It’s almost November, and if your mare isn’t yet in foal, you may be starting to consider your best options for a positive pregnancy heading into the 2026 season. Often dubbed ‘nervous November’ among breeders, the idea of securing an early foal can seem ideal, but the statistics can often tell a different story.

Some of Australia’s best racehorses were born in October and November. Think recent Group 1 stars like Fangirl, Antino, Sunshine in Paris, Mr Brightside, Tom Kitten and the mighty Anamoe, a 9-time Group 1 winner. In fact, three of the last eight Golden Slipper winners Farnan, Estijaab, and this year’s victor Marhoona were all born in October, giving plenty of reason to push on with your mating plans.

As breeders look for every advantage to secure a positive result, fertility becomes one of the most important factors in achieving success. It’s always a hot topic in breeding, and as Dr Wendy Perriam explained in a recent TTR article, it’s important to understand how it’s measured:

“When we talk about overall industry fertility, we need to be very careful with what statistics we use that will be most representative of what’s going on,” Dr Perriam said.

“One of the better measures of true fertility is what we call pregnancy rate per cycle — how many mares conceive when they’re bred by the stallion on any individual cycle.”

While there’s no absolute benchmark, Dr Perriam noted that a 60–65% pregnancy rate per cycle is typical of a stallion with good fertility.

In terms of numbers, two Vinery sires are standing tall for both their performance on the track and fertility in the breeding shed in All Too Hard and Exceedance.

One of Australia’s best value-for-money proven sires, All Too Hard continues to produce elite performers. Siring the $2 million The Invitation winner Stefi Magnetica last weekend, he is even more remarkably offering a 72% pregnancy rate per cycle this season — an outstanding fertility statistic by any measure.

And if you’re concerned about breeding late in the season, here’s a comforting fact: 40% of All Too Hard’s Stakes winners and Stakes performers were born in October or November, including triple Group 1 winner and $3 million earner Behemoth.

There must be something in the water at Vinery, because just down the barn, Exceedance is also enjoying a superb season. This exciting young sire is achieving an even higher fertility rates of 78% per cycle and continues to prove himself as an exceptional up-and-coming stallion.

Of his eight Stakes performers from his first two crops, two were born in the latter months of the breeding season, including Listed winner and multiple Group 1-placed Swiftfalcon and Stakes-placed Express Class.

These results achieved by All Too Hard and Exceedance make them even more appealing for breeders this November.

“Being able to breed with confidence at the pointy end of the season makes all the difference when you’re dealing with stallions with such potent fertility,” said Vinery’s Adam White.

“Both of these stallions are covering a solid book of mares and having exceptional results.”

Offering exceptional value, All Too Hard stands at $27,500 inc. GST making him an obvious choice for breeders seeking a proven sire who consistently delivers at the elite level.

With his best crops still to come and already producing over 7% Stakes performers to runners, Exceedance stands at $33,000 inc. GST this season.

Nothing is ever certain in this industry, but if you’re breeding your mare this November, the odds are certainly in your favour with these two outstanding Vinery stallions.