It is that time of the year when we evaluate the best and worst values in the stallion market. Today we will discuss stallions standing above $100,000 and we will try to identify which of them offer the best and the worst value for breeders.

This year was a tough year for this group; overall stud fees are down 2% for the group when compared to 2006; mostly due to the drastic reduction of Storm Cat’s fee. At the sales this group of sires also saw their yearling average decline for the third straight year; they suffered a 15% drop compared to 2006. This is not good news for breeders trying to breed to the top echelon of horses since stud fees are declining at a slower rate than average prices thus reducing the profitability for breeders.

However, Storm Cat was not the only sire who saw his stud fee reduced. Unbridled’s Song’s fee was reduced by $50,000, Forestry by $25,000 and Giant’s Causeway and Kingmambo previously standing for a private amount are also standing for less than their last advertised fee.

In addition, other stallions that were once members of this selective group have fallen out of this very exclusive club. They include El Prado, Elusive Quality and Gone West. On the other end of the spectrum two more stallions have joined the six figure sires, they are Smart Strike and Street Cry.

Best Values

A.P. Indy ($300,000) A.P. Indy has been an ultra consistent sire; his yearling median of $675,000 make him the most attractive sire in this price range from a commercial standpoint. He has a 3.22 Average Earning Index and produces a great 12.9% stakes winners from foals. Most important of all he is quickly cementing his reputation as an important sire of sires, a most for a stallion in this price range.

Storm Cat ($300,000) Yes his yearling median was off this year for the first time in a while; his median was ‘only’ $350,000. Yet the 40% reduction in stud fee make him very attractive. He has a 3.41 AEI and produces 13.3% stakes winners from foals. He is also the best sire of sires of any active sire.

Worst Values

Mr. Greeley ($125,000) We thought he was a bad value last year when he stood at $75,000. Unbelievably his fee is increased by 67% for this year. His yearling median does not make him attractive at $150,000 although he is very capable of hitting homeruns in the sales ring. At the track, he has been able to sire top runners especially in Europe where he boasts an outstanding filly in Finsceal Beo. Be that as it may, his AEI of 1.53 is what I would expect to see in the $15,000-$25,000 stud fee range and his 5.1% stakes winners from foals is the lowest percentage for any stallion standing for more than six figures. In conclusion he is one of the worst values in any category!