Lope De Vega hits career-high fee as Ballylinch Stud announce 2020 prices

Ballylinch Stud has published the 2020 covering fees for its five-strong roster of stallions, a list headed by Lope De Vega at €100,000.

The son of Shamardal has earned his sixth consecutive increase, having stood 2019 at €80,000, after a season in which his runners included the Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Phoenix Of Spain.

Lope De Vega's stallion career continues on a remarkable upward trajectory, with nine Group/Grade 1 winners on his stud record and 107 stakes performers. Despite such impressive numbers, he was available to breeders at just €12,500 as recently as 2014.

Ballylinch Stud's managing director John O'Connor said: "Lope De Vega has had another incredible season, with a Classic winner, two new Group 1 winners and 25 stakes winners.

"Despite having only six crops of racing age, only Galileo, Dubawi and Shamardal had more black type winners amongst the European sires. The success continued in the sales ring as his progeny realised up to 750,000gns with an average of over €205,000."

After a positive start with his debut crop of two-year-olds, among which are the Group 3 winners Rose Of Kildare and Ocean Fantasy, Make Believe has had his fee held firm at €12,000.

"Make Believe has made a most promising start at stud with three stakes winners; only Night Of Thunder has more among the first-season sires," said O'Connor. "Make Believe himself improved 36lb on Racing Post Ratings from two to three and there is every indication that his progeny are likely to progress as three-year-olds.

"With five horses already officially rated over 95, including the ten-length maiden winner Mishriff, and five engaged in next year’s Irish Classics, it looks like the excellent start is sure to continue for Make Believe."

Rose Of Kildare (blue): one of three black type winners from the debut crop of Make BelieveCredit: Mark Cranham

Also standing for an unchanged fee is New Bay, whose first crop of juveniles will hit the track next year on the back of some encouraging results at the yearling sales.

O'Connor said of the son of Dubawi: "New Bay's yearlings were well received by trainers and agents alike, making up to 300,000gns and averaging over €50,000. As one of Dubawi's best sons from the immediate family of Kingman and Oasis Dream, we are looking forward to him continuing the family tradition with his first crop hitting the track next season."

Another Ballylinch resident with his first runners next year is Fascinating Rock, whose fee has been trimmed in to €7,000, having been €7,500 in 2019.

"The best son of Fastnet Rock, Fascinating Rock will also have his first runners next season," said O'Connor. "He covered 34 black-type performers or producers in his initial book, the yearlings subsequently made up to €160,000, and we think he's going to have a great chance with his first runners."

The stud's newest recruit is arguably one of the European stallion ranks' most exciting additions, with Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Waldgeist introduced at €17,500.

"Waldgeist is the best son of Galileo since Frankel and he's the only horse to defeat Enable at the highest level," said O'Connor. "With an incredible pedigree, he’s a two-year-old Group 1 winner who progressed to win a vintage Arc beating nine Group 1 winners. We think he offers breeders incredible value at only €17,500."