It was only two years ago when RUSSIAN REVOLUTION was anointed the second most expensive stallion on Newgate Farm’s roster.
“He’s a stallion that we see, going forward, as on track to be fighting out premierships, which is really exciting for us, the shareholders and everyone that’s supported him,” Newgate’s Bruce Slade told The Thoroughbred Report in April 2023.
But the stallion game is a fickle one. Despite racking up a very respectable 19 stakes performers in the time since, the perception of RUSSIAN REVOLUTION has seemingly waned, reflected in his service fee decreasing from $88,000 to $33,000.
Sires going through a ‘lull’ is not uncommon. Even the imperious ZOUSTAR was something of a slow burn before the market cottoned on. Indeed, it took four seasons for him to earn a raise on his $44,000 service fee. The average price of his yearlings also went through two troughs between 2017 and 2020 before jumping exponentially (this year’s average is $493,000).
Interestingly, RUSSIAN REVOLUTION is now approaching the same juncture in his stud career – four seasons in, with potential to either burst back to life or possibly make way for a newcomer on Newgate’s burgeoning roster.
If the last few weeks are anything to go by, it could very well be the former.
At Scone on Saturday, he joined the likes of ZOUSTAR, SNITZEL and THE AUTUMN SUN in siring the trifecta of a stakes race – via THE INSTRUCTOR, WHINCHAT and BRUDENELL (Luskin Star Stakes).
A fortnight prior to that, his son LIBERTAD won the Group 2 Victory Stakes at weight-for-age. That followed another Group winner last month in the shape of GENERAL SALUTE at Rosehill (Star Kingdom Stakes).
In his quest to regain some traction in the market, RUSSIAN REVOLUTION does have one massive thing in his favour. His best offspring are yet to race. By that we mean the crops bred when his service fee was increased on the back of his early success, are only yearlings and weanlings. When ZOUSTAR earned his first fee increase in 2018, that resultant crop won 23 stakes races!
So it’s fair to say the next two years will be critical in shaping RUSSIAN REVOLUTION’s legacy. All the cards are in place for him to flip his trajectory and if that does happen, Proven Thoroughbreds will be represented by the RUSSIAN REVOLUTION x ASSERTIVE NATURE filly (pictured) who hails from one of the best families in NZ and is out of a PER INCANTO mare – like raging Everest favourite KA YING RISING.
She is currently back in training after impressing breaker Daniel Robinson (watch video report HERE).
