HOME AFFAIRS is set to be crowned champion first season sire for 2025-26, but history tells you he still has a long way to go before securing his commercial future.
By virtue of his son GUEST HOUSE winning the Golden Slipper last month, HOME AFFAIRS has virtually wrapped up the freshman sire’s premiership, purely because it is determined by prizemoney (as opposed to winners, stakes winners, strike rate or some other metric).
He’s the sire everyone wants to follow into next season. But let’s not forget that three of the last 10 winners of the Slipper were by stallions that now stand for an aggregate fee of just $19.8k (MANHATTAN RAIN $5.5k, REBEL DANE $8.8k & SIDESTEP $5.5k).
Of course, HOME AFFAIRS could well become the next star of our stallion ranks, but clearly, the Slipper does not guarantee a blossoming stud career.
One stallion that has not been afforded the same media attention is STAY INSIDE, despite his stats comparing very well with HOME AFFAIRS:
HOME AFFAIRS
145 live foals = 30 starters for 5 winners (16.5%)
3 Stakes Winners
STAY INSIDE
123 live foals = 11 starters for 5 winners (45.5%)
3 Stakes Winners
The million-dollar question from here is which sire has more upside? If your answer is STAY INSIDE, then consider the STAY INSIDE x KAHLO colt Proven Thoroughbreds purchased at this year’s Magic Millions sale.
A beautiful rangy chestnut colt, he’s completed his breaking in at Kenmore Lodge where he impressed the team with his progression.
“He made huge improvement throughout the breaking in. He loves his work and is a very clean winded horse,” Kenmore Lodge manager Kellie Bond said in a recent update to owners.
