t was March 1997, and Cigar’s specialists in 1997, admits What does make a difference, Allen Paulson had a that if artifi cial insemination was however, is size. “Ninety-nine problem. The world’s permitted throughout the racing per cent of the time, the bigger the most famous racehorse, industry, Cigar could have testicle the more fertile the horse,” his racehorse, had retired produced offspring. McKinnon says. to stud but couldn’t get The case of Cigar’s sterility When it came to Cigar’s fi rst a single mare in foal. became the highest profi led season in 1997, his infertility Thirty-fi ve females had infertility incident in recent insurance policy decreed that to be trod a path to Paulson’s memory, but it was not unique. announced fertile, he had to cover horse, each retreating as Throughout history, the breeding 20 mares twice and impregnate at Iempty as when she had arrived, and industry has been disappointed by least 60 per cent of them. Nowadays, Paulson was resigned to the obvious. dozens of racetrack stars, including expectations of fertility are higher. “I’m quite certain he is infertile,” George Washington in 2007, and Fashionable, expensive stallions Pass the he told a contingent of shocked Triple Crown winner Assault in on well-managed farms are often journalists on March 7. “His sperm 1946. Throughout the 1980s, expected to impregnate at least 80 have no life.” Nureyev proved himself a stallion per cent of the mares they cover, Paulson’s famous horse was Cigar, manager’s nightmare with constant while the less fashionable, cheaper who retired the leading stakes earner subfertility. Dr. McKinnon believes stallions who are forced to accept , and two-time American Horse of that 11 per cent of stallions in the poorer quality mares may show c gar the Year. He was the Breeders’ Cup breeding industry are expected to lower percentages. “We have to be THE BOYS Classic winner in 1996, and the have subfertility issues. “Around careful how we defi ne this though. inaugural victor of the Dubai World one in every 10, that’s about right,” Per cent fi gures are per cycle,” Cup. Cigar had tallied 15 Group 1 he says. “But subfertility is relative cautions Dr. McKinnon. “You can victories in the US, had a Timeform because it has much to do with infl uence fertility by how you quote rating of 138, and he had amassed management. A subfertile horse things, but the only accurate test of a staggering US$9.99 million in can have almost normal fertility fertility in a stallion is the pregnancy ARE BACK prizemoney. if mares are presented at the rate per cycle.” Paulson sold a 75 per cent right time, and if his season is Cigar remains the most share of his horse to Coolmore well managed.” publicised problem stallion in America for the reported sum Within the industry, there are horse racing, but he has not been of US$18.75 million, and the two recognised fertility issues. Wanted has an exception. Here in Victoria, new arrangement insured their Congenital infertility occurs when three very different stallions have investment against infertility a horse is never fertile, as was managed recently reminded the industry that IN TOWN for US$25 million. Cigar was the case with Cigar. Stallions in to get the fertility issues are a real and present fl oated through the opulent gates this category often present with problem, but a problem that can be of Ashford Stud in Versailles, smaller than normal testicles job done for negotiated, successfully. Science and good management can Kentucky, and his book was full and, when analysed, semen often Eliza Park within days. He was the son of shows increased morphological WANTED go hand in hand in restoring and leading North American sire Palace (structural) abnormalities and without any Music, out of the Seattle Slew decreased numbers of sperm. Dr. medical sustaining the commercial stud mare Solar Slew. Cigar possessed, McKinnon states that congenital The 2010 VRC Newmarket therefore, the two most critical infertility is not common, though treatment Handicap winner Wanted retired to career of the modern stallion. attributes of a new sire: proven it is common enough that experts stand duties at Widden Stud early performance and proven pedigree. are needed across the industry to last year. The classy, handsome WORDS BY JESSICA OWERS When Cigar’s fi rst 12 mares diagnose it and treat it. son of Fastnet Rock, out of the returned negative pregnancy tests, The second fertility issue is Snippets mare Fragmentation, was Paulson became very uneasy. It testicular degeneration, which the hottest freshman prospect for was an alarming situation for his occurs in a normally fertile horse the season, but excitement fi zzled horse, for