Lope De Vega leads the Ballylinch squad | Ballylinch Stud
Ballylinch Stud has released fees for its five stallions, with its flagship sire Lope De Vega (Ire) receiving a price augment from €125,000 to €175,000, although he is expected to cover a smaller number of mares in 2025.
“Lope de Vega continues to prove himself a global breeding sensation,” said John O’Connor, managing director of Ballylinch Stud. “He has again this season with the most Group 1 winners, European Classic winners and black horses of any stallion in the world Proven performance at the highest level. His continued success is highlighted by his international appeal in the sales ring and the consistent results his progeny achieve on the global stage. His fee augment will be accompanied by a reduction in book size for 2025.”
In an outstanding year, Lope De Vega sired a Classic double in France, with his son Look De Vega (Ire) winning the Prix du Jockey Club and Rouhiya (Fr) winning the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Look De Vega was subsequently sold to the partnership of Ballylinch Stud and Al Shaqab, with the intention that he would represent Ballylinch upon his final retirement from racing.
Fresh Bay (GB) remains at €75,000 for 2025 and stands alongside his winning Group 1 son Bayside Boy (Ire), who has 17 of his first foals for sale at Goffs next week. His fee was reduced from 15,000 euros to 12,500 euros.
“With the mare book continuing to improve, his future as a leading sire is assured and we expect a gigantic year for Fresh Bay in 2025,” said O’Connor.
“Bayside Boy is Fresh Bay’s most precocious and fastest son to date. He was offered great opportunities for breeding in his first two seasons with excellent mare books. In fact, with these mares he covered the highest percentage of champion and black mares of any second season sire in Ireland.”
Make Believe (GB) completes the Ballylinch squad in Ireland and will have his lowest fee of €8,000 since retiring from breeding in 2016.
“With seven stakes winners, including four Group winners in 2024 alone, it offers breeders an unprecedented opportunity to breed top performers at a highly affordable price,” added O’Connor. “Trainers always praise his offspring for their attitude and will to win.”
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB) will remain under the Ballylinch banner but will move from Ireland to Germany next season. He will be stationed at Gestut Lunzen for a fee of €6,000.
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