Widden Stud's Zoustar had a fee increase this year from $44,000 to $60,500 based
on his terrific first crop results and it's been onwards and upwards since
August 1 with Sunlight and Lean Mean Machine claiming stakes wins while Mizzy
and Charge have been stakes-placed. Add in smart winner Madam Rouge as a
potential stakes horse and top class colt Zousain and you can see why people with mares booked to him are
entitled to feel bullish.Eureka Stud's Spirit of Boom did amazing things last season siring 18 first crop winners, five of them stakes-winners prompting a fee increase from $11,000 to $55,000. He has had a frustratingly slow start since August 1 and after 21 runners finally posted a winner on Sunday with Jami Magic scoring at the Sunshine Coast.
That said, he's had Jonker and Outback Barbie stakes-placed with Ef Troop waiting in the wings, so this anomaly is sure to be a distant memory as we move towards the end of the year.
The real surprise packet has been Unencumbered, who struggled last season, but has posted nine quick winners to put himself at the top of the table by winners. A Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner by Testa Rossa, Unencumbered was tipped to get two year-olds, but now it would appear patience may be required.
Sadly for Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Unencumbered died earlier this year but he covered nearly 500 mares in his four seasons at stud so there would be plenty of people with an investment in this sire who would be cheering him on to succeed.
Arrowfield Stud's Dundeel is a sire anticipated to get good three year-olds and with stakes-placed Dealmaker and last season's Group winner Irukandji performing well in addition to several other stylish maiden winners, he is on track with what we expect and stands at a fee of $27,500.
Hunter Valley based sires Sizzling, Epaulette and Dawn Approach (IRE) have all started well and Eurozone might be a sleeper with his stakes-winning filly Krone a fast finishing third in the Listed MVRC Atlantic Jewel Stakes giving promise of better things to come.
Follow all the action at Breednet as these sires seek to make their fortune as long term commercial sires of the future.
