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  • Coolmore sires for 2026

    The loss of Wootton Bassett will be felt keenly at Coolmore. Without him they lack a proper elite sire in Europe. It is still a formidable roster but Europe’s top sires are no longer concentrated in that part of Tipperary.
    Below is my assessment of their published fees for 2026, starting with the priciest sires. I have included fabricated quotes from Donald Trump on each sire.

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    1. No Nay Never €100,000 (€125,000) (2011 Scat Daddy ex Cat’s Eye Witness by Elusive Quality)

    Donald Trump Verdict:“Bad,bad deal, folks”

    I’ve been consistent in saying he was overrated and his fee has dropped for each of the last four years. It will fall further in the years ahead. NNN added another two-year-old Group 1 winner to his CV with the Cheveley Park winner True Love and Charles Darwin looked Group 1 class but wasn’t seen after his Norfolk Stakes (Grp 2) victory. The four year olds Never So Brave and Lake Forest gave him a 1-2 in the newly minted Group 1 that is the City of York Stakes. Those were the highlights but he had 302 Northern Hemisphere runners and only 10 stakes winners (3.3%) and 39% winners to runners. Those are modest numbers for a horse at that fee. The auction ring saw his yearling median drop from €150k in 2024 to €130k in 2025. Those yearlings were bred at an advertised fee of €175,000 so a lot of breeders lost out. That expensive crop will be two year olds this season so he may show a bounce in results but he is still overpriced.

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    2. City of Troy €60,000 (€75,000) (2011 Justify ex Together Forever by Galileo)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “We don’t know—could be good, could be bad.”

    City of Troy was busy in his first season at Coolmore covering 175 mares. Justify has done better in Europe than in the US and in 2025, his sons Ruling Court and Scandinavia added a Guineas and St Leger to City of Troy’s Derby success. City of Troy was a very good horse but not quite as good as the hype that was produced around him. He will cover lots of mares over the next few seasons before we start to learn in 2028 whether he proves to be a conduit for class. The usual model is that the fee drops by degrees in years three and four as the exploits on the track fade and new shinier stars emerge to compete for mares. It’s in the lap of the Gods whether he will succeed and if he will em justify his fee.

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    3. Camelot €60,000 (€75,000) (2009 by Montjeu ex Tarfah by Kingmambo)

    Donald Trump Verdict:“Wall Street doesn’t like him—but some other people do.”

    Failed to match his 2024 heroics when he sired 3 of the first 5 in the Arc. He did add another Group 1 winner to his tally in Pierre Bonnard who annexed the Criterium de Saint Cloud and who looks a middle distance classic contender. Los Angeles added the Tattersalls Gold Cup to his record but in a sign of the times he has been retired to the Coolmore National Hunt roster. Camelot’s yearling median dropped back to €100k from €125k as the market tries to find the right rating for him. I thought his appeal to commercial breeders might be somewhat restricted but he could suit wealthy owner breeders. However a book of 184 last season belies that theory. I like him as a middle distance sire even if he is not entirely reliable.

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    4. Starspangledbanner €60,000 (€45,000) (2006 Choisir ex Gold Anthem by Made of Gold)

    Donald Trump Verdict:“Great name. Very American. I love the name. The price? Not so much.”


    Had a good season with his two year olds. Precise was the best filly around in winning the Fillies Mile and Moyglare. Gstaad was narrowly beaten in the Dewhurst and won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile. The supporting cast was less memorable and his final tally was 14 stakes winners from 329 runners (4.4%). The market though was impressed and his yearling median lifted to €78k for a crop bred at €50,000. It will be interesting to see if Precise and Gstaad can add a classic to their sires record to help underpin his new career high fee.

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    5. St Mark’s Basilica €40,000 (€40,000) (2018 Siyouni ex Cabaret by Galileo)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “A lot of potential there. We’re keeping a close eye on it.”

    He had a relatively slow start with his first runners but by season end he had a Group 1 winner in Diamond Necklace, a Group 2 winner in Aylin, a pair of listed winners and three horses placed in Group 3s. Overall he notched a respectable 23 winners from 69 runners. His fee is nominally unchanged this year but reputedly there was plenty of leeway in last year’s advertised fee but very little in this year’s. His maternal half brother Magna Grecia and his paternal half brother Sottsass were shifted from the Coolmore roster but on the evidence so far SMB looks like he has a much brighter future. He was a Dewhurst winner at two before landing a French Guineas and Derby and the Eclipse and Irish Champion so there is every chance his progeny will improve.

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    6. Delacroix €40,000 (na) (2022 Dubawi ex Tepin by Bernstein)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “Great family, great performances—you like to see that but the sticker price- not so much”

     If you can’t beat them join them. Dubawi has established a reputation as a sire of sires and Coolmore have now put two of his sons on the roster. Delacroix was a dual Group 1 winner in the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, traditionally two of the best races in Europe each year. He was a Group winner at 2 and his dam was top class winning 5 Grade 1s in North America and beating the colts at Ascot in the Queen Anne. It’s a nice package. If you were to quibble, Ombudsman and Calandagan were his superiors and he ran poorly in the Derby. An overall career record of 6 wins and four seconds from 12 starts is credible but he is fully priced.
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    7. Sioux Nation €37,500 (€30,000) (2015 Scat Daddy ex Dream the Blues by Oasis Dream)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “Sad, I look at it and I say: what are they thinking? Too many mares, no plan, total mess.”


