Lid kept on Dane Shadow’s fee

If the attitude of other Hunter Valley studs is any guide, Kitchwin Hills would have had every reason to feel comfortable had it decided to increase the fee of their emerging stallion Dane Shadow.

But Kitchwin Hills has caused a stir with its announcement today that it won’t be increasing Dane Shadow’s fee.

At only $16,500 (inc. GST), Dane Shadow (pictured) represents tremendous value considering his impressive start to his stud career – his oldest progeny, from limited books of average-class mares, are only three and include the top sprinter Shellscrape, the class filly Hurtle Myrtle and a host of other promising horses.

Last season, Dane Shadow covered a quality book of 160 mares – he had another 100 or so on the waiting list – at that fee, after  increasing from a fee of $7700 in 2008.

“I know breeders will be surprised that we haven’t increased Dane Shadow’s fee,” said Kitchwin Hills’ stud manager Mick Malone. “It was something we discussed at length, but we wanted to ensure another 150 or so quality mares to back up last year’s book.”

“We are taking a long-term view by not pricing him where many are saying we could. We can see the future benefit by creating two solid books, back to back.

“We have huge plans for Dane Shadow and don’t want to risk anything in building his future. If breeders have a good win out of this then good luck to them, this will only help us all in the future.”

The Kitchwin Hills decision will be welcomed by breeders in the wake of two years of selling yearlings for little or no profit off the high fees of 2006 and 2007, and at a time when many others studs have gone “trigger happy” in increasing fees for some stallions when the general call has been for fees to come down, or at least stay relatively stagnant.

This year, Dane Shadow’s yearlings have given breeders a return of more than nine times the $7700 fee – and there is no signs the profit making will stop off the $16,500 fee, especially considering the better quality mare the stallion covered last season.

Kitchwin Hills also announced that their new sire, Duporth (by Red Ransom (USA)), will kick off his stud career at a fee of $22,000 (inc. GST), which places him under the fee of Vinery’s new Red Ransom-son Onemorenomore ($24,250), and more than Arrowfield’s new Red Ransom-son, All American ($16,500). All three young stallions won at Group 1 level – Duporth (2009 BTC Cup 1200m), Onemorenomore (2009 Champagne Stakes 1600m) and All American (2009 Emirates Stakes 1600m).

Nowhere else in the world is Red Ransom held in such high esteem as a sire of stallions – the fact that Red Ransom is a wonderful outcross, and proven cross, for Danehill-line mares has a lot to do with it, but also Red Ransom (who died in November last year) has been well support in his 11 years at Vinery Stud and his stock, which includes the champion mare Typhoon Tracy, are proven under Australian conditions – a fact that is starting to appeal more and more to Australian breeders.

Note: The Slattery Media Group supplies media services to Kitchwin Hills.