Deep Impact heads Shadai Stallion Station roster for 2017

Shadai Stallion Station has released the 2017 fees for its near 30-strong roster. Champion racehorse Deep Impact, who sired this year's impressive Prix d'Ispahan winner A Shin Hikari, has been confirmed at a fee of ¥30 million (£214,000/€252,000) and is already fully booked for the season.

The 2015 Japanese Derby hero Duramente also has a full book of mares for his first season at Shadai at a fee of ¥4m (£28,6o0/€33,500).

Two other fully-booked stallions include King Kamehameha, a son of Kingmambo, who remains at ¥10m (£71,500/€83,900), while Rulership, a son of King Kamehameha who leads the first season sire standings, has had his fee increased from ¥3m to ¥4m (£28,6o0/€33,500).

Deep Impact covered a book of 230 broodmares in 2016. Five other Shadai sires had a book of up to 200 mares.

The 2013 Japanese Derby winner Kizuna, a son of Deep Impact, and the runner-up Epiphaneia, a son of Symboli Kris S, were very much in demand in their debut season at stud. Kizuna covered 269 mares at ¥2.5m (£17,900/€21,000), while the 2014 Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia covered 211 mares at the same fee.

Lord Kanaloa and Orfevre, both with their first runners in 2017, covered 263 and 244 mares respectively.

Rulership was the busiest Shadai stallion in 2016 with 280 mares.

Shadai have steadily been increasing the workload for King Kamehameha and after some depleted crops he covered 151 mares in 2016.

Reach The Crown will join the Shadai roster in 2017. The ten-year-old, who began his career at Arrow Stud at ¥200,000 (£1450/€1700) and delivered eight juvenile winners from a first crop of 34 foals, will be offered for his initial season at Shadai for ¥800,000 (£5700/€6700).

Among the European exports, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners Novellist will stand for ¥3m (£21,500/€25,200) and Harbinger will stand for ¥2.5m (£17,900/€21,000), while the fee for Derby winner Workforce has yet to be announced.