Ole Kirk heads six-stallion roster at $55,000
Group 1 winner Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) will be the most expensive of Vinery Stud's six stallions for 2023, standing for an unchanged fee of $55,000 (inc GST). The son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) covered 330 mares during his first two seasons at stud and his first crop will be offered at the weanling sales over the coming months.
"The feedback has been positive but we're mindful it's not always easy for breeders," Vinery Bloodstock Manager Adam White said. "For that reason, none of our service fees have been increased this year."
Ole Kirk will stand alongside All Too Hard (Casino Prince) whose fee remains at $38,500 (inc GST), Exceedance (Exceed And Excel) ($33,000 inc GST), Star Turn (Star Witness) ($27,500 inc GST), Headwater (Exceed And Excel) ($13,200 inc GST) and Casino Prince (Flying Spur) ($5,500).
All Too Hard continues to produce top-class horses with his son Alligator Blood adding three Group 1 victories to his resume this season. Exceedance's first crop are yearlings this year and they have sold for up to $380,000, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds paying that price for the filly out of Group 2 winner Miss Gunpowder (Pendragon) at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale earlier this month.
Star Turn has three crops of racing age and to date has produced 15 stakes performers including the Robert Heathcote-trained Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) winner Startantes.
"Startantes is a Group 1 winner from his first crop and he's popped up with another good two-year-old this season in Saltaire. Good farms like Milburn Creek, Newhaven and Yarraman are using him now and that's a really good indication of his acceptance in the industry," added White.
At the sales this year, Star Turn's yearlings have averaged over $104,000, almost seven times his 2020 covering fee.
Headwater meanwhile continues to produce winners with Little Miss Kubi his most recent stakes winner and Casino Prince remains a favourite amongst breeders.
