They are:
- ACTION THIS DAY — $10,000
- ANABAA — $40,000 (down from 45,000 euros in 2006)
- BERNSTEIN — $30,000 (up from $25,000 in 2006)
- MALIBU MOON — $40,000 (up from $30,000 in 2006)
- SIR SHACKLETON — $7,500
- TOCCET — $20,000 (up from $15,000 in 2006)
- WISEMAN’S FERRY — $8,500
Final score: 3 stud fees UP, 1 stud fee DOWN, and 2 stud fees remain the same.
Castleton Lyons’ announcement that top French stallion Anabaa (’92 Danzig-Babonella, by Gay Mecene) will stand at their farm in 2007 is a surprising move, considering that many breeders consider Anabaa France’s best stallion, with the possible exception of Linamix. In fact, Anabaa was standing for 45,000 euros (about $57,644 in U.S. currency) in 2006, making him the HIGHEST-priced stallion in France!
Folks, this is a serious stallion. From 7 crops to race, Anabaa’s sired 41 unrestricted SWs (half of them graded/group SWs), 8 G1 winners and 3 champions. He’ll be just 15-years-old for the 2007 breeding season, and, with his stud record to date, his $40,000 stud fee should look like a bargain to U.S. breeders.
Of course, that’s provided U.S. breeders can get over their fixation of dirt sires vs. turf sires. While I don’t deny that many sires’ progeny distinctly prefer one surface over the other, it’s not always the case. Take El Prado, a Champion 2yo in Ireland who never ran on the dirt. His pedigree (Sadler’s Wells and out of a Sir Ivor mare) screams grass, grass, grass. Yet, of the 46 unrestricted SWs he’s sired to date . . . 23 of them on the dirt and 23 of them on the turf. Street Sense, his year’s soon-to-be Champion 2YO Colt, is by Street Cry (Machiavellian and out of a Troy mare). Street Cry’s sire, dam, and damsire did all of their racing on the turf and did their breeding in Europe. Yet, Steet Sense is undefeated and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on the dirt.
Yes, stallions progeny can have a preference of one surface or the other. But opportunity can also play a factor. The progeny of European stallions rarely get a chance to run on dirt in America, and visa versa. Polytrack and Tapeta have now opened the door to European-bred stallions and their runners. We’re beginning to see European stallions make the move. Anabaa is among a small group in the first wave and Castleton Lyons is betting big on him. I wouldn’t bet against them on this one!