Entries Tagged 'Uncategorized' ↓
May 8th, 2021 — Uncategorized
One bonus of getting older is that it’s fascinating to track the progress of families you’ve had something to do with back in the day.
Yesterday’s victory by Top Brass (Epaulette) is a case in point. Back in 1998 I suggested to long-time client Terry Archer that the Jetball – Precious Platinum (Sir Tristram) filly in the National Yearling Sale catalogue might be a good buy. Marscay x Sir Tristram appealed strongly and anything tracing to one of my all-time favourite horses, Ajasco, had to be worth serious consideration. Terry shelled out $80,000 for the filly and as Superjet she obliged by winning a couple of 2YO stakes races for him.
Superjet turned out to be a successful but not outstanding broodmare. One of her offspring was the Kaapstad filly Golden Lights and I was consulted again to advise how best to mate her. The result was the five-win High Chaparral mare Highlight – not far from being a very good mare indeed.
Highlight concluded her racing career in Australia and Terry decided that breeding her there was a smart option. I’d always liked Epaulette and the pedigrees matched up really well. The result is Top Brass – as yesterday showed, a very smart sprinter indeed.
Another blast from the past was yesterday’s impressive triple Derby winner, Explosive Jack. I had nothing to do with the mating which produced him, but I did advise on the mating which produced his dam, the Ekraar mare Extra Explosive. I rate Ekraar mares highly and used him on three occasions in the hope of producing a good filly. All I succeeded in doing was to produce the slowest horse I’ve ever had anything to do with (his dam turned out to be entirely useless), a filly which bled and a chestnut gelding still at home as a 3YO. He’s a gorgeous walker who has yet to learn that getting entangled in fences is not a smart thing to do.
Breeding thoroughbreds is a great way of keeping humble.
January 26th, 2021 — Uncategorized
This year’s Karaka Sales have been a roller-coaster in terms of prices and consequent value for money.
Day One featured some 25% of lots being passed in; many had acceptable pedigrees, good X-rays and impressive physiques.
An example is Lot 143, a bay colt by Vadamos out of the Zabeel mare Stanica. He’s one of his Group 1 winning sire’s second New Zealand crop and his dam is a Group 1 placed daughter of Zabeel from a strong American family. Stanica has already left five winners including the Group 3 winning Pins gelding Rhythm To Spare (11 wins, A$812,000).
The colt walks well and appears to have an excellent attitude. He is slightly offset in one knee but his X-rays are clear.
To date our racing partnership has invested in eleven yearlings with a total cost of $162,000 over the last ten years. Three are either still racing or are about to do so but our purchases have generated over $1,000,000 so far.
We generally buy a minority share (10 to 20%) in our selected yearlings; spreading the risk has much to recommend it. Chris Gibbs has purchased this colt for $25,000 – excellent value, in my opinion. If you’re interested in being part of Cloughmore Racing, check out this yearling on www.nzb.co.nz then get in touch with me at jeffreys@inspire.net.nz or 0210455855
January 16th, 2021 — Uncategorized
The Cloughmore quinella in today’s Waikouaiti Cup was a real thrill but even more exciting was the performance of the Darci Brahma mare Dee and Gee. The previous record for the Wingatui 2200 metres was 2:14.9 but these figures were consigned to history and replaced by a stunning 2:13.25.
Wingatui is an undulating course and therefore not especially conducive to fast times but today’s effort is not far behind the 2:12.5 posted by the Bandmaster 11 gelding Caruba at Trentham in 1978. It is to this venue that Dee and Gee will return in an attempt to win the Group 1 Wellington Cup in a fortnight’s time.
If there is a strong pace she will be very hard to beat.
January 10th, 2021 — Uncategorized
Earlier this year I adopted a “fee free” policy for mating advice. Several clients took advantage of this offer, a response to the Covid emergency, but it didn’t do much for my cash-flow, as you’ll appreciate.
For this year’s breeding season, I’ll continue my traditional mating advice service – at the reduced fee of $65.00 +GST per mare.
