A STALLION’S third season is often said to be a somewhat challenging one because of the time passed since he was a racehorse, the number of exciting new prospects who have retired since then, plus his absence from yearling sales and track action.

However, Calyx is not going to have any trouble attracting a book large in quality and numbers, especially with his fee having undergone a typical year-three reduction. Eight of his foals fetched at least €50,000 at auction last year, including top prices of €125,000 and €115,000 for a filly and colt respectively, at Goffs.

Even more significant perhaps, in this era of enthusiasm for juvenile form, Calyx is a ‘first cousin’ of 2021’s undefeated European champion two-year-old, Native Trail (Oasis Dream).

He is a son of the brilliant miler and now leading international sire Kingman (Invincible Spirit) and out of Helleborine (Observatory), a Group 3 Prix d’Aumale winner who was runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac.

Native Trail, seven pounds clear at the top of the rankings and winner of both the Group 1 National Stakes and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, is by one of Green Desert’s (Danzig) best sons, as a racehorse and stallion, and out of Helleborine’s unraced full-sister Needleleaf (Observatory).

This makes the pair very closely related, each an advertisement for the other. Their dams have another notable full-sister in African Rose (Observatory), the Group 1 Sprint Cup winner and Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up whose Group 3-winning daughter Fair Eva is one of the quickest on Frankel’s (Galileo) burgeoning roll of honour.

This is a speed-oriented branch of a more classic-distance family, one that should continue to yield sprinters and milers while still getting some that stay 10 furlongs.

Calyx’s grandam New Orchid (Quest For Fame) picked up third place in a Group 3 Lancashire Oaks and her half-brother Distant Music (Distant View) was a Dewhurst Stakes-winning juvenile champion who finished third in the Group 1 Champion Stakes.

Talent over a mile, 10 furlongs and a bit farther features strongly in the next two generations too, with US champion Vanlandingham (Cox’s Ridge), Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks heroine Funny Moon (Malibu Moon), Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Termagant (Powerscourt) and US champion Temperance Hill (Stop The Music) on the page.

Calyx, his sire’s first big winner, ran away with a Newmarket maiden and beat Advertise by a length in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, earning a Timeform 120p rating at two. He was off the track for nearly a year but easily won the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot on his return.

However, an injury incurred when surprisingly beaten by Hello Youmzain in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes a few weeks later ended his career. He went to stud with a Timeform rating of 124.

Calyx looks likely to get everything from early two-year-olds to classic milers and it’s probable that he may even get some 10-furlong horses with the right mares. Trainers will love his yearlings.

CALYX (GB), Bay 2016. Won three races, £154,958, over 6 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Coventry Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Merriebelle Pavilion Stakes, Ascot, Gr.3, also placed second in Armstrong Sandy Lane Stakes, Haydock Park, Gr.2.

Retired to Stud in 2020, first crop now yearlings.

Stands at: Coolmore Stud, Fethard, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, E91 XK26, Ireland.

Contact: Christy Grassick, David O’Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Maurice Moloney, Gerry Aherne, Jason Walsh, Tom Miller, Mark Byrne, Neil Magee, Kevin Buckley, or Hermine Bastide

Telephone: +353 (0)52 6131298

Email: sales@coolmore.ie

Web: www.coolmore.com

Fee: €12,500