Entries Tagged 'News' ↓
February 20th, 2010 — News
All six Premier and Select yealings mentioned in my last article have found new homes – at an average price of $226,917.
The O’Reilly – Star Affair filly led the way ($600,000), closely followed by the Redoute’s Choice – Surprize Surprize colt ($460,000). The Pentire – Sheza Gem colt ($170,000) led our Select candidates; the Pentire – Centalla filly ($47,500), the Thorn Park – Maranta Star colt ($47,000) and the Golan – Golden Lights colt ($37,000) also achieved very respectable results.
On the other side of the ledger, clients using our Buyers’ Guides made six purchases: the Gold Centre – Robinson Girl colt ($31,000),the King’s Chapel Sting Leica Bee filly ($16,000), the Thorn Park – Sunlaw filly ($40,000), the Ishiguru – Poacher’s Prize filly ($9000) and the Falkirk – Summer Nymph filly ($15,000). In addition, the Pentire – Centalla filly mentioned above was also purchased by clients.
Overall, the sale series raised some questions, the most interesting one being why was the Festival Sale so poor?
Reports suggest that there were not enough nice well-conformed colts to go round and that no-one wants to buy fillies without K2 or better pedigrees. You also have to wonder whether the growth of successful syndicates has meant that people with limited budgets would rather have a small share of expensive horse as opposed to a large share of a cheap one. Anyway, there’s no doubt that our trainers still need to on-sell stock in order to make a decent living and that fillies just don’t cut it as capital gain prospects.
In reply to queries as to what stallions I have personally supported in the last breeding season, the answer is Mr Nancho (All In Memory), Bachelor Duke (Sakura Cluden) and St Reims (Balladane). Bachelor Duke’s progress is especially heartening; he seems to throw quality and is likely to be especially effective with our traditional staying-bred families. St Reims continues to sell quite well but I suspect that many breeeders fear that he will produce numbers of one-paced plodders, a fear which may well prove unfounded, in my opinion. It’s worth remembering that his sister, Champagne, had impressive acceleration. I haven’t seen many of the progeny of Mr Nancho but he certainly complements the physique and pedigree of All In Memory very well.
On the subject of the latter mare, her close relative All In Tempo won impressively again yesterday and her own daughter Apologize found another way to get beaten at the Riccarton meeting last week. Both horses appear to have the potential to become good stayers, with All In Tempo perhaps having a touch of class about him.
January 10th, 2010 — News
2009 has ended in a most positive way with a record number of winners (42) and also of stakemoney won ($1.15m). The prospects for 2010 also appear bright with a number of horses seeming to have the potential to go further in their careers. Galileo’s Galaxy (SAF), Race Ahead (SIN), The Jungle Boy, Leica Scotch and All In Tempo look especially promising. However, 2010 could also be a watershed year in terms of salering success; for the first time two of our recommended matings have been accepted into the Premier Session at Karaka and both are likely to be to be keenly sought after.
Firstly there is Lot 189, the filly by O’Reilly out of the Group 2 winner Star Affair, already the dam of Solid Billing (G3) and of Galileo’s Galaxy. The latter has had four starts to date for two wins and second placings in both the BSA Cape Guineas (G1) and the Dingaans (G2). The filly is an outstanding individual from a family which traditionally sells well.
Lot 202 is a colt by Redoute’s Choice out of the Group 1 winner Surprize Surprize. He is reported to be a real athlete with an excellent temperament and must appeal to buyers looking for potential stallions. His dam has already left a high-priced Zabeel colt currently being prepared for a racing career in Hong Kong and has a stunning colt by Street Sense at foot.
In the Select Session there are four Cloughmore representatives. In catalogue order they are: the Thorn Park – Maranta Star colt (Lot 527), the Pentire – Sheza Gem colt (Lot 692), the Pentire – Centalla filly (Lot 903) and the Golan – Golden Lights colt (Lot 1024). Reports indicate that they are all good physical types.
Finally, the Viking Ruler – Prangelica filly has been placed in the Festival Sale as Lot 1234. The dam was a recommended purchase as a weanling and won her first three starts; she had above average ability. This yearling is an attractive individual.
