Little Avondale Stud’s star sire Per Incanto to remain at NZ$50,000

Given Per Incanto’s (USA) results over the past 12 months, Little Avondale Stud could have easily justified increasing the service fee for the Group 3-winning son of Street Cry (Ire).

Per Incanto now boasts seven individual Group 1 winners and his 28 stakes winners have combined for 48 stakes wins.

Last November, Kiwi sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) added a second elite-level success to her CV when she upstaged some of the best sprinters in the world, including Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), in the G1 Champions Sprint at Flemington.

Three months later, Per Incanto became the sire of a G1 Blue Diamond S. hero, Little Brose who proved too good in Victoria’s pre-eminent race for 2-year-olds.

And, earlier this month, Belclare (NZ) made it three Group 1s in the space of five months for Per Incanto when she was much the best in the G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Pukekohe Park.

Proprietor Sam Williams admitted they did think long and hard about standing him for NZ$60,000 plus GST, before electing to keep him at NZ$50,000 plus GST.

“People have been ringing and asking, ‘What’s his service fee going to be?’” Williams told TDN AusNZ.

“We had every right to put him up. All the indicators have gone up from last year, but we’ve decided to keep him at NZ$50,000 (plus GST). I want to be mindful of the people that have supported the horse in the past. We’ve already put him at arm’s length away from them now at NZ$50,000, so to go up again, you’re taking it away again.

“We could have done it (raised his fee), we decided not to.

“He will serve a limited book, that’s for sure. He covered 105 mares last season and we’ll do the same again this year. It’s supply and demand and you get rewarded at the other end. We want to look after the horse. He doesn’t have a problem with fertility - he got 91 of those 105 mares in foal last year.”

Williams added that by keeping his fee at that figure, it’s a win for the farm as well as breeders.

“Bruce Perry, who manages Elsdon Park, they’ve got, including their three standing rights, eight mares booked to him, so, yeah, there’s some really good bookings coming in from some big breeders and not just New Zealand, also from Australia,” he said.

“It’s good to see the Australian breeders and trainers who have supported him in the past are back supporting him again once more.

“It’s been more noticeable the number of new Australian clients that are ringing up and booking mares in.

“If you’re looking for a proven source that’s Danehill-free, you tell me where they are; they’re pretty hard to find. I know there’s I Am Invincible and Zoustar, but they’re standing at $200,000-plus, so this horse is unbelievable value.”

Williams said Little Brose’s success in the Blue Diamond S. was both incredibly satisfying and fruitful.

“To get a Blue Diamond winner was absolutely fantastic, it was massive,” he said.

“I watched the Hayes boys (Ben and JD) that day and they were running around like headless chickens… I can tell you, I wanted to join them.”

Sales success

It wasn’t just on the track where Per Incanto was doing great things, with his yearlings proving very popular in the sale ring.

In 2023, the stallion has had 33 yearlings sell throughout Australasia at a gross of $5,829,584 and an average of $176,654. His top-seller - a colt from Sharvasti (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) - made NZ$450,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1). Offered by Little Avondale Stud, he was knocked down to KPW Bloodstock.

Not surprisingly, Ben and JD Hayes - the trainers of Little Brose - are big fans of Per Incanto and Lindsay Park bought three of the stallion’s yearlings this year.

Williams said Little Brose’s elite-level triumph has had an impact at the sales.

“That win put Per Incanto in lights for the colts syndicates and that was certainly the way it was at the (Inglis Australian) Easter Yearling Sale, both colts that were sold there were bought by colts syndicates, so that’s really encouraging. And that’s off the back of a NZ$15,000 (plus GST) service fee, so they weren’t horses with the best pedigree; his last two crops are way superior to that crop.”

Proven and popular in Asia

Per Incanto continues to chalk up impressive numbers in Asia.

After finishing fourth in last season’s Hong Kong Sires’ Premiership and having the most winners (19) and most wins (30) of any stallion, he has backed it up with another super campaign in 2022/23. Per Incanto currently sits seventh in the Premiership, is second by winners (with 13) and third by wins (with 17).

It’s a similar scenario in Singapore, where Per Incanto sits second in the Sires’ Premiership with four winners and seven wins.

“It’s created another market for him, but it’s been a bit of a downfall where he hasn’t had those colts and geldings racing in Australasia and putting their hand up here and capturing the imagination of the Australasian owners and trainers first and foremost,” Williams explained. “So, whilst it’s been a great market to capture, it has been a little bit detrimental to the stallion early on.

“With the way the results are going now, the Chinese haven’t got it their own way anymore, the Australians are really wanting them now too, which is fantastic.

“I’m loving getting more Per Incantos into Australia. Don’t get me wrong, the Hong Kong market’s been a great market for Per Incanto, but it’s wonderful seeing them just three hours across the ditch there.”

Time Test returns

Per Incanto’s barnmate Time Test (GB) will be back for another season in the Southern Hemisphere - his sixth - and will stand at the same fee as last year - NZ$10,000 plus GST.

A dual Group 2-winning son of Dubawi (Ire), Time Test has had nine individual winners in New Zealand and five in Australia, as well as three stakes performers - Running On Time (NZ), The Years (NZ) and Madame Giselle (NZ).

“He’ll be returning and will remain at the same fee as last year,” Williams said.

“He’s had three stakes performers in the past couple of months, including two in Australia. The Years, from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, ran second in the (G3) Black Opal (S.); it was really nice to see another New Zealad-based sire getting a 2-year-old black-type performer in Australia; that’s a real feather in his cap.

“And Running On Time is in the (G1) Australasian Oaks on Saturday and I reckon she’s a chance. She ran second in the (Listed) Port Adelaide Guineas the other day. She’s a filly that’s progressive and getting better with age.”

Williams believes a breakout season for Time Test isn’t far away.

“Everyone who’s got them says to me, ‘Sam, just be patient’,” he commented.

“Twenty months ago, Proisir was standing at a fee of NZ$12,500 plus GST). His oldest progeny are six now and look who is the shining star in the stallion world at the moment - it’s Proisir.

“From the types I’ve seen, I think you’re going to see some really smart horses come through.”

Table: Little Avondale Stud's stallion roster in 2023, *all prices plus GST