Giant’s Causeway topped the cover count with 217 mares during the 2010 North American breeding season bred.

Statistics from the North American Jockey Club showed that the number of active stallions fell by 9.3% and the number of mares bred fell 10.5% when compared to the same period a year ago.

The Jockey Club reported 2,186 stallions covered 40,576 mares in North America during 2010 based on reports through to October 13.

Rounding out the Top 5 among the most popular stallions were; Dunkirk (186), Kitten’s Joy (173) and Candy Ride, Malibu Moon each with 172.

“The decline in breeding activity in 2010 falls in line with our forecasted 10% decline for next year’s registered foal crop,” Jockey Club director Matt Iuliano said.  “We anticipate there will be 27,000 foals in 2011.”

A total of 82 stallions covered 100 or more and they accounted for 26.8% of mares bred in 2010.

Giant’s Causeway averaged 115 mares in his first three years shuttling to Coolmore Australia between 2002 and 2004.  He covered just 26 mares in his final year here in 2005.