Readers of this site will be aware that each year I compile a buyers’ guide for our series of yearling sales. For each sale, I select and grade yearlings which seem to me to have something special about them from a pedigree point of view. Often, this special quality may not be at all obvious from a straightforward reading of the catalogue page.
The grading system is on a likely value for money basis. In other words, to gain an A+ rating a yearling must not only have a very strong pedigree, but must also have something about it which may make it undervalued by bidders. In the case of fillies, they must also have a stong likelihood of retaining a significant residual value to be given an A+.
In 2008, I identified five Select Sale colts and five fillies which possessed the above qualities. Of these ten yearlings, three have gained selection for Sunday’s Karaka Million 2YO. They are Veldt (Volksraad – Jumble, by Kaapstad), Mexican Rose (Volksraad – Down View, by Gone West) and Bewitch (Bachelor Duke – Star of Flight, by Marscay). In addition, King’s Ransom (King’s Chapel – Joan, by Colonel Collins) was an A selection.
Unfortunately, none of the purchasers of Cloughmore’s buyers’ guides were able to secure these horses although I understand that one client was the underbidder on Mexican Rose. However, it is certainly encouraging that the guides are helping to identify lots which do indeed offer significant value for money.
It’s worth pointing out that the guides are not targeted at the Karaka Million, or indeed at any other race; they simply attempt to identify significant genetic potential. Many of last year’s selections have yet to get anywhere near a racecourse.
Returning to the matter of the Karaka Millions field, it’s interesting that 9 of the 14 qualifiers are from the 2008 Select catalogue, the remaining 5 being Premier yearlings. Even allowing for the difference in numbers of lots catalogued ( Premier – 494, Select – 658), K2 still seems to be the place to be if you are looking for an athletic thoroughbred which matures reasonably early. On the other hand, it appears that buyers of Festival yearlings are going to be battling to discover horses which can compete as 2YOs with their Select and Premier counterparts.
I have little doubt that this is the year to be buying yearlings. Although the 2009 catalogues do not seem quite as strong as last year’s, it has still been a difficult job to sort out this year’s selections and I am sure that the current economic conditions will weaken demand, especially as regards staying-bred yearlings.
If you would like advice of any sort regarding the yearling sales, please feel free to contact me using the information given elsewhere on this site or by mobile 021 0455855.