while fertility problems because of insult or trauma to towards regret when it was found in stallions just retired from racing the testicles. A kick, fever, drug that Wanted was a rig. were not uncommon, no pregnancies usage and even transportation The term ‘rig’ is slang for in 12 attempts was highly unusual. temperatures can lead to this cryptorchidism, a medical When that fi gure ballooned to 35, category of problem, resulting in condition whereby one or both and extensive testing found Cigar’s the stallion becoming subfertile. testicles of a stallion have failed sperm to lack any mobility, Paulson Fertility declines, and Dr. to move into the scrotum. In and Coolmore admitted the McKinnon states that insults and Wanted’s case, he had one dropped likelihood that Cigar, the world’s traumas can snatch away at least testicle, and Widden Stud ran into most famous thoroughbred, was two sperm cycles in a stallion, or at problems when securing fertility completely infertile. least 130-odd days. insurance. They released the “Cigar was a good case of The theories behind fertility horse, and Wanted was secured complete infertility,” says Dr. Angus problems are complex and many. by Eliza Park after advice from McKinnon, Australia’s premier Some believe that over-racing Dr. Angus McKinnon. equine-reproduction specialist. invites issues, and this was tossed “There did not prove to be a “With some stallions, you can about when Cigar’s case unfolded fertility issue at all with Wanted,” improve their fertility dramatically in 1997. For four years straight, says Greg Tobin, marketing by managing them, and with some Cigar rarely went for a month manager for Eliza Park. “Any fears it doesn’t make any difference at without a race, but Dr. McKinnon we had for his fertility proved to be all. It’s very individualistic. With decries the suggestion that racing unfounded. The trick to him was Cigar, he had no mobility to his affects fertility. “Veterinarians management. We didn’t overuse semen. That’s not to say it was who deal with breeding stallions him in his fi rst season, and limited dead, but it was all non-moving.” don’t believe that over-racing his book to 80 mares. In fact, Dr. McKinnon, who consulted with makes any difference,” he says. he covered 75 mares, and his INSIDE BREEDING 43 SUSTAINING THE STALLIONS infertile by 2009, he was worth because the results speak for WELL MANAGED: Wanted, going on with. themselves. “I was open-minded who is a rig, covered his fi rst book of mares The case caught the attention about the treatment, and based last spring at Eliza Park of Brett Langan, co-director of on Foreplay’s results I would have without any problems. C4M Laboratories in Melbourne, no problem with doing it again PHOTO SEAN GARNSWORTHY who were specialists in stem if another horse was of that ilk,” cell treatment. Foreplay was he says. Harvey confi rms that moved to Woodside Park Stud Foreplay’s book for the coming in Tylden, Victoria, and in 2010 season is already three-quarters he began a groundbreaking full, and will certainly be full by stem cell program. “We got him the start of breeding. on July 1 and found he had only 20 per cent viable sperm,” NEW says Langan. “We extracted pluripotent stem cells from APPROACH peripheral blood and treated them, then reinjected them back There were few freshman sires into the horse. After treatment, in 2009 like New Approach, the very fi rst mare that went to the chestnut son of Galileo who Foreplay got in foal.” won the Group 1 Epsom Derby The results were exemplary, in 2008. He was an undefeated immediately. Foreplay’s sperm two-year-old, a Derby winner at count on the fi rst test was three and victor of both legs of sensational, and on the second the Champion Stakes. He had SHELLSCRAPE HELENUS strike rate proved better than season, in 2009, he was put to Langan found a very nice result. performance and pedigree, and any other stallion on the farm.” two mares and both returned They tested the horse with 10 brought to Australia the classic Wanted was not given negative pregnancy tests. Like on-farm broodmares at Woodside staying lines that had made High HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS any veterinary treatment for Wanted, he is a cryptorchid, a Park Stud, and managed to Chapparal such a success. But his cryptorchid condition. rig, but Foreplay’s internal testicle impregnate six, and by the time New Approach also is a rig. Genuine colonial speed horse Three-times G1 winner He remains a stallion with had been located and surgically off-farm mares began to arrive Standing at Darley’s Northwood Stakes winning 2YO Winner of the CaulÄ eld Guineas – one testicle, but Eliza Park’s dropped.