    His yearling median increased from €40,000 to €70,000 and I have no idea why this occurred. He covered 282 mares in 2025 following on from the 246 mares covered in 2024 and 289 in 2023 and I have no idea why this occurred. His results on the track don’t explain this popularity. He sired a Group 2 winner in Zanthos, a pair of Group 3 winners and a trio of Listed winners. If you are being kind, you can mention She’s Perfect who was disqualified from the French 1000 Guineas. He has yet to sire a Northern hemisphere Group 1 winner and to me his popularity is utterly divorced from his true merit.
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    8. Camille Pissarro €30,000 (na) (2022 Wootton Bassett ex Entreat by Pivotal)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “You want to love it. You really do. Then you check the price and the number kills it    .”

    Landed a pair of French Group 1’s in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the Prix de Jockey Club. It sounds good- Group 1 winner at two and 10-furlong French Derby winner at three. Yet his overall record was 3 wins from 11 starts and the Jockey Club field looks substandard. His run after the Jockey Club he was stable second string behind Delacroix in the Eclipse. He is the second Group 1 winner produced by his dam after Golden Horde. There is a glut of sons of Wootton Bassett retiring to stud in Ireland in 2026 (Henri Matisse, Unquestionable, Maranoa Charlie and Topgear) and it’s impossible to predict who, if any, will make the grade. I thought his opening fee was a bit steep.

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    9. Auguste Rodin €27,500 (€30,500) (2020 Deep Impact ex Rhododendron by Galileo)

    Donald Trump Verdict:“We’ll see how it plays out. I’ve seen this kind of thing before and it doesn’t always work out”


    He won 6 Group 1s but mixed the very good with some really poor runs. The poor runs reminded people that his dam was known to bleed and with one victory from 6 starts as a four-year-old, he might have been better served retiring after his Breeders’ Cup win as a three year old. Nonetheless he attracted 205 mares last year so he won’t fail for lack of representation. Saxon Warrior is bred on a similar cross and hasn’t delivered as a sire but Deep Impact’s son Study of Man has done well in Lanwades. I’d be slow to use him but nobody can be too dogmatic about these unproven sires and more sons of Deep Impact should be a positive for European breeding.
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    10. Paddington €20,000 (€25,000) (2020 Siyouni ex Modern Eagle by Montjeu)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “If everything’s working the way it’s supposed to work, then he’s fine at that price. Totally fine.”


    Originally retired at €55,000 so his 2026 fee is a huge reduction. A tough and high class performer he won 4 consecutive Group 1s. Siyouni hasn’t got a credible sire son as yet but St Marks Basilica shows potential. Sottsass was disappointing and City Light and Le Brivido were unremarkable. His fertility is the fly in the ointment.
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    11. Henri Matisse €20,000 (na) (2022 Wootton Bassett ex Immortal Verse by Pivotal)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “The experts are nervous—they’re always nervous—but I like the numbers.    “

    Won the French Guineas and a Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. He also finished runner-up to Field of Gold in the St James Palace and finished with a tally of 6 wins and 3 places from 11 starts. His dam, Immortal Verse won a Coronation Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois and is also the dam of Teneberism. He is €10,000 cheaper than Camille Pissarro and relatively speaking, I think he is the more attractively priced. As mentioned when talking about Camille Pissarro there are a host of new sons of W.B. on the market and we can expect fresh arrivals in each of the coming few years. Henri Matisse has as good a chance as any of them.

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    12. Gleneagles €20,000 (€20,000) (2012 Galileo ex You’resothrilling by Storm Cat).

    Donald Trump Verdict: “You go to Gleneagles, you get a good game. It’s not Mar-a-Lago, but it’s a strong play    “

    Calandagan was a star landing 4 Group 1s including the Champion Stakes, King George and Japan Cup. Arrow Eagle landed a Prix Royal Oak and he had a pair of Group 3 winners. He had only 18 three year olds last season so he did well to remain in the spotlight. The fact that he attracted 188 mares last year shows how much his reputation has recovered from its nadir. His yearling median remained at €32,000 last year off a €17500 fee. He has now 43 stakes winners at more than 6% and is credible for this fee. .

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    13. Little Big Bear €17,500 (€20,000) (2020 by No Nay Never ex Adventure Seeker by Bering)

    Donald Trump Verdict:“Little Big Bear— Very confusing. Is he big, is he little, is he a bear? Is he a horse? All I know is I’m out”


     He promises speed and precocity and he attracted 180 mares in 2025 following on from 156 in 2024. He was very impressive in the Phoenix Stakes and was runner up at three in the Commonwealth Cup. The jury is still out on NNN as a sire of sires but Ten Sovereigns had a good season after being exiled from Coolmore. Little Big Bear’s brother Whistlejacket who won the Prix Morny has started his stud career in France at €14,000. They have an interesting female line with All Along as their 3rd dam and more stamina influences than you might expect from his own career. He wouldn’t be for me but plenty of his stock will be sold for good money before his merit or otherwise is established.

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    14. Blackbeard €17,500 (€17,500)- (2020 by No Nay Never ex Muirin by Born to Sea)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “Blackbeard very high energy, maybe too much energy. Very risky!    “


    Retired at the end of his two year old campaign so will have his first runners on the track this season. This notably quirky sort will be expected to make a quick start or he will find himself walking the plank. He may well succeed but he is from an unremarkable female line and it’s a real gamble for the upcoming season. His runners will be competing with his own sire’s offspring, the progeny of Mehmas, Havana Grey, Wootton Bassett, Starman etc  in a crowded two year old space. I’d rather wait and see.

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    15. Churchill €15,000 (€25,000)- (2014 by Galileo ex Meow by Storm Cat)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “You want results? Don’t look at Churchill, he is not great like me. He won’t deliver    “

    His fee has halved in the past two seasons and he remains stuck on two European Group 1 winners despite big crops. He lacked a star last year with Ridari winning a Group 2 the modest highlight. Surprisingly, his yearling median showed an upturn reaching €47,000 albeit these were bred at a €30,000 fee. He will have huge crops to run after covering 227 mares in 2023 and 192 in 2024. He has 27 stakes winners and is operating at a 4% rate of stakes winners.  He has had his chance and hasn’t succeeded.

