By Gary King
On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we hear from Jacqueline Norris of Jockey Hall Stud.
GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee?
JN: I think Earthlight (Ire) looks to be well priced at €20,000, as a dual Group 1-winning son of the great Shamardal. I am really looking forward to seeing him and am hoping to send him a nice mare. I think Shamardal is a huge loss, and it is lovely to see how well his sons are doing at Stud. As breeders we all flock to the shiny new first-season sires, but Earthlight was a proper Group 1 racehorse.
GK: Best value proven stallion, and why?
JN: Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) was a seriously good racehorse and I think is value at €12,500. He is a really nice horse to start off a young mare with; he is proven in the sales ring and produces every year on the track. Also, a nice safe horse to use if you wish to sell a mare in foal.
I also wish to mention a younger stallion Sea the Moon in this category. I saw him at Lanwades for the first time last year, and he has to be one of the most beautiful stallions at stud in my opinion; what acceleration as a racehorse. He is getting excellent results and is of course by the great Sea the Stars.
GK: Who would you consider to be an under the radar stallion?
JN: I think Elzaam (Aus) is very interesting; his percentage of runners to winners is very good and they are obviously sound racehorses. I think he is good value and now that he has a Group 1 winner he will get a better quality book of mares.
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