Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland explained

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 (2022) champion is Dubawi, who earned his first title after finishing runner-up multiple times.

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]

Records

Most championships:

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

Top sire lines

Excluding any championships by the foundation stallions themselves, the following sire-lines have produced champion sires (1721–2016):^[15]

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

References

tbheritage.com

Notes and References

Web site: Northern Dancer (horse). American Classic Pedigrees. 13 September 2017.
Web site: Bloodstock | Racing Post . . 2012-02-15 . 2017-04-29.
Web site: Sadler's Wells . Racing Post . 2012-02-15 . 2013-09-15.
Web site: Danehill . Racing Post . 2012-02-15 . 2013-09-15.
Web site: Galileo . Racing Post . 2012-02-15 . 2017-04-29.
Web site: Danehill Dancer . Racing Post . 2012-02-15 . 2013-09-15.
Web site: Galileo Claims Ninth Sires' Championship . Thoroughbred Daily News. 2017-12-29. 2018-02-21.
Web site: Galileo, By A Country Mile . Thoroughbred Daily News . 1 January 2020 . 31 December 2019.
Web site: Sires list archive . The Owner Breeder. 7 March 2022 .
Web site: Why it's Galileo's world in 2021 and we're all just living in it . Racing Post. James. Thomas . 4 January 2020 . 3 December 2020.
Web site: Frankel: The Best Just Got Better . TDN Thoroughbred Daily News . 8 March 2022 . en . 26 December 2021.
Web site: Berry . John . Dependable Dubawi a deserving champion . TDN Thoroughbred Daily News . 11 February 2023.
Web site: Leading Sires . Thoroughbred Stallion Guide . 11 February 2023 . en.
Web site: Leading Sires . Thoroughbred Statllion Guide . 23 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123154828/https://www.stallionguide.com/leading-sires/ . 23 January 2024.
Web site: Champion Sires in Great Britain and Ireland. www.highflyer.supanet.com. 29 April 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306110310/http://www.highflyer.supanet.com/champion.htm. 6 March 2016.