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    16. Australia €15,000 (€10,000)(2011 by Galileo ex Ouija Board by Cape Cross)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “You look at the country, you look at the horse—both are beautiful, both love me, and  believe me Australia is a  good deal.”

    Had a notable year with Lambourn winning at Epsom and the Curragh, Cercene winning a Coronation Stakes and Wemighttakedlongway placing in an Irish Oaks. His yearling median increased slightly to €38,000 for a crop bred at €25,000. His career stats show 48  stakes winners and is operating at a respectable 5.3% stakes winners to foals.  Coolmore have never given him much support and Lambourn was a rarity in being Ballydoyle trained and out of the sort of speedy mare which he probably needs. He has smaller crops to come for the next two years so he may struggle to stay in the limelight in the short term. The 154 breeders who used him last year at €10,000 will have been happy with his good season and I’d still be happy to use him at €15,000 with the right sort of mare.
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    17. Henry Longfellow €12,500 (€15,000) (2020 Dubawi ex Minding by Galileo)

    Donald Trump Verdict:” The poet was great, but the stallion? That’s a different story- it’s a tough call.”

    An unbeaten National Stakes winning two-year-old, he failed to win in five starts as a three year old but did finish a close second to Rosallion in the St James Palace. His pedigree is appealing.  His dam Minding was an outstanding six time Group 1 winner and freshly crowned champion sire Night of Thunder is bred on the same Dubawi/Galileo cross.  He was short of being truly top class but still attracted 172 mares in 2025.  His cut in price should help him compete.

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    18. Saxon Warrior €10,000 (€15,000) (2015 Deep Impact ex Maybe by Galileo)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “People come to me and they say, ‘What about Saxon Warrior?’ and I tell them, ‘Don’t bother.’    “


    Another big cut in his fee surely means his exit from the roster cannot be far away.  Garden of Eden won a Ribblesdale and he had 8 stakes winners but they were a forgettable bunch. I was amazed that his yearling median was €35,500 from 104 yearlings sold as I expected him to be commercially toxic. Has never sired a really top-class performer albeit he gets decent percentages of winners at a low level.

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    19. Footstepsinthesand €5,000 (€8,000) (2002 Giant’s Causeway ex Glatisant by Rainbow Quest)

    Donald Trump Verdict:     “Who is he and what has he ever done?’“


    Coming to the end of a long and underwhelming stud career. He had a good 2025 with Alakazi winning at Group 2 level and  Midak at Group 3 level but he has always been a poor sire.

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    20. Holy Roman Emperor €5,000 (€8,000) (2004 Danehill ex L’On Vite by Secretariat)

    Donald Trump Verdict: “He’s past his prime, and everybody knows it.”


    Like Footstepsinthesand, he is nearing the end of his career. A trio of unremarkable stakes winners in 2025 won’t see a flurry of mares looking to use this useful sire who is one of the last Danehills still covering.

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    21. The Antarctic €5,000 (€5,000) (2020 Dark Angel ex Anna Law by Lawman)
    Donald Trump Verdict: “The Antarctic is like Greenland but I didn’t buy that either.”

    Dark Angel has yet to have a really successful sire son and it’s odds against that The Antarctic will buck that trend. He was no more than a Group 3 winner and  being a full brother to Battash is probably his main selling point but that isn’t enough to expect him to succeed.

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  • Coolmore’s 2024 fees (Part 2-stallions below €20k)

    I received a lot of feedback on my post previous post about Coolmore’s fees. For the avoidance of doubt:
    a) I don’t have a grudge against Coolmore.
    b) I try to be impartial and I apply the same standards to other studs.
    c) My comments are based on the published fee. Most breeders will get a better rate. A lower rate would lead to a more favourable assessment of the sires.

    If we return our focus to the Coolmore roster, they have 9 stallions standing for under €20k. This is a more competitive segment of the market, with nearly 50 Irish flat sires standing between €5k and €20k. The Coolmore roster is a mixture of the old and young, those dropping down having failed to make it a higher fee and younger unproven stallions. There is a spread of sprinters, milers and middle distance performers.
    As before, I will include some Beatles lyrics in my assessments.

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    1. Gleneagles €17,500 (€17,500) (2012 Galileo ex You’resothrilling by Storm Cat).
    Verdict: A decent sire at this level but the market is unforgiving
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “That is, I think its not too bad“
    He was retired at a fee of €60,000 with great things expected of him. He has not lived up to expectations but he has found his place in the world. He had a respectable year on the track in 2023, with three Group 2 winners, 6 Group 3 winners and a Guineas placing for Royal Scotsman. This wasn’t sufficient to stop his yearling median decline to just €21,000. His overall record shows 31 stakes winners (5%) which is ok for this fee level (but is based on crops conceived at much higher fees). He has lacked a superstar to put his name in lights but he has an exciting prospect in One Look (ex Holy Salt by Holy Roman Emperor) who earned rave reviews when she won the Goffs Million on her debut. However he will only have just 18 two year olds in 2024 which may stymie his efforts at market rehabilitation. Commercially, he needs to get back some market love and there may be better value in buying his offspring rather than breeding them for now..

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    2. Australia €17,500 (€25,000)- (2011 by Galileo ex Ouija Board by Cape Cross)

    Verdict: Slightly overpriced
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured”
    Had a decent tally of 6 Group winners in 2023 and some wondered if Adelaide River could have won the Irish Derby under a more forceful ride. Over his career, he has amassed a decent tally of 5% stakes winners, but like Gleneagles he lacks real stars. His book dropped to 110 in 2023 from 155 in 2022 and his yearling median was c.€33k from a €25k fee so a price reset was predictable. I suspect they will shave his fee a little more in the coming years. I used to be more of a fan but we know his limitations at this stage. That said, he is not without his good points and for the right mare he would be worth considering if you could get movement on the price.

