The fascinating race for this year's Champion First-Season Sire award is set to take another twist at Randwick this Saturday.
Just $116,865 separates the top four stallions in one of Australia's most sought-after breeding awards, two of whom are represented in the $750,000 Group 1 Champagne Stakes.
Manaal, who played a major role in Newgate stallion Tassort grabbing top spot after her win in the ATC Sires', will be looking to add to her sire's tally of $1,715,760 in the race that carries a $580,000 winner's purse.
Among Manaal's rivals is Fearless, a son of Pierata, who sits in fourth spot on $1,598,895.
Yulong-based Pierata narrowly missed out on all but assuring victory in the first-season sire award when his son Coleman was beaten a head in the Golden Slipper.
Splitting Tassort and Pierata are Leneva Park's Royal Meeting ($1,694,380) and Alabama Express ($1,610,730), who also stands at Yulong.
Just behind the top four is Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot ($1,257,600), who is represented in the Champagne by Broadsiding.
Super Seth ($297,110) has a good chance to improve his position on the table with his undefeated son Linebacker second favourite behind Manaal.
Rounding out the first-season sire products in the Champagne Stakes is El Castello, who will be striving to become the first winner for Castelvecchio ($88,000).
In addition to the $580,000 winner's cheque, the Champagne Stakes offers $190,000 for second, $96,000 for third, $42,000 for fourth and $21,000 for fifth with all others to receive $10,000.
Just one Group 1 race for two-year-olds remains after the Champagne Stakes with the J J Atkins to be run in Brisbane on June 15.
That 1600m event carries $1 million in stakes, as does The Showdown, which will be run at Caulfield on Saturday week.
FIRST-SEASON SIRE PREMIERSHIP TABLE (by earnings)
$1,715,760 – Tassort (by Brazen Beau)
$1,694,380 – Royal Meeting (Invincible Spirit)
$1,610,730 – Alabama Express (Redoute's Choice)
$1,598,895 – Pierata (Pierro)
$1,257,600 – Too Darn Hot (Dubawi)
$709,300 – Brutal (O'Reilly)
$581,015 – Zousain (Zoustar)
$490,250 – Cosmic Force (Deep Field)
$430,190 – Exceedance (Exceed and Excel)
$429,930 – Blue Point (Shamardal)
$323,210 – Yes Yes Yes (Rubick)
$297,110 – Super Seth (Dundeel)
