Forty Niner Experiencing Breeding Difficulties

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Japanese stallion Forty Niner might be at the end of his stallion career, according to the Racing Post. Unofficial reports have the 21-year-old son of Mr. Prospector covering about 45 mares this year, but fewer than six have been pronounced in foal.

Forty Niner, who began his stallion career at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., has stood since 1996 at Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association's Shizunai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido. A representative for the JBBA said Forty Niner's book was curtailed this year and that there are no plans to stand him as of yet in 2007. He remains in good health, though.

Forty Niner, an Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old who is out of the Tom Rolfe mare File, ranked 10th on the Japanese sires list by progeny earnings as recently as 2004. He has sired a career total of 54 stakes winners and the earners of $104 million. This year, he is represented by Japanese graded winners Daiwa Passion and Koolinger and by Dubai group II winner Utopia, a Japanese grade I winner four consecutive years.

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