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    3. Ten Sovereigns €17,500 (€17,500) (2016 No Nay Never ex Seeking Solace by Exceed and Excel)
    Verdict: Too risky
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “With every mistake we must surely be learning”

    He looked to be in trouble after a slow start by his progeny, but things picked up later in the season with a Group winner in Inquisitively (ex Ballyalla by Mind Games), a pair of Listed winners and a final European tally of 25 winners and 9 black type horses (along 2 more in North America). Unlike some other No Nay Nevers, he trained on to win a July Cup so that gives hope that his progeny will follow suit. His yearling results stayed steady with a median of c. €40k so he did enough to reassure the market. Given the numbers at his disposal, I thought his two year olds might have done a little more. At an unchanged fee, I would be reluctant to take a punt that a) progeny will train on well sufficiently for a star to emerge b) his smaller second crop (87 compared to 150 last year) will improve his standing.

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    4. Calyx €12,500 (10,000)- (2016 Kingman ex Helleborine by Observatory)

    Verdict: Nice first crop
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “Don’t Let me down”

    Get a modest price increase which was warranted after a promising first crop. He had a pair of Group 2 winners in Classic Flower (ex Crown of Flowers by Garswood) and Persian Dreamer (ex Surprisingly by Galileo). These were supplemented by a US based Grade 3 winner in Zona Verde (ex Namibie by Dark Angel) and the Dewhurst third Eben Shaddad (ex Galileo’s Lady by Galileo) amongst 27 winners. Given he had a much smaller number of two year olds than Ten Sovereigns (103 vs 150) , his results were much the better of the two. He went somewhat under the radar but this was a decent start and he may be a bit of value.
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    5. Magna Grecia €10,000 (15,000)- (2016 by Invincible Spirit ex Cabaret by Galileo)

    Verdict: Disappointing first crop
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “there’s a shadow hanging over me“

    As a Guineas winner and Vertem winner who was a half brother to St Marks Basilica, he seemed to have a reasonable chance of success. After a first crop that saw just 12 winners and a solitary Listed winner, his prospects are now a lot less rosy. His yearling median more than halved to under €20k and it’s difficult to see him turning things around. Incidentally, after a glut of ordinary sires I wonder how Invincible Spirit maintains his elevated reputation as a sire of sires?

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    6. Footstepsinthesand €8,000 (€10,500) (2002 Giant’s Causeway ex Glatisant by Rainbow Quest)

    Verdict: 16 disappointing crops 🙂
    Beatles Lyrics: “And you are the one that makes me sad”

    It’s difficult to find something new to write about Footstepsinthesand. Each year, I write that he is a very ordinary sire and should be avoided. In 2023 he had no Group winners and a solitary Listed winner. Despite that, his yearling median increased to €24k so (inexplicably) he remains popular despite his limitations.

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    7. Holy Roman Emperor €8,000 (€10,000) (2004 Danehill ex L’On Vite by Secretariat)

    Verdict: A decent sire at this level
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “And I say, it’s alright“

    A solid sire at the money and a much better sire than the similarly priced Footstepsinthesand. He had a relatively quiet year on the track with a pair of Group 3 winners his best result in Europe. However, his career stats are good and he is operating at 5% stakes winners to foals of racing age. I think he is good option at that price especially with a yearling median last year of over €31k.

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    8. The Antarctic €6,000 (na) (2020 Dark Angel ex Anna Law by Lawman)

    Verdict: Leaves me cold
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “You can get it wrong but still you think that it’s alright”

    I was surprised that they found a slot for this guy on the roster. His main selling point seems to be that he is a brother to Battash rather than his own accomplishments. He was a relatively modest Group 3 winner by Dark Angel who has yet to hit to mark with his sire sons. He may be ok commercially with his initial crops ,before the racetrack reveals their true merit. He is just one of many possible sources of cheap speed and it’s difficult to get overly excited about his prospects.

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    9. Arizona €5,000 (€5,000)- (2017 No Nay Never ex Lady Ederle by English Channel)
    Verdict: Will need a quick start or will be surplus to requirements
    Beatles Lyric Verdict: “Nothin’ you can say, but you can learn how to play the game”
    First runners this season so he will need a strong start or he will likely be moved on from a roster that is top heavy with No Nay Never’s. He had a 2023 yearling median of €19000 and these are part of his 66 strong crop of two year olds. It’s pure guesswork whether he will succeed and he is one for the gamblers.

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  • Coolmore Fees 2023- €20k or less sires- What do the fortune cookies foresee?

    Since I published my initial review of Coolmore stallions, Gustav Klimt has been exiled. This leaves ten sires standing for €20k or less. It’s a mix of the young and old, proven and unproven, pretenders, contenders and wannabees. Luck is a huge factor in successful breeding. Building on this insight, I incorporated a fortune cookie generator to help with my sire reviews. Initial results are promising and it seems more credible than some of the ‘expert analysis’ available in the trade press who simply regurgitate press releases/puff pieces. The Gods have spoken and who are we to disagree?

    1. Gleneagles €17,500 (€15,000) (2012 Galileo ex You’resothrilling by Storm Cat).
    Fortune Cookie Advice: “It is now and in this world that we must live“

    The days when he stood for €60,000 and he was the bright shiny new thing on the Coolmore roster are gone. He has not lived up to expectations or the opportunities afforded him- but he is not a complete flop either. He sired five Group winners this year including a Grade 1 winner in Highland Chief (Man of War Stakes). He also sired two Group 2 winners including Royal Scotsman who was a close second in the Dewhurst and two Group 3 winners. His progeny seem to improve with age and many stay middle distances. There is nothing wrong with those qualities but they are not perhaps what the market expected from his offspring. His yearling median stayed at €32,000 but that is for a crop conceived at €35,000 so many breeders will have been stung by their involvement with him. Gleneagles is finding his place in the world, he has regained credibility as a sire but it would have been better to leave his fee unchanged as his best days commercially are long behind him.

