Sun Stud has announced that bookings to boom sire, FIORENTE, have closed for the 2018 season.
With
a host of first crop winners in recent weeks, including Group Two Moonee Valley
Vase winner and Group One $2 million Victoria Derby runner-up, Stars of Carrum,
Fiorente's popularity has surged to unprecedented levels and the decision has
been made to cap his book at 150 mares this spring.
"Anybody who says we can't breed a stayer in Australia is wrong … it is just that we haven't had the right approach and I believe Fiorente could be the catalyst for the resurrection of staying horses," Sun Stud's Senior Sales & Nominations Manager, Mark Lindsay points out.
"He's really come into his own in the first three months of 2018/19 via the likes of Stars of Carrum, Alessandro, who just missed out on a start in the Derby, Continuation, Fariha, Lord Gladstone, Mangione, Moor Gait, Spensierato and Wham, while the highly promising Hawkshot is back in work.
"Fiorente's had a half dozen winners in just the last couple of weeks and over $700,000 in progeny earnings, which has him leading Second Season Sire in Victoria and second overall in Australia.
"We were very confident that his runners would come into their own once they stepped up in distance … stamina and a turn-of-foot are a lethal combination."
Winning both the Melbourne Cup and Australian Cup, Fiorente was regarded the 'fast stayer' as he also won a Group Two at weight for age over 1600m and was Group One placed in the 1400m All Aged Stakes.
Fiorente is also the only son at stud in Australia of the phenomenal Monsun who has 79% winners to runners, 22 Group One winners and 1 in 7 foals which are stakes winners!
"When you are standing sires like Fiorente, there are very few 2YO races at a mile and above and, then as a 3YO, you've only got 10 or so races before Christmas where you can run over 2000m and further," Lindsay adds, "so for him to achieve what he already has this spring is tremendous.
Fiorente stood this season at a fee of $17,600 inc. GST, payment on live foal.
An announcement on the stallion's 2019 fee will be made in due course.
