Home Affairs raised to $176,000 as exciting Super Seth joins the roster

Cover image courtesy of Coolmore

Sunday saw Coolmore Stud unveil its much-anticipated 2026 fees and stallion roster. Bursting with a blend of proven performers, emerging young sires, and an international blueblood standing his first season, the overarching theme is variation and opportunity for Australasian breeders.

Coolmore has found two worthy successors to its proven sire ranks in the Hunter Valley with Home Affairs and Super Seth who has been purchased off Waikato Stud. The operation farewelled Wootton Bassett (GB) and So You Think (NZ) last spring, with both losses keenly felt among Australia’s established stallions. Fresh blood comes via the beautifully bred dual Group 1 winner Delacroix (Ire), who joins the roster at $38,500 (inc GST) after his recent announcement.

Table: 2026 Announced Stallion Fees for Coolmore Stud (All fees inc. GST)

Home Affairs is hot property

Following an outstanding start to his stud career, Home Affairs will headline Coolmore Australia’s 2026 roster at a fee of $176,000 (inc. GST).

Before Christmas, the message around Home Affairs’ first crop was one of patience. He had been a very good juvenile, winning the G2 Silver Slipper in the autumn, but truly excelled at three, capturing two Group 1 victories. The expectation was that his progeny, who had already sold exceptionally well, would improve with a little time - just as he did.

That patience quickly paid off. His second crop also made a strong impression in the sales ring, highlighted by a $1.3 million colt out of Victoria Quay (Dundeel {NZ}) at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and an average of over $248,000 across all Australian and New Zealand sales.

Then came the defining moment every stallion in Australia strives for - he sired the G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House. The wait, though brief, proved more than worthwhile.

Home Affairs has always carried significant expectation. An $875,000 yearling, he developed into a high-class racehorse, first as a smart juvenile, then as a dual Group 1-winning 3-year-old. He retired as the winner of the sire-making G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and the G1 Lightning Stakes, defeating Champion Sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) along the way.

Big things were expected, and so far, he has delivered. With four stakes winners in his first crop, he is on track to claim the First Season Sire Championship in both New Zealand and Australia, with every indication there is more to come.

Coolmore’s Nominations & Sales Manager, Colm Santry, commented about the excitement machine.

“Home Affairs has made the perfect start to his career.

“To produce a Golden Slipper-winning colt in his first crop is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about what he is capable of. In doing so, he emulated great stallions like Danehill and Extreme Choice, and is fulfilling the lofty expectations that we always held for him.”

Super Seth crosses the ditch

Purchased in a deal reported to be worth $70 million, proven sire Super Seth arrives at Coolmore with the credentials expected of such an investment. He will stand for $137,500 (inc GST) following his relocation from Waikato Stud.

The G1 Caulfield Guineas winner, who also won two of his three starts at two, retired to Waikato Stud in 2020. Extremely popular from the outset, he covered 143 mares in his first season, with that crop now 4-year-olds, and they have made a significant impact.

In their Classic season, they produced three Group 1 winners: Feroce (NZ) in the G1 Australian Guineas, Linebacker (NZ) in the G1 Randwick Guineas, and Maison Louis (NZ) in the G1 Queensland Derby.

His second crop has also made its mark. La Dorada (NZ) dominated the New Zealand juvenile ranks, winning the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO before being crowned Champion 2YO in New Zealand in 2024/25.

Add in three other first crop stakes winners, along with this season’s Listed Twilight Glow Stakes-winning filly Ruska Roma, and it becomes clear why Coolmore made such a significant investment in the son of Dundeel (NZ).

He also added another stakes winner on Saturday, with Perlino (NZ) - trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, taking out the Listed Warstep Stakes at Riccarton.

In total, Super Seth has sired nine stakes winners at a stakes winners-to-runners ratio of 6.6% at this early stage of his career.

His 2026 yearlings from his fourth crop averaged $189,000 across all Australian and New Zealand sales, with a top price of $950,000 for a filly out of the unraced Snitzel mare Beela Hudood at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

At the time of Coolmore Stud’s purchase from Waikato Stud, Tom Magnier commented:

“For a young horse, the trajectory that he is on is something that is very rarely seen.” Magnier said.

“To produce three Group 1 winners in Australia from his first crop including two Guineas winners and follow it up with a Champion 2-year-old in his second is an amazing achievement.”

Super Seth has two crops to come in New Zealand, with weanlings already on the ground and 197 well credentialled mares served there last season.

Delacroix brings the Dubawi blood

The only new first-season sire on the Coolmore roster is the beautifully bred Delacroix (Ire), who will stand at $38,500 (inc. GST).

