The first-season sires’ table always makes for interesting discussion, and 2024 sees a host of well-bred stallions that were well-performed on the track have their maiden crop of runners hit the track as two-year-olds.

These include the crack American imports Captain Crunch, McWicked, Stay Hungry and Lather Up and the colonial stallions Soho Tribeca, Poster Boy, The Storm Inside and Soho Lanikai.

The success of Somebeachsomewhere-line stallions here in Australia has been phenomenal and this season we have four more young stallions in Captain Crunch, Stay Hungry, Poster Boy and Soho Lanikai represented by their first crops.

Soho Tribeca and The Storm Inside both belong to the Western Hanover sireline, McWicked is a son of the Falcon Seelster great McArdle and Lather Up is a member of the Cam Fella line.

Leading the way in terms of live foals is the 2018 USA 2YO Colt of the Year and Breeders Crown champion Captain Crunch 1:47.4 ($1.7million) with 97.

McWicked ($5.1million), the richest pacing stallion of all-time, is second with 95 foals, followed by the WA Pacing Cup winner Soho Tribeca with 87, the 2018 3YO Colt of the Year and dual Vicbred champion Poster Boy with 73 and the 2016 2YO Colt of the Year The Storm Inside (62).

The world champion Lather Up, who left 48 foals from his first Australian crop was next, the USA Breeders Crown winner and 2022 leading USA first season sire Stay Hungry had 46 and the undefeated Soho Lanikai (13).

Interestingly, Captain Crunch, Poster Boy and The Storm Inside have already been represented by their first 'down under' two-year-old winners.

Captain Crunch led in the brilliant first-up Winton, New Zealand winner Ukraine (1:59.1), Poster Boy's first starter Delulu won in 1:58.3 at Pinjarra on Monday and The Storm Inside sired the Bendigo winner Viva Storm.

Captain Crunch produced the top priced lot at the SA Southern Stars Yearling Sale last weekend in a colt out of Steam Washed NZ, which realised $40,000

Always B Miki, Captain Crunch's Alabar studmate, sired the highest priced colt and filly at the Nutrien Equine Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale on Sunday. Both were knocked down for $70,000

Colourful western districts identity Pat Prendergast bred and owns the recent Ballarat midweek winner Bundle. The Yankee Rockstar mare has now won three races.