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    2. Sioux Nation €17,500 (€10,000) (2015 Scat Daddy ex Dream the Blues by Oasis Dream)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “It’s better to be alone sometimes”

    44 winners to date, saw him take a prominent position in the first season sires table. He topped the European listing by number of winners and was just behind Havana Grey by prizemoney. His results on the track saw his yearling median increase from €24k to €43k. He was advertised as a source of precocious speed and he delivered on that. In that regard, it is understandable that he got a price increase. He had three Stakes winners so there was some quality but overall he doesn’t strike me as a sire who is going to be a consistent source of high class winners. In contrast, I can envisage Havana Grey moving to the next level. Sioux Nation covered 158 mares in 2020, 61 in 2021 and a mammoth 255 in 2022 so he will have lots of representatives in the ring on and the track in the coming years. There will need to be more quality horses emerging to justify his elevated fee. That may happen but I’d be very wary of following the herd on this one.
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    3. Ten Sovereigns €17,500 (€17,500) (2016 No Nay Never ex Seeking Solace by Exceed and Excel)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “If you feel you are right, stand firmly by your convictions“

    He has benefitted from the good season enjoyed by No Nay Never. A Middle Park and July Cup winner, who failed to stay in the Guineas and was beaten in the Commonwealth Cup, Nunthorpe and in the Everest. He has an unremarkable female line but in relative terms he is better priced than Blackbeard. He will have plenty of representatives in the ring and on the track as he covered 173 mares in 2022, 152 in 2021 and 214 in 2020. He had 88 yearlings sell for a median of €43,500 this year so they are popular in the ring and that underpins his fee. With big numbers to represent him, he will be one of the favourites for first season sire honours. He will be quickly shunned if he doesn’t make a strong start with his first runners but given his numerical strength, he has every chance to make an impact.

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    4. Magna Grecia €15,000 (17,500)- (2016 by Invincible Spirit ex Cabaret by Galileo)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “Let the Deeds Speak“

    First runners this year so definitely in the high risk category. That said, he was a good Guineas winner, he is a half brother to St Mark’s Basilica and Invincible Spirit has a decent reputation as a sire of sires. Although he won a Vertem Futurity at two , I wouldn’t expect his runners to be especially precocious. His yearling median was €45k this year but commercially everything is dependent on how his first runners perform and anyone who tries to predict that is just sticking a finger in the air.

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    5. Calyx €10,000 (12,500)- (2016 Kingman ex Helleborine by Observatory)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “A short stranger will soon enter your life with blessings to share”

    Alternative Fortune Cookie Advice: “You learn from your mistakes, you will learn a lot today”

    Another sire due to have his first runners 2023. His fee has steadily dropped each season from an opening €22,500. Since then, we have all cooled somewhat on Kingman. In the cold light of day, Calyx’s race record shows he was talented but fragile. He managed only 4 starts and never contested a Group 1. He covered 163 mares in 2020 which dropped to 105 in 2021. He is not the biggest at 15.3 but I liked his turn of foot. He is one for gamblers that could go either way.

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    6. Circus Maximus €10,500 (12,500)- (2016 by Galileo ex Duntle by Danehill Dancer)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “You will travel to many exotic places in your lifetime”

    Entering his third season at half his opening fee, but has been a hard sell to breeders. Circus Maximus was high class, sound and genuine but for me lacked a bit of star quality. He has received some high class mares from the Niarchos broodmare band which should help his prospects. Despite this, it would be no surprise if he followed in the path of the similarly bred The Gurkha, who ended up plying his trade elsewhere after initial runners failed to fire.

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    7. Footstepsinthesand €10,000 (€12,500) (2002 Giant’s Causeway ex Glatisant by Rainbow Quest)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “Now is the time to try something new“

    I never understood the attraction of Footstepsinthesand. He is now entering his 17th season at stud but he has sired just three Northern Hemisphere Group 1 winners . His progeny are overrated by trainers . This underpins his sales price (yearling median of c.€23k) but for me he is very limited and is one to avoid.

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    8. Holy Roman Emperor €10,000 (€10,000) (2004 Danehill ex L’On Vite by Secretariat)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well”

    Had a decent year on the track with 5 Group winners in the Northern Hemisphere, headlined by dual Group 2 winner Jadoomi. At the sales, his yearling median increased to €26,783. At the money, I think he is a solid sire who is perhaps a better percentage choice for a young mare than some of the more fashionable but unproven sires.

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    9. U S Navy Flag €10,000 (€12,500) (2015 War Front ex Misty For Me by Galileo)

    Fortune Cookie Advice: “You already know the answer to the questions lingering inside your head”

    Had his first runners in 2022 and started brightly before faltering. Perhaps bolstered by early season results he covered 144 mares a big jump on the 59 covered in 2021. To date he has an underwhelming 11 winners that included 2 Listed winners. His yearling median has declined from €53,500 in 2021 to €22,000 in 2022 so the market has lost faith. We sometimes bemoan the tendency to write off sires much too early but it’s hard to see him recovering and he may be used as another stick to knock sons of War Front. There are now big question marks surrounding him.

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    10. Arizona €5,000 (€6,000)- (2017 No Nay Never ex Lady Ederle by English Channel)
    Fortune Cookie Advice: “Fortune favors the brave”

    Now entering his third season, he got a price reduction despite the good year for No Nay Never. Arizona has his plus points as a Coventry winner who was second to Pinatubo in the Dewhurst. He will suit breeders looking a commercial source of cheap speed/precocity and is probably reasonably priced overall who may get a return with him.

