By Daithi Harvey
The 2018 covering fees have been announced for the Aga Khan Studs' Irish and French stallion rosters and Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) occupies the head of the table with an increased fee of €135,000, up €10,000 from last year. The Gilltown Stud based 11-year-old was represented by three new Group 1 winners this year in Cloth Of Stars (Ire), Stradivarius (Ire) and Mekhtaal (GB) and he continues to occupy a prominent position at the upper end of the leading European stallion rankings. He boasts an impressive ratio of 10% stakes winners to runners and 16% stakes performers to runners in 2017. Also at Gilltown for 2018 is his dual Derby winning son Harzand (Ire) who completed his first year at stud this year and will remain at a fee of €15,000 in 2018. The three-strong team at Gilltown is completed by Born To Sea (Ire), a three-parts brother to Sea The Stars who will stand for a reduced fee of €5,000 next year as his first crop of runners turn four years of age.
A strengthened roster at the Aga Khan's French stud Haras de Bonneval is headed by the exciting Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) whose progeny's success on the racetrack and popularity in the sales ring has seen his covering fee increase to €75,000 from €45,000 this year. The Karl Burke trained Laurens (Fr) provided Siyouni with a recent Group 1 winner and other high profile wins for the likes of Le Brivido (Fr) and Sacred Life (Fr) see the 10-year-old fully booked for 2018. An interesting new addition to the lineup at Haras de Bonneval is Group 1 winner Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) whose pedigree needs no elaboration being a son of the brilliant, unbeaten G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). He has been introduced at a fee of €12,000.
Relocating from Tweenhills Stud for next year is Charm Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) whose first crop yearlings made up to €500,000 at the sales earlier this year. He will be available for €20,000 while Dariyan (Fr) completes the French roster at €8,000 and offers a unique selling point being the only Group 1 winning son of Shamardal standing in France.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
