The TDN’s much-trusted APEX Ratings assess Selkirk as a better source of top class racehorses in recent years than Oasis Dream, Shamardal, Danehill Dancer, Pivotal and all but a tiny handful of European super sires.

Selkirk was the best source of top class ‘A Runners’ from 2008-14 of all British stallions, but for Dubawi and Dansili. That is the conclusion of the latest installment of the Thoroughbred Daily News’s APEX Ratings, which assesses how many runners by all stallions are in the top 2% of all racehorses. His A Index of 2.68 puts him level with Tapit, currently the highest-priced stallion in the US. Cityscape, who stands at Overbury Stud at £4,500 Oct 1 SLF, is not just his best stallion son, but is his best ever offspring. A record-breaker at two and again at six, Cityscape had 96 mares in his first season, and has been patronised by some of Britain’s most astute and renowned breeders happy to wager that he may well be able to emulate Selkirk’s success at stud. His first foals are expected soon.