Fusaichi Freefall

- Stallions priced with budgets in mind reads the headline in the Form. Indeed, unless you're name is Smart Strike, chances are that your stud services will be worth less in 2008. It was reported a couple of weeks ago that the former industry leader Storm Cat was taking at a hit from $500,000 to $300,000. Castleton Lyons is reducing their fees across the board. "We recognize that the market is entering a period of stabilization, and we wish to ensure that our valued clients are in a position to make a return on their investment." [DRF]

Gone West takes a dip from $125,000 to $85,000.

His fee first reached $100,000 in 1997 and reached $150,000 for one season, in 2005. In the Report of Mares Bred issued by The Jockey Club recently, he was reported as having covered 47 mares this year, down significantly from the 73 in 2006 and 87 in 2005. [Bloodhorse]

Perhaps no stallion has fallen so far from grace over the last few years than the Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. Coolmore's Ashford Stud announced that he will stand in 2008 for $45,000; that's down from $75,000 this year. His fee was as high as $150,000 in 2002, and has come down steadily since then. The son of Mr. Prospector just hasn't gotten the job done of late; he currently ranks #84 on the general sire list, and you have to go back to Bandini to find his last U.S. runner of note. Ravel threatened to make some waves earlier this year, but went to the sidelines in the spring. That runner is the sire's only graded winner in this country in 2007; and that was the Grade 3 Sham.

Coolmore announced that Dylan Thomas will stand for $50,000 in Ireland. [CORRECTION: It's 50,000 Euros...a bit less than $75,000 at current exchange rates.] But at Ashford, they will unveil Scat Daddy for $30,000. Hmmmm, the best horse in Europe (when he's not running on a soft course in New Jersey) for $50,000; or Scat Daddy for $30,000...