His barn-mate, multiple Group 1 winning sprinter JUNGLE CAT, will stand his second season at an unchanged fee of $13,200 including GST.
2020 will also see Telemon partner with some of Australian racing and breeding’s most influential participants to launch the stud career of leading stallion ZOUSTAR’s most precocious performer to date, SUN CITY.
SUN CITY will stand at $7,700 including GST.
Telemon Principal Dan Fletcher said they have assembled a roster that represents exceptional value and includes an option for breeders at every level.
“We’re confident we have found the right balance,” said Fletcher.
“The fees we have set are a reflection of the quality of our stallions whilst recognising the current difficult economic conditions.”
SIDESTEP’S first runners in season 2018/19 launched his career in spectacular fashion. With his first crop still just 3yos, so far he has been responsible for five stakes horses across both hemispheres.
His flag-bearer KIAMICHI carried off the most coveted prize in Australasian racing, the Group 1 Golden Slipper.
At $16,500, Fletcher believes SIDESTEP is positioned to capitalise on the forces driving the stallion market in 2020.
“Not only is he attainable for Australia’s ‘breed to race’ participants, he remains a live commercial play,” said Fletcher.
“He has easily his highest quality crop in-utero that will be running as 2yos when his 2020 matings will be yearlings. The upside for breeders is they will have last year’s book winning stakes races as 2yos for them when they are selling their yearlings.”
SIDESTEP enjoying his paddock at Telemon.
“We are so excited about this horse,” said Fletcher.
“He is a powerful, masculine, compact and uncomplicated horse that was a Group 1 winner over 1200m and 1400m against some of the world’s best sprinters.
“We love the fact he was a straight six specialist. It’s a real stallion-making trait, so to win a Group 1 in that format as well as smash a track record in running 1.08.24 tells us we have a proper stallion prospect.”
According to Telemon’s in-house data, JUNGLE CAT is the highest-rated stallion to retire to stud in Queensland in over 20 years.
JUNGLE CAT is the fastest son of IFFRAAJ, a champion stallion and emerging sire of sires boasting 10 Group 1 winners and over 70 stakes winners.
JUNGLE CAT ready to stand his second season at Telemon.
“SUN CITY is a horse we’ve followed throughout his career,” said Fletcher.
“He burst on the scene as an early 2yo and looked like he had the world at his feet. Unfortunately, he suffered a non-congenital injury when he jumped the crossing following his win in the B J McLachlan.
“Tony McEvoy has a really firm belief, as do the ownership group that raced him, that SUN CITY could have been another SUNLIGHT. This isn’t just talk.
“They’re backing up their convictions through their actions and we’re delighted that some incredibly successful breeders have entrusted the horse to us and they will be supporting him to see that he gets the opportunity he deserves.”
SUN CITY is a welcome addition to the Telemon stallion roster in 2020.
“Each of these stallions would be a worthy addition to any farm in the country,” he said.
“SIDESTEP is flying and, at his fee, I think we have the best value, proven young stallion in the game and he has genuine commercial upside.
“JUNGLE CAT is a speed machine that in my opinion will work perfectly with our mares.
“SUN CITY is just a specimen. A stunning individual by one of the country’s very best young stallions. He was a really sharp, early 2yo. The fact he was injured could be a blessing for our breeders as it keeps him to an affordable fee where they can access a horse that will give them an early return.”
SIDESTEP, JUNGLE CAT and SUN CITY are eligible for Queensland’s rich QTIS program.
Enquiries on the stallions can be directed to Dan Fletcher on 0455 559 412 or [email protected]