Proisir heads Rich Hill’s quartet of stallions for 2026
Rich Hill Stud has announced the 2026 service fees for its four-strong roster of stallions, with Proisir (Choisir) once again leading the way with a service fee of $65,000 (all fees plus GST) – a $5,000 reduction on last year’s figure.
Proisir added to his long list of Group 1 winners this season through Waitak and Legarto, the mighty mare who signed off her stellar career with back-to-back victories at racing’s highest level.
“It has been another exceptional season for our stallions, who continue to deliver outstanding results for breeders both on the racetrack and in the sale ring,” said Rich Hill’s managing director, John Thompson.
“We are proud to present a line-up of proven sires that have achieved success across all our major markets.”
Proisir’s racetrack success was also replicated in the ring, with his colt out of Ruqqaya (Van Nistelrooy) offered by Trelawney Stud at Karaka Book 1 selling for NZ$600,000. That price was subsequently eclipsed by his filly out of Zee Falls (Sacred Falls) at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, with Yarraman Park fetching $700,000 for her.
Breeders supporting Proisir this year are well positioned for the future, with the well-bred progeny from his most recent crops set to hit the track. He had 52 yearlings catalogued in Karaka Book 1 in 2025 and 54 in 2026, alongside strong representation at both the Magic Millions and Inglis Easter.
“These are significantly upgraded books in terms of pedigree compared to his earlier crops, and we are confident he will continue to build on what is already an outstanding stud record,” Thompson added.
Proisir is ably supported on the roster by shuttler Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact), who returns to the farm in 2026 for an unchanged service fee of $45,000.
The son of Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) has maintained an impressive strike-rate of 12.4 per cent stakes winners to runners among his Australasian progeny.
His yearling sales highlight in New Zealand came at Karaka Book 1, when his filly out of Avisto (Tavistock) offered by Curraghmore sold for NZ$500,000; while in Australia, another filly – this time from Widden Stud’s draft and out of Legramor (Commands) – realised $575,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The highest price he recorded this season was at the 2025 Karaka Ready to Run Sale, when Riversley Park’s colt out of Shezdelicious (Atlante) was knocked down for NZ$675,000.
“We expect Satono Aladdin’s profile to rise significantly over the coming racing seasons,” said Thompson.
“He now has strong numbers of well-bred progeny, placed with many of Australasia’s leading stables.”
Dual Group 1 winner Ace High (High Chaparral) will stand at an unchanged $15,000. He has produced ten individual Australasian stakes performers, including Group 1 winner She’s A Dealer.
Ace High’s progeny have also performed well in the sale ring and was represented by a top price of $380,000 at the 2025 Karaka Ready to Run Sale, where he averaged $171,000.
With more limited representation at the yearling sales, he still achieved a top price of $160,000 at Karaka Book 2 for the filly out of Maenoha (Bachelor Duke), delivering an excellent result for breeder Seaton Park.
“Ace High’s progeny are continuing to show they can perform at the elite level as they mature and step up in distance. We are very excited about his future and expect his upward trajectory to continue,” Thompson said.
The roster is completed by Shocking, a dual Group 1-winning son of Street Cry (Machiavellian) who has had his fee trimmed slightly to $8,000, from $10,000 in 2025.
Shocking continues to produce tough, consistent performers and recent flagbearers El Vencedor and Here To Shock have both competed with distinction at the highest level, while Azazel added further success as a stakes-winning three-year-old in Victoria.
Shocking’s progeny have also delivered strong returns across the yearling, Ready to Run and trial markets over the past season. He was the leading sire by average (three or more sold) at this year’s Karaka Book 2 Yearling Sale, achieving an average of $121,667.
“Shocking is an established sire of high-class racehorses. He offers breeders access to a proven stallion at exceptional value,” Thompson said.