MINZAAL, Europe’s highest-rated sprinter in 2022 standing at Derrinstown Stud, has seen his first foals receive high praise from their breeders.

Amongst the earliest arrivals includes Rosetown Bloodstock’s bay filly out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Loquace (pictured), a grand- daughter of champion two-year-old Pas De Reponse. “I’m very happy with her,” reported David Cox of Baroda Stud where the mare and foal are boarding

“She’s a very strong first foal with great bone; correct and very sharp looking. She’s the spitting image of her sire.”

Mark Dreeling was full of superlatives for his bay colt out of Laciredeski, a multiple winning Toronado half-sister to Flying Five Stakes runner-up Erosandpsyche and listed scorer Some Respect. Dreeling said: “He’s an absolute belter of a foal. He really is something else.

“He’s exactly what we hoped for: big, strong and compact, with great width and bone. He’s very correct and a lot like his sire.”

Paschal Kellaghan and Brian Gravin welcomed a bay filly out of highly rated three-time winner Dilawara, a Dream Ahead half-sister to three winners and related to champions Capri and Commissioning.

“She’s an absolutely stunning filly,” said Kellaghan. “Just pure class, with great strength and depth. This speedy looking filly is one for the future.”

Ringfort Stud, the breeder of Minzaal himself, welcomed a bay filly out of Shenoya, a winning and listed-placed Zoffany half-sister to classy filly Like A Charm from the family of Group 1 winner Bay Bridge.

The operation’s Derek Veitch commented: “She’s a big strong foal, and a lovely bay colour. She’s very correct, with great bone. She looks very much like her sire. We’re absolutely thrilled with her.”

Group 1 Sprint Cup

Minzaal, the top-rated produce of Mehmas, won the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at two before developing into the best sprinter of his generation, winning the Group 1 Sprint Cup at four by an emphatic three and three-quarter lengths.

He also won or placed at Group 1 level at two, three and four. Minzaal covered 161 mares in his first season at stud. Some 16% of his opening book were stakes winners, the highest percentage of any first season sire standing in Ireland last year.

His fee is €15,000 (January 1st, single live foal) in 2024.