Makfi sired New Zealand's Champion 2YO Marky Mark last season and produced his
second individual Group 1 winner from his first crop when high class filly
Sofia Rosa scored a brave win in the Australian Oaks on the final day of The
Championships, as well as taking out the NZB New Zealand Filly of the Year
title in her homeland.Makfi, who shuttles from the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval in France, is the only second season sire in Australasia to have sired two individual Group 1 winners from his first crop (southern hemisphere figures) - and the upside to leaving horses competitive at a middle distance are the opportunities it opens for the young stallion as his progeny mature.
Makfi scored a metropolitan double in Australia recently when the northern hemisphere import Raw Impulse scored a brilliant win at Caulfield – his second win from two starts in Australia – and an hour later Bjorn Baker's impressive 3YO filly Imposing Lass made it three wins from four starts when winning at Rosehill, she now heads to Queensland on an Oaks path.
One of the big success stories at the yearling sales this year was Dalakhani's
son Reliable Man who made an excellent impact with his first crop yearlings,
and enters his fourth season at stud in 2016 having averaged no less than 140
mares across his first three seasons at stud.Reliable Man's yearlings sold up to $360,000 at Karaka in January and a large number of his yearlings were purchased by Australian based trainers and agents, underlining the high regard he is held across the Tasman.
The winner of the French Derby (2100m) as a 3YO, Reliable Man had two starts from the Chris Waller stable, winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m before retiring to stud.
Reliable Man will remain at his 2015 fee of $15,000 + GST.
Swiss Ace is another young stallion at the farm going from strength to strength with his runners and quickly establishing himself as a very good sire of sprinter/milers. From just over 100 runners to date, Swiss Ace has produced 10 individual black type performers and boasts the likes of Passing Shot, Secret Spirit, He's An Ace, First Serve, Lucky Edie, Hollywood Lass, Koenigsegg One, Lincoln Road, The Dom, Huka Eagle, Golden Sword and recent two-year-old runners Nova Swiss and Ichiban among his most recent winners.
The winner of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, Swiss Ace was a high class Australian sprinter and will have a small rise in fee for 2016 with his advertised fee going to $13,500 + GST.
High Chaparral's Group 1 winning son Redwood saw his yearlings sell upward of $200,000 in 2015 and the good looking stallion had his first runner last week (in Australia) when the 2YO filly Swampland finished strongly from the rear for second over 1000m at Moe.
Redwood has covered good books of mares throughout his career to date and will remain at his 2015 fee of $10,000 + GST.
Fastnet Rock entire El Roca was retired to stud in 2015 and covered a quality book of 110 mares in his inaugural year. El Roca defeated the likes of Dissident, Boban, Red Tracer, Sacred Falls, Criterion etc during his 12-start career and went down by a nose to Dissident in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas over 1600m as a 3YO.
An impressive 16.2hh stallion, El Roca was a top quality colt from day one and headed the 2013-14 NZ 3YO Free Handicap (1200-1600m) ahead of Lucia Valentina, Bounding, Rising Romance etc while he proved more than competitive against Australia's best 3YO's in both the spring and the autumn.
The sons of Fastnet Rock are doing a very good job at stud with Stryker siring the NZ Derby winner Rangipo, while Rothesay, Smart Missile, and Foxwedge have all started their careers in great style.
El Roca will remain at his introductory fee of $7,500 + GST again in 2016.
Postponed, sire of recent Group 1 placegetter Trojan Warrior, and Red Striker's sire Red Giant will both be available at $5,000 + GST this season.
Stallion Roster
Makfi $25,000
Reliable Man $15,000
Swiss Ace $13,500
Redwood $10,000
El Roca $7,500
Postponed $5,000
Red Giant $5,000
*All fees exclusive GST
