Coolmore announce 2024 fees, with Wootton Bassett still TBC

Cover image courtesy of Coolmore

Sunday evening saw Coolmore Stud unveil its much-anticipated 2024 fees and stallion roster. Bursting with a blend of established stallions and promising newcomers and featuring international superstars alongside the freshly added G1 Golden Slipper victor Shinzo, the lineup promises something for every breeder.

Commenting on the 2024 fees, Coolmore's nominations and sales Tom Moore said, “Our current roster encompasses a strong mix of proven stallions and seriously exciting young horses for the future."

The 2024 roster is spearheaded by the Home Affairs and So You Think (NZ) who will stand this spring at $82,500 (inc GST) each. However, most of the 13-strong lineup will see a reduction in their 2023 breeding season fees.

Moore added “The calibre of our stallions give breeders a fantastic opportunity to produce a top-class racehorse while we believe the fee levels offer them every chance of a great return in the sales ring.”

Justify (USA) and Fastnet Rock are exceptions in the 2024 lineup.

Last week, Coolmore issued statements stating that Justify will not shuttle to Coolmore’s Hunter Valley establishment in 2024 and will instead be available to breed to in Southern Hemisphere from his Kentucky base at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud.

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier commented in a press release, “It’s a similar situation to Frankel in England where they serve mares to the southern hemisphere time.” He added, “We will be sending up some of our best mares and giving our clients here the opportunity to send their mares to him too.

“Many of the mares who might have visited Justify here have already been booked into our Golden Slipper winner Shinzo, whose retirement was announced a few days ago. We have had a fantastic response to him from our clients.”

Meanwhile, the legendary Fastnet Rock, who has called Coolmore home since 2005, has been retired from stud duty after a lengthy, hugely successful, and influential career.

Shinzo popular, as future bright for Affairs and Legacy

Earlier in April, Coolmore announced the G1 Golden Slipper Shinzo, a son of the four-time Champion Sire Snitzel had been retired to Coolmore Stud to stand for an introductory fee of $55,000 (inc GST).

In addition to his Golden Slipper heroics, Shinzo also won the G3 Pago Pago S. Shinzo, also packs plenty of pedigree power on his dam side. He is a son of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Samaready, an outstanding producer and runner. Her career highlights include victories in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and the G1 Moir S.

Shinzo is a full brother to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic victress Exhilarates.

"We are delighted to welcome Shinzo back to the farm. He’s a fantastic-looking individual and the Golden Slipper has an unmatched record as a sire-making race."

Home Affairs, a son of Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible and the Flying Spur mare Miss Interiors, will stand for a reduced fee of $82,500 (inc GST), down from his 2023 fee of $99,000 (inc GST).

The Coolmore team are thrilled to witness the first crop of Home Affairs offered at the upcoming weanling sales. Home Affairs has 20 lots catalogued in the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale and six weanlings catalogued in the 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.

“The first foals by Home Affairs will be presented at sales in the coming weeks and we do not recall a sire we have received so much positive feedback on.

“That combined with having covered some illustrious mares in his first year at stud such as, Booker, Shout The Bar and Sunlight will ensure he has an exceptional chance to match his racetrack success in the barn.”

An outstanding sprinter, Home Affairs made his mark early, claiming the G2 Silver Slipper S. as a juvenile. As a 3-year-old, he secured victories in the Listed Heritage S. and stamped his dominance over his generation in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. Returning in the autumn, Home Affairs dethroned his stablemate Nature Strip (Nicconi), a sprinter of the highest class, in the G1 Lightning S.

Unsurprisingly, Home Affairs garnered strong support in his first two seasons at stud, serving an opening book of 203 mares and 189 mares last season.

Another young stallion, whose first crop turn two in August is King’s Legacy, a dual Group 1-winning son of the breed-shaper Redoute’s Choice, will stand the 2024 breeding season at a reduced fee of $22,000(inc GST).

The first crop of King’s Legacy grossed $8,261,110 from 78 of the 98 offered sold. They averaged $105,911 with a median of $90,000. Achieving a top price overall of $775,000 for a colt sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

King’s Legacy has covered 428 mares across his three seasons at stud.

“Dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old King's Legacy will also have his first runners this year having being well-supported in his first year at stud and the early indications from the breakers could not be more positive.

“He is standing for $22,200 (inc GST) this year which in the early spring could look to have been the value play of the year.”

International superstars return

Coolmore Stud is set to welcome back a trio of international superstars to its Hunter Valley operation this season. Headlining the group is the sire sensation Wootton Bassett (GB), whose prominence continues to soar. He will stand for a to be confirmed fee at a later date.

Wootton Bassett boasts an impressive record, having sired 40 stakes winners globally, including one Australian stakes winner from his handful of imported runners. His first Southern Hemisphere-conceived crop will turn two in August, and his progeny have been highly sought after.

In 2024, 73 out of 83 Wootton Bassett progeny offered for sale were sold, with a total gross of $27,349,640, averaging $374,652 and a median of $275,000. Notably, he achieved a top price of $2.1 million for a filly and $1.6 million for a colt.

Last season, Wootton Bassett covered 131 mares, which included Group 1 winners Srikandi (Dubawi {Ire}) and Spright (Hinchinbrook). Already, Wootton Bassett is making a mark as a sire of sires, with his son Almanzor (Fr) producing 17 stakes winners.

