07 March 2011
Highview Stud has announced it will now offer a 100 per cent fillies rebate to breeders for the 2011 breeding season.
Owners of broodmares that patronise a Highview Stud stallion in 2011 and the mare subsequently foals a filly in 2012 will qualify for a 100 per cent rebate on the service fee paid in 2011.
This rebate can be applied as a credit against any Highview stallion’s advertised stud fee in 2012.
Highview Stud introduced the scheme last year with an initial fillies rebate of 50 per cent for foals born this year.
Managing director Brent Gillovic said breeders had reacted very warmly to the scheme in its first year and appreciated the support of Highview Stud in addressing the breeders’ dilemma with fillies.
Gillovic said the decision to make it a 100 per cent rebate is a result of the state of the fillies market at the Select and Festival Sales this year.
“The situation with the fillies market has been getting progressively worse over a number of years and with the domestic spend down some $12 million it reached an all time low this year. This rebate is a move to assist smaller breeder to stay in the game,” he said.
“I have had comments made that the prices for fillies is a reflection of the stallions on offer but that is utter nonsense in my opinion. The truth of the matter is that very few stallions are immune from this current trend.
“We all know the reasons for the situation and in a nutshell it gets back to poor stake money and an ever decreasing pool of owners.
“The gap between the prices buyers are prepared to pay for colts in comparison to fillies has widened now to a huge differential.
“I believe we are heading into dangerous territory in terms of looking at the industry on a long term basis. Hopefully NZTR can create more opportunities for fillies and mares by way of handicap relief throughout the grades, races confined to fillies and mares and more black type opportunities for them as well.
“In the meantime we believe this rebate will at least give breeders a reason to hang on to their fillies and is a step in the right direction,” said Gillovic.
