Snitzel’s stud fee to hit new high after stellar sales season

OFF the back of a stellar sales season, Snitzel will join his sire Redoute’s Choice off a fee of $110,000 at Arrowfield Stud this year.

Easter yearling sales begin at the Newmarket stables in Randwick. Lot 135, a Bay Colt and the half brother of Winx was sold for $2.3 million to trainer Gai Waterhouse. Segenhoe yearling manager Tom Hughes pictured with the colt. Picture: Toby Zerna

OFF the back of a stellar sales season, Snitzel will join his sire Redoute’s Choice off a fee of $110,000 at Arrowfield Stud this year.

It’s the first time Snitzel, sire of seven Group 1 winners, has gone to a six figure fee, following a year where his progeny topped each of the Magic Millions ($1.6 million), Inglis Premier ($700,000) and Inglis Easter ($2.3 million) yearling sales. At Magic Millions alone, Snitzel’s progeny generated more than $15 million in turnover.

It’s been a steady rise to the top for the former Oakleigh Plate winner. He stood at $33,000 in his debut year, then dropped to $22,000 in 2009 before making his ascension to the top of the mountain.

Only three stallions were advertised at $100,000 or more in Australia last year, those being Darley’s Medaglia D’Oro and Exceed And Excel, as well as Redoute’s Choice. Coolmore’s reigning champion sire Fastnet Rock had a “private” fee for the second year, but would have also topped the six figures, having stood for $275,000 in 2013.

Redoute’s Choice boasts a six figure service fee for the 12th consecutive season as he prepares for his 17th season at stud.

Buyers continue to have a love affair with his yearlings, with his 20 sold at Easter propelling him to the top of the sires averages (4 or more sold) at a whopping $573,250.

Snitzel came in second at Easter with 20 selling at $438,000, including the $2.3 million half brother to Winx, helping Arrowfield-based stallions to nine of the top 16 lots across the three-day sale.

The other Arrowfield stallion to come of age in 2016 was Not A Single Doubt, who is currently second only to the deceased Street Cry in the Australian General Sires race.

With Group 1 winners Good Project, Extreme Choice and Single Gaze among 10 stakes winners this season, Not A Single Doubt goes to a fee of $71,500 this year.

Originally published as Snitzel’s stud fee to hit new high after stellar sales season