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Is a Guineas winner a pipe dream on a small budget? We explore the cost of a Guineas winner based on stallion stud fees.
All Flat breeders dream of a Classic.
A Guineas winner is unique – they must possess speed, stamina, adaptability, tenacity and heart. A successful pairing requires hard work, endless research and plenty of luck. But is money a limiting factor for the small breeder? Is a Guineas winner a pipe dream on a small budget? We explore the cost of a Guineas winner based on stallion stud fees.
| Year | Winner | Sire | Stud Fee at Time of Covering | £ Approx. Conversion | Stud Fee in 2023 |
| 2022 | Coroebus | Dubawi | £250,000 | £250,000 | £350,000 |
| 2021 | Poetic Flare | Dawn Approach | €30,000 | £26,000 | €5,000 |
| 2020 | Kameko | Kitten's Joy | $100,000 | £80,000 | Deceased |
| 2019 | Magna Grecia | Invincible Spirit | €100,000 | £88,000 | Private |
| 2018 | Saxon Warrior | Deep Impact | Private | Deceased | |
| 2017 | Churchill | Galileo | Private | Deceased | |
| 2016 | Galileo Gold | Paco Boy | £8,000 | £8,000 | Standing in Turkey |
| 2015 | Gleneagles | Galileo | Private | Deceased | |
| 2014 | Night of Thunder | Dubawi | £20,000 | £20,000 | £350,000 |
| 2013 | Dawn Approach | New Approach | £30,000 | £30,000 | Private |
| 2012 | Camelot | Montjeu | €125,000 | £110,000 | Deceased |
| 2011 | Frankel | Galileo | Private | Deceased | |
| 2010 | Makfi | Dubawi | £25,000 | £25,000 | £350,000 |
| 2009 | Sea The Stars | Cape Cross | €50,000 | £40,000 | Deceased |
| 2008 | Henrythenavigator | Kingmambo | $225,000 | £181,000 | Deceased |
| 2007 | Cockney Rebel | Val Royal | €8,500 | £7,500 | Deceased |
| 2006 | George Washington | Danehill | Private | Deceased | |
| 2005 | Footstepsinthesand | Giant's Causeway | IRG 100,000 | £111,000 | Deceased |
| 2004 | Haafhd | Alhaarth | IRG 7,000 | £8,000 | Deceased |
| 2003 | Refuse To Bend | Sadler's Wells | IRG 150,000 | £167,000 | Deceased |
Amongst the honour roll for both Classics, familiar names feature in the stallion list. The Coolmore operation have dominated the Guineas from a breeding and training perspective, with their great sires Galileo, Montjeu, Sadler's Wells and Giant's Causeway all appearing. Godolphin's champion sire Dubawi is still chasing an elusive 1000 Guineas winner but has produced three victories in the colts' equivalent.
The renewed interest in international stallions is also apparent with US-based Kitten's Joy and Japan's Deep Impact siring winners in the last five years. Between 2003 and 2011, six of the nine 1000 Guineas winners were by American-based stallions but that trend was reversed when Coolmore began to dominate the fillies' race.
| Year | Winner | Sire | Stud Fee at Time of Covering | £ Approx. Conversion | Stud Fee in 2023 |
| 2022 | Cachet | Aclaim | £12,500 | £12,500 | £10,000 |
| 2021 | Mother Earth | Zoffany | €35,000 | £31,000 | Deceased |
| 2020 | Love | Galileo | Private | Deceased | |
| 2019 | Hermosa | Galileo | Private | Deceased | |
| 2018 | Billesdon Brook | Champs Elysees | £5,000 | £5,000 | Deceased |
| 2017 | Winter | Galileo | Private | Deceased | |
| 2016 | Minding | Galileo | Private | Deceased | |
| 2015 | Legatissimo | Danehill Dancer | €75,000 | £66,000 | Deceased |
| 2014 | Miss France | Dansili | £65,000 | £65,000 | Deceased |
| 2013 | Sky Lantern | Red Clubs | €10,000 | £9,000 | Deceased |
| 2012 | Homecoming Queen | Holy Roman Emperor | €35,000 | £31,000 | €10,000 |
| 2011 | Blue Bunting | Dynaformer | $150,000 | £121,000 | Deceased |
| 2010 | Special Duty | Hennessy | $60,000 | £48,000 | Deceased |
| 2009 | Ghanaati | Giant's Causeway | $75,000 | £60,000 | Deceased |
| 2008 | Natagora | Divine Light | Private | Deceased | |
| 2007 | Finsceal Beo | Mr Greeley | $50,000 | £40,000 | Deceased |
| 2006 | Speciosa | Danehill Dancer | IRP 9,000 | £9,000 | Deceased |
| 2005 | Virginia Waters | Kingmambo | $200,000 | £161,000 | Deceased |
| 2004 | Attraction | Efisio | £8,500 | £8,500 | Deceased |
| 2003 | Russian Rhythm | Kingmambo | $45,000 | £36,000 | Deceased |
To directly compare the two Classics, all stallion fees have been approximately converted to sterling and an average has calculated. Helpfully, both races feature fifteen sires with public fees. The private sires listed in both races are equally high-profile (Galileo, Deep Impact, Danehill) meaning the average is not affected. The only notable exception is Natagora's sire Divine Light, who was standing in Turkey for an undisclosed amount. This inclusion would lower the 1000 Guineas median.
The result is significant. The average cost of a sire for the 2000 Guineas is approximately £77,000. In comparison, the 1000 Guineas average stallion fee is £47,000.
The highest stud fee of a stallion is held by Dubawi, standing at £250,000, when siring 2022 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus. In comparison, the most expensive sire of a 1000 Guineas winner was Dynaformer (Blue Bunting), standing at approximately £121,000.
For the small breeder, hope remains. Seven of the forty winners (17.5%) across both races have been sired by stallions with a fee under £10,000. In an industry dominated by large breeding operations, it is heartening to see that the unfashionably bred three-year-old can achieve Classic success. The lowest stud fee of a stallion across both races was £5,000, held by Champs Elysees, sire of 2018 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook.
So, what is the conclusion?
The cost of a Guineas winner is high and unobtainable by the majority. But for those small breeders with big dreams, you need to work hard, do your research and most importantly, keep your fingers crossed for a filly.