Over the past number of years I have taken a keen interest into the breeding sector of this industry. To some it may seem irrelevant, but for me I am fascinated about bringing the next generation forward. The part of taking on and looking after a horse who has lived out their day on the track also takes my interest massively.

I have been busy the past number of weeks, researching and studying the bloodlines of different stallions based in Ireland to find the best for each price range. Everyone will have their own opinion, but these for me seem to be the most popular choice.

There have been some interesting stallions at a varied range of price points that have caught my eye on the flat, the national hunt and dual purpose. I am a firm believer of starting small and working my way up, so here are five stallions from each of the flat and national hunt codes that are all under the €10,000 mark and based in Ireland. I have also listed three dual purpose sorts that look incredible value for money.

I hope you all enjoy the read as much as I enjoyed producing it.

Flat Stallions:

PROCONSUL.
Sire: Gallileo.
Dam: Kind.
Covering Fee: €1000.
Standing: Annshoon Stud.

This for me certainly takes my interest. Proconsul comes from one of the most impressive racing bloodlines the world has to offer, and it comes in at an incredibly cheap price.

Only raced twice in his career in France, unplaced on both occasions. His final run was most impressive in a five way battle to the line, losing out by a length and a half or so. In that five, the winner won over €38,000, the third won €35,000 and the fourth won €94,000.

His breeding is absolutely impeccable, he is a full brother to Frankel, which as you all know is the worlds most popular stallion. He is closely related to numerous graded winners and he is relatively new to the breeding industry, with only a handful of his foals beginning to make their racing debuts.

When you put it all together, you are not using this stallion for his own credentials, but indeed his distinctive bloodline. Granted, the chance of getting another Frankel is slim at that cost. But for a stallion that has a covering fee as cheap as chips, you can’t go too far wrong.

AUSTRIAN SCHOOL.
Sire: Teofilo
Dam: Swiss Roll
Standing: Clongriffen Stud.
Covering Fee: €3000

This one is after seriously catching my eye. It has only gone to stud this year but the bloodline available is there to be one for the future.

Australian School was unraced, for whatever reason I do not know. But he is obviously well thought of. He is impeccably bred with a good bloodline of speed through his sires side, while his dam produced the horse of the decade, and the horse of a lifetime, Tiger Roll.

You may be thinking that this stallion could be classed as Dual Purpose, and I can certainly make a case for it. But the fact Tiger Roll was a cast off from the flat, and realistically he should never have made a National Hunt horse. Never the less, I am very much attracted at the price, with a small chance of breeding a horse with the same bloodline as Tiger Roll.

I would be very interested to see his crop of foals sell next November!

ESTIDHKAAR.
Sire: Dark Angel.
Dam: Danetime Out.
Standing: Tara Stud.
Covering Fee: €5000

Onto the sprinters now, this one holds some serious interest of mine personally. As my own mare has a foal going to the November sales this year with him. It’s not in my possession, but I will be keeping a very close eye on how well he does in the ring.

This stallion in particular is known for producing winning sprinters at a relatively cheap cost. His success rate is currently 12% for producing horses winning at 5-6f while it is 8% for horses at 7-9f. His bloodline is good, he is well proven and hopefully for our own sake the foal will prove to be a successful one.

NATIONAL DEFENSE.
Sire: Invincible Spirit.
Dam: Angel Falls.
Standing: National Stud.
Covering Fee: €8000

Personally speaking I was surprised to see this stallion at such a relatively cheap price. The stallion himself is an absolute monster, with a walk like a king and a very good stamp. He has become very popular among the buyers and the proof is in the pudding as they speak.

His foals turn out absolutely stunning with some tender love and care. Often shown in the sales ring, the foals are big, burly sorts with a lovely muscle tone and generally well-built. He is not “cheap as chips" but certainly valuable.

BELARDO.
Sire: Lope De Vega.
Dam: Danaskaya.
Standing: Kildangan Stud.
Covering Fee: €10,000

One of the more higher-end in the list, but I simply cannot leave this horse out of the list. Belardo is possibly one of the best value stallions to breed the family of one of the most popular stallions for a fraction of the cost.

