Toronado reigns at Swettenham Stud remaining at $88,000

Cover image courtesy of Swettenham Stud

Victorian-based Swettenham Stud proudly unveiled its 2024 lineup of six stallions and their respective fees. Leading the charge is the exceptional Toronado (Ire), whose fee remains unchanged at $88,000 (inc GST).

Earlier in the year, Swettenham Stud welcomed its latest addition, Lofty Strike, commanding a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).

The striking son of Snitzel is from the G1 Golden Slipper heroine Overreach (Exceed And Excel) and showed high-class ability in his 12-start career retiring with victories in the G2 Rubiton S. and the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings).

Swettenham Stud’s General Manager - Operations and Nominations Sam Matthews told The Thoroughbred Report the reception to Lofty Strike has been outstanding, “He’s absolutely fantastic. Lofty Strike has certainly settled into his surroundings at Swettenham Stud.

“He knows he’s a bull, but he’s got the most magnificent demeanour about him. He’s been enjoying his time out in the day yard most days and we’ve had quite a few people come and see him that have absolutely loved him, including some really good judges that quite liked him at the yearling sales.

“The feedback on Lofty Strike has been well beyond what we expected.”

Toronado headlines

The prominence of Toronado continues to soar, having produced more Australian winners than ever before in his career this season (110 winners) and currently ahead of the four-time Champion Sire Snitzel and The Everest-winning sire, So You Think (NZ).

Toronado's prowess in Hong Kong was once again underscored, solidifying his position as the number one active sire in the region, thanks to the Group 1 victor Victor The Winner and the promising Helios Express.

To date, the son of High Chaparral (Ire) has sired 37 stakes winners globally, with 20 of them achieving success in the Southern Hemisphere. Moreover, Toronado boasts five elite-level winners.

His progeny have also been highly sought after in the sales ring. Of the 82-progeny offered at sales in 2024, 72 have grossed $11,639,259, with an average of $161,665 and a median of $120,000. Toronado achieved an overall top price of $600,000 for a colt at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Commenting on the decision to maintain Toronado's fee at an unchanged $88,000 (inc GST), Matthews stated, “There was certainly some conversation about increasing his service fee, as there was last year as well. However, we believe the best is yet to come for Toronado, and just because you can increase a service fee doesn’t mean you should.

“We want breeders to continue to profit from him and breed commercially. Swettenham Stud believes it's crucial to ensure that breeders who have supported him before can continue to do so at the same price.”

Sirelines of the future

Returning to Swettenham Stud for his third season is Wooded (Ire), the fastest son of Wootton Bassett (GB), who will maintain an unchanged fee of $22,000 (inc GST).

Wooded clinched the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp over 1000 meters and has garnered significant popularity among breeders, covering more mares in his second season (93) than in his first (84).

He stands out as the sole son of Wootton Bassett in Australia and one of only two in the Southern Hemisphere.

“John Foote was the first person to bring Wootton Bassett to Swettenham Stud's attention many years ago when he was acquiring a few for Australian clients.

“Our relationship with Al Shaqab facilitated the acquisition of Wooded. He's the fastest son of Wootton Bassett and an outcross. We were impressed with him, and it wasn’t until he arrived at the farm two seasons ago that we realised his fertility, evidenced by the quality of his progeny.

“He covered a larger book in his second season, which is always a positive sign.

“Wooded is exceptionally fertile, and we plan to offer a couple of high-quality weanlings at sales; a strategy that proved successful with Toronado. Corner Pocket, for instance, was sold as a weanling and proved to be a lucrative pinhook, fetching a handsome sum as a yearling.”

Wooded has one entry catalogued at the upcoming 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.

Representing one of the hottest sirelines in the Southern Hemisphere is I Am Immortal. The son of I Am Invincible will maintain his fee at $13,750 (inc GST).

I Am Immortal's first runners hit the track this spring, resulting in seven runners, two winners, and the stakes-performed Immortal Star.

