Stallions poised to make an impact in Australia in 2023/24

There were 12,666 live foals registered in Australia in 2021, a drop of just 83 from the previous season.

The number of mares covered has remained relatively consistent across the past five years - it was 13,069 in 2017 and 12,666 in 2021, however, the number of stallions standing in Australia continues to decrease year on year. Interestingly, there were 794 in 2011, whereas in 2021, that figure reached 524.

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The Pinnacles Racing Carnival at Ascot Racecourse - 2023

Big Books

Just five stallions from the 2020 breeding season covered 200 mares or more. They were Capitalist, So You Think (NZ), Toronado (Ire), Pride Of Dubai, Deep Field and Yes Yes Yes (Written Tycoon served 199).

Gallery: Stallions from the 2020 breeding season that covered 200 mares or more

So You Think, who stands at Coolmore, had the biggest book with 261 covers, however, it was Capitalist who produced the biggest crop, with 171 live foals.

Having served his first three seasons at a fee of $55,000 (inc GST), Capitalist commanded $44,000 (inc GST) in 2020. That figure increased to $99,000 (inc GST) for the two following seasons, while he will stand at $77,000 (inc GST) this spring.

Capitalist served in excess of 200 mares in each of the four preceding seasons and the subsequent one, so you can expect his star will only continue to rise, both in Australiasia, as well as Asia, where he is becoming increasingly popular.

The sire of the Group 1 winner Captivant, Capitalist’s top-priced yearling in 2023 was the colt out of the winning Zoustar mare Menagerie, who was consigned by Newgate Farm as Lot 109 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt made $850,000, with China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy buying. He has been named Holmes A Court and is with Peter and Paul Snowden at Randwick.

It was a huge season for So You Think, his largest, in fact, and his last at a fee of $38,500 (inc GST). The multiple Group 1-producing sire now commands a fee of $99,000 (inc GST). His top-seller in 2023 was the colt out of Andresa (Fastnet Rock), who was offered by Davali Thoroughbreds as Lot 23. He was knocked down to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $900,000.

Both Written Tycoon and Toronado had 153 live foals, with the latter covering 11 more mares.

It was by far the biggest book for Toronado, who now has permanent residency at Swettenham Stud in Victoria. He served 210 mares off a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).

The 2020 season was the first at stud for Coolmore’s Yes Yes Yes and he was understandably very popular, covering 205 mares at a fee of $38,500 (inc GST).

Widden Stud’s Zousain also had his first season in the breeding barn and he has done well to make the list of stallions in Australia with more than 130 live foals born.

Table: Stallions in Australia with more than 130 live foals born in 2021 and covers of 2020

Established stars

Looking at last season’s leading juvenile sires, Arrowfield Stud’s Champion Snitzel led the way by earnings, with his progeny amassing $5,072,800. He had 122 live foals in 2020 after covering 150 mares.

Snitzel’s most expensive yearling in 2023 was the colt out of Ultimate Fever (Gold Fever), which realised $1.6 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Presented by Lime Country Thoroughbreds, he was signed for by Coolmore Australia.

Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom tallied the most 2-year-old winners last season with 23. From 122 mares covered in 2020, he had 86 live foals, which is his smallest crop since heading to stud.

Spirit Of Boom’s most expensive yearling in 2023 was a filly out of the two-time winner Madame Fly (Excites), who was consigned by Eureka Stud as Lot 86 at the Magic Millions Gold Yearling Sale. Yes Bloodstock signed for the half-sister to last season’s dual Group 2 winner Cifrado (Encryption) for $475,000.

In terms of juvenile wins in 2022/23, Lyndhurst Stud’s Better Than Ready (31) pipped Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution (30) by one win.

Better Than Ready’s numbers dropped considerably in 2020, going from 150 foals from 260 coverings in 2019, to 112 live foals from 143 mares served.

His highest-priced yearling of 2023 was the Yarramalong Park-consigned colt (Lot 345), which fetched $550,000 at Magics. He is from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Secret Indulgence and was secured by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy for $530,000.

It was a similar story for Russian Revolution, who went from covering 224 mares and having 156 live foals, to 160 and 103 respectively.

Keep an eye out for the Russian Revolution colt from Our Libretto (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who made $1.1 million at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds, the colt was purchased by Mick Wallace, Gandharvi, Rosemont Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA).

It was the smallest book since 2013 for Australia’s premier sire, I Am Invincible. In that season, he served 175 mares, while in 2020 he covered 193 (with 136 live foals).

‘Vinnie’ was responsible for the most expensive yearling in Australia in 2023 - a colt from the multiple Group 2 victress Anaheed (Fastnet Rock), who was consigned by Segenhoe Stud as Lot 606 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $2.7 million. The colt is still to be named.

I Am Invincible had six yearlings make seven figures on the Gold Coast in January and a further nine at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. His top-seller in Sydney was Lot 116 - a colt out of the Group 1 heroine English (Encosta De Lago), who was offered by Newhaven Park. He was bought by Kia Ora Stud, TFI and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing for $1.55 million.

New kids on the block

The first-season sires’ table always makes for interesting discussion, and 2023/24 sees a host of well-bred stallions that were well-performed on the track have their maiden crop of runners hit the track as 2-year-olds. These include Alabama Express, Blue Point (Ire), Brutal (NZ), Castelvecchio, Exceedance, Microphone, Pierata, Tassort, Too Darn Hot (GB), Yes Yes Yes and Zousain.

Leading the way in terms of live foals is Zousain, whose 138 is only slightly fewer than the 146 which represented Yulong Stud’s Grunt (NZ) last season.

Zousain’s progeny averaged $114,351 throughout Australasia in 2023, with his top-seller being the filly by Sheila’s Star (Snitzel), which made $650,000 at Magics. Consigned as Lot 374, she was offered by Rosemont Stud and bought by Yulong Investments, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds.

Justify (USA) had 96 live foals from 149 covers from his first Australian season, before being crowned Australia’s Champion First Season Sire.

For this season, Yes Yes Yes covered the biggest book (205 mares), followed by Zousain and Brutal.

The progeny of Darley’s shuttlers, Blue Point and Too Darn Hot, were both extremely popular at the sales.

Blue Point’s yearlings averaged $182,218, with his Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) colt (Lot 690) from the Segenhoe Stud draft fetching $900,000 at Magics. He was purchased by Rosemont Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Annabel Neasham Racing and has been named Bosustow.

Too Darn Hot’s average came in at $184,361. His star performer in the ring was Lot 828 at Magics - a filly from Enbihaar (Magnus) - which was offered by Vinery Stud. McKeever Bloodstock/Watership Down/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing went to $1 million for her. She will race as Too Darn Lizzie for her owner, the world-renowned composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Pierata was another young stallion whose progeny were well sought-after, with his progeny averaging $136,307.

Table: Top 10 first-season sires in Australia by live-foal numbers