Racehorse TALK

My knowledge of the breeding side is nil but it is still very interesting when someone that knows about it does something like you are doing ED.

   What is the story re the Flying Spur? 

G'day Grats,

My knowledge of breeding (nicks, crosses etc) has been nil also, but I have given myself a retirement project to learn as much as I can.

I have been looking at this from a purely commercial point of view, and I have been struck by the prices paid for untried, untested, untrained yearlings, and the actual returns obtained over their racing life. As we have seen, some of them don't even make it to the racetrack.

Of all those sires mentioned above, not one miilion dollar yearling has returned its purchase price. The closest is Von Costa De Hero who cost $1,200,000 at the Easter Sales in Sydney in 2007, and has returned $1,117,450. When you take into account the racing costs (breaking in, agistment, training fees etc), even he would be miles behind.

Regards your query about Flying Spur, since going to stud, he has sired 1,383 live foals to date (source Australian Stud Book), but only one has sold for $1,000,000+ (out of Cantenac). That occurred at the 2008 Easter Yearling Sales (I think it was sold by Yarraman Park Stud to Ingham Bloodstock), so it has probably not raced yet. Its registered name is Vinavion.

These figures are pretty much up to date, but obviously change frequently as races are run and won.

More to come over the following weeks.................

ED

Von Costa would be in front now after one breeding season.

Anybody who is spending that kind of doe and is not also hoping for a future stallion career is kidding themselves or is looking at some sort of right off.

There is a lot of skulduggery in the whole thing unfortunately.

It would be interesting if somebody did a full study on ALL Thoroughbreds on the planet, In the major thoroughbred nurseries to find out the success rates of these million dollar babies.

To do the study purely on the racing side of the leger is not enough.

How many of the million dollar fillies have gone on to be good mothers ?
 

"Skulduggery" might be a little strong Authorised.

I'd prefer to look at it from the point of view that "smart" people will take advantage of weaknesses in any system, and the ordinary punter will find it very difficult to get one over the smarties out there.

Rest assured, there is so much money involved in the breeding business, it is certain to attract some "grey" characters.

Always remember "Caveat Emptor" - let the buyer beware.

Re your suggestion on the broodmare side, when I get the chance, that will be one of my next projects but I'm having too much fun on the sire side, so won't set a time limit.

But just to give you a taste of what's to come:

Of the million dollar babies, Redoute's Choice sold 12 fillies (ie 44 colts) and Encosta de Lago sold 9 fillies (ie 8 colts).

Source stallions.com.au

ED

And BTW, Von Costa De Hero served 125 mares in his first season (2010) at an advertised service fee of $16,500 at Darley Stud.

Two mares missed.

Source: Australian Stud Book

ED

I'm not sure if you can conclusively say spending big is for dills.  Many of our more valuable (from a pedigree point of view) and successful horses would never have seen a sales ring.  Many are bred purely for the racing owners.

I would never say that, nor even suggest it!

They're a lot smarter than I'll ever be.

I'm just interested in the stats, and everyone can interpret them as they wish.

ED

These figures are actual mares served. They don't reflect the commercial success of the stallion. For instance, how many of the mares covered were returns from the previous year ? How many were owned by either the connections of the stallion or the Stud ? Finally, how many serves were discounted from the advertised price ? Very few studs would give answers to all or even some of these questions.

Looking through excellent Breednet site, I notice that there are three million dollar horses going around tomorrow in Australia.

Adelaide, Race 1 - Hurdle
5 CHATILLION (NZ) Zabeel (NZ) x Better Succeed  2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling, NSW (200)  CAMBRIDGE STUD, Camb  T MILLARD VIC  $1,000,000

Sydney, Race 8 - BM 95 race
12 LITTLE SURFER GIRL Encosta de Lago x Special Harmony  2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling, NSW (384)  COOLMORE STUD, Jerry  INGHAM BLOODSTOCK NS  $1,500,000
13 ARLINGTON Red Ransom (USA) x Savannah Success  2006 MM Conrad Jupiters Yearling, Qld (480)  Baramul Stud  GRAEME ROGERSON  $1,550,000

Scotland the brave goes around at geelong soon

He would have cost close to a mill by Encosta out of Jeezabeel

Passed in for $280,000 on a $300,000 reserve.

I'm sure shes had some expensive foals.

Anyways, he raced like he was worth $10

Yearlings have sold for $475,000, $250,000 and $200,000.

She's had 3 others passed in.