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    Final Thoughts

    Coolmore has lost ground to their rivals but they are still the biggest operator by far in the Irish market. The roster lacks diversity and is relatively unadventurous. Given their financial muscle, it would be refreshing to see them introduce some American and more Japanese bloodlines. Coolmore achieved their elevated status through years of shrewd decision making. In the words of the fortune cookie generator ” The man on the top of the mountain did not fall there”. Staying on top of the mountain will need them to adapt but they are more than capable of that.


  • Coolmore’s Fees for 2022 (read, before you breed…)

    2021 was a challenging year for Coolmore. Galileo died, and for the first time since 1990, a stallion outside their roster became the champion sire in Ireland/UK. None of their younger stallions made a significant impact. It felt like watching Man Utd in the post Alex Ferguson era (of all people). The elite sires of Europe are no longer in Coolmore with that status now belonging to Frankel and Dubawi. Wootton Bassett is in the middle of a chasing pack that includes Sea the Stars, Kingman and Siyouni.

    There will be 22 stallions on their roster for 2022, a reduction on the 26 that stood in 2021. Aside from Galileo, they also lost Zoffany and Mastercraftsman. Fastnet Rock is remaining in Australia and The Gurkha was banished. The single addition is the well credentialed St Marks Basilica. The roster still includes seven 2000 Guineas winners and two Derby winners so it is still a very strong squad. Below is my assessment of their published fees for 2022..

    Stallion 2022 fee (2021 fee)

    1. Arizona €6,000 (7,000)- (2017 No Nay Never ex Lady Ederle by English Channel)

    Verdict: Same as last year- slightly overpriced (my fair price would be €5,000)

    No Nay Never hype has subsided and Arizona is now a second season sire so a reduction was inevitable. Arizona has his plus points as a Coventry winner who was second to Pinatubo in the Dewhurst. The negative is that he didn’t train on at three. He will suit breeders looking a commercial source of cheap speed/precocity.


    2. Australia €35,000 (€25,000)- (2011 by Galileo ex Ouija Board by Cape Cross)
    Verdict: Overpriced 

    One of the few stallions to get a fee increase. He had a good season on the track with new group 1 winners in the five year old Broome and the four year old Mare Australis. In total he had a creditable 8 Group winners. His yearling median was a respectable €58,000 and that may have encouraged the fee increase. Things might have been even better if Beresford Stakes winner Point Lonsdale hadn’t been outpointed by Native Trail in the National Stakes. Australia suffers from a perception that his progeny need time and/or distance (Order of Australia and Point Lonsdale seem like outliers). I like Australia as a solid proven sire and the best son of Galileo on the Coolmore roster but thought the price rise was overdone. At their respective prices Teofilo at €30,000 is a better value son of Galileo and in the UK the wildly inconsistent New Approach is listed as private (so there may be other issues) but is presumably cheaper and has a stronger overall record. Australia would benefit from getting access to the speedier mares previously sent to Galileo (Point Lonsdale is out of an Acclamation mare) and it will be interesting to see how much Coolmore get behind him with their own top mares.

    3. Calyx €12,500 (16,000)- (2016 Kingman ex Helleborine by Observatory)

    Verdict: Undecided

    Reading back on previous years posts, I was clearly a bit impacted by Kingman mania and two years ago thought his first season fee of €22,500 was reasonable. If that was true then then €12,500 should seem a bargain -but it doesn’t. In the cold light of day, he is now a third season sire who managed only four career starts and never even contested a Group 1 race. Breeders now also have the choice of Group 1 winning sons of Kingman in Persian King and Palace Pier. Kingman hype has also quietened. That said, Calyx impressed me a great deal with his turn of foot and I’m inclined to keep the faith for now.

    4. Camelot €75,000 (€60,000)- (2009 by Montjeu ex Tarfah by Kingmambo)

    Verdict: Poor Value– Overpriced:

    Camelot is now standing at three times his fee on retirement of €25,000. An excellent racehorse, he would have been the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky only for the presence of Encke (a horse who later tested positive for steroids). In 2021 he was the sire of impressive Futurity winner/ Derby favourite Luxembourg and the dual US Grade 1 winner Santa Barbara. He is doing his bit to keep the Montjeu sire line active on the flat. His yearling median rose from €55,000 in 2020 to €160,000 in 2021, so the market seems to have reassessed his merit.

    I want to believe but I’m still not convinced by Camelot. Luxembourg may become the second grandson of Montjeu (after Wings of Eagles) to triumph at Epsom but there have been plenty of offspring of Camelot who disappointed in classics when fancied- including Sir Dragonet (5th at Epsom), Santa Barbara (beaten favourite in the Guineas and Oaks), Pink Dogwood (placed in Epsom and Irish Oaks when fancied in both), and English King (5th at Epsom). Luxembourg may be the real deal and the market may continue to pay top dollar for his yearlings but I’m not sure they will. His percentages of black type horses are decent at 6.5% BTW to foals for Northern Hemisphere crops aged 3 or more. Camelot will now come on the radar for really high class mares and should build on his record but at his new fee there isn’t much margin for error.

    5. Churchill €25,000 (€30,000)- (2014 by Galileo ex Meow by Storm Cat)

    Verdict: Poor Value– Over Priced

    Churchill had his first runners this year. After a slow start things picked up a little and at the time of writing he had 24 winners from 73 runners and 3 Stakes winners (all Listed winners). There were 145 foals in that crop conceived at €35,000. He has some monster crops in the wings and I suspect those breeders who sent him 250 mares in 2020 will be getting a little nervy. His yearling median dropped back from €70,000 to €54,000. His progeny may well improve from two to three and it would be unfair to outright dismiss him at this stage. However, it was an underwhelming first season with runners and the risk/reward ratio at his advertised price is not favourable.

