Free Eagle to Lead Cornerstone 2016 Roster

European highweight older horse and group I winner Free Eagle will lead Cornerstone Stud's 2016 stallion roster with a fee of Aus$18,700, the farm announced April 26.

Free Eagle, who beat Criterion, The Grey Gatsby and Gailo Chop in the 2015 Prince of Wales' Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot, is shuttling to Cornerstone from the Irish National Stud, where he entered stud this year at €20,000. He is a 5-year-old son of High Chaparral.

"With the news that Dalakhani will not be able to shuttle this year, as well as the passing of Hussonet, it is pleasing that we are able to replace quality with quality by adding Free Eagle and Valentia to our 2016 stallion roster," said Cornerstone Stud managing director Sam Hayes.

Valentia is one of the few sons of Fastnet Rock to have won a group race as a 2-year-old, according to Hayes. The Australian-bred won the Hyland Race Colours Skyline Stakes (Aus-II) and will enter stud at a fee of $11,000. 

Shuttling to Cornerstone Stud again in 2016 from Tally-Ho Stud is Zebedee, the leading 2014 European freshman sire and top 2015 European second-crop sire. He will stand for $16,500.

"Zebedee is proven as a phenomenal source of speedy early 2-year-old types, he has had over 60 2-year-old winners in his first two crops," said Hayes. "In addition, during the past 10 days he has sired a 4-year-old group III winner and a 3-year-old Listed winner in Europe. We know now that the Zebedee's train on, too."

The last remaining group I-winning son of Nureyev at stud in Australia, proven sire Good Journey will stand for $11,000. From an International blueblood family of Best in Show, Good Journey recently sired his third group I winner when Griante ran out victorious in the Galaxy Stakes over 1,100 meters.

"From relatively limited opportunities, Good Journey has sired group I horses that have won from 1,100 meters up to 2,400 meters, he is a very versatile and extremely consistent stallion," said Hayes. "His runners average $63,500 in earnings, with 65% of them being winners, you just cannot overlook stats like that when discussing proven stallions in his fee range."

Rounding out the roster at a fee of $5,500 is Ambidexter. 

"Having had his first yearlings sell at an average of $30,000 and going to the stables of the likes of Richard Jolly, Nick Smart and Darren Weir, we really believe he has a great chance to succeed at stud off a low service fee," Hayes said. "The feedback from breeders that have used him in each of his first three years at stud has been very positive." 

Cornerstone's 2016 Roster

Free Eagle        $18,700 

Zebedee        $16,500 

Valentia        $11,000 

Good Journey        $11,000 

Ambidexter        $5,500 

*All fees in Australian dollars and include the Goods and Services Tax (GST)