Comparing the Class of 2010

In the second part of our series looking at how crops of stallions have measured up against one another over their breeding careers, we examine the entry class of 2010, which saw Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible rise from an $11,000 debut fee to become one of Australia's premier stallions, with a 2019 service fee of $247,500.

Looking at that class, we are not only able to chart 'Vinnie's' rise to stardom, we are also able to look at the success of Darley shuttler Medaglia d'Oro (USA) as well as the impact of High Chaparral (Ire), who had his first season serving at Coolmore Australia that year.

The turn of the decade was a time of great uncertainty for the thoroughbred industry in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis and indeed existing stallion fees were slashed that year in response to a cooling market.

We’ve looked at metrics at key points of these stallions' careers to try and assess where they stood in relation to one another in terms of desirability and the success of their progeny.

Note: This article examines stallions who stood their first seasons in Australia in 2010 only. Data has been sourced from Arion and Studbook.

Stallion fees set

It certainly wasn't an easy market for any new stallion and apart from the very premium product, stallion fees were conservatively set in 2010.

High Chaparral, technically a first-season Australian sire despite having had four seasons in New Zealand prior, debuted at Coolmore Australia at $88,000 (inc GST), the same price as Medaglia d'Oro at Darley, who arrived off his early Northern Hemisphere progeny, headed by Rachel Alexandra (USA), making a considerable impression on the track.

Manhattan Rain, a Group 1 winning son of Encosta De Lago and half-brother to Redoute's Choice, therefore carrying the bloodlines of two of Australia's most desirable families, debuted at Arrowfield at $49,500 (inc GST), while Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown (USA) headed Vinery's new additions at $44,000 (inc GST).

Denman, a winner of the G1 Golden Rose, headed to Darley with a $38,500 (inc GST) opening fee, the same price as Wanted, who stood at Eliza Park.

Table: Season 1 - Stallion fees

Big books

Understandably given his New Zealand progeny, including So You Think (NZ), were already getting the runs on the board, High Chaparral was the most popular first season sire in terms of numbers, with a massive book of 235 mares.

Widden's Nicconi, at an opening price of $22,000 (inc GST), was also extremely popular with 156 mares, while Onemorenomore, standing at Vinery, attracted 145 mares. Red Element led the Queensland freshman sires with 135 services, while the owners of 133 mares were canny enough to get in on the I Am Invincible ride at the ground floor in that season.

Denman, Big Brown (USA) and All American all had books over 130. Medaglia d'Oro had 97.

The yearling market

The market makes its first serious assessment of the quality of a stallion's progeny at the yearling sales, some two and a half years after they begin their stallion careers.

In the case of this crop, those stallions who commanded a premium as a debut service fee in 2010 as a rule paid that back and more at the 2013 yearling sales.

Medaglia d'Oro's first Australian crop averaged $193,333, with a top price of $500,000, albeit from only 18 sold. The nature of the Darley stallion means many of the progeny are retained to race, but the market was definitely keen to get their hands on what they could.

In contrast, High Chaparral had 90 yearlings sell in Australia and New Zealand that season, with a top price of $700,000 and an average of $150,505, a terrific result for a stallion of his profile in a market obsessed with speed and precocity.

Wanted's first crop were also well in demand, with his 37 yearlings sold averaging a very respectable $120,016. Denman (44 sold at $75,611) and Manhattan Rain (49 at $72,765) were also successful, providing good returns on their opening service fee.

Nicconi fared second best overall in terms of volume of yearlings sold, with 70 (ave $51,442), while Onemorenomore had 65 (ave $41,834).

I Am Invincible had 52 of his first crop go through the ring that year at an average of just under $40,000, nearly four times his service fee.

First-season on track

The first on-track metrics come when a stallion's progeny first hit the track as 2-year-olds. While it is primarily a measure of the precocity of stock, it also reinforces the market's perception ongoing.

I Am Invincible made a huge leap forward in this regard, claiming the title of Champion First Season Sire with 15 total winners, seven more than any other stallion, and three stakes winners with his first crop earning $1.16 million, headed by Brazen Beau.

Denman also had three stakes winners, and six winners in all, while the only other first season stallions to have stakes winners were Manhattan Rain, with two, and All American with one.

Medaglia d'Oro, Nicconi and Red Element all had eight winners, making positive first impressions.

