Mehmas Leads Tally-Ho Roster at €70,000

A fine group 1 year from Mehmas (IRE) has prompted a fee raise for 2025 as the Tally-Ho titan hits €70,000 (US$74,981, €1=US$1.07) for the first time. The record-breaking first-season sire of 2020 has flitted between €50,000 and €60,000 over the last three seasons but his year has included eight 2-year-old European stakes winners this year led by the group or grade 1 trio Scorthy Champ (IRE) (Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, G1), Vertical Blue (IRE) (Prix Marcel Boussac, G1), and Magnum Force (IRE) (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, G1T) as well as the 1 million guineas sale of a colt out of Sagely (IRE) to Godolphin at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale. The venerable Kodiac (GB) will stand for €25,000, down a little from €35,000 in 2024. He reached 100 stakes winners this year and fathered Babouche (GB), who defeated colts to take the Phoenix Stakes (G1). The O'Callaghan family's operation has had a busy time with new signings and unveiled fees for three recruits. King of Steel, the 2023 Champion Stakes (G1) winner, has been introduced at €20,000 while outstanding sprinter Big Evs (IRE) will stand for €17,500 after a second stellar campaign. Its most recently announced name, top 2-year-old Bucanero Fuerte (GB), will be introduced at €12,500. Of other existing residents Cotai Glory (GB) has been nudged up a little to €14,000 from €12,500 while Good Guess (GB) is at €12,500 from €17,500. Starman (GB) is unchanged at €10,000 while Persian Force (IRE) remains at €8,000. Dark Angel Holds Steady Yeomanstown Stud has announced the 2025 fees for its four-strong roster, headed by champion sire-elect Dark Angel (IRE), who will remain at €60,000. Dark Angel has been superbly represented by the champion miler Charyn (IRE), while he was also the leading sire at Royal Ascot, has retained his leading sire of sprinters/milers title for the fifth consecutive year, and his yearlings made up to 2.9 million guineas in the sales ring. Discussing the decision to keep Dark Angel at his 2024 fee level, Yeomanstown's Gay O'Callaghan said: "To breed your mare to the champion sire at that fee offers breeders a phenomenal opportunity to breed a sales-topping yearling or champion racehorse." New recruit, the top-class sprinter Mill Stream (IRE), will be introduced at a fee of €12,500. Group 1-winning juvenile Supremacy (IRE) will be available at €8,000, down from €10,000 this year, as the stud eagerly awaits his first runners in 2025. Shaman (IRE) has made a good impression on the track with his first runners, and his yearlings continued to be popular, making up to €110,000. He will remain at a fee of €5,000. Bradsell Enters at £10,000 Three-time group 1 winner Bradsell (GB) has arrived at the National Stud to prepare for the 2025 breeding season. General manager Joe Bradley said Nov. 8: "Bradsell has settled into his new surroundings extremely well and we are delighted to be standing him at the National Stud in partnership with Shaikh Nasser's Victorious Racing. … He retires as a three-time group 1 winner and undoubtedly one of the finest sprinters of his generation." Bradley revealed: "Bradsell's fee is set at £10,000 live foal for his first season, and we will be offering a limited number of breeding rights." Outlining other stallion fees at the National Stud, Bradley continued: "Stradivarius's first foals have made a strong impression; his fee will remain at £10,000 live foal. "Lope Y Fernandez, whose first yearlings were extremely well received by breeders and buyers throughout the sales season, has an exciting year ahead in 2025, with over 100 2-year-olds ready to represent him—his 2025 fee is £7,500. Rajasinghe continues to offer exceptional value at £3,000." Lope Y Fernandez (IRE) has stood at £8,500 for his first three seasons at the Newmarket stud, while Rajasinghe (IRE)'s 2025 level sees him stay steady for the fifth season on the spin.