If you would like any information as to the thinking behind the matings which have produced these yearlings, please feel free to get in touch.
September 19th, 2009 — News
The tough Van Nistelrooy filly Brown Eyed Grace became Cloughmore’s 17th individual stakeswinner with a courageous victory in yesterday’s Listed event for 3YO fillies. Despite her success in the CJC’s prep race a fortnight previously, she was largely ignored in the betting – especially in comparison with Te Akau Rose, last season’s Matamata Breeders Stakes (G2) winner.
Purchased by trainer Kevin Hughes at the 2008 NZB Select Sale, Brown Eyed Grace is out of Lycsis, a half-sister by Final Card to former Champion 2YO, Lycra. Kevin was much taken with her as an individual and phoned me from the salering as she had not been on my original list of likely value for money fillies. Some urgent work with the computer showed up some interesting facts about her pedigree, not least of which was the fact that Van Nistelrooy had already left smart Singapore galloper Onceuponatime from a daughter of Kingdom Bay, like Final Card a typical Biscay-line stallion. As Lycra’s sire, Tights, was by Nijinsky, a close genetic relative to Van Nistelrooy’s grandsire Storm Bird, it seemed that as the cross had worked spectacularly well once it could well be worth trying again.
From my perspective, the really interesting question relates as to how far Brown Eyed Grace will stay. Her style of racing might suggest that 1600m could be beyond her; however, Lycra ran third in the VATC One Thousand Guineas and fourth in the VRC Derby, and I would not be surprised if her close relative were to be competitive in the forthcoming Guineas races.
Another exciting recent development for Cloughmore has been the stunning debut of Hussonet gelding Honest Truth at Newcastle last week. After a 11 – length trial win, the Patinack owned 3YO romped to victory by nearly 6 lengths without being touched by jockey Peter Robl. Reports from over the Tasman indicate that the horse will be set for the G1 3YO 1200 event on VRC Derby Day. The Cloughmore connection is that Honest Truth’s dam, the USA mare Straight Lake, went through the NZB August Sale and was purchased by a Palmerston North client. I had rated her the best value for money mare in the catalogue and was thrilled at her quick increase in value.
On the subject of broodmare purchases, I recently put together a small partnership to purchase the Yamanin Vital mare Sakura Cluden at the South Island Sale. The sister to Wellington Cup winner Cluden Creek will visit Bachelor Duke this season.
Best wishes to all readers for the breeding season. If you’d like to get involved in breeding thoroughbreds and would like some advice, do get in touch. For once, I agree with the marketing messages out there; stud fees are, in general, very reasonable indeed.
July 7th, 2009 — News
Firstly, many thanks to subscribers for reminding me that an update is indeed due, if not overdue. I’d hoped that Tinseltown would win the Brisbane Cup and hence provide a headline but a meritorious third after not the best of runs doesn’t quite cut it in terms of snappy headlines. I’d also hoped that Sunshine One would win his fourteenth race in Macau, but with advancing age he appears to have turned into a consisent placegetter and although you’d have to be pleased with his steady advance towards NZ$500,000 in stakemoney, “consistent progress” is hardly likely to grab too much attention out there.
Anyway, the recession does offer an opportunity for comment, largely because it doesn’t seem to have had as much impact on the thoroughbred industry as one might have supposed – at least insofar as New Zealand is concerned. The demand for nice colts at the Festival Sale has to be compelling evidence of this. However, stud fees have come down and that can’t be bad news for breeders who aren’t stallion owners.
In this article, I’d like to focus on four first-season stallions which seem to offer outstanding value: Sir Percy, Librettist, Danfive and Mettre En Jeu. I’m not arguing that these are the best value stallions on the market but it seems difficult to argue that they aren’t worth very serious consideration.
Sir Percy didn’t just win the Derby; he was also a top-class 2YO and in his career beat several horses currently standing at significantly more than NZ$15,000. He’s also got a good pedigree and, most importantly, a pedigree which should suit many of our leading bloodlines. He may well perform better than those shuttle horses which have not had this advantage.
