Farnan holds steady at $55,000 as Kia Ora barnmates reduced for 2024

Cover image courtesy of Kia Ora Stud

Kia Ora Stud has just announced its fees for the 2024 breeding season, unveiling a youthful three-strong roster. The Champion 2-Year-Old Farnan leads the lineup, whose fee remains unchanged at $55,000 (including GST).

The Thoroughbred Report touched base with Kia Ora’s bloodstock and breeding manager, Shane Wright, to find out how Kia Ora Stud decided its fees, “The team at Kia Ora Stud 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,” Wright added. “They represent outstanding sirelines and each 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 in Australia.

“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 them opportunities to mate the right mares with our outstanding stallions at the right price and help them pursue success in the sales ring and the racetrack. Both are equally important to us.”

Slipper winner making waves

Farnan, sired by the late Not A Single Doubt, possessed an abundance of speed and class, propelling him to victory in the prestigious G1 Golden Slipper. He clinched victories in the G2 Todman S., the G2 Silver Slipper S., and the Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

These triumphs earned him the coveted title of Australia’s Champion 2-Year-Old in the 2019/20 season. Farnan is from the talented Tallow (Street Cry {Ire}), who herself triumphed in the G3 Vanity S. Tallow is also the dam of Sandbar, winner of the Listed Rosebud H. Sandbar additionally secured places in the G2 Roman Consul S. and the G3 Pago Pago S., along with a commendable fourth-place finish in the G1 Golden Rose.

Farnan's quality was evident when he fetched $550,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, purchased by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farm.

The son of Not A Single Doubt commenced his stud duties in 2021, covering 192 mares at a fee of $55,000 (including GST) in his debut books. In the last breeding season, Farnan served 152 mares, bringing his total to 533 across his three seasons at stud.

Among the high-quality mares served during his tenure are Colorado Clarie (Hussonet {USA}), a Group 2 winner and dam of the G2 Todman S. victor Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt), as well as Dream Play (Hennessy {USA}), the dam of the G2 Sires’ winner Zululand.

Another notable mare is Gypsy Robin (USA) (Daaher {Can}), dam of Newgate Farm’s G1 Moir S. victor, Wild Ruler. Kia Ora Stud presented a filly resulting from the Farnan/Gypsy Robin pairing at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where she fetched $725,000 under the bid of Ladbrokes Racing Club.

At the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, a colt out of G1 The Galaxy victress I Am Excited (by Snitzel) made waves, selling for $1.2 million to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, Kia Ora, Farnan Partnerships, and Mt Ha.

Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), the winner of the G1 New Zealand Oaks, produced a colt by Farnan, who fetched $600,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, secured by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Bloodstock.

Not surprisingly, the progeny of the Golden Slipper winner were well-received at the 2024 yearling sales. Of the 82 offered, 72 were sold, amassing a total of $16,482,223, with an average of $228,919 and a median of $175,000.

“Farnan has offered breeders incredible value since he retired to Kia Ora Stud and he will remain at the $55,000 (inc GST) following his very successful year in the sales ring. The progeny of Farnan averaged $325,000 across both the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale combined.

“More importantly, for those who supported Farnan his first crop of yearlings are placed in all of Australia’s premier stables.”

Commenting on the expectation of Farnan as his first crop are set to turn two in August, Wright said, “Farnan is one of the most exciting stallions to retire to stud in recent times and he has covered large, quality books through his stallion career to date.

“His yearlings have been well-sought after at the sales with a top price of $1.2 million for a colt (Farnan/I Am Excited) and $725,000 for a filly (Farnan/Gypsy Robin). It is not surprising his book for this coming season is looking as strong as his three previous seasons.

“We couldn't be more excited to see his first 2-year-olds 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.”

Positive reports for Prague

Prague will be available for the 2024 breeding season at a reduced fee of $13,200 (inc GST), a decrease from his initial three seasons' fee of $16,500 (inc GST).

The son of the legendary Redoute’s Choice displayed remarkable precocity, toughness, and talent as a juvenile, a trait he carried into his following preparation. Prague claimed victories in the G3 Pago Pago S. and the G3 Canonbury S. during his juvenile campaign, with notable performances including a placing in the prestigious G1 Sires’ Produce. Additionally, he secured fourth-placed efforts in both the G1 Newmarket H. and the G1 All-Aged S.

Prague, acquired for $1.6 million by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farm at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, descends from the Pins mare Purely Spectacular (NZ), who also produced the dual Group 1 victor Stratum Star.

Across his three seasons, Prague has covered 266 mares. His first crop yielded impressive results, totalling $1,749,648 from selling 18 of 23 progeny, averaging $97,202 with a median of $50,000. Prague's progeny also attained an overall top price of $375,000.

Wright said, “Prague will stand this season for $13,200 (inc GST). We feel this fee gives breeders extraordinary access to one of the last sons of the breeder shaper and sire of sires Redoute’s Choice to retire to stud.

“Prague finished the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with an average of $217,000, almost a 15-time return on his service fee. His first yearlings headed into the stables of Annabel Neasham, Mick Price, Michael Kent Jnr and 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 sireline possesses at outstanding value.”

Rounding out Kia Ora Stud’s 2024 roster is the G1 Sires’ Produce S. winner, Captivant, a son of the G1 Golden Slipper victor Capitalist. The $550,000 yearling will also stand a reduced fee of $22,000 (inc GST) from $27,500 (inc GST) he stood in his first two seasons.

Captivating Captivant

Captivant’s oldest progeny is weanlings, which will be offered at the upcoming weanling sales.

“Captivant is a grandson of this year’s Golden Slipper-siring stallion Written Tycoon and the very best son of Capitalist to retire to stud. In his third season at stud, he will stand at a slightly reduced fee of $22,000 (inc GST).

“Captivant is from a sireline set to feature prominently in Australian racing for generations to come with his sire already ahead of Champion Sire Snitzel, by numbers of stakes winners and Champion Sire I Am Invincible by number of 2-year-Old stakes winners at the same stage in their careers.

He added, “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.”

Table: 2024 Announced Stallion Fees for Kia Ora Stud