Service fees set for 2010

APRIL 13, 2010: Service fees for the 2010 breeding season have been set for Emirates Park’s two-state stallion line-up with modest adjustments involving four of the stud’s collective six-horse roster.

Following an outstanding season with his first 3-year-old crop to race, Al Maher is the only Emirates Park stallion to receive a slight increase from 2009. The Group 1 winning son of Danehill (USA) is to stand this coming season at an advertised service fee of $26,000 plus GST.

Since the beginning of the racing calendar year, Al Maher has emerged as one of Australia’s most exciting young stallions. Significantly, the three-quarter brother-in-blood to Redoute’s Choice is among the top-5 sires of 3-year-olds in Australia this season with no fewer than 36 individual winners from his first crop to race so far in 2009/10.

Headlining Al Maher’s progeny are the Group winning fillies Majestic Music, winner of the VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (G2) and SAJC Yallambee Classic (G2) in recent months, and Speedy Natalie, last weekend’s brilliant winner of the Group 3 AJC Adrian Knox Stakes. With the latter considered to be one of the leading chances for this weekend’s AJC Oaks, there is a very real possibility that Al Maher could be responsible for a prestigious Group 1 Classic winner with his very first 3-year-old crop to race.

Adding to the growing stature of Al Maher as a sire was the sale of Serious Speed on the first day of the 2010 Australian Easter Broodmare Sale. Sold by Toorak Park Stud, the MRC Thousand Guineas (G1) winner fetched $900,000 in foal to Al Maher, the stallion selected by the revered South Australian breeding outfit for her debut season at stud.

Other than Al Maher, the other changes to last year’s service fees involve Mutawaajid, Al Samer and Old Deuteronomy (USA). This coming season will see Mutawaajid and Al Samer available to broodmare owners for a service fee of $7,000 plus GST, and Old Deuteronomy for $4,000 plus GST.

Please contact nominations manager Bryan Carlson on (02) 6546 6550 if you would like to discuss any stallion.