Pedigree Query

What are the benifits to this?

That's weird. Usually they do this when the horse might not be able to serve a full (LOL for Coolmore) book and there are only enough seasons for the share holders. Then they sell the extra shares for whatever they want. Make deals or not.

Although I do see a lot of lesser lights standing for a "private" fee. If I were a breeder I'd probably pass most of those right on by. I want to know right away if the horse is in my price range.

He served 191 mares last year. Maybe the private fee will make them feel special instead of just a number.

hi guys

If you are offered a new Bentley convertible as an inducement to breed to Giant's Causeway...I say, MAYBE then he's worth serious consideration.

Respectfully

This is a bit puzzling.

Seems like declining fertility or some other physical problem is the usual reason behind a 'private' stud fee with popular stallions. His live foal percentages look like they are holding steady at 70%-80% and I've not heard of any health problems or rumors that he didn't settle mares this season.

His auction reports don't look that great to me, but I'm still learning about this so maybe not.

Bloodhorse Stallion Register

11 offered, 7 sold, $1,913,475, avg $273,354, $160,000 med

3 colts, avg $470,000; 4 fillies, avg $125,869

Perhaps Ashford felt that the could no longer command 300K per season but felt it would reflect badly on their flagship stallion to reduce it? They sure made cuts with the other stallions.

Could this 'private' fee be a smoke screen meant to obscure the fact that Ashford has doubts that GC can continue to get 300k per season from 190+/- mares? Maintaining the stud fee and risking that his book will drop would be risky for them, too. Now that he is expected to cover this number of mares, seeing a smaller book at the same price will no doubt make breeders and buyers nervous...

He sure is a nice stallion, but I think putting him at 300k so early in his career is likely to backfire. Many of the mares that he got at this outrageous price were sent by highrolling, speculative breeders that represent a very fickle population. No surprise that that the mares and the money haved moved on to the next prospect and left Giant's Causeway looking a little sad and lonely.

freshman wrote: Could this 'private' fee be a smoke screen meant to obscure the fact that Ashford has doubts that GC can continue to get 300k per season from 190+/- mares?

Got it in one.

hi freshman

As we know...Giant's Causeway's advertised stud fee for 2006 was $300,000. That said, following is your comment re the description Fee Private/Private Fee that was reportedly tagged onto Giant's Causeway for 2007.

freshman wrote:This is a bit puzzling.

I suggest that the manner in which Ashford/Coolmore handles Giant's Causeway is not unlike (to some extent) the way Orbitz and Priceline do business. Make your best offer...make your best deal.

With that in mind...announcing GC's Fee as Private for 2007 might arguably be a wise decision. I am confdent that if there were plenty of takers (to fill his book) at $300k...GC would be standing for that, or more.

I sense that Ashford/Coolmore shot themselves in the foot (with GC at $300k) and will attempt to reopen the door for deal-making galore...in hopes to entice breeders to reconsider their (what I would describe as) ridiculously overpriced at $300k...underachieving stallion.

Respectfully

It's very hard to breed to Giant's Causeway at anything over $100,000 right now, because the Maktoums are boycotting yearlings by Coolmore based studs. He has sired some extremely high class runners, but the $300,000 fee was unrealistic, especially without the payback at auction.