The List: Justify Positioned for Tattersalls Breakout

The Scat Daddy line has held an important place in European racing for more than a decade thanks to his sons' exploits. 

First, it was No Nay Never, who, after winning his maiden at Keeneland, came across the Atlantic Ocean to win the Norfolk Stakes (G2) and then the Prix Morny (G1). Then came Sioux Nation, who never raced in the United States, but won a group 1 at 2. Both No Nay Never and Sioux Nation stand at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.

Now the most famous racing son of Scat Daddy, Justify , is poised to add to the reputation of the bloodline in Europe at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which begins Oct. 6. The American Triple Crown-winning Hall of Famer is also a two-time champion. He crossed the wire first in all six of his career starts. 

As a stallion, whose stud career began in 2019, Justify has established himself among the very best American sires. He stood this year at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for $200,000; and ranks fifth on the current general sires list—moving up a spot this week.

In Europe, Justify has been gaining momentum thanks to recent success from his progeny claiming British classics: City of Troy (2025 Epsom Derby, G1); Ruling Court (2025 Two Thousand Guineas, G1); and Scandinavia (2026 St. Leger, G1). 

"The results stand for themselves," said Marlhill House Stud manager Brian McConnon. "For what he's done with the limited amount of runners he's had, I think it's staggering. He's getting champion 2-year-olds, classic-winning 3-year-olds over almost any distance, and he's just a phenomenal turf sire. That's why we've supported him from day one. I was lucky enough to see him a number of years ago, and I was just blown away by him as a physical, and (his offspring) have great temperaments."

Marlhill has bred Fastnet Rock mares and Galileo mares to Justify. McConnon said those crosses "really work." Those offspring return to the Irish farm as weanlings and are then prepped to sell as yearlings. 

Marlhill House Stud is consigning Lot 260, a colt out of the Galileo mare Stars At Night (IRE). A recent update is Hmas Perth, a full brother to Lot 260, who broke his maiden Oct. 4 at the Curragh. 

Marlhill also consigned another Justify colt at last week's Goffs Orby Sale. Also a Book 1 offering, that colt (Lot 449) sold for €420,000 (US$477,609). McConnon also sent a colt through the ring with the Fairway Consignment at Arqana's The August Sale at Deauville, which landed with Godolphin for €1.25 million (approximately US$ 1,446,287).

Using the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale as a gauge, the European interest in Justify's offspring is taking off. He first had yearlings in Book 1 of the sale in 2021. That year, he had five yearlings enter the sales ring with only two selling. In each of the next two years, he was represented by one sale entry with both selling. Then, in 2024, he had none. Last year, three of the five Justify yearlings sold. This year, Justify will have nine yearlings enter the sales ring after one was withdrawn in September. 

"I think this is the first main European crop of yearlings he's had, and there's another follow-on of foals this year, and I think he's firmly established now as a sire of grass horses, and therefore he's got good appeal for Europe," said Newsells Park Stud general manager Julian Dollar.

Newsells consigns a colt by Justify (Lot 388), who will enter the Newmarket ring on the final day of Book 1. Lot 388 is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Best Terms, who was England's champion 2-year-old filly in 2011. 

A common refrain from those consigning Justify yearlings at Newmarket is that they have great temperaments. Dollar said that level-headedness is "part of the appeal" of acquiring Justify's progeny. 

"I'd love there to be some more grass horses in the States that we could use over in Europe because we're getting pretty shallow in terms of the gene pool in the U.K. and Europe in general," Dollar said. "So having a horse like Justify would have good appeal for European mares, and it'd be great if there were a couple more.

"When I went to run Castleton Farm 22 years ago, at that stage, when (the U.S. was) bringing in Polytrack and synthetics, I thought we would really see a sort of shortening of the Atlantic, the distance between us. But then, when the synthetics went out the window, we became more and more polarized. Now, I think we're about as polarized as we've ever been. So, a horse like Justify helps to bring us a bit together."

Besides being in the top five sires overall on the general list, Justify currently is the No. 2 turf sire in North America based on progeny earnings, trailing only the overall top sire Not This Time . Despite having 80 fewer named foals and 34 fewer turf runners than Not This Time, Justify has more graded stakes winners (6), as many grade 1 winners (2), and more black-type winners (12) than Not This Time on grass. 

In Europe, Justify has just 26 runners on turf this year, significantly fewer than his rivals. Despite that, he ranks No. 31 based on European progeny earnings for turf sires standing in North America or Europe. Based on average earnings per runner, Justify is the leading sire at $80,526 that is more than $25,000 ahead of Night of Thunder, who ranks second by this metric.

As more of Justify's offspring race in Europe, it would not be a surprise to see him rank at or near the top of many sire categories. Could he become the stallion that unifies two continents?

"I think there's momentum now that he's getting (success)," McConnon said. "He wasn't just a flash in the pan with having two classic winners in his first crop. I think it's consistent now. People are starting to realize that it's not a fluke." 

*Two sold #Three sold ^There were 10, but one was withdrawn