As regards the yearling sales, I have once again analysed the catalogues for prospective buyers. Rather than printing and publishing my analyses in full, I’m encouraging clients to approach me re an evaluation of specific lots that they are interested in. Pricing will be on a case by case basis.
In addition, I’m offering a valuation service for all types of bloodstock at an introductory fee of $100+GST per horse. This should be especially useful for breeders wishing to transfer horses from their breeding accounts to racing propositions.
September 8th, 2019 — Uncategorized
I’m not a fan of the Messara report for two reasons. Firstly, the racing industry has never been an easy one to make a dollar in and, secondly, I can see no reason why some of the best tracks in the country are earmarked for destruction when rubbish ones will apparently survive.
The purpose of this article is not to get into the second argument, but to focus on the first. I’ve been breeding horses since 1974 and have never made heaps of money, I’ll admit, but I haven’t gone broke either – largely because I’ve managed (sometimes only just) to keep costs under control. For me and many fellow racing and breeding enthusiasts, the attraction of the industry is all about producing decent horses while keeping the balance sheet more or less in the black.
And it can be done by using reasonably priced stallions and avoiding over-priced agistment costs. (It’s only fair to mention here that, as a vendor, I avoid yearling sales like the plague. They’re great places to buy at but the unpredictability of the market and the eye-watering costs involved make them a financial nightmare.)
So which stallions are value for money? The following list is not an exclusive one, just a few horses which have caught my eye recently. And they’re in no particular order.
SATONO ALADDIN was a freakish racehorse with a pedigree which should suit a range of New Zealand mares. $12,500 is ultra-reasonable and the Japanese-born foals look just like him.
PURE CHAMPION was a warrior. As we become increasingly fascinated by inbreeding, we ignore soundness at our peril: this bloke started 50 times and ended his globe-trotting career by winning a Group 1 here as a 7YO. $4000.
EMINENT appeals strongly at $8000. A Group-winning and Group 1 placed son of Frankel and a real looker into the bargain.
EL DOUTE is a son of Redoute’s Choice with much more ability that his SP status would suggest. $2000 INCLUDING veterinary costs and agistment during the breeding season.
ROAD TO ROCK has always been a favourite of mine. The sire of Beauty Generation is only $2500 per mare if you send two of them and his winners to starters ratio is an impressive 60%.
NADEEM has an even more impressive ratio of 66% and he’s a stallion who responds especially well to one of our key bloodlines. $5000
BULLBARS hasn’t set the world on fire as yet but is tracking nicely nonetheless. He appeals as likely to leave decent stayers in the next few years. His fee is either $5000 or $4000 depending on whether you consult Arion or the current Stallion Register.
ROC DE CAMBES is just a nice horse. The sire of a Derby winner and a Group 1 victor in Australia is good value at $5000. You’ve usually got to wait for his progeny, but what’s an extra 12 months if you get a good one?
KEANO is still $2000 despite his 16 winners from 24 starters.
And yes, I have put my money where my mouth is. So far I’ve booked mares to Pure Champion (2), El Doute and Road to Rock. One mare, Flirtation, to go.
All the best for the breeding season.
March 17th, 2019 — Uncategorized
When I included the Pins – Seven Schillings filly in my list of recommended lots in the Select session of the 2017 Karaka Yearling Sale, it wasn’t a difficult choice.
I wrote at the time…” Pins has reached that stage in his career where buyers are taking him very much for granted and forget his outstanding statistics. This filly has a late foaling date, something which can be safely ignored in assessing her potential. She’s also out of a Group winning O’Reilly mare. Case closed.”
Understandably, I’ve followed the filly’s progress closely since she was knocked down to the bid of long-time client Kevin Hughes. And progress she certainly has. It’s one thing to win the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes on your home track; it’s quite another to beat a genuine Group 1 contender at Trentham after a lengthy season.
It’s also one thing to win a Listed fillies’ event at Wingatui at your previous start by running your opposition into the ground with an impressive display of sustained speed; it’s another to settle near-last in a Group 2, loop the field and simply out-tough your rivals.
