Something Special

With 15 first crop winners that include five stakes-winners, Eureka Stud's Spirit of Boom is doing things we have not seen done since More Than Ready (USA) burst on to the scene in the 2004/2005 season and is tracking very closely to the first crop achievements of I Am Invincible.

Every year produces a new crop of stallions and while some take time to hit their straps, others fly the gates and never look back.

Darley heavy hitter Exceed and Excel made his mark early with 13 first crop winners that included five stakes-winners, while Widden Stud's super duo of Northern Meteor and Sebring had a titanic battle in the 2012/2013 season.

Northern Meteor won the day with 18 Australian winners including three stakes-winners, while Sebring's 16 Australian winners also contained three stakes-winners.

Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible was a revelation in 2013/2014 producing 17 first crop winners in Australia and New Zealand including five stakes-winners headed by Group II winner Brazen Beau, who would return in the spring to win the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes.

I Am Invincible stood his first four seasons at a fee of $11,000 and will be fully booked this year at $192,500 which speaks volumes for his success!

They way Spirit of Boom is going he may well end up challenging the deeds of I Am Invincible and More Than Ready, who has been the most impressive first season sire during my time of working in bloodstock.

The Vinery Stud based shuttler went to stud at a fee of $22,000 and covered 108 mares in his first season.

His first Australian crop produced 17 winners including six stakes-winners headed by Group I winner Carry on Cutie, Group III winners Perfectly Ready and Tonz More Fun as well as stakes-winner Blizzardly, who later achieve fame and fortune as the dam of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unencumbered.

Among his further five stakes-placed horses was Benicio who could come out and with the Group I Victoria Derby in the spring.

Fast forward to 2018 and More Than Ready is slated to return to Vinery again this spring at a fee of $66,000 and has put together and amazing record at stud. He is the sire of 185 stakes-winners worldwide!

Eureka Stud's Spirit of Boom has had a big fee increase this year moving up to $55,000 after four seasons at $11,000, but that might well be good value!