Nomination fees for Frankel and Kingman, two of the top ten most expensive stallions in the world in 2020, are staying put at £175,000 and £150,000 respectively for the next breeding season, it was announced today as Juddmonte revealed the 2021 fees for all five of its elite stallions standing at Banstead Manor near Newmarket.
Frankel achieved a significant landmark in 2020, becoming the fastest stallion to sire 40 Group winners in history, almost a year ahead of his nearest rival. His record indicates he offers breeders a good chance of producing a Group winner, with an outstanding 11 percent Group winners to runners and 15 percent black-type winners to runners.
He has had a particularly impressive strike rate with his 2yos this season, with 26 winners and eight black-type performers - more than any other British-based sire. His yearlings continue to perform well at the sales, with a filly and a colt reaching 2 million guineas and 1.1 million guineas respectively at Tattersalls October Book 1.
The excitement surrounding Kingman’s early success as a stallion continued in 2020 as Fearless King became his sire’s second Classic winner from just two crops with victory in the German 2000 Guineas. This season he has sired 14 stakes winners, including the leading G1 milers Persian King (world #16 in the TRC Global Rankings) and Palace Pier, who at world #13 is the highest-ranked European colt of 2020.
The enthusiasm for Kingman’s offspring continued in the sales ring, with yearlings selling for 2.7 million guineas, 1.45 million guineas and €1.1 million.
Expert Eye is a fourth generation Juddmonte homebred. His sire, Acclamation, is a consistent and prolific source of fast horses and the sire of leading stallion Dark Angel and leading first season sire Mehmas.
As a 2-year-old, Expert Eye won the G2 Vintage Stakes in a performance described by Timeform as “arguably the most striking by a two-year-old in a Pattern race all year”, before going on to become a G1 winner at three.
The consensus about his first crop of foals has been overwhelmingly positive, with breeders reporting that they are correct, athletic, full of quality and attractive. His first foals will go through the ring at Tattersalls and Goffs this autumn (22 lots and ten lots respectively) and are certain to attract the attention of leading buyers.
Oasis Dream continues to be a consistent source of class. As a top-five active sire by stakes winners, Group winners and G1 winners and with ten percent black-type winners to runners, he represents excellent value. Two-year-old Erasmo became his sire’s 200th black-type performer in 2020, showing that there is plenty more to come from this proven stallion.
Yearling purchasers appeared to agree – an Oasis Dream filly bought for £450,000 topped the Goffs Orby Sale and his yearling average for 2020 stands at £85,378 (27 sold), almost three times their conception fee. For a stallion as perennially successful as Oasis Dream, it is no surprise that he is also showing himself to be a fine broodmare sire. His daughters have already produced over 100 black-type performers and in 2020 alone are responsible for G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Siskin, Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment, Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet, G1 winner Tawkeel and G2 winners Ventura Tormenta, Miss Amulet, Chindit and Chapada.
In 2020, Bated Breath cemented his reputation as one of the best value sires in Europe, with 18 black-type performers and four Group winners, including 2-year-old colts Cairn Gorm and Makaloun, who both achieved Group success in France. Aga Khan-bred Makaloun was also placed in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in the autumn and the highly regarded colt is a leading contender for the 2021 French Derby.
Bated Breath had a remarkable week at the Tattersalls October Sales this year, breaking his yearling price record three times in as many days as a trio of colts sold for 260,000gns, 280,000gns and 290,000gns. He finished Tattersalls October Books 1 and 2 with a yearling average of 102,800gns (15 sold) – ten times his 2018 fee.
Breeders should contact Juddmonte Nominations Manager Shane Horan on +44 (0)1638 731115 or at nominations@juddmonte.co.uk