Zoustar entered rare territory on Thursday when Widden Stud announced the fees for the bulk of its roster for the 2023 breeding season.
The rising 13-year-old joined the list of esteemed Australian stallions to command a fee of at least $200,000 when locked in for $220,000 (all fees listed inclusive of GST).
The rise from $198,000 comes off the back of another stellar season for the son of Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago), who won a Group 1 with Zougotcha and had Kiku, North Star Lass and Zourion win at Group 2 level, while The Astrologist was narrowly defeated in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.
Zoustar started at Widden at $44,000 in 2014 and stood for that number for his first four seasons before jumping to $60,500 off the back of a Sunlight-inspired brilliant first season on the track.
He rocketed to $154,000 in 2019, dropped to $121,000 the year that most farms dropped their fees due to Covid uncertainty, returned to $154,000 in 2021 before commanding $198,000 last year.
Newgate-based Extreme Choice headed last year's list of Australia's most expensive stallions at $275,000, a fee that has been reinstated for this year, while Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible was $247,500 and Snitzel stood for $220,000 at Arrowfield.
Yarraman and Arrowfield are yet to confirm their fees, but the expectation is those two big guns would not be any less with I Am Invincible again leading the national sires' premiership and Snitzel the sire of this year's Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.
Coolmore, Yulong and Rosemont Stud are among the other studs yet to make public their fees for 2023 but the past week has been a big week for announcements, including the following:
Anamoe announced at a record introductory fee of $121,000, which Godolphin will not alter even if he does head to Royal Ascot and win the Queen Anne Stakes. His sire, Street Boss, is returning to Victoria, where he will stand for $66,000, while Exceed And Excel remains Darley's most expensive stallion at $132,000.
Extreme Choice again heads Newgate's roster at $275,000, followed by Russian Revolution at $88,000, which is a rise of $16,500 on last year. Capitalist has had a haircut from $99,000 to $77,000, the same as Stay Inside, while State Of Rest ($44,000) and Artorius ($27,500) are the high-profile newcomers.
Vinery has effectively retained the status quo from last year with Headwater – down from $16,500 to $13,200 – the only change. Ole Kirk again heads the roster at $55,000.
Toronado is again the headline act at Swettenham Stud, where he will stand for $88,000, with Rubick – the sire of Jacquinot, who will retire to Widden at a fee of $33,000 – earning a hike from $22,000 to $27,5000.
Across the ditch, Proisir's increase was the big news with the Rich Hill Stud stallion, who has produced Legarto, Levante and Prowess, to stand for NZ$70,000 after previously operating at $17,500.
