For many commercial breeders the release of service fees each year means a lot of homework to delve into which sires did well in the marketplace and why in a bid to find value in a competitive market going forward.
With a three year time frame between choosing a stallion this spring and getting money in the bank from yearling sales in 2025, there is a lot to consider, so before we start our annual Price Point series analysing stallions in each price bracket, we thought an overall look at Australian yearling sale stats for active Australian sires might be illuminating.
Major Australian Yearling Sales - Active Australian Sires by Average - Top 20 |
||||||
Sold |
Avge |
Agg |
Sire |
2019 Fee |
xFee |
FeeProfit |
88 |
578,580 |
50,915,000 |
I Am Invincible |
247,500 |
2.3 |
311,080 |
71 |
561,197 |
39,845,000 |
Snitzel |
220,000 |
2.6 |
321,197 |
93 |
445,161 |
41,400,000 |
Zoustar |
154,000 |
2.9 |
271,161 |
26 |
440,000 |
11,440,000 |
Fastnet Rock |
165,000 |
2.7 |
255,000 |
60 |
347,917 |
20,875,000 |
Written Tycoon |
110,000 |
3.2 |
217,917 |
21 |
346,429 |
7,275,000 |
Extreme Choice |
22,000 |
15.7 |
304,429 |
39 |
313,590 |
12,230,000 |
Exceed and Excel |
88,000 |
3.6 |
205,590 |
71 |
298,592 |
21,200,000 |
The Autumn Sun |
77,000 |
3.9 |
201,592 |
29 |
279,828 |
8,115,000 |
Lonhro |
77,000 |
3.6 |
182,828 |
52 |
269,904 |
14,035,000 |
Justify |
77,000 |
3.5 |
172,904 |
54 |
262,963 |
14,200,000 |
Pierro |
88,000 |
3 |
154,963 |
85 |
251,000 |
21,335,000 |
Dundeel |
66,000 |
3.8 |
165,000 |
107 |
239,486 |
25,625,000 |
Deep Field |
44,000 |
5.4 |
175,486 |
73 |
218,425 |
15,945,000 |
Trapeze Artist |
88,000 |
2.5 |
110,425 |
67 |
212,612 |
14,245,000 |
Russian Revolution |
55,000 |
3.9 |
137,612 |
38 |
204,079 |
7,755,000 |
Toronado |
27,500 |
7.4 |
156,579 |
31 |
201,194 |
6,237,000 |
Maurice |
27,500 |
7.3 |
153,694 |
86 |
194,477 |
16,725,000 |
Capitalist |
55,000 |
3.5 |
119,477 |
12 |
190,833 |
2,290,000 |
Street Boss |
27,500 |
6.9 |
143,333 |
62 |
179,758 |
11,145,000 |
So You Think |
38,500 |
4.7 |
121,258 |
The above list shows the Top 20 sires by average at the Australian majors for all active Australian based sires with Yarraman Park’s I am Invincible topping the list. He has never won an Australian General Sires title by earnings, but is right in contention this year sitting in a close second place to So You Think.
I Am Invincible is the complete package as a sire in producing beautiful sale yearlings and more winners than any other stallion, so it’s no surprise he is where he is.
Major Australian Yearling Sales - Active Australian sires by profit, all with 100k plus |
||||||
Sold |
Avge |
Agg |
Sire |
2019 Fee |
xFee |
FeeProfit |
71 |
561,197 |
39,845,000 |
Snitzel |
220,000 |
2.6 |
321,197 |
88 |
578,580 |
50,915,000 |
I Am Invincible |
247,500 |
2.3 |
311,080 |
21 |
346,429 |
7,275,000 |
Extreme Choice |
22,000 |
15.7 |
304,429 |
93 |
445,161 |
41,400,000 |
Zoustar |
154,000 |
2.9 |
271,161 |
26 |
440,000 |
11,440,000 |
Fastnet Rock |
165,000 |
2.7 |
255,000 |
60 |
347,917 |
20,875,000 |
Written Tycoon |
110,000 |
3.2 |
217,917 |
39 |
313,590 |
12,230,000 |
Exceed and Excel |
88,000 |
3.6 |
205,590 |
71 |
298,592 |
21,200,000 |
The Autumn Sun |
77,000 |
3.9 |
201,592 |
29 |
279,828 |
8,115,000 |
Lonhro |
77,000 |
3.6 |
182,828 |
107 |
239,486 |
25,625,000 |
Deep Field |
44,000 |
5.4 |
175,486 |
52 |
269,904 |
14,035,000 |
Justify |
77,000 |
3.5 |
172,904 |
85 |
251,000 |
21,335,000 |
Dundeel |
66,000 |
3.8 |
165,000 |
38 |
204,079 |
7,755,000 |
Toronado |
27,500 |
7.4 |
156,579 |
54 |
262,963 |
14,200,000 |
Pierro |
88,000 |
3 |
154,963 |
31 |
