Kia Ora confirmed his fee on Monday afternoon, locking him in at the same price as previous Slipper-winning colt, Capitalist, stood in his first season at Newgate in 2017, as well as the first-season price for 2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver at Coolmore.
Prior to that, 2-year-old Triple Crown winner Pierro stood at $77,000 (inc GST) in his first season at Coolmore in 2013.
Farnan
Farnan, a son of Not A Single Doubt, is set to be one of the foundation stallions for Kia Ora's new era. He retired as the highest-rating colt of the 14 Golden Slipper winners descended from Danehill (USA).
Time was called on his racing career last month after a brilliant eight-start career that yielded five wins.
He was being aimed towards the Group 1 sprints this autumn by his trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, but niggling injuries ended his career.
Purchased from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $550,000 to a consortium involving both Aquis Farm and his breeders at Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Farnan won on debut for Waterhouse and Bott in a Canberra 2-year-old race in November 2019.
Farnan as a yearling
He went on to win the R. Listed Magic MillionsWyong 2YO Classic at his second start, and while beaten in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast, he rebounded to win the G2 Silver Slipper S. and then the G2 Todman S.
His crowning glory came in the Golden Slipper S. ridden by Hugh Bowman, he led all the way to beat star filly Away Game (Snitzel) by 1.8l.
“Farnan’s a very special colt. I’ve been lucky enough to ride some really good horses over my career, but I’ve never ridden a better 2-year-old,” Bowman said at the time.
“Farnan’s a very special colt. I’ve been lucky enough to ride some really good horses over my career, but I’ve never ridden a better 2-year-old.” - Hugh Bowman
He was subsequently crowned Australian Champion 2-year-old and his Golden Slipper win earned him a Timeform Rating of 122.
Kia Ora purchased into the colt ahead of his 3-year-old campaign, announcing its intention to restart its stallion division, while Aquis and Phoenix remained in the ownership.
"Farnan has won all his trials as a 3-year-old, and in brilliant fashion,” Kia Ora Stud Manager, Shane Wright, said on his retirement.
"He’s (Farnan) a fabulous stallion prospect and we’re confident he will uphold the tradition of success of Golden Slipper winners at stud." - Shane Wright
Farnan's dam, Tallow (Street Cry {Ire}) was a Group 3 winner herself and also produced the stakes winner Sandbar (Snitzel). He is just the second Group 1-winning son of Not A Single Doubt to retire to stud in Australia.
