By Gary King
On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we hear from Cathy Grassick.
GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee?
CG: Earthlight (Ire) is excellent value retiring to stud at €20,000 for a dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old by Shamardal. First season with runners, for me Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) is really good value considering his sales results and the type of yearling he produced. He is standing at €17,500 down from €30,000 for his first year at stud. He was such a good 2-year-old, breaking his maiden in the G2 Mill Reef and his father Iffraaj was himself a top first-season sire.
GK: Best value proven stallion, and why?
CG: I think Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili (GB}) is really great value at €20,000. He is capable of getting performers at the highest level, both colts and fillies, such as Thunder Moon (Ire) and Fleeting (Ire). He is a solid source of 2-year-olds and is even starting to look like a broodmare sire of note with the likes of Tiger Tanaka (Ire).
Kendargent (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) in France is also super value at €10,000 for very much similar reasons. He is an excellent source of top class racehorses and is becoming a broodmare sire of note.
GK: Who would you consider to be an under the radar stallion?
CG: I think Equiano (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) in his new home at the Irish National Stud for just €3,000 is really great value and a stallion very much under the radar. He had such a good year in 2020 and provides a good source of solid speed to Irish breeders.
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