In further recognition of the difficult season ahead for the thoroughbred breeders of Australia, Emirates Park (NSW) has slashed the service fees of three of its resident stallions.

Following discussions held between Emirates Park director of operations Dr Shalabh Sahu and stud principal His Excellency Nasser Lootah, the original 2009 advertised service fees of Al Maher, Mutawaajid and Eavesdropper (USA) have all been radically reduced.

The 2009 service fee of Al Maher will be advertised as $22,000 (plus gst).  This represents a huge saving for broodmare owners wishing to make a booking to the Group 1 winning son of Danehill (USA).

Similarly, Mutawaajid is now to stand the 2009 breeding season at an introductory service fee of $8,000 (plus gst), down from $15,000 (plus gst).

In addition, bookings to Eavesdropper (USA), standing his first season in Australia, can now be made at a fee of $5,000 (plus gst), as opposed to $7000 (plus gst) previously advertised.

Just as significant is the fact that Emirates Park will also honour its unique offer made last week of providing a free service to either Eavesdropper (USA) or the Victorian-based Old Deuteronomy (USA) with each booking made to either Al Maher or Mutawaajid for the 2009 breeding season.

In explaining the reduction in fees of the three Emirates Park (NSW) resident stallions, Dr Sahu said:  “Bloodstock sales staged in more recent weeks have illustrated that things are going to be tougher for domestic thoroughbred breeders than we first anticipated when originally assessing our service fees for the 2009 season.

“His Excellency Nasser Lootah wanted to address this situation as soon as possible and in the best possible way.

This he has done by not only reducing the original service fees set for 2009, but by reducing them significantly.”

For further information, contact Dr Shalabh Sahu on (02) 6546 6550 or 0408 466 777; Eddie Alvares on (03) 9746 1444 or 0417 517 667; or David Grant on 0427 772 237.