 2010 2011, 2012 2013, 2014 2015, 2016 2017, 2018 2019, 2020 Caerleon 1988, 1991 Blushing Groom 1989 Sharpen Up Danehill Dancer 2009 Frankel 2021, 2023 Kris 1985

See also

• Leading sire in Australia
• Leading sire in France
• Leading sire in Germany
• Leading sire in Japan
• Leading sire in North America
• Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
• Leading broodmare sire in North America
• Leading jump racing sire in Great Britain & Ireland

References

1. "Northern Dancer (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
2. Cooper, Jilly (2016). Mount!. Transworld.
3. "Champion Sires in Great Britain and Ireland". www.highflyer.supanet.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
4. "Bloodstock | Racing Post". Racing Post . 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
5. "Sadler's Wells". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
6. "Danehill". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
7. "Galileo". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
8. "Danehill Dancer". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
9. "Galileo Claims Ninth Sires' Championship". Thoroughbred Daily News. 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
10. "Sires list archive". The Owner Breeder. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
11. "Galileo, By A Country Mile". Thoroughbred Daily News. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
12. Thomas, James (3 December 2020). "Why it's Galileo's world in 2021 and we're all just living in it". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
13. "Frankel: The Best Just Got Better". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
14. Berry, John. "Dependable Dubawi a deserving champion" (PDF). TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
15. "Leading Sires". Thoroughbred Stallion Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
16. "Leading Sires". Thoroughbred Statllion Guide. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

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