Aclaim and Lancaster Bomber switched to live foal terms in 2019

Payment conditions for National Stud stallions Aclaim and Lancaster Bomber have been revised for the 2019 breeding season, with both now available on live foal rather than the more common October 1 terms.

The sires are managed by John Ferguson and Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock and McStay said: “Breeders in Britain and Ireland are enduring a tough few years and the foal market in 2018 was especially punishing.

“Sure, we're stallion managers but we're mare owners too, and we know exactly what breeders are going through – which is why we've changed our terms to give breeders who send their mares to us as much support as we possibly can.

“Live foal terms, where the fee is only payable when the mare has a foal who's up and suckling, are much fairer than the industry standard.”

Prix de la Foret and dual Group 2 winner Aclaim, a son of Acclamation, was the busiest new stallion in Britain last year when he was sent 160 mares.

Lancaster Bomber, meanwhile, is a War Front half-brother to Excelebration who finished second in the Dewhurst Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at two and landed the Tattersalls Gold Cup last year at four.

He is standing his first season at the National Stud this year.

“Breeders who send mares to Aclaim and Lancaster Bomber – both popular speed stallions with fast pedigrees – will only have to pay after they get what they're signing up for, not months and months before,” continued McStay.

“Live Foal terms are the norm in Australia, America and in France – we strongly think that, these days, mare owners need a bit of slack to keep their businesses thriving, and we are happy to give it to them.

"We’d encourage breeders to talk to us, discuss their mares and their ambitions, and we hope that our favourable terms will help them to breed a racehorse, manage their cashflow and – with luck! – make some money at the sales.”

Aclaim is standing this covering season at £9,500, while Lancaster Bomber has been given an introductory fee of £8,500.

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