By Ric ChapmanVinery's Australian farm announced its stud fees for this year and they too seem determined to offer value for money."We have seen what the other farms have to offer and we think our stallions are priced to appeal also," said Peter Orton, Vinery's general manager.
Darley, whose farm is but three minutes drive from Vinery's, has reduced fees and offered broodmare owners unprecedented incentives. But what Vinery has going for it is that the farm's Red Ransom and Mossman are very hot at the present time."Mossman already has over 100 mares booked while Red is right on 100 mares," said Orton. "We expect to close the book on Red at about 105 and Mossman looks certain to reach 150. He is the hottest young sire in Australia at present."Red Ransom is runner-up on the 2-year-old sires chart after seven of his babies won including the Slipper runner-up and the Heroic Championship winner. Mossman's winners-to-foals ratio is staggeringly better than any other stallion in Australia and he also has seven individual winners which is by far the best of this year's freshman sires. And Vinery's More Than Ready averaged about just $180,000 at the Easter Sale; his fee this year will be $16,500.The Vinery stallions and their stud fees are:Red Ransom (Roberto--Arabia) $66,000 (about U.S. $48,500) Brahms (Danzig--Queena) $15,400 ($11,300) Mossman (Success Express--Lichen Lady) $16,500 ($12,100) Way Of Light (Woodman--Salchow) $6,600 ($4,850) Twining (Forty Niner--Courtly Dee) $15,400 ($11,300) More Than Ready (Southern Halo--Woodman's Girl) $16,500 ($12,100)
