Kia Ora’s stallion roster for 2024 heralds exciting new developments that provide further value and accessibility for astute breeders.
Precocity and speed underpin Kia Ora’s stallion roster, with Farnan, Captivant and Prague all claiming Group victories at two. This solid foundation offers breeders the optimal chance to produce early-running racehorses with the tenacity to race as juveniles and beyond.
The maturity of Kia Ora’s stallion roster has been met by several milestones in 2024. The sales ring debut of Farnan and Prague’s first yearlings sparked considerable appeal and set the scene for a successful 2yo season in the spring, while G1 Champagne Stakes winner Captivant moved into an exciting new phase of his career with the arrival of his highly anticipated first foals in 2023.
In alignment with prevailing market trends, Kia Ora has opted to make Prague and Captivant even more accessible to breeders by reducing their service fees this season. Kia Ora harbours unwavering confidence in their stallions' ability to fulfil the promise displayed by their progeny, both physically and on the racetrack, and remains committed to supporting them fervently with their own broodmare band.
“We recognise that the market is slightly tricky and have responded accordingly. We will work hard to assist our valued clients in managing their breeding strategies, provide opportunities to mate the right mares with our outstanding young stallions at the right price, and help breeders pursue success in the sales ring and on the racetrack,” said Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright.
Farnan will stand his fourth season at an unchanged fee of $55,000 incl GST in 2024.
Farnan remains the most credentialed Champion 2YO Golden Slipper-winning colt to retire to stud in well over a decade, and his debut yearling sales results are certainly indicative of his popularity within the market.
Farnan was represented by 29 sold lots at Magic Millions Book 1, with yearlings selling for up to $1,200,000 at an average of $309,483. At Inglis Easter, his 10 sold lots saw him achieve an impressive $337,000 average—6.7x service fee. Notably, Farnan concluded both sales as the Leading First Season Sire (among stallions with no Northern Hemisphere runners).
“He is one of the most exciting sires to retire to stud in recent times and has covered large, quality books throughout his career. His performance at this year's yearling sales further affirms his standing in the marketplace and the potential for early success on the track,” Wright said.
“Farnan has all the key ingredients to make it as a sire. By emerging sire-of-sires Not A Single Doubt from a Group-winning Street Cry mare, he is leaving fast-looking and precocious types in the make and shape of himself.”
Farnan’s yearlings have already joined the stables of the country’s best 2yo trainers, such as Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Peter & Paul Snowden, Annabel Neasham and Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman, among many others.
“The positive reports have been flowing in about their mental maturity and physical forwardness and we couldn’t be more excited to see his first 2yo’s hit the track. By all reports, the general consensus from trainers and breakers is that we won’t have to wait long to see success,” Wright said.
Captivant will stand his third season for $22,000 incl GST in 2024 ($27,500 incl GST 2023).
G1 Champagne Stakes winner Captivant offers a rare combination of exceptional credentials and extraordinary value for breeders looking to access the booming Written Tycoon sireline.
“Captivant is from a sireline set to feature predominately in Australian racing for generations to come, with his sire Capitalist already ahead of four-time Champion Sire Snitzel by the number of stakes winners and Champion Sire I Am Invincible by the number of 2yo stakes winners at the same stage in their careers,” Wright said.
Captivant was one of the most precocious 2yos of his year, winning the pre-Christmas Victory Vein Plate on debut (1000m) before running in the top five of each leg of the 2021 2YO Triple Crown.
He capped off his juvenile season by recording the second-fastest G1 Champagne Stakes win in history, and at three, he was Timeform-rated 121 following his highly regarded G1 Caulfield Guineas run, where he was second by a head to Anamoe.
Captivant's first weanlings are readying themselves for the sales, and like their sire, they are extremely attractive, with excellent strength, outstanding body shapes and a good amount of leg under them.
“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 versatility on the track give him every chance to become an important part of the Australian stallion landscape,” Wright said.
Prague will stand his fourth season for $13,200 incl GST in 2024 ($16,500 incl GST 2023).
A dual Group-winning juvenile and one of the most impressive-looking stallions in the Hunter Valley, Prague presents a unique opportunity to access one of the very last sire sons of legendary sire-of-sires Redoute’s Choice.
“Being one of the last two sire-sons of Redoute's Choice to go to stud, the odds are stacked in Prague's favour. The unwavering success of the Redoute’s Choice sireline has continued with his young sire sons, The Autumn Sun and Alabama Express, who stand at much higher fees and are really starting to hit their straps,” Wright said.
Prague's first yearlings went to market this year and were met with hot demand. His Magic Millions Book 1 yearlings averaged $217,000 (14.5x service fee) and he outperformed eight other first season sires with fees higher than his own (on average).
“Prague is leaving progeny that are stamped with that Redoute's Choice quality, bone and strength. You just need to see them for yourself to work out why. They simply sell themselves and are already Australia’s best stables with the likes of Annabel Neasham, Mick Pice & Michael Kent Jnr and Philip Stokes set to train them,” Wright said.
In addition to being a dual Group winner at two (G3 Canonbury and G3 Pago Pago) and tough a G1 performer (4th in the G1 All Aged and G1 Newmarket) at three, a $1.6m yearling and directly descended from the extraordinary mare Emancipation, Prague is undoubtedly the best value son of Redoute's Choice accessible in NSW.
“Prague 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,” Wright said.