201,194 |
6,237,000 |
Maurice |
27,500 |
7.3 |
153,694 |
25 |
175,800 |
4,395,000 |
Shamus Award |
11,000 |
16 |
144,800 |
12 |
190,833 |
2,290,000 |
Street Boss |
27,500 |
6.9 |
143,333 |
67 |
212,612 |
14,245,000 |
Russian Revolution |
55,000 |
3.9 |
137,612 |
8 |
165,625 |
1,325,000 |
Encryption |
13,200 |
12.5 |
132,425 |
10 |
170,000 |
1,700,000 |
Lean Mean Machine |
17,600 |
9.7 |
132,400 |
9 |
173,889 |
1,565,000 |
Churchill |
22,000 |
7.9 |
131,889 |
9 |
176,111 |
1,585,000 |
Saxon Warrior |
24,750 |
7.1 |
131,361 |
45 |
175,133 |
7,881,000 |
Written By |
24,750 |
7.1 |
130,383 |
4 |
158,750 |
635,000 |
Xtravagant |
16,500 |
9.6 |
122,250 |
62 |
179,758 |
11,145,000 |
So You Think |
38,500 |
4.7 |
121,258 |
86 |
194,477 |
16,725,000 |
Capitalist |
55,000 |
3.5 |
119,477 |
52 |
165,385 |
8,600,000 |
Hellbent |
27,500 |
6 |
117,885 |
53 |
170,377 |
9,030,000 |
Shalaa |
33,000 |
5.2 |
117,377 |
3 |
153,333 |
460,000 |
Magnus |
16,500 |
9.3 |
116,833 |
35 |
176,714 |
6,185,000 |
Spirit of Boom |
44,000 |
4 |
112,714 |
36 |
152,833 |
5,502,000 |
Harry Angel |
22,000 |
6.9 |
110,833 |
73 |
218,425 |
15,945,000 |
Trapeze Artist |
88,000 |
2.5 |
110,425 |
Here we see the stallions sorted by straight profit which again highlights the expensive sires with Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel holding an edge over I Am Invincible thanks to the slight difference in their fees in 2019.
Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice rides high on the list achieving stunning results from a $22,000 service fee with his limited numbers and SW to runner ratio of 18% making him hot property.
His fee this year has increased to $275,000 making him the most expensive sire in the country and ranked above I Am Invincible ($247,500) and Snitzel ($220,000).
Major Australian Yearling Sales - Active Australian Sires by Aggregate Top 20 |
||||||
Sold |
Avge |
Agg |
Sire |
Fee |
xFee |
FeeProfit |
88 |
578,580 |
50,915,000 |
I Am Invincible |
247,500 |
2.3 |
311,080 |
93 |
445,161 |
41,400,000 |
Zoustar |
154,000 |
2.9 |
271,161 |
71 |
561,197 |
39,845,000 |
Snitzel |
220,000 |
2.6 |
321,197 |
107 |
239,486 |
25,625,000 |
Deep Field |
44,000 |
5.4 |
175,486 |
85 |
251,000 |
21,335,000 |
Dundeel |
66,000 |
3.8 |
165,000 |
71 |
298,592 |
21,200,000 |
The Autumn Sun |
77,000 |
3.9 |
201,592 |
60 |
347,917 |
20,875,000 |
Written Tycoon |
110,000 |
3.2 |
217,917 |
86 |
194,477 |
16,725,000 |
Capitalist |
55,000 |
3.5 |
119,477 |
73 |
218,425 |
15,945,000 |
Trapeze Artist |
88,000 |
2.5 |
110,425 |
67 |
212,612 |
14,245,000 |
Russian Revolution |
55,000 |
3.9 |
137,612 |
54 |
262,963 |
14,200,000 |
Pierro |
88,000 |
3 |
154,963 |
52 |
269,904 |
14,035,000 |
Justify |
77,000 |
3.5 |
172,904 |
39 |
313,590 |
12,230,000 |
Exceed and Excel |
88,000 |
3.6 |
205,590 |
26 |
440,000 |
11,440,000 |
Fastnet Rock |
165,000 |
2.7 |
255,000 |
62 |
179,758 |
11,145,000 |
So You Think |
38,500 |
4.7 |
121,258 |
53 |
170,377 |
9,030,000 |
Shalaa |
33,000 |
5.2 |
117,377 |
52 |
165,385 |
8,600,000 |
Hellbent |
27,500 |
6 |
117,885 |
29 |
279,828 |
8,115,000 |
Lonhro |
77,000 |
3.6 |
182,828 |
45 |
175,133 |
7,881,000 |
Written By |
24,750 |
7.1 |
130,383 |
38 |
204,079 |
7,755,000 |
Toronado |
27,500 |
7.4 |
156,579 |
The leading sires by aggregate are those beloved by the auction houses as their stock are plentiful and popular.
Newgate Farm’s Deep Field is an interesting sire and his 107 yearlings sold is the most of all sires so he’s going to have a massive crop of 2YO’s to run for him next season and they were conceived in the year his fee was doubled from $22,000 to $44,000.