Table: First crop sales averages

Fifth book numbers

A stallion's fifth crop provides an interesting measuring point for the enduring popularity of a stallion. It comes after his first crop have gone through the sales and just after they hit the track. When viewed in the context of his opening crop numbers, and with consideration to breeding strategies and other outside influences, it can be a good measure of the trajectory of a breeding career.

That is certainly the case with I Am Invincible, whose numbers rocketed off the back of the strong results of his first crop on the track, outlined above. At a boosted fee of $27,500 (inc GST), the Yarraman Park stallion had a book of 211 in 2014.

Denman's numbers continued to be strong and he had a book of 180 that year on a slightly reduced price of $33,000 (inc GST). High Chaparral's price also dipped to $60,500 (inc GST) and he had 147 mares, while Scenic Lodge's Universal Prince's numbers rocketed from 29 to 127 in the space of 12 months after he produced four winners with his first crop.

The other stallion from that class with triple figure covers that season was Medaglia d'Oro with 118.

Of the top 10 on covers in their debut season, only three had more than 100 in their fifth season.

Second-season results

Medaglia d'Oro and I Am Invincible separated themselves well clear of the rest in the second season, with the Darley stallion tipping out Yarraman's Park rising star thanks to the emergence of his first Australian star Vancouver.

Nostradamus was Medaglia d'Oro's first Australian stakes winner, but Vancouver quickly claimed the title of favourite son, winning the Listed Breeders' Plate, the G3 Canonbury S., the G2 Todman S. and the G1 Golden Slipper S. in a fantastic 2-year-old campaign. He was one of 32 winners and four stakes winners for the progeny of Medaglia d'Oro that season.

3-year old Brazen Beau gave I Am Invincible his first Group 1 win as a sire, when he won the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and he backed that up by winning the G1 Newmarket H. in the autumn. 'Vinnie' had 59 winners that season, three at stakes level.

Nicconi continued to put strong numbers on the board and had 50 winners, including three stakes winners, while Manhattan Rain's progeny built on his record with four stakes winners and 32 overall.

High Chaparral did not feature in these lists for either first-season or second season results because of his previous time in New Zealand, but his first two Australian conceived crops had five stakes winner that year, including the Group 1 winning filly Fenway.

Ongoing market support

The market continues to assess the progeny of a stallion as their crops hit the track and taking a line at Year 5 of the yearling sales, in this case 2017, gives us a good guide on the ongoing market opinion.

Again, we see I Am Invincible and Medaglia d'Oro well out on top. Vinnie had 116 yearlings sell in 2017 at an average of $258,055, including his first three million-dollar lots. He was now one of the big boys of the sales ring.

Medaglia d'Oro averaged $213,744 across his 57 yearlings sold in 2017, including an eye-popping $2.4 million for a colt at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

High Chaparral (Ire) was the only other of that crop of stallions to average more than $100,000 for his yearlings that year ($114,700) with 65 sold. Manhattan Rain had 22 sell for an average of $69,863, while Nicconi had 22 purchased for an average of $61,772.

Turffontein was the other stallion to see the average price of his yearlings rise from the first crop to the fifth, as they jumped from $21,333 to $56,333 for 18 sold.

As it stands in 2019

I Am Invincible has been a phenomenal success in that regard, and at the time of publication he has produced 452 winners from 595 runners, including 50 stakes winners and nine Group 1 winners. That includes an Australian record 28 stakes winners in a season in 2018/19.

Table: Class of 2010 - Current Stats for Selected Stallions

*Australian-bred produce only

His progeny continues to be among the most in demand at Australian sales and he looks well poised to become Australia's next Champion Sire.

Medaglia d'Oro’s last Australian crop goes through the yearling ring in 2020.

His record in Australia is also excellent, with his Southern Hemisphere progeny producing 230 winners from 361 runners, including 25 stakes winners.

High Chaparral's progeny from his time in Australia had 362 winners from 508 runners and an impressive 43 stakes winners, with his final crop now four after his death in 2014.

Nicconi continues to do good things at Widden and, headlined by dual Group 1 winning sprinter Nature Strip, has had 312 winners from 424 runners, including 18 stakes winners while Manhattan Rain, now at Blue Gum Farm, has had 164 winners and 13 stakes winners.

Denman, also enjoying new surrounds at Twin Hills Stud, has 286 winners, including 15 stakes winners and a banner year with Hong Kong sprinting star Hot King Prawn.