Librettist has a superb pedigree, especially for mares with a strong Mr Prospector influence. It’s rare that a stallion comes back to form after missing his 3YO season and this speaks volumes for his enthusiasm for racing, in my opinion. I’ll be extremely surprized if this horse doesn’t make it; at $13,500 he’s huge value.
Danfive was very, very fast and very fast sons of Danehill out of strong families tend to succeed. Danehill x Sadler’s Wells is doing very nicely and the Lalun duplication in Danfive’s dam should reinforce this bloodline which is present in so many of our mares. Incidentally, linebreeding to Riverman has been successful – especially in France, where racing conditions are similar to ours.
Finally, Mettre En Jeu. If you think he was a one-paced stayer, forget it! He was happy racing on the pace but he was certainly capable of settling back and unleashing a powerful finish. Montjeu is one of the best stallions on the planet and this horse has been successful in New Zealand and Australian conditions. He’s also from a brilliant female family.
I’d be happy to develop my ideas on the above stallions; just drop me an email or give me a call (after 14 May).
May 2nd, 2009 — News
The well-endowed Rotorua Cup (Gr 3) is fast becoming Cloughmore’s favourite event on the New Zealand racing calendar. Following earlier successes by All In Fun (1998) and Bodie (2002), Tinseltown today scored a courageous win in this year’s renewal.
Cleverly ridden by Craig Grylls, the Pentire gelding was too strong in the final stages of the 2200 metre contest and his victory certainly franked the form he showed in winning the Avondale Cup (Gr 2) last December. His chances of winning at Group 1 level had subsequently been hampered by the muddling pace set in both the Auckland and Wellington Cups and today looked very much a case of deja vu with the moderate tempo appearing to disadvantage him. In spite of this he managed to accelerate when it mattered and he fought on to narrowly defeat the equally brave I’m Isaac. The latter’s paternal half-brother Ginga Dude ran on strongly from well back to claim third place, with the favourite All In Black – another Cloughmore product – also covering much extra ground to earn fourth money.
Tinseltown’s breeding is covered in an earlier article posted on this site and, given the circumstances of today’s win, we are hopeful that he has the potential to continue his success at Group level.
April 18th, 2009 — News
All In Black’s strong win in yesterday’s 2200 metre contest was a landmark for Cloughmore in several ways. The Don Eduardo mare’s victory capped off an excellent ten days for the advisory business, was another step forward for the All In.. family and also provided further evidence for our belief in staying – bred sires.
All In Black began the roll with her victory at New Plymouth on Thursday of last week. Carrying 59kg in her first attempt over ground, she accelerated when she needed to and cruised effortlessly to the line. Friday saw Sunshine One run a game second in Macau to take his earnings within a breath of M$2.1 million and on the following day we recorded our first ever “double” at a Premier meeting with Showcause and Align to Infinity both winning at Ellerslie. Yesterday’s Group 3 victory of All In Black was backed up by another game performance by Align to Infinity on ground which did not suit him and a fast-finishing fourth by Aussieaussieaussie in the Group 3 Easter Cup at Riccarton.
The deeds of the All In.. family are well documented but All In Black became Bonnie’s Delight first female stakeswinning descendant with yesterday’s success. Her dam, the Prized mare All In Grace, had previously been represented by the brilliant juvenile All In Brawl, winner of last year’s CJC Champagne Stakes in 1:07.48. All In Black, her dam’s first foal, also has good tactical speed but clearly it was her staying ability which was a key component in her Gold Cup victory. Certainly she was at an advantageous position in the weights, but the manner in which she finished off the race should give her connections hope for further success.
All of which brings me to the recent performance of Don Eduardo. He has always been well-priced and the recent announcement by Haunui that he will stand at $7000 this coming season has to be good news for breeders. To date his fillies and mares have outshone his colts and geldings but he does appear to have some handy males which are getting better with age. In 12 months time he could well be regarded as a proven horse; the toughness and genuineness of his offspring provide further evidence that breeding successful racehorses is not simply a matter of finding the fastest stallion around.
