Why 2022 fees reflect more realistic outlook from studs and influx of new sires

An element of caution has seemed to be the order of the day when it came to setting fees for the upcoming breeding season, albeit there were a few sires who were given deserved hikes after stellar seasons.

It was of little surprise that British/Irish and European champion sire-elect Frankel was bumped up, although Juddmonte could conceivably have gone further than the £25,000 increase for his 2022 fee of £200,000.

Coolmore will throw its full might behind Wootton Bassett, fortified by juvenile Group winners including Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Zellie, and he received another lofty raise to €150,000 from €100,000, while his studmate Camelot’s unbeaten Vertem Futurity star Luxembourg helped fuel a pay rise for his sire to €75,000, from €60,000.