What staggers me about Emily Margaret is that toughness. After her Canterbury Belle success she spoilt her chances on several occasions by racing over-enthusiastically and failing to settle. Kevin has clearly worked his magic on the filly by turning this behaviour around without giving her a lengthy spell. Also, the decision to book experienced rider Robbie Hannam was an inspired choice.
Getting back to Emily Margaret’s pedigree, the success of the Pins – O’Reilly cross has been well-documented but I suspect that the influence of the Three Legs stallion Shannon has also been a factor. Clearly, he has passed on his grey colour but his ability to find that extra gear when necessary is also replicated in Emily Margaret.
February 10th, 2019 — Uncategorized
The Karaka Sales are always bursting with hype of one sort of another. What spins my wheels is being able to buy into yearlings which are at the very top of my list. I’ve learned over the years that “OK” yearlings are best avoided; the ones who repay you are the ones you really, really want.
This year we are now the proud co-owners of two colts and a filly which not only have strong pedigrees; they are also excellent types.
The first purchase was Lot 982, the colt by Proisir out of the three-win Yamanin Vital mare Yamanna. The female family abounds in stamina and I felt that Proisir would maintain the staying-orientation of the mare whilst adding a touch of speed and class. The son of Choisir pushed Dundeel hard in the Group 1 Spring Championship Stakes and has been well-supported at stud. We are fortunate to currently part-own the Derby prospect Super Gee; hopefully our new colt has the ability to follow a similar path.
The sale then moved onto Book 3. Astute trainer Frank Ritchie outlaid $13,000 for Lot 1113, a chestnut filly by El Roca out of the Sir Percy mare Lady Grace. I was quickly on the phone as this was the filly I rated as the best prospect in this section of the sale. The dam was herself a $75,000 yearling and, in spite of being somewhat injury-prone, had scored a facile maiden victory over 2200 at Wingatui. The pedigree is jam-packed with desirable crosses and the recent performance of El Roca’s 2YOs indicates that we may just have pulled the right rein.
Finally, there was Lot 1278 – a stunning colt by Jimmy Choux – Danness (Danske). Although Jimmy Choux is unlikely to ever be champion sire and is anything but currently fashionable, he can leave a good horse. I’ll analyse our colt’s pedigree in depth should his performances match his looks, but suffice to say it has a range of highly desirable features. At $5000, he could turn out to be a bargain.
January 4th, 2016 — Uncategorized
I’ve just completed writing this year’s analyses of all three Karaka sales and, apart from my initial reaction expressed in my previous article, this year’s offering has another surprise.
My reading of the industry as a whole is that, by and large, times are tough. It’s not easy for trainers to make a dollar and we can all remember the disaster for breeders that last year’s Festival Sale was. It was virtually impossible for fillies to produce an acceptable return and, in extreme cases, females with perfectly acceptable pedigrees were given away rather than being taken home after failing to attract a bid. As a result of the carnage, I would have expected this year’s Festival Sale to be distinctly short of fillies with any quality at all on the pedigree page. If you had bred a nice animal, not quite fashionably enough bred to make the Select, surely you’d just keep it or lease it rather than going to the expense of a yearling prep.
Well, I was wrong. This year’s Festival Sale has five fillies I’ve rated as A+, whereas in some years the total has been zero. There are 13 rated as A’s, and 15 more as B+. In fact, the standard of filly pedigrees appears to comfortably exceed that of the colts. Whether the strength of the filly catalogue reflects breeders’ natural optimism and confidence in the market or a desperation to dump unwanted yearlings, time will tell, but I have a strong suspicion that buyers will be going home very happy indeed.
It is also worth saying that this year’s catalogues contain the progeny of some very impressive first-season stallions. Ocean Park must have a huge chance of making it as a stallion and it’s also hard to see the brilliant Super Easy being a flop. Reliable Man has had every opportunity and my two favourites, He’s Remarkable and Highly Recommended, provide lots which appeal very strongly indeed. Power was an impressive racehorse with the benefit of the Cambridge Stud broodmare band behind him, Rock ‘n’ Pop ticks every box there is and Niagara has left some stunning weanlings.
All in all, it’s going to be a very interesting few days.
As always, please get in touch if you’d like an opinion on any of the 1378 lots catalogued.
