Kodiac hits 30 not out and record in sights

Thirty individual two-year-old winners before the end of July: that is the extraordinary milestone reached on Wednesday by Kodiac, illustrating his status as the best source of precocious performers in Europe.

His son Go Now Go Now became number 30 with victory in a Class 5 Catterick nursery over seven furlongs on his fifth start for Mark Johnston and owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

It may have been only a minor contest on an ordinary day's racing, but the manner of the colt's success paid compliment to the speed and toughness his sire imparts as he took up the running after one furlong and tenaciously held off the keeping-on runner-up by a neck.

Go Now Go Now was bred by Gerry Ross out of the unplaced Dolphin Street mare Ms Mary C, a half-sister to Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Seazun. He was bought by Good Will Bloodstock for 50,000gns as a foal at Tattersalls and resold to Kevin Ross Bloodstock for £55,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.

Kodiac's tally of 30 two-year-old winners in Europe this year puts him streets ahead of other sires. His closest pursuer – and Tally-Ho Stud colleague – Zebedee is on 15, with the operation's late resident Society Rock on 13 with his first crop.

If the son of Danehill continues churning out juvenile winners at such a rate, he must have every chance of soaring past his own European and North American record of 43 in a single year, set in 2014.

He might also get to within touching distance of the world record of 51 two-year-old winners in one crop, set by the great Sunday Silence with his Japanese-conceived runners in 2004.

Kodiac certainly has numbers on his side, as he sired a crop of 189 foals in 2015 from 236 mares covered.

He has also demonstrated that he is able to transmit quality, though, and his other juvenile winners this year include the Listed scorers Brother Bear and Madeline, Group 2 Superlative Stakes second Nebo and the black type-placed trio Natural, Roussel and To Wafij.

Throughout his stud career Kodiac has sired 15 Group winners and 20 Listed winners, with his roll of honour headed by Cheveley Park Stakes winner and 1,000 Guineas third Tiggy Wiggy.

See race result