Australian racing has been awash with million dollar races in recent months and the vast sums on offer can skew the sire tables to an extent so a look at the leading sires by stakes-winners list offers a different insight.
Topping that list is Arrowfield Stud’s perennial favourite Snitzel, who has already posted eight stakes-winners, the best of them Group II winning 3YO’s Best of Bordeaux and Zennzella and he has a juvenile SW in Group III ATC Breeders Plate winner Empire of Japan.
Now a sprightly 20YO, Snitzel is always a reliable choice and his fee this spring is $220,000.
Right behind him on seven stakes-winners is Widden Stud’s much missed Sebring, whose last crop of foals are three year-olds. He died at the height of his powers, so will go out in a blaze of glory with his stakes-winners this season highlighted by Group II winner Daisies and Group III winning 3YO colt Sejardan.
I Am Invincible and Deep Field are next on six stakes-winners each, but there is a big difference in their service fee with the former priced at $247,500 and the latter at $88,000.
Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible has a Group I winner among his stakes-winners with In Secret and has two juvenile stakes-winners in Charm Stone and the hugely impressive King’s Gambit.
Newgate Farm’s Deep Field has three Group winners among his stakes-winners in Sweet Ride, English Riviera and Sky Command.
Coolmore based So You Think had a fee rise this year to $93,500 and has really come of age as a sire. His five stakes-winners are all Group winners headed by Nimalee, Knight’s Order and the ex citing 3YO Perfect Thought.
Widden Stud’s Zoustar had his fee upped this year to $198,000 and has delivered on the track with a Group I winner in the UK in Lezoo, now 2022 Champion European 2YO Filly, and four stakes-winners here. They are all Group winners headed by G1 winner Zougotcha and an impressive 2YO in Platinum Jubilee.
Victoria’s most expensive sire at $165,000, Yulong flagbearer Written Tycoon is also on four stakes-winners headed by his Group I winning filly Coolangatta
The third sire on four stakes-winners is interestingly Juddmonte Farms heavy hitter Frankel, whose stock have proven most suitable to racing in Australia. His four stakes-winners are all Group winners with Francesco Guardi (IRE) and Soulcombe (GB) being imports, while Argentia and My Whisper were foaled in Australia.
