Breeding & Racing Magazine

Silver Deputy Fertility Declining

One of North America's top veteran stallions Silver Deputy (Deputy Minister-) "is facing an uncertain future in the breeding shed," reported bloodhorse.com. The 23-year-old "found it increasingly difficult to get mares in-foal during the 2008 breeding season," according to Ric Waldman who manages the stallion's career. In 2007 Silver Deputy was bred to 65 mares with approximately 60% subsequently in-foal; this year, the stallion's in-foal rate "was about the same at the beginning of the breeding season, but his fertility decreased as we progressed deeper into the season," Waldman revealed. As a result "no decision has been made about whether Silver Deputy will return to the breeding shed in 2009". Silver Deputy (who stands at Fred Seitz's Brookdale Farm in Kentucky) has sired 74 stakes-winners including Silverbulletday (champion 2YO filly of 1998 & champion 3YO filly in 1999) & Canadian champions Deputy Inxs, Archers Bay, Deputy Jane West, Scotzana, Poetically & Larkwhistle. Canadian-bred Silver Deputy sold for US$200,000 at the 1986 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling auction & won both his career races (including Canada's Swynford Stakes at Woodbine).