WITH Coolmore Stud having just purchased a majority share in the $60 million super stallion So You Think, breeding experts expect his service fee could set a record for first-year sires and rival his father's stud fee of $88,000.
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Coolmore intends to fly the four-year-old stallion to Europe later this year to prepare him for the 2400-metre Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris next September, The Australian Financial Review reports.
Australian Stud Book Keeper Michael Ford said once the horse went to stud, in order for Coolmore and the horse's original owner – Tan Chin Nam – to cash in on the horse's worth on paper, the service fee would need to be fairly close to six figures.
"At $60 million, you probably need $80,000 per live foal for 180 foals over four years to cover your outlay," Mr Ford said.
Publisher of Bluebloods Magazine Andrew Reichard pointed out the Australian records for first season non-shuttle sires were Lonhro on $60,000 in 2004 and Fastnet Rock on $50,000 in 2005.
So You Think's sire, High Chaparral, is one of Coolmore's leading shuttle stallions and is standing in Australia this year for $88,000.