Thursday, 8 August 2019: The Australian bloodstock industry is riding a wave of success with the Australian Stud Book revealing breeding activity is at a five-year high.

Studscene

Latest Stud Book figures list 68 stallions covering 100 mares or more last spring with the numbers certain to increase this coming breeding season, driven by spiralling prizemoney that reflects a booming racing economy.

The introduction of new multi-million dollar races such as the $14 million Everest - the world's richest race on turf - the $7 million Golden Eagle and $5 million All Star Mile are attracting worldwide attention to the Australian industry that now boasts 59 events worth $1 million or more.

The quality and prestige of Australia's elite races has been recognized by the ranking of the world's best races by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Among the top 100 on the list 31 were run in Australia in 2018.

The 2018-19 season closed with Snitzel joining the elite list of sire to win three straight Australian Sires' premiership with 180 winners and his progeny earning over $24.2 million.

His reign has been underpinned by his dual Everest winner Redzel, who has won more than $15 million prizemoney and remains the world's highest stakes earning sprinter.

Hot on Sniztel's heels has been I Am Invincible, a stallion that has set his own records after a humble start to his stud career on a service fee of just $11,000.

He ended 2018/19 with an Australian record 28 stakes winners of 40 stakes races in one season, success that has driven his fee for the coming spring to a massive $247,500 and will see him cover the world champion Winx among a stellar book of mares.

The growth of Queensland as a real breeding force reached a new high last season with local studs standing the pacesetting first season sires for the second successive season.

After Spirit Of Boom's title winning surge of first crop winners in 2017/18 (18 including five stakes winners) the baton was passed to Sidestep and Better Than Ready with that pair taking the freshman honours across all categories.

Sidestep, acquired on lease from Darley by Telemon Thoroughbreds, took the first season prizemoney title thanks to the Golden Slipper Stakes win by his filly Kiamichi, while Lyndhurst Stud's Better Than Ready (23 winners) was the leading first crop sire by wins and winners.

Spirit Of Boom carried on with his second crop, following in the footsteps of his own sire Sequalo to become Queensland Champion Sire for 2018/19 with his progeny earning $5,756,000 with 62 individual winners in Australia alone.

He was also one of only three stallions to be represented in among the top 10 sires for both 2YO winners and 3YO winners alongside Snitzel and I Am Invincible.

In the sale rings there were records galore.

The Easter Sale in Sydney saw 19 yearlings sell for 1 million or more led by $2.8 million for a colt by Snitzel.

Inglis grossed over $230 million at its five select yearling sales at an average of $114,000 while Magic Millions collected $180 million at its flagship Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January and further $148 million from the National Sales series held in May and June.

The National Sale featured the $2.3 million bid for the multiple stakes winner Missrock, making her the most expensive filly or mare sold in Australia in 2019.

Her sale to international buyers John and Jake Warren reflected Australia's growing status on the world stage as a source of top class breeding stock.

"The 2018/19 racing and breeding seasons were memorable on so many fronts and augurs well for the next 12 months," said Aushorse CEO Tom Reilly.

"Importantly, there is a growing confidence in our unique marketplace with statistics showing that 63% of Australian Group One winners were offered at sale prior to their wins, compared to just 39% in Europe.

"It certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by investors from outside our borders."