Cover image courtesy of Raheen Stud
One of Queensland's premier nurseries, Raheen Stud, owned by the Nolan family, has unveiled its 2024 stallion lineup and fees. At the helm of the roster stands Top Ranked (Ire), the distinguished victor of the G1 Epsom H., proudly carrying the bloodline of Dark Angel (Ire), and maintaining his fee at $7700 (inc GST).
Top Ranked emerged as one of only two sons of Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel (Ire) available in the Southern Hemisphere, a stallion renowned for siring 102 stakes winners worldwide. Dark Angel's suitability to Australia has been further underscored by the success of his only other son to serve in Australasia - Harry Angel (Ire), notably he has sired a Group 1 winner and four stakes winners, commanding a much steeper fee of $38,500 (inc GST).
Moreover, Dark Angel has left an imprint on the Australasia racing scene, with 10 individual winners and five stakes winners emerging from just 16 runners in the region, a testament to his compatibility with the local broodmare population.
Top Ranked | Standing at Raheen Stud
Top Ranked, with his striking grey coat, was a talented and tough performer. He secured eight victories, including triumphs in the G1 Epsom H. and the G3 Bill Ritchie H. on Australian turf. Even in the Northern Hemisphere, his talent was evident, having placed in the prestigious G1 Lockinge S. and the G3 Superior Mile.
His former trainer, Annabel Neasham, effused praise, declaring, “Top Ranked was the best horse I've ever had - better than Zaaki - so that speaks volumes.” Echoing this sentiment, Luke Murrell of Australian Bloodstock hailed Top Ranked as their finest acquisition, stating, “Top Ranked is the best horse we have ever purchased.”
Coup for Queensland
Top Ranked is a coup for the Queensland breeding industry and despite his late announcement last year, breeders flocked to Raheen with Top Ranked serving 109 mares.
Basil Nolan, of Raheen Stud shared insights with The Thoroughbred Report, expressing satisfaction with the response. “Top Ranked only arrived a week before the season started, so he has been very well received and everybody that came and had a look at him, essentially put a mare to him - so that’s a plus!”
Highlighting Top Ranked's allure, Nolan emphasised his exceptional pedigree and racing ability. “He’s a lovely horse and obviously a very talented racehorse. Importantly, he is an outcross being a son of Dark Angel, who has been incredibly successful with 102 stakes winners. There’s a lot of Danehill or Danehill-lined mares in Queensland, so I think that will suit him very well.”
Basil Nolan
Nolan underscored the son of Dark Angel’s value proposition, noting, “I think he’s pretty good value at $7700 (inc GST) given his pedigree and being a Group 1 winner. We stood him at that fee last year because we were late and we decided to leave him there because there has probably been a bit of a downturn in the industry.”
Assessing the current season's reception, Nolan expressed optimism, anticipating another robust book of mares. “I think he’ll be rewarded with another nice book by the way that people are booking in at the moment. It’s been a relief that Top Ranked has been very fertile; he got about 100 mares out of the 109 in foal, so he’s done very well and I’m pretty happy and looking forward to them to start arriving.”
Valour chipping away
Completing Raheen Stud’s 2024 lineup is Heroic Valour, positioned at a reduced fee of $5500 (inc GST). As a Group 1-winning progeny of the recently retired Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, Heroic Valour boasts an impressive track record, with 50 individual winners notching up 92 victories and progeny earnings totaling $3,769,569, of which $1,465,898 were contributed this season.
This season Heroic Valour’s progeny in the sale ring have achieved a top price of $50,000 and an overall career top price of $155,000. Importantly, Heroic Valour’s biggest book to date (157 mares) will turn two in August.
Commenting on Heroic Valour's performance, Nolan expressed, “He needs a headline horse, but we’ve been pleased with his results. Heroic Valour has sired over $1 million in prizemoney earners this season. He sires winners, they can get up and go but I think people probably thought he’d have more 2-year-olds but now they’re getting over a bit more ground."
Heroic Valour | Standing at Raheen Stud
Continuing, the Nolan remarked, “Heroic Valour is a lovely horse and he leaves very nice horses. So, we’re very pleased with how he’s going along. His biggest book will turn two in August, and it was a very big book at 157 mares - that’s a real plus for him."
Assessing Heroic Valour's performance against his fee, Nolan concluded, “I think his figures have been pretty good for a fee of $5500 (inc GST) this season."
| Top Ranked | Dark Angel | $7700 (inc GST) | $7700 (Inc GST) | 109 |
| Heroic Valour | Fastnet Rock | $5500 (inc GST) | 14 |
Table: Raheen Stud's stallion fee's 2024
