Storm Cat's 2006 book full; cutback in future

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Storm Cat's fee will remain $500,000 for the 2006 breeding season, an Overbrook Farm adviser, Ric Waldman, said Monday, and the highly successful sire's book already is essentially sold out.

Storm Cat, the world's most fashionable commercial stallion, proved his popularity most recently at the Keeneland September juvenile sale. There, his 26 progeny averaged $1,766,730 in the auction ring, headed by the sale-topping $9.7 million colt out of Tranquility Lake purchased by Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum.

Not surprisingly, Waldman said that the farm has a waiting list for access to Storm Cat seasons.

"He'll effectively be sold out once we take care of those people who have already sent in requests," Waldman said, adding that most of those people are repeat breeders or holders of lifetime breeding rights to the 22-year-old stallion.

"Once we take care of the existing demand, it's entirely possible that we could sell a few remaining seasons at a higher price," Waldman said.

Storm Cat's book probably will be reduced in the coming breeding season, as well, Waldman said.

"It's likely," he said. "In subsequent years, it will be reduced, which is the norm for a 22-year-old, going on 23-year-old horse."

Waldman said Storm Cat bred 109 mares in 2005 and that it was unlikely he would breed more than that in 2006.

Storm Cat, a son of Storm Bird and the Secretariat mare Terlingua, was a Grade 1 winner at 2 before retiring to stud at the late W.T. Young's Overbrook near Lexington. There, he has developed into a sire of high-class stakes winners as well as a sire of some notable sires. Among Storm Cat's best advertisements this year is Giant's Causeway, Europe's Horse of the Year in 2000 who is now having even more success at stud.

Storm Cat also is the sire of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Cat Thief, Preakness and Belmont winner Tabasco Cat, Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Desert Stormer, and champions Storm Flag Flying, Sweet Catomine, Hold That Tiger, Aljabr, One Cool Cat, Silken Cat, and Black Minnaloushe, among numerous other outstanding runners in North America and abroad.