Fourth season sires are the bane of any stud master. Regardless of a stallion’s popularity in his first three seasons at stud, broodmare owners invariably adopt a wait and see attitude: largely placing said stallion in limbo until his first crop reach the track.

Trouble is, even the most ‘precocious’ of stallions won’t have runners until the end of September, by which time the breeding season is almost at its half way point. In many ways it’s a strange philosophy.

Breeders who have supported a stallion in his first three years – obviously because of their faith in the sire’s potential – bail out in year four? Just when it’s starting to get interesting!

There are obvious precedents for both the pros and cons of fourth year breeding options, but the ‘pro’ that really sticks in mind is Redoute’s Choice.

The Champion son of Danehill stood for $30,000 (plus GST) for his first four seasons, covering respective books of 134 (109 live foals), 170 (133), 133 (99) and 114 (75).

Subsequently, Redoute’s Choice’s first crop of yearlings averaged a respectable $115,047 at 2003 sales (almost 4 times service fee), but by 2006 – with racetrack representatives including Group One winners God’s Own, Stratum, Lotteria, Fashions Afield and Undoubtedly – his yearling average for 48 of those 75 live foals was almost $600,000 … near enough to 20 times service fee.

Ironically, three of RC’s sons in God’s Own, Stratum and Snitzel now find themselves in familiar territory. Each is about to embark on his fourth season at stud following on from a successful launch into the yearling sale market where both have averaged more than three times service fee at major sales.

Importantly, the progeny of God’s Own (pictured above) have ended up in the stables of the nation’s leading trainers which would clearly indicate that the pedigree, performance, promise and physiques of his sons and daughters are very much in vogue. And with the Australian Easter Yearling Sale looming, the crème de la crème will be on show in Sydney.

In God’s Own’s case that includes a three quarter brother to Group One winner Magnus and multiple Group winner Wilander (Lot 212), a three quarter brother to multiple stakeswinner Danerich from the Group winning 2YO Millrich (Lot 104), a three quarter sister to Canterbury Guineas-G1 winner Jymcarew (Lot 353) – all on consignment from Eliza Park – along with a three quarter sister to another Caulfield Guineas-G1 winner in Wonderful World (Lot 260) and a half brother to Doncaster Handicap-G1 hero Patezza (Lot 256) to be offered by Think Big Stud.

Imagine for a moment that if any of these yearlings live up to their birthright just how valuable God’s Own yearlings will be in 2012.

Although Magnus doesn’t fall under the same category, with this being his second season at stud, some breeders might be out there waiting to have a look at his first foals prior to making a commitment.

However, this could be a ‘snooze you lose’ result. Although his service fee won’t be announced until after Easter, I can assure you that this Group One winning son of Flying Spur will be competitively priced.

Magnus (pictured above) served a remarkable book of mares last spring, he’s a Danehill line sprinter and it’s a happening family. Following on from his last start stakes victory at Flemington in mid March, Magnus’ three quarter brother, Wilander, is clearly poised for Group One glory this autumn and, given the vowed support of leading broodmare owners, adopting a wait and see for Magnus might well result in wait and miss out!