Five Grade 1 winners cap an extraordinary season.
For the first time in his stud career, Kayf Tara’s progeny have earned more than £2 million in prize-money, leaving him in contention near the top of the table behind King’s Theatre and Presenting.
A Tuesday double from Gully’s Edge and Vinegar Hill brought in enough money to help their sire pass an important landmark only two seasons after his offspring first earned more than £1 million.
A sensational season has been capped by five Grade 1 winners – the Cheltenham Festival trio of Thistlecrack, Blaklion and Ballyandy – as well as Identity Thief and Tea For Two, that quintet joining his previous top-flight winners Special Tiara, Planet Of Sound and Lieutenant Colonel.
Thistlecrack is currently the top-rated hurdler in training on an official rating of 174. Only the steeplechasers Don Cossack (177), Cue Card (176) and Vatour (176) are ahead of him in the overall jumps ratings.
There has been plenty of strength in depth, however, with Kayf Tara closing in on 100 individual winners for the season at a strike rate of 33 per cent winners to runners.