He is by the influential stallion Dubawi (Ire) and out of Champion American Turf Mare Tepin (USA) (Bernstein {USA}), a six-time Group 1 winner who has already produced the Group 1-winning filly Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“Delacroix is an outstanding individual with all the attributes we look for in a stallion: quality, athleticism and a world-class pedigree that is free of Danehill and Green Desert blood.” Santry said.

“In addition, Delacroix is a son of the great Tepin, a six-time Group 1 winner, including at Royal Ascot, and dual American Champion Female Turf Horse,” said Santry.

Second season for exciting quartet

Exciting juvenile Storm Boy, along with Group 1 winners Switzerland, City Of Troy (USA), and Private Life, all head into their second season at Coolmore in 2026 after strong support in their debut year, serving 227, 195, 158 and 100 mares respectively.

Storm Boy, a son of Justify (USA) and out of Pelican (NZ) (Fastnet Rock), boasts a pedigree steeped in elite performance. His dam is a dual metropolitan-winning juvenile and descends from NZ Horse of the Year Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

The family continues to produce at stakes level, with recent highlights including Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High), winner of Saturday’s Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

Unbeaten in his first four starts, Storm Boy retired the winner of the R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic and three Group races. He remains at $16,5000 (inc. GST) after strong support last season.

Switzerland, a $1.5 million yearling, won the G2 Todman Stakes as a 2-year-old and the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at three just like Home Affairs. By Champion Sire Snitzel from the Group 3-winning Blame (USA) mare Ms Bad Behavior (Can), he stands at $55,000, slightly reduced from $60,500.

His family continue to be thriving on the track and in the sales ring, Ms Bad Behavior's last three yearlings all by Snitzel have fetched #2 million, $2.7 million and $550,000 in the ring.

City Of Troy, by Justify just like Storm Boy, remains at $49,500 (inc. GST). Unbeaten in three starts at two - including the G1 Dewhurst Stakes, he was crowned Champion 2YO Colt in Europe before adding the G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Eclipse Stakes, and G1 York International at three, earning Horse Of The Year honours. Mares such as Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}), Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), and Paris Dior (Pierro) are due to foal down to him later in the year.

Private Life, a G1 Caulfield Guineas winner, shares his place on the honour roll with Anamoe, Ole Kirk, Super Seth, The Autumn Sun, All Too Hard, and Starspangledbanner.

His dam, Aliyana Tilde (Snitzel), was a high-class racemare and producer. He stands his second season in 2026 at $16,500 (jnc. GST), a slight decrease from $19,250 (nc. GST).

Proven stallions at great value

Pride Of Dubai and Pierro will both stand the 2026 season at $22,000 (Inc. GST), down from $27,500 (inc. GST) and $33,000 (inc. GST) respectively.

They represent strong value among proven sires. Pierro has sired 40 stakes winners, including six at Group 1 level, highlighted by three-time Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen.

Pride Of Dubai has built a reputation as a sire capable of producing top-class fillies, including four-time Group 1 winner Pride Of Jenni who is still racing as good as ever, $22.7 million earner Bella Nipotina, and Group 1 winner Deny Knowledge (Ire). Meanwhile, Dubai Honour (Ire) continues to perform across both hemispheres.

Having covered 338 mares over the past three seasons, Pride Of Dubai offers both performance and consistency at an accessible level.

Young stallions provide opportunities

The 2026 roster is rounded out by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr), who remains at $38,500 (inc. GST). The five-time Group 1 winner has already made an impression with unbeaten multiple Stakes winner Aristopolos from his first Australian crop, alongside three Northern Hemisphere stakes winners headed by G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Diamond Necklace (Ire).

The G1 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo will have his first weanlings on show soon, with yearlings to follow in 2027. Having served 218 mares in his first season and 148 in his second, he has strong representation to come and his fee eases slightly to $49,500 (inc. GST).

King’s Legacy, whose oldest crop are now 3-year-olds, has made a solid start with Group 3 winner Steel Trap, Listed winner Regeneration, and stakes performers including he likes of Born To Be Royal and Kujenga. He stands at $11,000 (inc. GST) in 2026.

Acrobat’s first crop are 2-year-olds, he has sired two winners, including the Group 3-placed King Of The Air in New Zealand, he has plenty of youngsters to still hit the track and he remains at $11,000 (inc. GST).

The well-bred son of Snitzel in Best Of Bordeaux will see his first runners hit the track later this year, with expectations high for his precocious progeny. His fee drops slightly to $11,000 (inc. GST) as he prepares to serve his fourth book.

Santry concluded by highlighting the strength and balance of the 14-strong roster:

“We are delighted to offer a roster that combines elite, proven stallions with some of the most exciting young sires in the market. Not only do we have some of the best up-and-coming Australian-bred stallions, our shuttle stallions on offer are also of the highest quality.

“In addition to quality, we placed a strong emphasis on delivering value to breeders across the entire roster.”