High Fertility and High Upside

Sponsored Content - by Tara Madgwick - Thursday October 19

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.”

Graff has outstanding fertility at 87.9%! - click for more info and a Hypo mating.

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.

  1. Graff 87.9% (fee $9,900)
  2.  Bivouac 83.1% ($66,000)
  3. Time to Reign 79.8% ($9,900)
  4. Ole Kirk 79.1% ($55,000)
  5. Anders 78.8 % ($16,500)
  6. Wootton Bassett (GB) 77.6% ($93,500)
  7. Prague 76.4% ($16,500)
  8. Farnan 75.3% ($55,000)
  9. King’s Legacy 75.1% ($27,500
  10. North Pacific 72.9% ($22,000)
Advertisment
More Reading...
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Coles Bows Out After 60 Years
Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting marked the end of an era for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, as Ross Coles, a treasured figure in the industry, retired after 60 years as Clerk of the Course.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.