Belardo had a very successful racing career for Roger Varian, winning just shy of €1 million in prize money. He has won over distances from 6f-1 mile. The emphasis of pace is key here.

Lope De Vega is after becoming one of, if not the best sprinting stallion in the past number of years. It is safe to say his price shows it too! For €100,000 you get him to cover your mare.

But unless you have that sort of money lying around in an off-shore island that stat is simply no good. You couldn’t go too far wrong by breeding a son of his who has been proven for a tenth of the cost. Making it exceptional value.

National Hunt Stallions:

CLOUDINGS
Sire: Saddlers Wells.
Dam: Ispahanl.
Standing: The Old Road Stud.
Covering fee: €2,500.

Starting out we have the good old boy Cloudings on the list. As a National Hunt stallion you simply cannot find a more popular horse. His crop have won everything you can possibly win as a National Hunt horse, granted as a stallion he has had plenty of time to do it! Nevertheless it is a very impressive stat and is held with the greatest of respect.

His age certainly plays a factor now at 26, but he is still going strong producing the next generation. Honestly if you are looking for a good, honest and determined racehorse, Cloudings is still the boy to go to. If you have a National Hunt mare to suit, Cloudings is often a great horse to go to for €2,500.

JET AWAY
Sire: Cape Cross.
Dam: Kalima.
Standing: Artic Tack Stud.
Covering Fee: €1,500.

One for all the Point-To-Point followers out there, this boy is quickly grabbing the headlines. Time and time again I am seeing winners from this stallions crop coming from pointing tracks all over the country. He is really beginning to take a keen interest for the breeding/handling combination.

When breeding with the intention to go pointing, the main objective is to boost the price of the horse. You do that by doing one thing and doing it right, winning. Jet Away has had plenty of winning foals traced to his bloodline. Horses sired by Jet Away that have gone to the sales ring average at a price of €37,000, while the largest sum paid for his crop is a whopping €50,000.

When you put it all together, a covering fee of €1,500 is undeniable value for money. Let’s just say you keep a foal for three years as an example, worst case scenario you will make your money back if doing it right. Looking at his average progeny sales price alone compared to the covering fee it looks like a great investment to make.

SHIROCCO
Sire: Monsoon.
Dam: So Sedulous
Standing: Glenview Stud.
Covering Fee: €4,000

Another horse here at some seriously great value. As a National Hunt stallion, Shirocco has it all in abundance. He is not just proven himself as a racehorse, but he has over-achieved as a stallion. To say he has produced some serious talent is undeniably out of the question. This horse is a beast!

All you have to do is look at the bloodline to see the quality for the price. Annie Power, Minella Rocco, Rock The Kashbah and the most recent superstar, Shewearsitwell who could possibly turn out to be the best of the lot. Need I say anymore? If you have a Shirocco stock in your possession, the stats are that there is an 11% chance you will have a winner on your hands.

Most importantly that 11% often go on to run to a mark above 140, which is black type territory. For the breeding industry that is the equivalent of winning the lottery and digging up oil in the one day. For €4,000 the stats are there that in the long term, a Shirocco cover is well and truly worth the money.

MAHLER
Sire: Gallileo.
Dam: Rainbow Goddess.
Standing: Beeches Stud.
Covering Fee: €5,500

Again another stallion with lots to like, I simply cannot go without putting Mahler up here. He has always and will always be held at the highest regard as one of the best National Hunt stallions while at Stud.

One of my favourite horses in training, Chris’s Dream is a prime example of the quality we are dealing with here. A massive 15% of Mahler’s stock turn out to be successful staying chasers. Ornua, Glen Forsa, Ok Corral, and Comanche Red. All horses that are over 150 rated chasers and have run at the biggest festivals there is.

Granted, you are paying more for Mahler’s stamp, but 15% is certainly worth the extra €1,500. You could be at worse and if it’s a chasing type you are after at the higher end, Mahler looks to be the one to be with.