    6. Circus Maximus €12,500 (20,000)- (2016 by Galileo ex Duntle by Danehill Dancer)

    Verdict: Poor Value– Over Priced

    Has taken a big reduction in price but one that doesn’t go far enough. The similarly bred The Gurkha has been banished from the Coolmore roster after proving very disappointing. As I wrote last year, Circus Maximus was high class and genuine but for me he lacked a little star quality. There are no shortage of high class sons of Galileo at stud and I’m not sure why this one should succeed above any other.

    7.Footstepsinthesand €12,500 (€12,500) (2002 Giant’s Causeway ex Glatisant by Rainbow Quest)

    Verdict: Overpriced – should be 8k

    He has sired just one Group 1 winner in all of his crops since 2008. His yearling median last year was just over €22,000 which is high considering his limitations. His progeny are overrated by trainers which supports his sales price but I don’t know any good reason why you would use him at that price.

    8. Gleneagles €15,000 (25,000) (2012 Galileo ex You’resothrilling by Storm Cat).

    Verdict: Fairly priced

    Gleneagles was a hot property when he retired at €60,000. Reality has now intruded and his 2022 fee is a quarter of that. 2021 saw him sire his first Group 1 winner in Prix de Royallieu winner Loving Dream. She was backed up by four Group 2 winners in Baby Rider, Insineundo, Velocidad and Novemba. Despite these successes, his yearlings were shunned in the market with a median of only €23,571. There is value in some of his offspring at those prices . I think he is now reasonably priced but as Keynes once said ‘the market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent’.. It’s also interesting to note that his fillies seem to be outperforming his colts when it comes to Group and Stakes winner.

    9. Gustav Klimt €4,000 (€4,000) (2015 Galileo ex Massarra by Danehill)

    Verdict: Fairly Priced

    Has his first runners in 2022 so using him is obviously a gamble. I’m happy to repeat what I wrote last year namely that he was ‘only’ a Group 2 winner but placed in the Irish Guineas, St James Palace and Haydock Sprint Cup. His granddam is Rafha, the dam of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac. He may uphold the family tradition but those two tend to be influences for speed and precocity (unlike Galileo). His offspring are also supposedly small but so is the fee and I won’t quibble too much.

    10. Highland Reel €10,000 (€10,000) (2012 Galileo ex Hveger by Danehill)

    Verdict: Overpriced

    Despite winning 7 Group 1’s, I always assumed he was going to end up as National Hunt sire. He had 126 foals in his first crop who were two year olds in 2021 (numbers dropped to 52 in his second). He had 48 runners, 11 winners and one Stakes winner in Atamisque who won a Group 2 in Italy. His yearling median dropped to €11,786 so it’s fair to conclude that the market was underwhelmed. There remains the possibility that his offspring will improve markedly with age and show some of the same durability that he did. However I wouldn’t risk €10,000 sending a mare to him based on that hope…..

    11. Holy Roman Emperor €10,000 (€12,500) (2004 Danehill ex L’On Vite by Secretariat)

    Verdict: Fairly Priced:

    Had a quiet year on the track with only three stakes winners in the Northern Hemisphere and the highlight being the five year old Rockemperor winning a Grade 1 in the US. His yearling median dipped to €21,035. That said I think he is a solid proven sire and he is appropriately priced.


    12. Magna Grecia €17,500 (18,000)- (2016 by Invincible Spirit ex Cabaret by Galileo)
    Verdict: Fairly priced

    Normally I would have expected a bigger cut in fee for his third year at stud but in this instance there were other factors at play. The most notable being the exploits of his half brother St Mark’s Basilica who landed four Group 1’s during the season. A Guineas winner who also won the Vertem Trophy at two, he is by a fashionable sire of sires and his price seems about right for now.

    13. No Nay Never €125,000 (€125,000) (2011 Scat Daddy ex Cat’s Eye Witness by Elusive Quality)

    Verdict: Significantly Overpriced

    No Nay Never is significantly overpriced and has been for the past few few years. In 2021, he had success on the track with Alcohol Free who trained on to win a Coronation Stakes, Zain Claudette won a Lowther (Grp 2) and Armor won Molecomb (Grp 3). These are decent results for runners conceived at €17,500 and €25,000 but there is limited upside at his current fee. His yearling median was €150,000 last year which sounds impressive but that was based on a €100,000 fee. At that level, he was covering high class valuable mares who are bringing a lot to the table and who expect a chunky return over the covering fee.

    It’s worth looking at the figures for his black type winners to foals by crop.

    Year FoaledFoalsRnrsWnrsBTW% BTW to foals
    20169373531415%
    20171301056097%
    2018101794544%
    2019102602544%

    The figures above will improve considerably over the coming years especially for the 2019 crop as they get more opportunities to run. However, I don’t see them matching his exceptional first crop figures which are looking a bit of an aberration. At €125k, he will need to be producing 2 or 3 Grp 1 winners in each crop to keep people happy. He is a multiple of the fee for Dark Angel, Kodiac and Mehmas who all started from much lower fee levels to produce similar types of horses (quality two year olds/sprinters/milers) and at this stage I don’t think that differential is warranted…


    14. Rock Of Gibraltar €5,000 (€5,000) (1999 Danehill ex Offshore Boom by Be My Guest)

    Verdict: Should be Retired…

    It’s strange that they continue to list him on the roster. He will be 23 this year and there is almost no demand from breeders.

