‘The number one thing on the whiteboard’ – Value, support underpin Rosemont’s 2026 roster

Young “Alliance” graduate Schwarz and proven Group 1-producing sire Shamus Award will head Victorian farm Rosemont Stud’s 2026 stallion roster.

The pair will stand for fees of $33,000 (all fees inc GST) for the coming breeding season while rostermate Extreme Warrior will command a higher service fee next season.

On the back of a strong start with his first crop of two-year-olds, which includes the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Eternal Warrior, Extreme Warrior will stand for an increased $22,000.

Eternal Warrior, the Merson Cooper winner who ran on from near last to catch the eye in the Blue Diamond, was considered a leading Golden Slipper contender until a setback forced the colt to be spelled.

Meanwhile, shuttler Henry Longfellow, a son of Dubawi whom Rosemont principal Anthony Mithen secured in a deal with Coolmore last year, will stand for a slightly reduced $19,800 in his second southern hemisphere season.

Hanseatic ($9900) and Doull ($5500) round out Rosemont’s six-horse stallion roster.

A son of champion sire Zoustar, Schwarz covered 143 mares in his first season at stud, with the Rosemont Alliance-raced colt receiving strong support from shareholders and breeders.

Among his book of mares to be served by the William Reid winner in his maiden season were stakes winners Brooklyn Hustle, Sneaky Five, Sistonic, Serena Miss, Fiteuse, Mildred, Bless Her and A Beautiful Night. 

Rosemont also got behind Henry Longfellow, a Group 1 National Stakes winner, in his first season at the Victorian farm.

The well-performed Treasurway, Divine Quality, Heavenly Curlin, Jamaican Rain, Khulaasa and Quickster were served by Henry Longfellow last season.

“We kept a significant majority of our mares back home last season, and those two stallions are the beneficiaries for sure,” Rosemont bloodstock manager Ryan McEvoy told The Straight.

“Schwarz covered a book of mares that I think resembled a much higher service fee, as did Henry, so I think we ended up with about 14 or 15 mares in foal to Henry, 10 of which are stakes winners and Schwarz covered an unbelievable book.

“You can sort of fall into the trap of moving on to the next horse after that first year, but we’re keen to get behind and consolidate that support again this year.”

Extreme Warrior, a son of Australia’s highest-priced stallion Extreme Choice, is eighth on the first-season sires’ premiership behind Home Affairs, Pinatubo and Stay Inside, but McEvoy said that needs to be taken into context. 

“It’s all relative to the number of foals he has on the ground compared to his competition,” he said. 

“There’s obviously been some good starts by the Home Affairs and Stay Insides, those horses, but we think with Extreme Warrior, who has got fewer than 50 live foals on the ground, (is doing a good job).

“He had an impressive metropolitan winner pre-Christmas (Blandford Baron) and a Merson Cooper winner that I think a lot of the form judges had found leading into the Slipper.

“It was such a shame he had that untimely injury setback, really, because there were a few people wanting to tip him and be on him in the Slipper, and he had the form around Guest House. We’re excited about him.”

While not dissimilar to his own sire Extreme Choice, Extreme Warrior has been held back by his fertility issues.

“He can be a bit of a challenge, Extreme Warrior, in terms of his fertility. But shareholders have indicated that they’re really keen to get behind him this year, as will we,” McEvoy said. 

“We’ll be sort of doubling or tripling down on our support of him.” 

McEvoy says the number one discussion point among Rosemont management before confirming the stud’s service fees was ensuring breeders stay in the game.

“It’s the number one thing on the whiteboard: how do we generate value for breeders whilst highlighting our stallions, highlighting we have important stallions there that have influence and have market appeal?” he said. 

“I think just about every decision you make, the thinking behind it is, how do you ensure that the breeder has confidence in breeding to this stallion and getting a win? 

“That’s at the forefront of our thinking and I think the fees reflect that.”

Rosemont Stud stallion roster

Schwarz $33,000 ($38,500)

Shamus Award $33,000 ($33,000)

Extreme Warrior $22,000 ($13,200)

Henry Longfellow $19,800 ($22,000)

Hanseatic $9900 ($16,500)

Doull $5500 ($7700)

*all fees inc GST