It’s fair to say the offspring of Savabeel and Almanzor dominated Book 1 of the NZB Karaka sale, which concluded on Tuesday numerically however, it is unlikely pundits will have predicted the most profitable stallions for breeders, the top two standing at the same stud.
Almanzor was the most profitable stallion at the Magic Millions sale at the Gold Coast earlier this month and the shuttle sire again traded well with a top lot of $560,000 and an average of $193,571 from his 42 lots sold.
Almanzor’s figures from so many lots sold reflect his market acceptance for sure however, the top five most profitable all stood for $12,500 or less in 2018.
The most profitable stallion in Book1 in 2021 is El Roca (pictured) with all three of his lots selling at an average of $120,000 – 16 times conception fee of $7,500 and he was still available to breeders at $8,000 last season.
Closely related to Gr1 winner Redzel, El Roca (Fastnet Rock) defeated Dissident in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes at Rosehill and placed at Gr1 level in the Randwick Guineas and George Ryder Stakes from nine starts at three.
From 81 runners from his first three crops of racing age generated at Westbury Stud he is the sire of Gr1 Levin Classic winner Travelling Light and three other stakes performers.
High Chaparral’s Gr1 winner Redwood is a Gr1 stallion standing alongside El Roca at Westbury Stud and he had an excellent sale.
Now aged 15, to date he has seven stakes winners including Gr1 winner Rock On Wood and has enjoyed good success with mares carrying Danehill in their pedigree.
His four lots sold averaged $117,500 at 11.75 times conception fee and he was advertised at just $8,000 last season.
Another middle-distance performer to sell well is Contributer.
Placed at Gr3 level in the UK as a three-year-old, Contributer came to Australia where he won twice at Gr1 level, the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm over 1600m and the Ranvet Stakes over 200m at Rosehill.
The son of High Chaparral retired to Mapperley Stud in 2016 rated the Champion Miler in Australia in 2014-15 and from two crops of racing age has started promisingly with 12 winners headed by Gr1 Champion Stakes at Randwick third Lion’s Roar.
Contributer had five lots sell at an average of $141,000 at 11.30 times conception fee.
First-season sires War Decree (War Front) and Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) delivered excellent figures with War Decree selling at 11.10 times his $6500 first-season fee and a $105,000 top lot.
War Decree won the Gr2 Vintage Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood at two and while that was a career highlight, he still won at Gr3 level the following season and was Gr2-placed in three starts at four.
He was advertised at $4,500 at Gus Wigley’s Inglewood Stud last season and will likely prove popular in 2021.
By Deep Impact out of a Gr2 winning Storm Cat mare and from the family of proven stallion Hard Spun, Satono Aladdin had six lots sell at an average of $121,667 or 9.75 times conception fee and a top lot of $360,000.
Debut winners are rated highly by Japanese breeders and Satono Aladdin did that over 1600m at Niigata at two, training on to win eight of his 29 races over five seasons, headed by his win in the Gr1 Yasuda Kinen over 1600m at Tokyo as a six-year-old.
Satono Aladdin was prevented from shuttling to Rich Hill Stud last season due to COVID-19 restrictions but he too is sure to be popular with breeders should he be able to return later this year.
Another first-season sire to trade well is Time Test (Dubawi), which shuttles to Little Avondale Stud from the National Stud in England.
A winner at two, Time Test went on to win at Gr2 level at York over 10 and a half furlongs before switching to North America where he placed twice at Gr1 level for owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms.
Time Test had six lots sell at an average of $86,667 or 8.65 times conception fee and has 76 live foals from his first crop.
Book 1 – 3 or more lots sold. 2018 fee in brackets * denotes first-season
1. El Roca ($7,500) 3 sold, $120,000, 16 x fee
2. Redwood ($10,000) 4 sold, $117,500, 11.75 x fee
3. Contributer ($12,500) 5 sold, $141,000, 11.30 x fee
4. War Decree* ($6,500) 7 sold, $72,143 ave, 11.10 x fee
5. Satono Aladdin* ($12,500) 6 sold, $121,667 ave, 9.75 x fee
6. Time Test* ($10,000) 6 sold, $86,667 ave, 8.65 x fee
7. Almanzor* ($30,000) 42 sold, $193,571 ave, 6.45 x fee
8. Iffraaj ($25,000) 18 sold, $126,944, 5.08 x fee
9. Mongolian Khan ($10,000) 3 sold, $50,000 ave, 5 x fee
10. Ocean Park ($30,000) 12 sold, $145,833, 4.85 x fee