They could well prove to be a pivotal crop for the son of Northern Meteor as he seeks to reposition himself as an elite stallion that stands this year for $88,000.
Major Australian Yearling Sales - Active Australian Sires by Multiple of Fee x4 upwards |
||||||
Sold |
Avge |
Agg |
Sire |
2019 Fee |
xFee |
FeeProfit |
25 |
175,800 |
4,395,000 |
Shamus Award |
11,000 |
16 |
144,800 |
21 |
346,429 |
7,275,000 |
Extreme Choice |
22,000 |
15.7 |
304,429 |
8 |
165,625 |
1,325,000 |
Encryption |
13,200 |
12.5 |
132,425 |
5 |
123,000 |
615,000 |
Showtime |
11,000 |
11.2 |
92,000 |
4 |
110,000 |
440,000 |
Overshare |
11,000 |
10 |
79,000 |
10 |
170,000 |
1,700,000 |
Lean Mean Machine |
17,600 |
9.7 |
132,400 |
4 |
158,750 |
635,000 |
Xtravagant |
16,500 |
9.6 |
122,250 |
3 |
153,333 |
460,000 |
Magnus |
16,500 |
9.3 |
116,833 |
21 |
124,762 |
2,620,000 |
Grunt |
13,750 |
9.1 |
91,012 |
7 |
107,857 |
755,000 |
Rich Enuff |
12,100 |
8.9 |
75,757 |
11 |
134,545 |
1,480,000 |
Menari |
16,500 |
8.2 |
98,045 |
9 |
173,889 |
1,565,000 |
Churchill |
22,000 |
7.9 |
131,889 |
38 |
204,079 |
7,755,000 |
Toronado |
27,500 |
7.4 |
156,579 |
31 |
201,194 |
6,237,000 |
Maurice |
27,500 |
7.3 |
153,694 |
45 |
175,133 |
7,881,000 |
Written By |
24,750 |
7.1 |
130,383 |
9 |
176,111 |
1,585,000 |
Saxon Warrior |
24,750 |
7.1 |
131,361 |
12 |
190,833 |
2,290,000 |
Street Boss |
27,500 |
6.9 |
143,333 |
36 |
152,833 |
5,502,000 |
Harry Angel |
22,000 |
6.9 |
110,833 |
6 |
73,333 |
440,000 |
Prized Icon |
11,000 |
6.7 |
42,333 |
9 |
103,056 |
927,500 |
Kermadec |
16,500 |
6.2 |
66,556 |
30 |
136,533 |
4,096,000 |
Pariah |
22,000 |
6.2 |
94,533 |
52 |
165,385 |
8,600,000 |
Hellbent |
27,500 |
6 |
117,885 |
11 |
120,000 |
1,320,000 |
Smart Missile |
22,000 |
5.5 |
78,000 |
107 |
239,486 |
25,625,000 |
Deep Field |
44,000 |
5.4 |
175,486 |
53 |
170,377 |
9,030,000 |
Shalaa |
33,000 |
5.2 |
117,377 |
3 |
83,333 |
250,000 |
Press Statement |
16,500 |
5.1 |
46,833 |
23 |
111,739 |
2,570,000 |
Brave Smash |
22,000 |
5.1 |
69,739 |
30 |
106,583 |
3,197,500 |
Impending |
22,000 |
4.8 |
64,583 |
23 |
131,957 |
3,035,000 |
All Too Hard |
27,500 |
4.8 |
84,457 |
62 |
179,758 |
11,145,000 |
So You Think |
38,500 |
4.7 |
121,258 |
16 |
76,094 |
1,217,500 |
Headwater |
16,500 |
4.6 |
39,594 |
7 |
75,714 |
530,000 |
Winning Rupert |
16,500 |
4.6 |
39,214 |
8 |
123,125 |
985,000 |
Star Witness |
27,500 |
4.5 |
75,625 |
17 |
145,000 |
2,465,000 |
Better Than Ready |
33,000 |
4.4 |
92,000 |
17 |
90,294 |
1,535,000 |
Star Turn |
22,000 |
4.1 |
48,294 |
7 |
90,714 |
635,000 |
Shooting to Win |
22,000 |
4.1 |
48,714 |
35 |
176,714 |
6,185,000 |
Spirit of Boom |
44,000 |
4 |
112,714 |
17 |
109,853 |
1,867,500 |
Frosted |
27,500 |
4 |
62,353 |
This list invariably highlights young up and coming sires or those that have had a dramatic change of fortune and Rosemont Stud’s Shamus Award falls into the latter category.
A slow burn sire that relocated from the Hunter Valley to Victoria in 2019, Shamus Award has emerged as a serious sire with nearly 7% SW to runner. Importantly his 18 SW’s include five Group I winners headed by this season’s Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise, Australian Cup winner Duais and Australian Oaks winner El Patroness.
A Cox Plate winner, Shamus Award has the unique ability to produce fast clean winded elite stayers, which is probably not what breeders were expecting when the son of Snitzel retired to stud in 2014.