Three-time Group Two winning son of Zabeel, Ocean Emperor, will stand for a fee of $6,000+GST for the forthcoming breeding season, a reduction from $7,000+GST at his initial season at stud last year.

Retired to Gary and Jenny Hennessy’s Weowna Park, Ocean Emperor covered 20 mares in his inaugural season at stud.

A $450,000 yearling purchase at Karaka from the draft of Waikato Stud, Ocean Emperor had 28 starts for Gary Hennessy and recorded nine wins and five placings, headed by the Gr.2 Japan-NZ International Trophy (1600m) and back-to-back editions of the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m).

“We fully understand how tough it is for breeders as we are involved in the full circle of racing and breeding,” Gary Hennessy said.

“We have dropped his fee even though his pedigree has been enhanced via his close relation Probabeel becoming a dual Karaka Million winner and a Group One winner in Australia this season.

“We are looking forward to his first foals this spring from some very good race winning and Book 1 calibre mares.”

A good looking son of Zabeel out of the Group Three winning Pins mare Tootsie, it is also the family of multiple Group One winner Savvy Coup and Group Two winner Legless Veuve.