This is my impression also. I seem to recall a book about Robert Sangster, who is once in partnership with John Magnier of the Coolmore operation in Ireland. One party suggested a book of 100 mares per year for a particular stallion, and this is regarded as a little on the high side.
I will be corrected here if I am wrong, but 80 mares per year sounds about right, or about 2 mares every 9 days. If we allow the stallion Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving etc for a holiday, and give him a vacation or two as well, this means one mare every 4 days.
I agree, don’t ask. Prices are climbing, climbing, climbing…a fallout is inevitable. FuPeg’s outrageously high stud fee–and ones like it for freshmen sires–beckon it.
Some more news from the breeding industry (as reported in The Daily Racing Form Online):
[ul]
[li]Point Given has been retired due to a tendon injury. He was sold for $50 million (!!!) and will stand for $125,000 (!!!) at Three Chimneys.[/li]
[li]Giant’s Causeway will be standing at Coolmore America next year, transferring from his Coolmore Ireland current “workplace” to the Ashford Stud that stands the previously mentioned Fusaichi Pegasus. A stud fee in the realm of $125,000 is anticipated.[/li]
[li]AP Indy’s stud fee was increased to $300,000.[/li][/ul]
Hot new horse or not, I find it an extremely risky investment to pay six figures to breed to an unproven stud.
Steverino and Nostradamus–some stallions will cover more than one mare a day, particularly in Japan. (This practice is typically frowned upon in most of the breeding industry.) Their jaw-droppingly successful stallion Sunday Silence, the 1989 Kentucky Derby winner, covers ridiculous numbers of mares–like 140 a year! I read an article about him a few months back (he’s one of my favs), and was astounded at how over-bred he was. Their attitude was, “He’s willing and they’re paying.” I fear such an attitude is going to start causing serious complications in a few years–with overbreeding! Sunday Silence foals are everywhere in Japan. Seriously, be careful when opening your hotel closet when vacationing–a few might just pour out.
Whoop…just so I’m clear, I was not grouping AP Indy with the unproven freshmen sires–I just listed his stud fee because it’s increase relates to this thread.
