Storm Cat reduced
 

http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41366


Strange that Overbrook has seemingly not gone out and looked for a few higher profile stallions to fill the void left when SC retires. Not that they could replace him but they dont even have any second tier stallions.

On the racing front, it seems like Overbrook Farm has scaled back a ton since WT Young died. Maybe they're systematically downsizing like Golden Eagle Farm in California.

Could be

I'd still breed to A.P. Indy with 300k over Storm Cat at this point. . .

Althoug Storm Cat hasn't been getting the horses he once used to, he still gets a full book of mares each year, no matter what his fee. Although his form of the last two years or so suggests a reduction, i don't think the mare owners are going to desert him too quickly.

AP Indy certainly does look like the 'hot' sire at the moment and probably will be for a few years to come.

Take a look at A.P. Indy's pedigree and you'll realize why he's such a desirable sire these days. No Northern Dancer, no Mr. Prospector.

there was a pretty good article in the bloodhorse about 3 weeks ago that talked about the sales numbers....even though the median was up in nearly every session, the percentage of horses that were not considered profitable was also up...and stallion fees play a huge roll in that number....the worst percentages (which can be expected) occured in the highest and lowest stud fee ranges...in the current market not as many people seem willing to overbreed their mares for fear that they can't get out on the foal.
For a lot of breeders SC hasn't been profitable in years....

it also seems like they are offering more yearling at auction than they used to.

I am pretty sure there were very few people paying the full $500k stud fee for the last few years anyway. This is probably a reflection of what they were actually getting for the most part. They will likely be giving less of a discount with the lower fee.

there was one farm here that owns a large percentage of SC that was giving away seasons to him for free if the mare was bred back to one of their studs...

I have it on very reliable authority that he was commanding 100% of his fee from outside breeders.

Keep in mind, however, that about 20 of his 110 mares/year were Overbrook mares... i.e. free. Also, foal share breeders split ownership of the resulting foal (and yearling price) and pay no fee.