Fastnet Rock will retire to Coolmore this Spring and breeders will need to fork out $55k for their mare to visit the well bred and dual Group 1 winning sprinter.

Coolmore marketing manager James Bester stated today: “What’s more, Danehill sons are going to be harder and harder to come by".

Whilst Bester's comments are certainly true in the literal sense (given there aren't any more Danehill progeny being born) - in terms of Danehill sons AT STUD you're hardly lacking for choice given that there are currently 74 on offer in Australia alone and of those a number have won 2 or more G1's:

Rock of Gibraltar (7 time G1 winner)
Danewin (5 time G1 winner)
Redoute's Choice (4 time G1 winner)
Flying Spur (3 time G1 winner)
Danehill Dancer
Arena
Exceed & Excel
Lucky Owners
Nothin' Leica Dane

and the following have won one G1:

Blackfriars
Catbird
Danzero
Platinum Scissors (who has since been declared infertile)
Special Dane

... so whilst yes, the next 74 will no doubt be a lot harder to get hold of than the first 74 ... one does wonder exactly how many more we actually NEED given the saturation effect ?!

Well, there's at least another well bred one for 2005 anyway!

Interesting perhaps that Coolmore set the freshman's fee at the same level as arch rival Darley who stand Exceed and Excel ...