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Classy young stallions Kementari and Siege Of Quebec have been removed from stud service.
Lack of support from breeders has led Aquis Farm to stand down Seige Of Quebec from stud duty and send him back into training for a return to racing next year while Randwick Guineas winner Kementari is off the Darley Australia roster this spring due to fertility issues.
Siege Of Quebec, a dual G1 placed son of Fastnet Rock, was a foundation sire at Aquis Farm's new Victorian property alongside another new sire Lean Mean Machine but attracted few outside mares.
Aquis executive Shane McGrath said Siege Of Quebec had already been sent to Queensland where he will be prepared at Canungra for a return to racing next autumn by Kacy Fogden.
"He just didn't get the support we anticipated," McGrath said. "We were fortunate that Siege Of Quebec retired sound and he has got a great temperament.
"It's purely a commercial decision as fertility wasn't an issue. He just lacked commercial appeal in Victoria."
Siege Of Quebeck sold for $1.2 million at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale and later made $1 million Aquis acquired him at the 2018 Chairman's Sale after winning four of his 18 starts including the G3 Bill Ritchie Stakes last spring. He was G1 placed in the All Aged Stakes this year.
Darley faces some decisions over the future of Kementari, the outstanding son of Lonhro who won the G1 Randwick Guineas in 2018 and carried high expectations when he started his stud career at Kelvinside in the NSW Hunter Valley this spring.
Tests have found him to be sub-fertile. He has had only one mare return a positive pregnancy test from his first two weeks of covering and subsequent veterinary analysis has classified him as an unsatisfactory breeder.
Vin Cox, managing director of Godolphin Australia, said any decision on Kementari's future will be made with his welfare paramount.
"The welfare of our horses is always our primary concern. Any decision on Kementari's future will be made on that basis, informed by the advice of our veterinary team," Cox said.
Kementari won four of his 19 starts for prizemoney of $1,907,350.