Similar to Wooded, I Am Immortal served his largest book of mares last season, totalling 121.

“I Am Immortal was a very early and sharp juvenile himself, and we anticipated seeing more of his progeny running pre-Christmas. However, with only seven runners, he has already produced two winners, including a stakes performer.

“So, when compared to many other first-season sires, he's performing admirably. While he hasn't had a large number of runners, the feedback we've received, including from the few we own (about half-a-dozen), has been positive.

“I Am Immortal covered a record book in 2024, and I believe breeders who utilised him in 2023 will soon witness those results on the racetrack, hopefully followed by success in the sales ring shortly thereafter.”

Proven brigade

Completing Swettenham Stud’s 2024 stallion roster alongside Toronado as proven producers are Rubick and Puissance De Lune (Ire).

Rubick will maintain his fee at $27,500 (inc GST). The son of Encosta De Lago has sired 12 stakes winners, including the multiple Group 1 winner Jacquinot and The Everest victor Yes Yes Yes.

Additionally, Rubick is credited with the Ciaron Maher-trained Erno’s Cube, a resilient and consistent juvenile who clinched the G2 Reisling S. this autumn.

Last season, Rubick topped Victoria’s leading sire of 3-year-olds in earnings, wins, and stakes wins. This season, only his barnmate Toronado and Yulong’s Written Tycoon, standing at a private fee, have had more winners than Rubick.

Rubick covered 94 mares in the spring.

Matthews remarked, “Remarkably, it’s only Toronado and Written Tycoon, both Victorian-based, that have had more winners than Rubick this season. He’s absolutely thriving, and we’re excited as he still has plenty more to offer with his increasing books, which are now reaching maturity.

“We've seen Rubick’s success with juveniles, particularly 3-year-olds. I believe there are many promising city winners close to achieving black-type status.

“Overall, Rubick has had another outstanding season, and I anticipate the next six months will be particularly fruitful for him.”

Puissance De Lune, a son of the influential Shamardal (USA), will be available at a reduced fee of $8,800 (inc GST). The talented grey has been represented by 183 runners, resulting in 93 individual winners of 246 races, including four stakes winners. Showing remarkable versatility, Puissance De Lune has produced winners in the distance range of 955 to 2600 metres.

Described as Swettenham’s ‘favourite grey’, Matthews said, “Puissance De Lune will stand at a reduced fee of $8,800 (inc GST). He’s a horse that has those big books from a couple of years ago coming through. They do take a little bit longer to mature, but we still see him achieving success, and the ones that are out there running are incredibly versatile, with an exceptional city-strike rate.

“It’s probably just been a lack of runners for Puissance De Lune in recent times. So, we decided to bring him back a little bit. But he’s still a commercial breeding or racing option for breeders.

“There are a few sons of Shamardal out there, but I think if people want something proven, he’s the only option currently. You can breed to Puissance De Lune knowing you’re going to get a runner. If you send a speedier mare to him, you can get something that can win a 955-metre race, or if you send a distance mare, you produce something that can excel in Oaks and Derby distances.”

Commenting on the approach to stud fees this season, Matthews said, “I’m confident our fees will be well-received because we’ve built our reputation based on looking after people and ensuring that our service fees are reasonable all the way through.

“I think we demonstrated with Toronado and the other stallions that we want to make sure that the breeder is looked after so that they can breed to a commercial stallion at an affordable rate and get a return.

“There are some farms that might have been a bit too bullish on the service fees in the past, but I think if you do the right thing by people and set your fees accordingly, then you build that long-term relationship where people are comfortable supporting your stallions, knowing that you’ll support them in return.

Matthews added, “The fees are set in April, but things change, and there are always options available for people if they’re not sure what to breed to or if they want to breed a certain mare; we’re always around to chat and look at everything objectively; we don't just look at our own horses. We want to ensure that breeders can achieve results and continue in the game.”

Table: 2024 Announced Stallion Fees for Swettenham Stud