April 3rd, 2009 — News
On the racing front 2009 has started encouragingly with 9 winners to date. Two runners look to have especial promise: All In Black (Don Eduardo – All in Grace) and Showcause (Giant’s Causeway – Showella). Also of note is our first ever winer in Japan – Earth’s Gravity (Galileo – Star Affair).
Mentioning the latter two stallions provides a neat link to this year’s yearling sales and the central theme of the fickleness of the market. Galileo is one of the very best stallions on the planet and yet down here his progeny have gained little recent recognition in the salering. Sure, Sadler’s Wells sons are not the easiest horses to mate with our commercial broodmare population but when a nicely-bred yearling by one of his major sons steps up to be sold, buyers seem unable to judge the quality of what is in front of them. A case in point is the Galileo – Star Affair colt passed in at only $150,000. Last year his full-brother made A$550,000 at the Sydney Easter Sale; both were outstanding types.
Another example of fickleness is the comparison of prices paid for well-bred and conformed K2 (and in some cases K1) fillies as opposed to the cheques written out for well-made K3 colts. Buyers had a wide selection of very acceptable fillies in the $20,000 to $25,000 range, but it was very difficult to purchase a nice K3 colt for similar money.
However, I was certainly very pleased with the quality of the lots which Cloughmore clients were able to purchase. These included the K1 Pins – American Cash filly and the K2 fillies by Savabeel – Montreal Gold, Southern Image – Ringside, Storm Creek – All In Grace, Postponed – All In Time, O’Reilly – Caught Kanudling and Shamardal – Carnegie Belle. As a further measure of the market, I had excluded some of these fillies from my original list of recommendations on the grounds that they were very likely to be too expensive; fortunately clients were able to receive further feedback by phone during the course of the sales. I had originally valued the Pins filly as being likely to make around $100,000; when I saw her go through the ring and be passed in for around half that figure I was able to recommend to a client that she was worth serious consideration.
The only A+ rated horse purchased by clients was the Pentire – Cabella colt. I rated him as one of the best two likely value for money colts in the Select Sale.
At the Festival Sale, clients were able to secure another four lots: colts by Thorn Park – Class Mistress and Falkirk – Durham Walk and fillies by Gold Mine – Super Wench and Zenno Rob Roy – Valentine Red.
In addition to the above lots, I also had a strong interest in following the fortunes of a number of yearlings bred as a result of my recommendations. Apart from the Galileo colt and fillies by Postponed and Storm Creek mentioned above, these horses included the Pentire – Our Tristajet, No Excuse Needed – Little Gem, Tale of the Cat – Superjet, Faltaat – All In Magic and Captain Rio – Golden Lights colts. The Keeper – Copper Flame and Spartacus – Oblige fillies rounded out the “draft”.
January 20th, 2009 — News
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.
December 22nd, 2008 — News
As we approach one of the most problematic yearling sales series for many years, recent 2yo results have reinforced the value of our buyers’ guides.
I selected five fillies in the 2008 Select Sale as A+ prospects. To gain this rating yearlings require an outstanding overall pedigree and also have some significant value as broodmare prospects if things do not go as hoped for on the racetrack. To date, two of the five fillies have raced: the Bachelor Duke – Star of Flight filly Bewitch (SP in the WRC Wellesley S.) and last Saturday’s impressive Awapuni winner Mexican Rose (Volksraad – Down View).
My comment on the latter filly in the sale analysis was as follows. “Both sire and dam are bred on the same Danzig – Secretariat – Never Bend – Turn-to – Princequillo – Abernant cross, so we have a classic ‘mirror’ pedigree with no fewer than six elements, which is extremely rare. In my opinion, this pedigree mix is highly likely to be effective given that these six stallions have a record of being compatible. Whatever she does on the racecourse, this filly appeals as an outstanding broodmare prospect.”
Unfortunately, none of my clients were able to purchase this particular filly but it is certainly gratifying that she has shown above-average ability.
I expect that the 2009 buyers’ guides will be available in early January and welcome any enquiries about them that readers may have.
