Value Sires Part 2: Victorian breeders have their say

Cover image courtesy of Coolmore

We take a look at stallions in four price categories - proven stallions standing for $50,000 and over, proven stallions at a fee of $40,000 and below, second and third season stallions yet to have runners and the new boys on the block.

Proven stallions over $50,000

With a Dundeel (NZ) filly he has plenty of time for heading to the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Miranda Park’s Gary O’Meara is a fan of the breed - noting that whilst Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Group 1 winner has had his fee increased this year, he is “still good value.”

Up from $82,500 (inc GST) to $88,000 (inc GST), O’Meara pointed out that Dundeel “had great success at Easter where he mixed it very well with the likes of I Am Invincible, Zoustar and Snitzel.”

With consistently good results up to $1.5 million at that sale, Dundeel is a horse “you can still make a profit from.”

It is another Arrowfield horse - this time one with a fee decrease from $82,500 (inc GST) to $55,000 (inc GST) that has Northmore Thoroughbreds’ Tammy Notman interested.

“We are seriously considering using Maurice this spring,” she said.

“That Japanese blood is great for Australia and you have to love the sort of horse he is siring - that 3-year-old campaign Hitotsu had suggests that they are a very tough and talented breed.”

Tarcoola Stud’s Ken Williams cites two horses he’d be happy to use, one who has a fee increase and one who comes down in price.

“Like many breeders I have a lot of Danehill in my mares and Dubawi is a great match for them. Too Darn Hot is more expensive now (from $44,000 inc GST to $110,000 inc GST) but he has made a good start and he mates well with my mares.”

“And it goes without saying that I have to mention So You Think - I have always loved him and I have had a lot of success with his progeny both in the sales ring and on the track,” he said of the horse who drops from $99,000 (inc GST) to $77,000 (inc GST).

Proven stallions under $40,000

Gary O’Meara was “pleasantly surprised” that Coolmore Stud chose to decrease the fee of their in-form dual Group 1 winner Pride Of Dubai this spring - from $27,500 (inc GST) to $22,000 (inc GST).

“We’ve got two in foal to him and will be sending to him this year,” he enthused.

“Given the year he has had with the likes of Pride Of Jenni and Bella Nipotina he is great value. I heard Ciaron Maher say the other day that his best two mares are by him and that he will be taking more notice of him in the sales ring in the future.”

O’Meara is particularly impressed with Pride Of Dubai’s record with mares either from the Sadler’s Wells (USA) sireline or carrying a strain of that great horse with 11 of his 23 stakes winners bred that way.

“We will be sending a Galileo and a High Chaparral mare to him,” he said.

All five of Pride Of Dubai’s runners out of Galileo (Ire) mares are winners including the O’Meara-bred four-time Group winner Sirileo Miss and the triple stakes winner Fancy Man (Ire) whilst 13 of his 15 runners out of daughters of High Chaparral (Ire) are winners including the Group 1 winner Desert Lightning (NZ) and three other stakes winners.

Tammy Notman is also a Pride Of Dubai fan - “he is a beautiful looking horse and just look what he is doing - he is currently Australia’s fourth leading sire by earnings.”

Notman also has plenty of time for a horse who stands at around this fee; $44,000 (incl GST) - Coolmore Stud’s globetrotting Starspangledbanner.

“I cannot speak highly enough of him, he just keeps getting good horses and he can really help a plain mare along.”

“And I absolutely love Written By - he is a stunning horse who consistently sires good types.”

That Widden Stud-based G1 Blue Diamond S. winner stood for $27,500 (inc GST) last year and is now $22,000 (inc GST).

Rosemont Stud’s dual Group 1 winner Shamus Award has had one of the biggest decreases this spring, from $60,500 (inc GST) to $38,500 (inc GST) and Ken Williams likes what he does - “he produces race horses!”

Second and third season stallions

“He topped the Melbourne Premier Sale and his sister topped this year’s,” O’Meara said of Widden Victoria’s Bruckner who he thinks at $11,000 is one of the value young horses standing in the state.

Serving his first book last year, the G3 McNeil S. winner ticks a lot of boxes - “a good looking, fast son of Snitzel who has been well supported by Victorian breeders,” said O’Meara.

“He ran second to Home Affairs in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and there is a big difference in their fees! I think he is a worthwhile horse to try in his second season.”

“It is a similar story in New South Wales with Acrobat - he has a profile similar to Tassort; a very lightly raced, fast, precocious stallion who has been utilized by good breeders.”

St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) is a horse who appeals to Tammy Notman who said he had not actually been on her radar until she saw his youngsters at the sales.

“We were not even looking for fillies but we nearly bought one of his, they are just beautiful types.”

Notman has foaled down a couple by Fierce Impact (Jpn) and is pleased with the way they have grown out - “one of them has matured into one of the most magnificent horses you’d ever see.”

Hopeful that Blue Point (Ire) can improve upon his early record in Australia, Ken Williams is a fan of the Shamardal (USA) sireline and is excited by the prospects of his Darley-based son Pinatubo (Ire).

“You only have to watch his races to see that he was a pretty special horse - and I like special horses! Lots of Group 1 winners go to stud but not all of them have his class.”

Williams is also impressed by Widden Stud’s G1 Oakleigh Plate-winning Deep Field horse, Portland Sky.

“I’ve got a filly by him - it is a big statement I know, but I think she is the best foal I have bred in 20 years; everything about her is right and the Magic Millions boys have been telling me that they have seen a lot of nice Portland Sky weanlings.”

First season stallions

Whilst not planning to send mares to any first season stallions this year, Gary O’Meara is keeping an eye on them and is looking forward to seeing what Woodside Park Stud’s Benbatl (GB) can produce in the long term - “Dubawi is a great stallion and Benbatl was such a good horse.”

“Oxley Road is also interesting at Blue Gum, he was a good racehorse by Exceed And Excel and his brother Exceedance has made a good start.”

Vinery Stud’s new I Am Invincible horse Hawaii Five Oh has caught Tammy Notman’s eye - “he is an absolutely beautiful horse,” she said, adding that there has to be confidence around a horse with the credentials boasted by Coolmore Stud’s G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Shinzo.

As a Group 1 winner at two and three, Newgate’s Militarize by Dundeel appeals to Ken Williams - “I liked him as a racehorse and I do like a stallion prospect to have a strong female line which he has.”

“As we know nothing is certain with genetics but when a stallion comes from a strong family he is already a good chance to make it.”