Farnan to stand unchanged at $55,000 as Kia Ora release fees
Kia Ora have released the fees for their three-strong roster which is once again headlined by their Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning stallion Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), who will stand the 2024 season for an unchanged fee of $55,000 (all fees inc GST).
Alongside his Slipper win, the son of Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) also scored in the Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) and Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and will cover his fourth book of mares at the farm alongside dual Group 3 winner Prague (Redoute’s Choice), who has had a marginal fee trim back to $13,200, while Captivant (Capitalist) will also command a slightly lower fee of $22,000.
Shane Wright, Kia Ora’s bloodstock and breeding manager, told ANZ Bloodstock that the reduction in fees for Prague and Captivant was the farm’s response to the current climate rather than a reflection to the market’s response to the pair.
“The team at Kia Ora have put a lot of thought into our service fees for this year. We couldn’t be happier with our current young roster of stallions.
“They represent outstanding sire lines and each has the physical presence and race record to support our overwhelming belief that they are the type of stallions that are successful time and time again here in Australia.” Wright said.
“We recognise it is a time when the market is in a slightly tricky place and we have responded accordingly.
“We will work hard to assist our valued clients to manage their breeding strategies and to provide you opportunities to mate the right mares with our outstanding young stallions at the right price and help you to pursue success in the sales ring and the racetrack.”
Farnan’s first yearlings were well received in sales rings up and down Australia, with his best result being the Bell River Thoroughbreds-consigned colt out of Group 1 winner I Am Excited (Snitzel), who sold to a consortium of owners including Kia Ora themselves and the stallion’s former trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January.
Meanwhile, the stallion’s most expensive filly was the Kia Ora-offered three-quarter-sister to Group 1 winner Wild Ruler (Snitzel), who was purchased by Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate Bloodstock for $725,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale earlier this month.
“Farnan has offered breeders incredible value since he retired at stud and he will remain at $55,000 (inc GST) following his very successful year in the sales ring where he averaged $325,000 across both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter combined,” said Wright.
“More importantly for breeders his first crop of yearlings are placed in all of Australia’s premier stables. Farnan is one of the most exciting sires to retire to stud in recent times and has covered large, quality books through his stallion career to date.
“His yearlings have been well sought after at sales with colts making up to $1,200,000 and fillies up to $725,000.
“It is not surprising his book for this coming season is looking as strong as his three previous seasons and we couldn’t be more excited to see his first 2yo’s hit the track later this year, by all reports the general consensus from trainers and breakers is we won’t have to wait long to see success.”
Standing his fourth consecutive season at $55,000, Farnan covered 152 mares last year, having served 192 in his first season and 189 in his second.
Prague, a winner of the Canonbury Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) and Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m), is also on the cusp of covering his fourth book of mares and like Farnan will be represented by his first runners later this year.
The buyers responded well to his first group of yearlings offered at market, with his results headed by a filly selling to Annabel Neasham for $375,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, while he was also handed another good result at the same sale when Kia Ora combined with Peter Moody to purchase one of his sons from Blue Gum Farm for $300,000.
The son of Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) stood his first three seasons at the farm for $16,500, where he covered 95 mares in his first season, 103 in the next and 68 last year. Wright believes the slight reduction in fee makes him even more appealing to breeders than he has been for the past three years.
“Prague will stand at $13,200 (inc GST) for the 2024 breeding season. This fee gives breeders extraordinary access to one of the last sons of breed shaper and sire of sires Redoute’s Choice to retire to stud.
“The stallion finished the Magic Millions Yearling Sales with an average of $217,000, almost a 15 times return on his service fee, with his yearlings going into the stables of Annabel Neasham, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, Phillip Stokes to name a few.
“He offers a fantastic opportunity for breeders who want to invest in the quality, toughness, speed and all the colonial attributes his incredible sire line possesses at outstanding value.”
Kia Ora’s diverse roster is completed by Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Captivant, who stood his first two seasons at the New South Wales-based farm for $27,500, covering 127 mares in his first year, while last year he served 78 mares.
“He is a grandson of this year’s Golden Slipper winning sire Written Tycoon and the very best son of Capitalist to retire to stud, Captivant will stand at a slightly reduced fee of $22,000 in his third season at stud.
Wright said the feedback they had received from breeders about his first foals had been strong.
“He is from a sire line set to feature prominently in Australian racing for generations to come with his sire already ahead of champion sire Snitzel by number of stakes winners and champion sire I Am Invincible by number of two-year-old stakes winners at the same stage in their careers.
“His first foals show all the quality and substance their sire has and this should hold them in good stead to hit the track early but also feature the class and scope to train on. Captivant’s pedigree and his versatility on the track give him every chance to become an important part of the Australian stallion landscape.”
Kia Ora 2024 roster (fees incl GST)
2024 2023
Farnan $55,000 unchanged
Captivant $22,000 $27,500
Prague $13,200 $16,500