Stallion Service Fees Rise In Line With 2022 Yearling Sales

Over the past month Australian stallion farms have been feverishly working on press releases and the accompanying advertising as they announce their stud fees for the 2022 season which kicks off on 1st September.

The majority of the farms have now made their service fees public and understandably they mirror the yearling market which experienced an average price increase of around 25% at all the major auctions.  

In 2022, Newgate Farm's EXTREME CHOICE  carries the heftiest price tag per pregnancy at $275,000 Inc. GST after siring two Group 1 winning 2YOs from his two small crops of racing age. Last year's top seed I AM INVINCIBLE sits in second in 2022 with a slight increase from $220,000 to $247,500 on the back of another successful year which sees him fighting out the Champion Sire honours. The top 20 Australian sires in order of price will average a service fee of $124,575 in 2022, with BIVOUAC, DUNDEEL and THE AUTUMN SUN at $66,000 rounding the list out.

As a comparison, the top 20 sires on the same measure in 2021 ranged from $55,000 to $220,000 & averaged out at $96,525, signifying an average service fee increase of 22% for the stallions at the top end of town. 

List of the Top 20 highest priced Australian stallions in 2022:
 

So, who is new and who is on the rise that we need to pay particular attention to? 

Naturally EXTREME CHOICE saw the biggest service fee increase, where last year he was listed as Private & he was limited to shareholder access mostly. Widden's ZOUSTAR rose up the ladder from 5th to 3rd place with a $44,000 increase. Coolmore's Group 1 Coolmore & Lightning Stakes winner HOME AFFAIRS and Newgate's Golden Slipper winner STAY INSIDE debut in the Top 20 with their first season stud fees set at $110,000 & $77,000 respectively. The biggest moves up the ladder came from three young stallions whose first runners are doing them proud and they all earned similar stud fee raises of $30-40,000 in 2022, namely TORONADO, MAURICE and RUSSIAN REVOLUTION. 

You will note from previous posts that our data 'found' TORONADO & MAURICE leading into the 2021 and 2022 yearling sales and we are pleased to have been able to secure a good number of their progeny for our stable owners. Those with availability can be found on our website (https://www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au/onlineprofiles/racehorseownership), but we wanted to highlight a TORONADO colt in particular who is very forward in his education, having been through our stable already and is set to return for his second preparation at Tulloch Lodge later this month. 

TORONADO  x MISS SOFTHANDS '20 Colt
$375,000 Magic Millions January purchase

Key points:

• Top 5 highest priced yearling by TORONADO sold this year. Cracking physical!
• By a stallion on the rise, TORONADO is an elite stallion and is responsible for Group 1 winners MASKED CRUSADER & SHELBY SIXTYSIX in recent seasons
• Bred on a similar cross to 10x Group 1 winning superstar & leading sire, SO YOU THINK
• Second foal of MISS SOFTHANDS who was a talented racehorse herself winning 5 times including victories at Flemington and Caulfield
• August foal and very forward physically
• Raised at Newhaven Park just like our past stable stars SHOUT THE BAR & ENGLISH
• See his video update from Adrian during his first preparation:  https://www.ardex.com.au/video/?photoid=200031051&spid=200&token=f542f06c-f9b8-4300-92ad-16489ab5a2f4
• Sales page: https://www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au/horsesavailable/9988449
•  

We feel this colt is an outstanding prospect given what he has shown to date & if you would like to be involved in racing him with us please contact our Sales team:

• Claudia Miller - claudia@gaiwaterhouse.com.au or 0422 545 990
• Bruce Slade - bruce@kestrelthoroughbreds.com.au or 0400 505 238

We expect TORONADO to continue his meteoric rise and hopefully our colt can help cement his position further up the list in the years to come.

Happy Racing,
Gai & Adrian