Sometimes the rich just get richer. That's not something to bitch about I suppose. The wealthy can often afford to open up a whole plethora of opportunities the rest of us can only dream of. And there is nothing wrong with that, it allows for the creation of more wealth which in turn drags the rest of us along for the ride. In 2002 Linley Investments, a company owned by one John Magnier, sent a bay colt by Danehill out of Piccadilly Circus to the sales ring in Australia. The colt failed to reach the reserve price and was passed in. Coolmore decided to keep the colt. During his two year old season, he failed to win a race. He had seven cracks at it but the best he could muster was three seconds and a third. He did however run fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper, Australia's premier two year old event. As it turned out, he had just one more season up his sleeve, and what a season it proved to be. At his initial start as a three year old, in a G2 event, he again finished second. He won his next two races, one at G2 and the other at G3. Then followed a second at G2, a third in a Listed event and then a failure in the G1 Caulfield Guineas where he failed to get the mile. But then he turned things around. Three weeks later they dropped him back to 1200m for a G3 event, he won. Two weeks later he smashed then in the G2 Lexus over 1200m. They then dropped him back a further 200m for the G1 Lightening, he bolted in. It was then onto the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Another win. He had two more runs left in his career. In the premier sprint in Australia, the Newmarket, he finished second, and then rounded off his racing with another second, this time in the in the G1 T. J. Smith. His three year old season earned him not just Champion 3yo, but Australian Champion Sprinter as well. Onto his stud career. The horse's fee for the first three years stood at AU$55,000. On 08 it was bumped up to AU$82,500 before falling to AU$60,500 for the next season. Then things began to take off. His fee more than doubled for 2010. By 2011 it had risen to AU$132,000. His stock was now flying. His fee jumped to AU$220,000 for 2012. By 2013, it had reached AU$275,000. Coolmore had to be over the moon. His fee for this season is a private matter. But serious money is being made here. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, as a shuttle stallion, in 2012, he covered an amazing 391 mares. Greedy? Maybe. To date he's sired 17 individual winners of 28 G1 events. His offspring have so far returned about AU$55,000,000 in prize money. But he's one hell of a cash cow. And the name of this money machine? Fastnet Rock.
Great story Cyc. I'm often amazed at the stud fees in Australia.....can you tell me what Fiorente is going to stand at? For studs wanting speed Fastnet Rock must be a godsend, yet his offspring seem capable of staying a fair bit further (much like his dad). The Queen has two Fastnet yearling fillies: one called Pure Fantasy (out of Fictitious) and a particularly well-named one called Forecaster (out of Aurore). Do you think she's paying top whack or is Dr John being kind?
He seems to cover a lot of territory Bustino. He's thrown a filly called Mosheen who won the G1 2500m Oaks. The Filly won her first race over 1000m, but after the Oaks win, she returned 3 months later and won first up over 1200m in Listed company. He's also thrown Atlantic Jewel who's won 10 of 11, from 1100m to 2000m. Four of those at G1. His stock has won on all types of going. Eliza Park Stud in Queensland now owns Fiorente, the son of Mosun. Don't hold me to it mate, but I think they paid somewhere around the $2,000,000 mark for him. He stands at a fee of $17,600 live foal. If you're interested Bustino, I've supplied an nice piece on Mosun. http://www.thoroughbredvillage.com.au/?p=781
Thanks Cyc. When I was in Victoria a few years back I visited a stud near Hanging Rock and every second stallion was by Danehill. So I think Monsun's son will be a great outcross for all those Danehill infused mares. Having said that Fiorente's grandam was by a son of Danzig, and there's another cross of Danzig there as well: and they are not quite right about Monsun being Nearco-free as I can find at least 3 mentions in the pedigree. Maybe they didn't go back past 4 generations, he was born in 1935!
