‘Special’ Switzerland bolsters Coolmore’s stallion ranks
The team at Coolmore Australia have already begun compiling a list of potential matches for Switzerland (Snitzel) after confirming that the dominant Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner would join their 2025 stallion roster where he will stand for an introductory fee of $60,500 (inc GST).
Principal Tom Magnier believes that figure represents “great value” for breeders after the curtain was drawn on Switzerland’s ten-start racing career, which yielded five wins – three in stakes company, including the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) as a juvenile and just shy of $2 million in earnings.
Given the impression his fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) has already made in his nascent stud career, Magnier & Co. were keen to maintain that momentum by bringing Switzerland north from Chris Waller’s Rosehill stables to their sprawling farm at Jerrys Plains, where he will stand alongside fellow sons of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) in Shinzo and Best Of Bordeaux.
If their stallion ranks now represent an embarrassment of riches, much the same applies to an elite broodmare band which will be utilised to ensure Switzerland hits the ground running in the same imperious manner that he opened his career on the racetrack.
One date already planned is with Fashion Faux Pas (Flatter), the stakes-winning American mare Coolmore recently acquired online for $1.15 million having shelled out $1.7 million for her second foal, a colt by Snitzel from the Newgate draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“There is no doubt that us and our partners in Switzerland will be supporting him with quality mares from the get-go,” Magnier told ANZ Bloodstock Media.
“One mare in particular that we have identified for him is Fashion Faux Pas. We purchased her Snitzel colt for $1.7 million at Magic Millions and subsequently bought the mare online, so we can breed a three-quarter relation to the yearling who has already broken in particularly well.”
Having reinforced their stallion stock with the recent additions of their 2023 Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) victor Shinzo and multiple stakes winner Best Of Bordeaux, who also finished runner-up in the previous year’s Slipper, Coolmore’s fortunes are now closely aligned with that of Snitzel.
Given that Arrowfield’s flagbearer has now spent two decades in the stallion barn and his duties will be scaled back this year, the generational baton will soon be passed on and Magnier is confident that Switzerland and Shinzo are both well equipped to cement their super sire’s long-term legacy.
“From when we first saw Switzerland at the Easter Sale, the whole team including Chris Waller thought that he was a must-have,” said Magnier.
“Snitzel is one of the best stallions Australia has seen this century, and to now stand his two best-credentialled young sire sons – a Golden Slipper winner and now a Coolmore winner – alongside each other is a huge coup for the farm.
“Right from when he was broken in at the farm, Switzerland was always special. Chris and his team of riders always had him pinned as their best two-year-old, and he won his first three races including the Todman in the manner that was expected of him.”
The best, of course, was yet to come, as Switzerland crossed the border to Victoria for the first time in late October 2024, following his dominant display in the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
The vagaries of the Flemington straight have occasionally caught out even the most seasoned of sprinters, but Switzerland disposed of his Coolmore Stud Stakes rivals with a turn of foot that only the very best can produce.
A subsequent Timeform rating of 125 placed him in elevated company, as it eclipsed the mark achieved by several prominent Coolmore Stud Stakes winners from the 20th century including Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible), Zoustar (Northern Meteor), Sepoy (Elusive Quality) and Northern Meteor (Encosta de Lago).
His winning time of 1:08.03 under James McDonald was also the quickest recorded over the previous 20 years, with his 2.75-length victory in the stallion-making contest making it a question of when, rather than if, he would one day make his way into the breeding barn.
“His win in the Coolmore was breathtaking and the form analysts backed it up with their ratings following the race,” said Magnier.
“Watching him win so impressively in the Coolmore brought back memories of Home Affairs winning in similar fashion a few years earlier, once again with James McDonald in the saddle for Chris Waller and his team. To now stand them alongside one another in the stallion barn is a huge thrill, and we are very grateful to Chris, James and the whole team behind him.”
Waller also poured praise on Switzerland, with the master trainer labelling Coolmore’s $1.5 million purchase from the Arrowfield Stud draft “an absolute standout” at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
“The whole team was adamant we should have him,” Waller added.
“He had so much presence, just a big, strong handsome colt with a beautiful action and what a racehorse he turned into. They couldn’t touch him in the Todman, and he was electric again in the Coolmore. Switzerland is a very special horse, and I can’t wait to see what he does in the next chapter.”
Switzerland is out of US Grade 3 winner Ms Bad Behavior (Blame), herself a daughter of dual US Listed winner Cumulonimble (Stormy Atlantic), who is also the dam of stakes-winning pair One Bad Boy (Twirling Candy) and Blessed Truly (Souper Speedy).
After much deliberation, Coolmore eventually settled on a first season fee of just a tick over $60,000, which shades Shinzo’s opening foray into the market – set at $55,000 (inc GST) – but is still well short of the $82,500 commanded last year by Home Affairs.
“We don’t make decisions on service fees without a huge amount of discussion internally, as well as canvassing the opinions of breeders throughout the country,” Magnier explained.
“The feedback we have received already would indicate that the introductory fee of $55,000 plus GST for a horse of Switzerland’s credentials means that he represents great value.”
Coolmore, who paid $2.7 million to secure Switzerland’s brother at the recent Inglis Easter auction, is expected to release the service fees for its full 2025 stallion roster next week.