Lope De Vega (Ire) will stand at €125,000 in 2022, that figure being unchanged from his 2021 fee at Ballylinch Stud, where he has stood throughout his 11 covering seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. His popularity transcends Europe, however, and the 14-year-old son of Shamardal is now the sire of 13 Group/Grade 1 winners in America, Australia, Britain, Ireland, France, and Dubai.
“This year Lope de Vega confirmed that he is one of the world's elite sires, with an exceptional 48 black-type horses in 2021 alone,” said Ballylinch Stud managing director John O'Connor. “He has achieved success at the highest level on four different continents and is one of those rare sires who can truly be called a global success. Ever popular at the sales, Lope De Vega was the leading sire at Tattersalls Book 1 by aggregate and his yearlings averaged over €220,000.”
Lope De Vega's stud-mate Make Believe (GB) has also had wide international representation via his leading son Mishriff (Ire), whose victories this year have come in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Britain, having become a Classic winner in France in 2020. Make Believe's fee has been put up for 2022, from €15,000 to €17,500.
“Make Believe has made an outstanding start to his stallion career by siring the exceptionally talented and versatile Mishriff in his first crop,” O'Connor added. “Mishriff was ably backed up by Group winners Noticeable Grace, Believe In Love, Ocean Fantasy and Rose of Kildare. His much stronger crops to come will see him establish himself as one of Europe's leading sires for the future. Breeders were again rewarded in the sales ring as his yearlings averaged over three times his stud fee.”
It has also been a breakthrough year for New Bay (GB), who was represented by his first Group 1 winner in the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Saffron Beach (Ire), as well as Classic prospect and G2 Champagne S. winner Bayside Boy (Ire). New Bay's fee has risen to €37,500 for 2022 from €20,000.
Completing the line-up at Ballylinch Stud is the 2019 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB). The son of Galileo (Ire), who has his first foals for sale this year, has had his fee reduced to €15,000 for his third season at stud.
“The best son of the much-lamented Galileo since the outstanding Frankel, he has been given a great chance to succeed in his stallion career,” said O'Connor. “Waldgeist was a high-class 2-year-old who went on to win a vintage Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and his first foals in the hands of top breeders are giving every indication that he could be just as successful at stud as on the racecourse. He has captured the imagination of breeders across Europe, and we expect to see him strongly supported again in 2022.”
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