    15. Saxon Warrior €20,000 (€20,000) (2015 Deep Impact ex Maybe by Galileo)

    Verdict: Fair Price

    Will have his first runners in 2022. His yearlings sold well in 2021 with a median of €61,900 off a €30,000 fee. I would have expected a price cut given this is such a risky year to use him but these good returns probably prompted them to hold firm on the price. He was as a good Guineas winner who also won a Racing Post Trophy and had some great battles with Roaring Lion over 10 furlongs. He is the only son of Deep Impact in Ireland his dam was a Moyglare winner so there is plenty to recommend him.

    16. Sioux Nation €10,000 (€10,000) (2015 Scat Daddy ex Dream the Blues by Oasis Dream)

    Verdict: Overpriced

    He was a Group 1 winner but his overall record was only 4 wins out of 15 and his female line is unremarkable. His first yearlings had a median of €26,000 off a covering fee of €12,500. The advertising highlights his similarities with No Nay Never (both good two year old sons of Scat Daddy). It’s possible that he will emulate NNN but I’m not convinced its worth taking a risk on him.

    17. Sottsass €25,000 (30,000) (2016 Siyouni ex Starlet’s Sister by Galileo)

    Verdict: Fairly Priced

    His fee has had a predictable reduction in his second season. St Mark’s Basilica boosted the reputation of Siyouni. Sottsass race record of an Arc, Prix Ganay and French Derby is impressive. St Mark’s Basilica is now the sexy son of Siyouni at Coolmore but Sottsass is fairly priced at €25,000.

    18. St Mark’s Basilica €65,000 (na) (2018 Siyouni ex Cabaret by Galileo)

    Verdict: Over Priced

    Had a flawless season in which he captured the French Guineas, French Derby, Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes. For good measure he ended his two year old campaign by annexing the Dewhurst. He was a 1.3 million Guineas yearling so he had the looks to go with his pedigree (he is a half brother to Magna Grecia). He is the most expensive first season to retire to Coolmore that I can remember in recent years (Gleneagles was slightly less at €60,000 in 2016, the same price as George Washington in 2007, Giant’s Causeway was 100,000 guineas in 2001) and even if I have forgotten someone it does indicate that it is an exceptional opening fee. The question is whether this chunky opening fee is justified? I wouldn’t dispute his merit as a racehorse (albeit he was fortunate not to be demoted in the Irish Champion Stakes) . If you are to quibble about something then you could point out that Siyouni is yet to establish his merit as as sire of sires and until the arrival of Magna Grecia and SMB it was a good rather than great female line. Comparing his fee to his similarly bred and similarly talented studmate Sottsass, also indicates that his opening price is perhaps a little frothy.

    19. Starspangledbanner €35,000 (22,500)  (2006 Choisir ex Gold Anthem by Made of Gold

    Verdict: Over Priced

    Received a chunky hike after some good results on the track. State of Rest travelled to the States to win the Saratoga Derby and then travelled to Oz to win the Cox Plate. He had some nice two year olds with Castle Star and Flotus finishing runners up in the Middle Park and Cheveley Park respectively. His yearling median jumped to €60,000. He is a sire I like, but the increase was overdone.

    20. Ten Sovereigns €17,500 (20,000) (2016 No Nay Never ex Seeking Solace by Exceed and Excel)

    Verdict: Overpriced–

    A Middle Park and July Cup winner, who failed to stay in the Guineas and was beaten in the Commonwealth Cup, Nunthorpe and in the Everest. He has an unremarkable female line and No Nay Never hype is on the wane. Predictable drop in price in his third season but to me he has been overpriced each season.

    21. U S Navy Flag €12,500 (12,500) (2015 War Front ex Misty For Me by Galileo)

    Verdict: Over Priced (Slightly)

    Will have his first runners in 2022 so using him is more of a gamble. His yearlings sold well with a median of €55,000 with 41 sold, so not everyone has given up on sons of War Front. This median was a good return on his opening fee of €25000. To me he is better value than Ten Sovereigns, having a much stronger female line, winning three Group 1’s and staying well enough to be placed in an Irish Guineas. I thought however he would have been cut a little for this season.

    22. Wootton Bassett €150,000 (€100,000) (2008 Iffraaj ex Balladonia by Primo Dominie)

    Verdict: Overpriced

    Wootton Bassett sired two new Group 1 winners this year in Prix Marcel Boussac winner Zellie and Prix St Alary winner Incarville. I’m not sure that warranted a 50% increase in fee though. His yearling median reached €130,000 last year for a crop conceived at €40,000. It seems that Coolmore are looking to recoup their sizeable investment as quickly as possible and he is priced as the joint most expensive stallion in Ireland (Sea the Stars being the other) We know that he has bigger and better crops in the pipeline but I think the price increase is taking for granted that he will maximise that opportunity and prove himself to be an outstanding stallion. He may well do so but I think he is being priced a little too much on upside potential rather than actual achievement at this stage.

    Final Thoughts

    I think Coolmore pitch their advertised fees on the high side to create the psychological anchors that sales people use in negotiations. Deals should and will be available for many of the sires.

    Looking at their roster, it is top heavy with Galileo blood. It contains no less than 6 of his sons on the roster and there are another five stallions of which he is broodmare sire. That looks excessive and much more diversity would be welcome. Coolmore also have the option of bringing some American stallions over here to provide some alternative sire lines.

    Its also noticeable that neither Dubawi nor Kodiac are represented by any sons on the roster. These are the two sires who have done the most in recent years, to develop their reputations as sire of sires and it’s surprising Coolmore haven’t plugged these gaps in their roster.

    Coolmore have lost ground to their rivals and John Magnier is now 73 and suffered health issues in recent years. It will be up to the next generation of the family to restore the fortunes of the stud to previous heights as that won’t happen overnight. The task is made easier as they an exceptional broodmare band to support their stallions. They also have the financial firepower to get whatever they fancy at the yearling sales or to purchase promising stallions from smaller operations. Are they too big to fail? Interesting times ahead….