In 2020, High Chaparral, whose youngest Southern Hemisphere progeny turned five on August 1, will have five sons at stud in Australia and six sons at stud in New Zealand. In addition to that, he will have five grandsons standing across both countries in 2020, headed by the two sons of Dundeel (NZ), Castelvecchio and Super Seth, at Arrowfield and Waikato Stud respectively.
Much as he did when on the racetrack, So You Think's (NZ) exploits as a stallion have paved the way for the other sons of High Chapparal in Australia. A champion of the highest order as a racehorse, winning two G1 Cox Plates and multiple Group 1s in Ireland and England, he has proven a terrific acquisition for Coolmore.
As it stands, from his first five crops, he has produced 328 winners across 18 countries, including 26 stakes winners. Among his best progeny are the Group 1 winners La Bella Diosa (NZ), Quick Thinker, Sopressa, Nakeeta Jane and his stallion sons D'Argento, who debuts at Bowness Stud in 2020, and Inference, whose first crop from Chatswood Stud have just become yearlings.
So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore
Significantly, So You Think's popularity with breeders only gets stronger, with 2019's book of 234 representing the highest numbers of mares of his career to date, and 2020's set to reach further heights again, having reportedly been the first stallion to be fully booked in Australia.
That boom in demand has not only been driven by the racetrack success of his progeny, but also their popularity at the sales. Across 47 yearlings sold in 2020, his yearlings have averaged just under $180,000, including his first million-dollar son, a colt out of Pinocchio (Encosta De Lago), which Bon Ho paid $1.1 million for at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
"That boom in demand has not only been driven by the racetrack success of his progeny, but also their popularity at the sales."
Demand for the progeny of Dundeel has also driven some terrific results for the young Arrowfield stallion. He had 51 yearlings through the sales this year at an impressive average of $149,907 and a top price of $750,000. With his oldest progeny having just turned five, he has had 91 winners, 10 at stakes level, including Group 1 winners Yourdeel (NZ), Castelvecchio, Super Seth and Atyaab.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
A comparison between the two sons of High Chapparal at the same stage of their breeding careers is a little complicated by the fact that So You Think shuttled to Ireland for three seasons, but looking at Australian/New Zealand progeny only across their first three crops, the Coolmore stallion is slightly ahead on 122 winners (from 201 starters) compared to Dundeel with 91 (from 164). At that stage, So You Think had 12 stakes winners, while Dundeel currently has 10.
Toronado building a record in both hemispheres
The other son of High Chapparal making an impact at stud in Australia in terms of racetrack success is Swettenham Stud's Toronado (Ire), whose oldest Australian progeny have just turned four. While he has only had one stakes winner in Australia, (compared to four in the Northern Hemisphere), in the dominant Tasmanian filly Still A Star, he continues to build a reputation for producing winners.
Toronado (Ire) | Standing at Swettenham Stud
He has had 58 winners from his 107 Australian-bred runners and his progeny continue to resonate with buyers, averaging $97,123 across 19 sales this season.
At Tasmania's Armidale Stud, High Chaparral's Group 2-winning son Alpine Eagle had his first crop of yearlings hit the sales this year, with 31 sold at an average of $45,419, a near six-time return on his first-season service fee of $7700 (inc GST).
Victorian-based Wayed Zain is the other son of High Chapparal active in Australia in 2020.
High ambitions for NZ sire sons
New Zealand has an excellent mix of overseas and locally-bred sons of High Chaparral on offer, including Westbury Stud's Redwood (GB), who has already produced 94 winners, including seven at stakes level, highlighted by the multiple Group winner Night's Watch (NZ).
Highview's Stud's Wrote (Ire), who has had 26 winners, Strathcarron Stud's Fabulous (NZ), who has had two winners from small books, and Mapperley Stud's Contributer (Ire), whose had two 2-year-old winners from his first crop, are the other three with runners already on the track.
There are high expectations for Waikato Stud's Tivaci, the G1 All Aged S. winner whose first crop will hit the track in 2020/21.
Tivaci | Standing at Waikato Stud
His first-crop progeny averaged $92,809 at this year's yearling sales, a terrific return on the fee of NZ$20,000 (plus GST) in his first season. That included the NZ$500,000 Bruce Perry paid for the half-brother the multiple Group 1 winner and stallion Grunt (NZ) at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale at Karaka.
G1 Victoria Derby and Spring Champion S. winner Ace High began his career at Rich Hill last year and the arrival of his first foals is much anticipated, having covered 97 mares in his first year.
Generation next
As mentioned earlier, dual Group 1 winner Castelvecchio heads up the contingent of High Chaparral's grandsons at stud in Australia and debuts at $33,000 (inc GST) at Arrowfield in 2020, while G1 Rosehill Guineas winner D'Argento will create plenty of interest at $16,500 (inc GST) at Bowness Stud.
Inference was the first of the grandsons to stand in Australia and he has had good books of over 100 his first two seasons at Chatswood Stud, where he stands at $6600 (inc GST).
The two grandsons to debut at stud in New Zealand in 2020 are G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth, who debuts at $25,000 (plus GST) for Waikato Stud, and Wyndspelle (NZ), the son of Iffraaj (GB), who features High Chapparal as the sire of his dam Western Star (NZ).
Super Seth | Standing at Waikato Stud
Wyndspelle is one of two Group 1 winners in New Zealand with High Chaparral as their broodmare sire, the other being Media Sensation (NZ) (I Am Invincible).
The number of Group 1 winners from a High Chapparal mare in Australia is three, headlined by the dual Group 1 winner Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park) as well as Godolphin import Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) and South Australian Derby winner Volatile Mix (NZ) (Pentire {NZ}).
His influence as a broodmare sire will only continue to grow, and demand for his mares is very strong at the sales. At the Inglis Chairman's Sale this year, his G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar sold for $1.4 million while at last week's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, he had five mares sell, including Molten Rock for $370,000 and Highway for $300,000.
At last year's National Broodmare Sale, Group 1 winner Montoya's Secret sold for $875,000 and Group 2 winner Omei Sword for $1.7 million.
