Friday's first day of September not only marks the dawn of spring, it also raises the curtain for the Australasian breeding season.
Mares are now free to be put to stallions and Australia this year welcomes a big group of freshmen sires, headlined by the last two Cox Plate winners.
State Of Rest will stand his first season in Australia at Newgate Farm, while the horse he edged out in the 2021 Cox Plate will stand at Darley.
Anamoe, who atoned for that narrow defeat when he won last year's Cox Plate, commands a fee of $121,000 but one that Sheikh Mohammed's operation believes is justified given his racetrack deed and has been backed up by the level of interest in the son of Street Boss.
"The trifecta of performance, pedigree, and attitude are the most critical factors breeders consider and he possesses them all in spades," Godolphin Australia general manager Vin Cox said.
"As he embarks on his new journey on the prestigious Darley roster, there's no doubt that he is the most sought after and exceptional stallion Australia has ever seen."
Below is a list of the stallions who have been added to Australasian rosters this year.
AQUIS: Has welcomed STRONGER, a son of Not A Single Doubt, who will stand for $13,750.
ARROWFIELD: The new home for dual Derby winner HITOTSU, who is by Maurice, who has been set at $22,000.
BLUE GUM FARM: In new hands for the first time, Sebring's son SEJARDAN is the headline addition to the roster and will stand for $13,750
BOMBORA DOWNS: Welcomes CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, a son of Galileo, who will stand for $8250.
COOLMORE: JUSTIFY is not a new stallion, but last season's leading first-season sire returns to Jerrys Plains after missing last season. The son of Scat Daddy will stand for $77,000. STARSPANGLEDBANNER is also not new, but available to Coolmore breeders at $33,000, while Golden Slipper runner-up BEST OF BORDEAUX (Snitzel) will stand his first season at $27,500.
DARLEY: ANAMOE is the headline act, the second most expensive stallion on the Darley roster behind Exceed And Excel ($132,000), while the other new addition is last year's Winterbottom Stakes winner PAULELE (Dawn Approach), who has taken up residence at Seymour and commands $16,500.
DARLING VIEW: The Western Australian farm is the new home for Group 2 winner LIGHTSABER (Zoustar), who has an introductory fee of $6000.
GEISEL PARK (WA): Also standing his first season, at $8800, is Home Affairs' half-brother AYSAR, A SON OF Deep Field.
MAPPERLEY STUD: One of the new homes for Deep Impact's Spring Champion Stakes winner PROFONDO, who shares duties between Mapperley and Windsor Park Stud at a fee of $17,500.
MOGUMBER PARK: Group 2 Rubiton Stakes winner MARINE ONE (Capitalist) is an addition to the WA stud's team, at $8800 a serve.
NEWGATE: No farm has more high-profile additions than the Hunter Valley stud, headed by Starspanglebanner's son STATE OF REST, who will stand for $44,000. Golden Rose winner IN THE CONGO (Snitzel) has been set at $33,000, while globe-trotting dual Group 1 winner ARTORIUS (Flying Artie) stands for $27,500.
RIVERBANK FARM: Victoria is the new home for DALASAN (Dalakhani), who stands at Benalla for $5500.
TWIN HILLS: Last year's Blue Diamond winner DAUMIER, a son of Epaulette, will stand at the New South Wales farm for $16,500.
WIDDEN: The famed Hunter Valley farm's headline arrival is Golden Rose and Orr Stakes winner JACQUINOT (Rubick), whose introductory fee is $33,000, while BRUCKNER (Snitzel) – who beat home all bar Home Affairs in the 2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes – stands for $11,000.
YULONG: The Victorian farm has been building its roster in recent seasons and this year's welcomes Japanese stallion DIATONIC, who stands for $13,750.
