17 April, 2023
by James Tzaferis, Racing.com
Despite a phenomenal 12 months for his progeny on the racetrack, breeders sending a mare to star stallion Toronado this spring will pay the same price as his 2022 fee after Swettenham Stud announced a consolidated stallion roster.
Toronado, now the sire of 19 Stakes winners including four individual Group 1 winners, will stand for an unchanged fee of $88,000, having covered 150 mares at that mark in 2022.
The High Chaparral entire’s credentials were further franked at Sandown on Saturday when he sired his second VOBIS Sires 2YO Showdown (1200m) winner, in Simon Zahra’s brilliant filly Shesallshenanigans.
Swettenham’s General Manager – Operations and Nominations, Sam Matthews, said consideration was given to upping Toronado’s fee but ultimately stud principal Adam Sangster made the call to ensure more breeders can continue to access the stallion.
Matthews confirmed that Rubick, the sire of multiple G1 winner Jacquinot, was the only sire on the roster that was given a small fee increase for 2023.
“The market probably thought we would put Toronado up, and he probably did warrant an increase, but just because a horse can go up, we don’t believe he needs to go up,” Matthews said.
“He’s a great value proposition as $88,000 – there aren’t many in that league and the other ones that are in that top 10 are a fair bit more expensive than him, but we’re happy for everyone to get a lick of the ice cream.
“Rubick got a little increase from $20,000 to $25,000 and we kept Wooded, Puissance de Lune and I Am Immortal all at the same prices from last year.
“Highland Reel is in Japan at the moment and it’s very expensive to bring a horse back from Japan – we didn’t announce him on the roster and it doesn’t mean that he’s not coming back, we’re just going to see how it all plays out.”
