3 minute read

Grangewilliam Stud stallion The Bold One has been enjoying a purple patch of form with his progeny and his fee has been adjusted accordingly for this coming breeding season.

A son of Fastnet Rock, The Bold One is one of four black-type horses out of the multiple Group One winning O'Reilly mare The Jewel.

"He had a pretty good week – he had a nice first-up winner (One Bold Cat) at Wanganui on Thursday and then another first-up winner (Mary Louise) on Saturday at Hawera where he had another winner in Bold Mac," Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran said.

"He has also got The Fearless One  who (trainer) Robbie Patterson has taken over to Queensland.

"He is a pretty promising horse and Robbie has got a big opinion of him and hopes to get him to the Brisbane Cup (Gr.2, 3200m)."

Corcoran has been rapt with the results The Bold One has been getting on the track with limited opportunities.

"He has been standing for a fee of $2,000, so he hasn't had the best quality of mare, but his pedigree is starting to come to the fore," he said.

"He is from one of the best families in New Zealand. He is a very well-bred horse and the results he is starting to get is quite promising.

"The season before last, when people were waiting for them, he only served a handful of mares.

"On what those early few are doing, he jumped up to just under 50 last year.

"He has received a lot of early interest this year and we have just decided to bump his service fee up to $4,000+GST, which I think is still great value.

"I think he will get a nice book of mares."

The stud's flag bearing stallion Zed will remain at an unchanged fee of $6,000+GST despite the deeds of his progeny on the track, including Verry Elleegant's Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) heroics.

The well-bred son of Zabeel was represented by just a handful of yearlings at Karaka this year, with a filly out of Hermione selling to Annabel Neasham for $200,000.

"Zed just keeps doing the job and keeps flying the flag for us," Corcoran said.

"We thought we would leave him at the same fee. I would rather him serve a reasonable number of mares."

Grangewilliam Stud's other two stallions, Derryn and Wyndspelle, will also stand at an unchanged service fee of $5,000+GST each.

"Wyndspelle is leaving a really nice type, I am really happy with his weanlings. He is a real chance," Corcoran said.

"Derryn was just as popular last season as Zed. The trainers that have got them really like them.

"They are not natural two-year-olds, they take a bit of time, but he has had a couple of impressive trial winners."