Swettenham Stud has announced its Group 1 sire Bianconi will stand for a reduced fee of $3,300 (inc gst) this year.
The influx of three high-profile stallions has overshadowed the ever-dependable Bianconi who has just finished another very successful season in 2012-13.
Bianconi (USA) sired the winners of 101 races in Australia – the fifth year in a row he’s topped the century mark. Overall, his winners-to-runners strike-rate is a lofty 62%.
Swettenham Stud owner Adam Sangster wants to reward breeders who have supported him over the years. “He’s going as well as ever and, through no fault of his own, has probably taken a back-seat since the arrivals of Equiano, Master Of Design and Americain.
“We’ve halved his fee and I’m sure that will spur breeders into remembering what an asset Bianconi has been to the industry,” Sangster said. “He’s been a ‘People’s Champion’ with bread-and butter winners all the way up to a champion like Nicconi.”
Bianconi has sired 44 stakes performers and they’ve stretched out for black-type wins from 1000m to 2400m.
His millionaire sprinter Nicconi was a G1 winner of the VRC Lightning Stakes and AJC The Galaxy and his first crop were in demand at the major sales earlier this year. “He turned 19 today,” Sangster said on Thursday. “But he looks years younger and has at least five seasons left in him at stud.”
Bianconi is by breed-shaping sire Danzig from USA Broodmare of the Year Fall Aspen. Besides her Swettenham star, who was the Champion 2YO of his generation in Ireland, she also foaled Group 1 winners Hamas, Fort Wood, Timber Country, Northern Aspen and the dam of Sheikh Mohammed’s all-time favourite Dubai Millennium.
It’s arguably the best pedigree of any stallion in the southern hemisphere and that’s also flowing through to his daughters. Bianconi mares are a burgeoning breed in both hemispheres foaling up-and-coming stakes winners like Honey’s Steel Gold (Flemington), Psychic Mick (Caulfield) and Sensible Lady (Saratoga).
Bianconi yearlings have sold to $240,000 and that makes him a value bet at $3,300 for broodmare owners whether they breed to race or breed for the sale ring.
Sangster comes straight to the point when summing up Bianconi. “He’s has never been more reliable and, right now, never more affordable.”
For further information on the Swettenham Stud roster, broodmare owners can contact Sangster (0418 543 633) or Business Development Manager Chris Belli (0417 514 552).