MAGNA Grecia was the first of the Coolmore stallions with their initial juvenile runners this year to get off the mark, when Myconian won in France.

Now Calyx joins him, his daughter Classic Flower easily winning in France over five and a half furlongs. Ironically, Calyx’s first runner was fourth behind the aforementioned Myconian. Bred by Simon Venner’s Petches Farm, Classic Flower was sourced as a foal at Tattersalls where she sold for 45,000gns to bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau.

This debut win was no doubt welcome news at Petches Farm, and also at Pier House Stud, Brendan Morrin’s farm on the Curragh.

Last year Morrin paid 70,000gns for Classic Flower’s now yearling half-sister by Oasis Dream (Green Desert), and she will no doubt be reoffered for sale this autumn. The pair of fillies are the first two offspring of the Garswood (Dutch Art) mare Crown Of Flowers.

A promising sixth, beaten two lengths, on her late season two-year-old bow, Crown Of Flowers was a hot favourite on her only other start, with Ryan Moore in the saddle, but she was virtually pulled-up and didn’t race again. What a pity that she did not get to do so as she had seven winning siblings, the best of which was Bahia Breeze (Mister Baileys). A dual stakes winner, the best of that mare’s progeny has been the Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes winner Beshaayir (Iffraaj).

In spite of a curtailed racing career, amounting to just six starts, Magna Grecia beat Philip Of Spain to win the Group 1 Vertem Futurity at two, having run second to the subsequent classic winner Persian King in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes. Magna Grecia too went on to classic success, in his case in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

With some 110 juveniles on the ground, Magna Gracia will be one of the favourites for first-season sire honours at the end of the year.

Ten Sovereigns

Not to be outdone, Magnia Grecia’s stud mate, Ten Sovereigns (No Nay Never), made the perfect start to his stud career at Dundalk, when the Aidan O’Brien-trained Brighter made a winning debut, her sire’s first runner.

This €110,000 Arqana yearling purchase for Coolmore and partners by Mark McStay’s Avenue Bloodstock is one of more than 145 two-year-olds by Ten Sovereigns, another who will be making a strong challenge for sire honours.

All of Ten Sovereigns’ wins were over six furlongs, notably the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at two and the Group 1 July Cup at three. He beat Advertise and Fairyland in the latter.

Brighter is the fourth winner for his Acclamation (Royal Applause) dam Tara’s Force. The best of that quartet is the French listed winner Charm Appeal (Canford Cliffs). Tara’s Force has four winning siblings, headed by the two-year-old Group 3 Somerville Tattersalls Stakes winner Ashram (Indian Haven). Last weekend, Showay (Galiway), from the immediate family of Brighter, won the Group 3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville.