Ole Kirk tops conservative Vinery Stud roster at $55,000

Cover image courtesy of Vinery Stud

On Tuesday, Vinery Stud unveiled its seven-strong roster for the 2024 breeding season, headlined by Ole Kirk, a dual Group 1-winning son of the Champion Sire Written Tycoon, at the unchanged fee of $55,000 (inc GST).

The G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 Golden Rose S. victor received a fantastic reception for his first yearlings. Eighty-seven were offered, with 70 selling at an aggregate of $10,565,685, with an average of $150,938 and a median of $110,000. This included an overall top price of $1 million for a filly at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Ole Kirk is a half-brother to the G3 Quezette S. victress Gimmie Par (Not A Single Doubt). Their dam, Naturale (Bel Esprit), is a daughter of the blue hen Helsinge (Desert Sun {GB}), also the dam of the incomparable Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and Ole Kirk’s barn mate, All Too Hard.

Vinery Stud’s General Manager, Peter Orton, stated, “Ole Kirk was a very good racehorse and exceptionally well-bred; pedigree is incredibly important to us. He’s been very accepted into the market, and breeders are getting behind him because of what he potentially could do as a stallion.”

All Too Hard unchanged

All Too Hard will also remain unchanged at $38,500 (inc GST). The close relation to Ole Kirk is a proven producer. He has sired 20 stakes winners, including four Group 1 winners. Among them is multiple Group 1 victor Alligator Blood and Forbidden Love, who won three Group 1 races was later sold for $4.1 million at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The son Casino Prince, who has been a mainstay at Vinery Stud has sired 475 individual winners of 1546 races. Among his 24 stakes winners there have been 57 stakes performers.

Orton commented, “He’s got winners every day and all over the place. All Too Hard has a great runner to winner ratio, and he’s proven he can get top-liners.

“He’s had a Champion Sprinter in Hong Kong (Wellington) and his progeny perform very well in Hong Kong. He was the leading stallion in New Zealand for the Ready To Run Sale and a lot of pinhookers like them because they work and train well.”

All Too Hard currently occupies 15th on the Australian General Sires’ Premiership.

“He’s a great value option and gives everyone an opportunity to do well. He’s fantastic and always there. All Too Hard is always prominent or thereabouts on the Leading Sires’ Premierships.

“All Too Hard is very true and very honest and a great option for any mare. He looks after mares as well, he’s a big strong horse with a lot of quality and throws that into his stock.”

Exceedance set to soar

Vinery Stud’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. victor, Exceedance, will remain at an unchanged fee of $33,000 (inc GST). The son of the recently pensioned Exceed And Excel, will have his first crop turn three in August.

Exceedance’s debut crop produced some more than pleasing results, headed by the G3 Maribyrnong Plate and G3 Pago Pago S. winner, Dublin Down. Overall, Exceedance is responsible for four winners, with the expectation that the best is yet to come, given Exceedance never ran until May of his juvenile season.

“We are very pleased with the start Exceedance has made. We actually think there’s better yet to come because he was more of a late 2-year-old and 3-year-old, but he’s already sired Dublin Down, who won the Maribyrnong Plate in the spring and then the Pago Pago in the autumn.

“Exceedance is a great opportunity for breeders. It’s been a very strong year for first-season sires, and Exceedance has really held his own.”

The progeny of the Coolmore Stud S. winner were well received. Thirty-three sold at an aggregate of $3,379,815, with a median of $102,403 and a median of $75,000. Exceedance was also responsible for a $520,000 filly, who is a full sister to Dublin Down, at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

“He’s a beautiful looking horse. Big, strong, and scopey. Just a really good looking individual and throws good looking stock. If they inherit his turn of foot, they will be successful, and from what we’ve seen so far, the signs are very positive.”

Reception to Hawaii positive as genuine Star Turn remains unchanged

Orton shared that the reception to the announcement of Hawaii Five Oh standing his debut season at $16,500 (inc GST) has been fantastic.

The son of Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible arrived at Vinery Stud with one of the finest pedigrees in the Australian Stud Book and an enviable physique. Hawaii Five Oh also brings performance to the table, having won two Group 3s and being Group 1-placed.

“We sold some shares in Hawaii Five Oh, and the nominations have been flooding in. He’s a great value horse at $16,500 (inc GST), and that’s what people are looking for in this environment - value. That’s why we haven’t moved any of the fees up.

“Hawaii Five Oh has such a great pedigree and is physically such a good-looking horse. He is another fantastic option for breeders at a value fee."

Star Turn remains unchanged at $27,500 (inc GST). The son of Star Witness has been excelling on the racetrack. With 194 runners, Star Turn has produced 144 individual winners of 391 races, including seven stakes winners and 16 stakes performers.

Star Turn is the sire of Startantes, the victress of the G1 Tatt’s Tiara, who will be offered at the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

Importantly, as Orton noted, Star Turn serves as an outcross for the majority of the mare population in Australasia. "Star Turn upgrades the mares he is sent, and he’s an outcross option, which is very important these days.

"He boasts a fabulous strike rate on the racetrack and can deliver impressive sale results, such as a filly we sold for $360,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale."

Headwater and Prince round out Vinery 2024

Headwater's fee for 2024 will be reduced to $9900 (inc GST) from $13,200 (inc GST). The son of Exceed And Excel has enjoyed another successful season, particularly with his juveniles.

This season, Headwater has produced 17 2-year-old runners, with eight of them achieving victories. Notably, Pure Aqua won the Without A Fear S.

With 315 runners, Headwater has sired 186 individual winners and 475 wins, including seven stakes winners and 17 stakes performers.

"It's a bit frustrating to bring him down, but that's where the market is, and the market dictates what we do," noted Orton. "He's a great horse, and you can use him on any mare, producing quality offspring.

"He's a good-looking stallion that consistently produces attractive progeny. With several 2-year-old winners this season, he's proving his worth once again. Being by Exceed And Excel, one of the leading stallions, out of a good family adds to his appeal."

Vinery Stud's long-standing stallion, Casino Prince, remains a compelling option for breeders seeking value at $5500 (inc GST).

With 441 individual winners and 1806 wins to his name, including 23 stakes winners and 35 stakes performers, Casino Prince continues to prove his worth.

"Despite his age, Casino Prince remains vigorous and fertile," noted Orton. "He's an excellent choice for breeders focused on producing racehorses. His progeny are consistently successful on the track, making him a reliable option."

Reflecting on the overall roster lineup, Orton expressed optimism, saying, "We have a strong lineup of proven stallions that consistently perform well. Exceedance shows promise for the future, while Ole Kirk's potential is exciting. We're eagerly anticipating what Hawaii Five Oh can do as well. Overall, we're pleased with our offerings and look forward to what lies ahead."

Table: 2024 Announced Stallion Fees for Vinery Stud