With the breeding season in full swing, Swettenham Stud's Toronado (IRE) and Highland Reel (IRE) are bringing a smile to the faces of stud masters and breeders around the country, thanks to their stallions performing brilliantly in the breeding shed.
"We are over the moon with how well the stallions are covering this season. It's a great result for our clients that their mares are getting in foal thanks to the high fertility of our stallions," Nominations manager, Sam Matthews enthused.
"With Highland Reel and Toronado demonstrating outstanding conception rates, both are currently running at over 80% positive per cycle. It's a terrific result considering each stallion has 140 plus mares, and that they have now covered well over 60% of their books."
Resident Vet John Hurley plays a vital role in this success, being highly regarded throughout the breeding industry as an outstanding reproductive veterinarian.
"Throughout my 27 years at Swettenham, I am delighted that to see these two stallions as well as our other resident stallions, can cover high numbers of mares with consistently high fertility. We are maintaining our 93% fertility rate for on-farm mares this season, ensuring that our clients have the best possible chance of getting their mares in foal and maintaining a viable pregnancy," Hurley said.
Matthews also wanted to acknowledge the Swettenham Stud team as a whole, who are all performing above and beyond for the farm.
"Thanks to the brilliant efforts of the stallion team and all the staff who care for the mares and foals, we are able to accept a limited number of extra booking for this season for both Toronado and Highland Reel."
And the bookings have continued to flow in for seven-time Group 1 winner Highland Reel now that breeders have had a chance to see him in the flesh.
"He has really impressed the breeders being such a terrific physical type. A well-conformed and attractive stallion that is bred on the same cross as Frankel. With Galileo continuing to be the greatest sire and sire of sires in the world, and with him being a Group two winning two-year-old over 1400 metres – he ticks all the boxes," Matthews said.
For more information or to book in you mare to Swettenham Stud, please contact Sam Matthews on 0487 851 572 or visit www.swettenham.com.au
