As we move towards November, getting your mare in foal promptly becomes a high priority for commercial breeders, so choosing a stallion with high fertility can be a big plus, particularly when you are rolling the dice on an up and coming third crop sire.
Amazingly, and perhaps significantly, it is the evergreen champion Snitzel who headed Hunter Valley stallion fertility in 2021. This is another amazing feat for a truly amazing stallion with his 89.9% fertility followed very closely by Graff on 87.9% at number two.
Third crop sires have the promise of significant upside given their first yearlings will sell at the start of 2024 and be racing at this time next year and for those that find success quickly, their third year at stud can be the chance to invest at just the right time.
Breeders that dived into $11,000 sires such as I Am Invincible and Spirit of Boom in their third seasons were handsomely rewarded when their progeny sold as yearlings for 10 times service fee and more!
Sometimes the writing is on the wall early and those stunning foals by Kitchwin Hills based Graff, that impressed everyone last spring, have grown and developed just as hoped with the muscle and quality of their sire.
“They have been well received from the sales companies and are growing into lovely types. Plenty of depth of girth, a big engine room and extremely tough,” said Oscar Engelbrecht, Yearling Manager at Kitchwin Hills.
“He’s (Graff x Tabasco Kitten colt) a belter, size, scope, and strength. He looks an early runner just like his father.
“We look forward to his first crop of yearlings heading to the 2024 sales and anticipate Graff will be strongly represented in the upcoming Magic Millions and Inglis Classic.”
On the score of fertility Graff stands above his Hunter Valley peers offering broodmare owners looking for a late season mating a super opportunity to get their mare in foal to a young stallion with plenty of upside.
Fertility Statistics Hunter Valley Stallions- Top 10 Third Crop Sires
(based on 2021 Australian Stud Book Statistics as of 18/10/2023.)
Fee is 2023 value inc GST.
- Graff 87.9% (fee $9,900)
- Bivouac 83.1% ($66,000)
- Time to Reign 79.8% ($9,900)
- Ole Kirk 79.1% ($55,000)
- Anders 78.8 % ($16,500)
- Wootton Bassett (GB) 77.6% ($93,500)
- Prague 76.4% ($16,500)
- Farnan 75.3% ($55,000)
- King’s Legacy 75.1% ($27,500
- North Pacific 72.9% ($22,000)
