Monday April 2, 2007
Yarraman Park Media Release
Yarraman Park Stud is delighted to announce service fees for their 2007 stallion roster with Golden Slipper winner Catbird joined by outstanding young sire Magic Albert and highly credentialed Foreplay, who will stand his second season.
An ultra consistent sire of winners, Catbird’s fee has been increased marginally to $22,000 ensuring he is still the number one value choice for breeders seeking a proven son of Danehill (USA) with rock solid commercial appeal.
Catbird has been represented by seven stakes horses in Australasia this season led by outstanding three year-old filly Catechuchu and in the sale ring posted his best ever results with 18 yearlings at the Magic Millions averaging $125,444, his top seller setting a new record high for the sire at $410,000.
“Catbird has carved out a very solid place for himself in the market and he provides young unproven mares with a great opportunity to get their offspring into the commercial yearling sales and more importantly kick them off with a winner,” said Arthur Mitchell.
The burgeoning success of exciting young sire Magic Albert has resulted in a rise in his service fee, the good-looking son of Zeditave worth every penny of the increase to $16,500.
Magic Albert’s first crop of two year-olds in the 2005/2006 season yielded 14 individual winners in Australia and New Zealand and he has gone right on with the job this year producing 30 winners including six stakes performers to date this season led by outstanding three year-old Magic Cape, winner of the Group One CJC New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
“Magic Albert is the only Australian based sire whose oldest progeny are now three year-olds, to sire a Group One winner in the Southern Hemisphere, a remarkable achievement when you consider the quality of mares he’s covered in comparison to some of his high profile peers,” said Mitchell.
Completely free of Northern Dancer blood, Magic Albert covered his largest ever book of 180 mares last spring and is most definitely on an upward spiral.
New recruit Foreplay was warmly received by breeders last spring covering 108 mares in his debut season and will return at the same fee of $13,200.
A brilliant sprinting son of Danehill (USA), Foreplay fits the profile of many of his best sires sons in possessing an explosive turn of foot and a superb female pedigree.
Foreplay is a full brother to champion South African sprinter Laisserfaire, and his dam Procrastinate was a Group Three winner from the family of leading sire Centaine, and her next three dams are by champion sprinters Century, Vain and Todman.
“Yarraman received tremendous support from breeders last season and we’ve already fielded many enquiries for this year with both Catbird and Magic Albert already half full,” said Mitchell.
“In setting our service fees we aim to be realistic and provide breeders with a second to none chance of producing a quality horse that can make a profit for them in the sale ring and just as importantly become a good racehorse.”