There were several major storylines in the Canadian stallion ranks in 2024, including the deaths of popular T.C. Westmeath Stud Farm sires Souper Speedy and Old Forester. Souper Speedy was Canada’s leading sire in 2024 when he died in October in a paddock accident at age 15. Old Forester, the sire of five-time Canadian champion sprinter Pink Lloyd, succumbed in November at 23. Two successful Kentucky sires have made their way north of the border for the 2025 breeding season, Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper and Tapiture. For 2024, they ranked first and second among all Canadian sires in progeny earnings, regardless of progeny conception area, with Ghostazpper ($8.8 million) topping Tapiture ($8.6 million). Ghostzapper, the sire of champion Moira, is arguably the most successful sire to stand in Canada since Vice Regent in the 1980s. The 25-year-old will stand alongside Weyburn, Silent Name, Mucho Macho Man, Point of Entry, Shaman Ghost, Signature Red, and American Guru at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs North. “Frank wanted him up here and he wants to support him,” Adena Springs stallion sales manager Tony Gattellaro said. “He’s also a gift back to Canadian breeders, in a way. Given his age, we are limiting his book, but he’s available publicly, standing for $40,000 Canadian. He’s sired Breeders’ Cup winners. He’s done it all – one of the world’s top stallions.” Chiefswood Stable’s Weyburn will command a fee of $3,500 in his first season. The son of Pioneerof the Nile took the Grade 3 Gotham and Sir Shackleton Stakes while banking $561,608. “I’m very exited about Weyburn,” Gattellaro said. “He really impressed me when I saw him for the first time. He’s just an incredible specimen. “It’s intriguing that he’s got A.P. Indy and Sunday Silence on the bottom half of his pedigree. His sire line has done sneakily well at Woodbine with the success of Cairo Prince. Chiefswood plans on supporting him, which is exciting. It’s a great way to start off his career with some high-caliber mares.” Two-time leading Canadian sire Silent Name had a productive 2024. The venerable 23-year-old sired Grade 3 winner Fashionably Fab, the front-runner for Canadian champion older female on the main track honors. “Silent Name has been the premier Canadian sire the last couple years,” Gattellaro said. “We have been restricting his book size. He’s doing incredible. He’s had really good fertility for his age.” BC Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, the sire of two Grade 1 winners, bred his first book of mares in Canada last year at Adena. “He had a very good first book,” Gattellaro noted. “I’ve supported him myself. I believe in him.” Noted turf sire Point of Entry had his first Ontario-sired crop make it to the races last year, headed by South Ocean Stakes winner Brengungirl. “He had a sneaky-good first year here,” Gattellaro recalled. “He’s sired a Grade 1 winner and a couple of millionaires. To have that in the Ontario market is just incredible.” Primarily a dirt sire, Tapiture seems like an ideal fit for Alberta racing. Among his nine 2024 stakes winners were Tapalo, Love My Jimmy, Crisper, and Nice as Pie. The 14-year-old son of Tapit stands for $6,000 at Highfield. Ballycroy Bloodstock in Ontario has expanded its roster to four stallions in an impressive new stallion barn. Joining Collusion Illusion and Tamarkuz are Ami’s Flatter and Gamble’s Exchange. Gufo left for Kentucky after his first season at stud last year at Ballycroy. Michaela Kemp, Ballycroy’s director of bloodstock, is exited about the first crop from Collusion Illusion, a Grade 1-winning sprinter in Southern California by the red-hot Twirling Candy. “Our first year standing four stallions, we’ve got great diversity,” Kemp said. “I believe we have a horse for everyone. We plan to heavily support Collusion Illusion going into his third year at stud. His first foals look powerful. “Galloping Ami’s family is continuing to skyrocket, and we’re really happy to offer the chance to breed into that family with Ami’s Flatter. Gamble’s Exchange has done things the hard way and proven he is a stallion worth sending your mare to. “And Tamarkuz’s Grade 2 winner [Two Rivers Over] and soaring average earnings per runner speaks for itself. He was well supported by outside mares last year, and we hope for the same this year.” Colebrook Farms in Ontario has a full roster, headed by 2023 leading Canadian 2-year-old sire Frac Daddy and champion 2-year-old Avie’s Flatter, whose first foals hit the ground this year. Amis Gizmo, Astronaut, and Perfect Speighty complete the lineup. In a rebuilding mode, T.C. Westmeath has two new Grade 3-caliber stallions for 2024, Azul Coast and Harlocap. They join Galileo’s son Bond Street, who covered 10 mares in his first season last year. Other notable Ontario sires include Reload and Mohaymen. Northern Dawn Stable’s Reload is best known for siring 2023 champion male sprinter Patches O’Houlihan and Grade 2 victor Candy Overload. Saintsbury Farm’s Mohaymen sired Grade 1 Woodbine Mile winner Win for the Money last year.