Run The Numbers – Average Australian service fee hits record as top-end soars

With a record number of stallions standing at $200,000-plus in Australia this season, it is not surprising that the average fee for a commercial sire has hit unprecedented levels. Run The Numbers digs deep into the stallion fee trends for 2025.

The average service fee of a commercial stallion in Australia has reached a record level, with growth at the top-end overriding the fact that 88 per cent of sires had their fee either stay the same or reduced compared to 2024.

With the vast majority of stallion fees confirmed, the average fee of those 109 stallions who stand at $11,000 or more in Australia has grown to $45,217, up from $40,822, or 10.8 per cent on what the figure was in 2024.

The figure easily eclipsed the previous record of $42,297 set in 2022 and ends a two-year decline in that average figure which stood at $41,250 in 2023. In 2021, it was $35,084 and in 2020, the average across $10,000-plus stallions was $31,345.

While only 11 commercial stallions, or 12 per cent, had a price rise on 2025, it was the size of those price increases that significantly impacted the average.

At the top, Too Darn Hot jumped from $110,000 to $275,000 (although he did not end up standing in 2024 after being a late withdrawal). Meanwhile, Extreme Choice leapt by $55,000 to $330,000 and champion first-season sire in waiting Ole Kirk’s fee vaulted from $55,000 to $99,000.

The other major impact on the average came via Wootton Bassett, who will stand for an Australian record $385,000 in 2025. His fee was listed as private last year, so he wasn’t counted in the 2024 averages.

Only once before in Australian history have there been two stallions standing in the $300,000-plus range and that was in 2008/09. While there has never been a year where six stallions have stood for $200,000-plus.  

There are now seven stallions (not including Written Tycoon who is listed as private) standing for more than $100,000 in Australia in 2025, at an average of $263,214, up from six last year when their average was $217,250.   

In 2020, that figure was $154,917, before it jumped to $158,714 in 2021, then to $189,063 in 2022. It leapt above $200,000 for the first time (to $201,143) in 2023.

What is interesting is that the greatest fee drop of any Australian stallion also came amongst that “six-figure” crew, with I Am invincible dropping by $55,000 to $220,000.    

The median service fee for commercial stallions in Australia this year is $24,200 compared to $22,000 in 2024.

But in terms of how many stallions had a fee rise, 12 per cent is the lowest figure since the pandemic-impacted 2020 season (6.3 per cent). Last season that figure was 16.1 per cent or 15 stallions.

Over half, 53.3 per cent, of stallions had their fee stay the same as last year, while 34.8 per cent saw a decrease. In comparison, 2024 saw 43 per cent have their service fees cut, and 40.9 per cent stay steady.

The middle market was particularly impacted. Of the 35 stallions who stood for between $27,500 and $77,000 in Australia in 2024, 15 saw a price drop in 2025, and just five had a fee rise.  

The average service fee change across all 92 stallions who also stood in 2024 was an increase of $705. The comparative statistic in 2024 was a decrease of $532. It points to a much more bullish market, after a slight step back in 2024.

 Service fee movement of commercial stallions ($10,000-plus)

Year	Up	Down	Steady	Average
2025	12.0%	34.8%	53.3%	$705
2024	16.1%	43.0%	40.9%	-$532
2023	20.0%	28.6%	51.4%	$63
2022	23.5%	22.5%	53.9%	$2,852
2021	19.6%	29.9%	50.5%	$1,973
2020	6.9%	58.6%	34.5%	-$4,014

But what about the 15 new stallions (announced) joining the Australian fold this year (a list that excludes Schwarz, whose fee has yet to be confirmed)?

Their average fee is $30,250, again a jump on 2024 when it was $25,688 across 17 new faces. In 2023, there were 13 at an average of $34,481. In 2022, the average fee of a new stallion was $37,017, while it was $30,550 in 2021 and in 2020, it was $24,009.

That figure can be influenced heavily by one or two high-profile names. This year, Broadsiding is the top-priced first-season stallion at $66,000, while Switzerland is $60,500. 

Last year only Shinzo ($55,000) was above $50,000 but in 2023, Anamoe started off at $121,000.

Incidentally, the average price of a yearling across all Australian public sales to date in 2024 is $110.004.

Year	Average fee of first-season stallion
2025	$30,250
2024	$25,688
2023	$34,481
2022	$37,017
2021	$30,550
2020	$24,009