Aclaim is proving to be the value sire who could. Standing for just £10,000 at Manton Park, the Prix de la Foret winner is a near constant in the top ten of European third-crop sires in terms of winners and remains firmly inside the top twenty regarding prizemoney. Sharpen the focus to the UK and you’ll only find four ahead of the son of Acclamation in both categories.
Producing class has been a factor in his success, something we’ll revisit later, but it’s perhaps the consistency of his progeny to find themselves passing the winning post in front that is most appealing. It’s worth noting that his career strike rate stands at a runner-to-winner ratio of 49%. Not only is that greater than five of the horses above him in the previously-mentioned top ten, but it equals the horse in pole position and at a third of the stallion fee.
The 10-year-old is already building on an excellent first half to 2023, with eight winners already in the bag since the start of June, not to mention two black-type placed efforts from Royal Aclaim in that period. Closing in on a century of successes, Aclaim’s progeny have also proved versatile in terms of trip. Victories from 5f up to a mile and a quarter have been ticked off on the flat, while he has also sired two horses to win under National Hunt rules.
And then, of course, there’s the Classic winner from his first crop. 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet proving tough as teak to land the showpiece at Newmarket. A narrow second in the French version saw her stock rise, having started her three-year-old campaign winning the Group Three Nell Gwynn. Aclaim remains the first and only son of Acclamation to sire a UK Classic winner. Royal Aclaim has won at the Listed level, while the exploits of Hava Neegla in Hong Kong have advertised Aclaim’s international aspirations. They would include Australia, where he shuttled to cover top-class mares in 2022, and his first runners in the US are imminent.
Described in Timeform previews as a “useful sire”, and whether you judge him on winners or prize money, Aclaim is proving himself a leading value stallion.
(Stats correct as of 16:00 (BST) 17/07/23 using stallionguide.com and Racingpost.com)