“We are delighted to be able to confirm that Wootton Bassett is returning in 2024. He is now having his first runners in Europe following his move to Coolmore and they could not have started more strongly with Camille Pissarro winning so impressively in Ireland on Saturday for Aidan O'Brien.

“Given the reception his first yearlings received in the sale ring here this year we have every confidence they will be able to match their European success on the track here in the coming months.”

Also returning to the Hunter Valley this season is the 2021 European Horse of the Year, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr). Breeders will have the opportunity to access his bloodline at a reduced fee of $38,500 (inc GST).

The son of Siyouni (Fr) demonstrated his exceptional talent on the racetrack, covering 116 mares in 2023. St Mark’s Basilica claimed victory in six prestigious races, including the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, the G1 Irish Champion S., the G1 Eclipse S., the G1 Dewhurst S., and the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains, showcasing his champion qualities.

Rounding out the returning shuttlers is Churchill (Ire). The Champion Miler by Galileo (Ire) will stand for a fee of $19,800 (inc GST).

Churchill is responsible for 19 stakes winners worldwide, including three Group 1 winners. Four of his stakes winners have come in the Southern Hemisphere, headed by one of his Group 1 winners Attrition, who won the G1 Toorak H. and was placed in the G1 Australian Guineas.

The son of the legendary Galileo has also sired runners the calibre of Blue Rose Cen (Ire), a four-time Group 1 winner and the brilliant colt Vadeni (Fr).

Churchill has covered 747 mares in his six Southern Hemisphere seasons.

Young guns

Among the proven producers are several young stallions with their first runners or foals due.

The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes first juveniles hit the track this season, resulting in a winner and three stakes performers. Yes Yes Yes will be available for a reduced fee of $19,250 (inc GST).

Yes Yes Yes served a book of 149 mares last season.

Remaining at an unchanged fee of $13,750 (inc GST) is the blazingly fast Acrobat, a son of the retired Fastnet Rock. Acrobat has covered an impressive 366 mares over two seasons, with 178 mares covered last spring.

Despite having raced only once, Acrobat showcased his talent by winning the R. Listed Inglis Nursery in a faster time than Extreme Choice, Mossfun (Mossman), She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain), and Wild Ruler. It was evident that Acrobat was something truly exceptional right out of the gate.

However, the son of Fastnet Rock was retired due to an unfortunate accident.

Best Of Bordeaux's first foals are eagerly anticipated for the upcoming spring. The son of Snitzel will be available for a reduced fee of $19,250 (inc GST), down from his initial fee of $27,500 (inc GST).

As a tough and talented runner, Best Of Bordeaux boasts an impressive racing record, having secured victories in the G2 Roman Consul S., the G2 Silver Slipper S., and the G3 Canonbury S. He was also placed in the G1 Golden Slipper.

In his debut breeding season, Best Of Bordeaux attracted the attention of 124 mares, indicating strong early support from breeders.

Proven producers

Completing the 2024 Coolmore Stud roster are the proven producers, Starspangledbanner, So You Think (NZ), Pride Of Dubai, and Pierro, all of whom have enjoyed a fruitful season.

Just this past Saturday, Starspangledbanner was represented by the $1 million The TBV VOBIS Platinum Showdown victor, Stanley Express. Despite initial fertility challenges, the son of the late and former Coolmore stallion Choisir has proven to be an exceptional sire.

The son of Choisir backed-up his Saturday deeds on Sunday, when his son Beauty Eternal upset the Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) in the G1 FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

Starspangledbanner stands out as one of the few Coolmore stallions to receive a fee hike this season, with his fee set at $44,000 (inc GST). To date, he has sired 39 stakes winners globally, including seven Group 1 winners, among them the globetrotting G1 Cox Plate winner, State Of Rest (Ire). Last season, the son of Choisir served 116 mares.

"Starspangledbanner enjoyed his second high-profile Group 1 success within the space of a month when his Australian-bred son Beauty Eternal landed the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin today (Sunday).

"Meanwhile, California Spangle ran second in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize on the same card having won the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan last month."

Pride Of Dubai, a son of Street Cry (Ire) will be available to breeders for $22,000 (inc GST) down from $27,500 (inc GST).

The dual Group 1 winner has been in the headlines through the deeds of his star daughter, Pride Of Jenni. Showcasing the toughness and tenacity of his progeny she won two Group 1s during Cup week in the space of seven days.

In the autumn, Pride Of Jenni claimed The All-Star Mile and put on a display in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

Overall, Pride Of Dubai has sired 23 stakes winners and four individual Group 1 winners.

So You Think, who is responsible for last year’s The Everest winner Think About It, will be available for $82,500 (inc GST) down from $99,000 (inc GST).

The Champion racehorse has proven an exceptional stallion siring 56 stakes winners and 11 individual Group 1 winners. He served 164 mares last season.

Pierro, a son of the recently deceased Lonhro, has also received a fee decrease. Pierro will serve the 2024 breeding season for a fee of $55,000 (inc GST).

The multiple Group 1 winner made headlines and broke records at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when his daughter from the Champion mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) was sold for $10 million - a world record for a yearling filly.

Pierro has sired 36 stakes and six individual Group 1 winners. He served 100 mares last spring.

Table: 2024 Announced Stallion Fees for Coolmore