CRYSTAL OCEAN
Sire: Sea The Stars.
Dam: Crystal Star.
Standing: Beeches Stud.
Covering Fee: €8,000

We all knew this was coming folks. Crystal Ocean is a very exciting recruit to the breeding sector. Out of 17 starts, he has never been out of the top three. He has won eight races, seven of which have been at group 1 level and returned a total of €2.3 million in prize money.

The most expensive covering fee, and the most risky considering we do not know just how good of a stallion he will become, but my god he looks exciting! We could really be looking at potentially the next king of the stallions here.

Arguably he could be classed as a Dual Purpose stallion, as his stamp has a lot of flat superstars in the bloodline. I will be keeping a close eye on his first crop when they foal next year. All in all he looks to have the perfect package and I will definitely say he is one to keep a very close eye on as one of the future producers of superstars.

Dual Purpose Stallions:

FINSCEAL FIOR
Sire: Gallileo.
Dam: Finsceal Beo.
Standing: Green Hills Stud.
Covering Fee: €1,500

Arguably one of the best dual purpose stallions in Ireland for the value at the present moment. In terms of versatility he has it all. He has produced winners at 5f all the way up to and including two miles.

I know personally Brendan Murphy has found great success with this particular stallion. Annie Fior and Ballycaines to name but a few have all been successful running in Brendan’s colours. It goes without saying, the training of these horses play a very important role. But it is clear to be seen Finsceal Fior is serious value for money.

Another horse to hit the headlines from the Finsceal Fior bloodline is Ted Walsh’s Dewcup who had been the prime example this year of versatility. Others include Sacchaondvanzetti from the Gavin Cromwell yard, Our Legend and Minnie Dahill. Whether it is flat or jumps, possibly even both if that is what you are after. Finsceal Fior is a name that should be hot on the tongue.

ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL
Sire: Elusive Quality.
Dam: Cara Fantasy.
Standing: Irish National Stud.
Covering Fee: €3,000.

Again, a stallion with a growing popularity among the buyers, in particular the foal sales. In terms of breeders selling off stock as foals, I have found this stallion has become increasingly popular. When you look at his success rate it is easy to see why.

With a flat success rate of just less than 10%, and an extremely successful rating for chasing in particular of 17%. Elusive Pimpernel, when looking at overall versatility is as solid as you can get. For €3,000 of a covering fee, and his popularity in the sales ring building, you simply cannot argue his value is undeniable. If you are looking for an all-rounder, an Elusive Pimpernel is brilliant value.

JOSHUA TREE
Sire: Montjeu.
Dam: Madeira Mist.
Standing: Kilbarry Lodge Stud.
Covering Fee: €3,000

Overall this horse has a similar profile in terms of success rate to the previous horse but by no means anywhere close to the same popularity. But all together you are breeding into a decent family.

His sire was the great Montjeu, who would have been one of the worlds best sires had he not suffered such a horrible illness in his first year breeding. Saying that, Joshua Tree has a brilliant bloodline for both flat and National Hunt produce.

He has already bred winners on the flat and over jumps. He has also got a 25% win rate for his crop winning on the big scale in Europe. While having an 11% success rate for all flat and 9% for all national hunt horses directly linked to him.

Again when we look for dual purpose, we look for versatility. A produce with plenty of speed for the flat, while also having plenty of scope to go over a jump. Joshua Tree has the ability to produce such foals, where speed and scope are the main positives in his bloodline.

For €3,000 it is very hard to go too far wrong.

In terms of value, I cannot see too much more out there. Everyone has a different taste, and indeed everyone has a different need when it comes to breeding. But I hope this piece has given as much clarity as possible when looking for good bloodlines at an attractive price. I will leave a quick summary into which would be my favourite of each category.

Flat: Proconsul (full brother to Frankel) €1,000.

National Hunt: Shirocco (will become very popular in the year ahead) €4,000.

Dual Purpose: Elusive Pimpernel €3,000 (the stats say it all).