Sebring will go to Widden. Shoot me down if I'm wrong. They like Slipper winners there. The deal will be something similar to the Stratum deal and the colt will race on (what else can you do with a rising 3YO?). Valuation: somewhere in the $25 - $28 million range.
As news of the Darley acquisition of Woodlands becomes official, a personal thank you to the Inghams and all those terrific people involved over the decades with the stud and the Crown Lodge enterprise ... you raced in the proper traditions of racing: for fun, for sport, for prizemoney and for profit. You thoroughly testing your breeds and did not molly-coddle or protect them. The game was a heck of a lot better off for having you. When Crown Lodge had a good day we all had a good day.
Here's an observation and prediction: maroon is not cerise. We will never again see colts of the ilk of Octagonal or Lonhro grind out Group 1 glory season after season rather than being bundled off to stud at first defeat. Australian racing, and Australian horses, are in the process of changing to a much less exciting commodity.
Particularly in NSW, racing resembles more and more a showcase for selling stallion noms. Long-term, nothing is likely to alienate the public more than that.
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11 comments:
Don't forget Ingham's have bought some lovely yearlings and will probably continue to do so.
Hopefully all is not lost and they will have success in the future.
"Champion Colt Gone Forever" will be a reality in Australian racing.
Are we getting to a stage where most young stallions go to stud after one 2yo campaign?
How does the breeder determine whether these stallions can throw a 3 or 4yo when the sire is so unproven in that area, or are we a nation that is only concerned with 2yo racing???????
Gai Waterhouse...$10000 fine for presenting a horse to race with a prohibited substance. Is this the normal sort of penalty for such a thing?
Breeding is now all the rage..might have to introduce compulsary gelding to bring the public back to the racetracks and see the champs go on with their career ! Too many stallions already on our shores and the shuttles still land to add to the confusion
You might be doing the Sheikh a disservice there, Steve. Under his Godolphin banner, he has campaigned some champions as older horses e.g. Fantastic Light, Ramonti, Grandera et al.
Hi Steve
Love your blog was wondering what you think of this years first season sires and what is your tip for first season champion?
One thing that is for sure, what goes up must come down, hills and valleys, aussie TB's are well and truely way over priced. If your not sure, just check out whats happening in the US of A. Our dollar is nearly the same and our stock is way, way overs. The crash is a coming. Money does not grow on trees and Australians are in for a world of pain. You don't require compulsary gelding to bring people to the track, you need Takeover's and Apachie's thats why we go to the track to watch our favorite "No Namer" smash all comers. I say, Breed what you want, when you want, how you want, that's what makes you an Aussie and thats where the next legend will be found and that is what will get you to the track !
Great, isn't it, how everyone shelters behind 'Anonymous', except Lois (of the Lane variety) ... Anon #1, Yes, Bob Ingham is buying ($1 million for Lot 24,a big rush of blood to the head) but he used to have 250 a year to choose from, now it might be 30 or 40 a year ... Anon #2, Yes ... Anon#3, it's a slippery slope when breeding becomes the end game and only game ... Anon#4, I may be. The Sheikh bought both Grandera and Ramonti as older/made horses ... are they going to be selling most of what they breed or retaining everything for racing? ... Lois, I NEVER get into the stallion prediction business because there's no one alive who can predict them with certainty. Some people just turn out to be right. I was impressed by the temperaments of the Fastnet Rocks. Al Maher had a lot of old mares and I didn't see many with his class, conformation was indifferent and ditto Charge Forward. Elvstroem seemed to be discriminated against because he was a 'stayer'. High Chaparral had some nice horses in NZ, again a stayer. Lion Hearts were almost too pretty. Not A Single Doubt looked OK. I'll let the One Cool Cats run first. Savabeel had plenty of quality. Shamardal impressed and could be a big sleeper. Tiger Hills made you wonder how he ever threw a winner. Dane Shadow and Dubleo I really don't have an opinion. Refuse To Bend had a couple to take the eye. Bachelor Dukes were workmanlike. Johars looked stayers in the making but he's gone anyway. There, God has spoken.... Anon#5, Takeover and Apache ARE geldings.
Does it really matter? The mega wealthy will dominate and exploit racing from the ground up. With all these stallions at stupid fees it will not take long before just about every race from Mudgee to Moonee Valley will have most starters by the so called super sires. But how long can the 'industry' keep finding starters with a few hundred million to waste on horses that can not run out of sight on a dark night. As you know that vast majority of horses bred are probably better off served with onions between two slices of bread. If you like horse meat of course.
Hi Steve
Great blog. Interested in your opinion on a Redoutes Choice filly that went through MM in March. Lot 625. Sold for $100k. Seems to be very cheap for a filly from a full sister to General Nediym that would have some good residual value. What was wrong with it?
Keep up the good blog.
Re lot 625 Magic Millions .. I made the price $160k. Wasn't a typical Redoute's. Very long, boxy feet, bit jointy, paddled in front and had nothing under the jaw. Probably win a Gr 1 on that description!
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