With Easter on the horizon and blueblood pedigrees dominating discussions with breeding enthusiasts, it can be worthwhile taking a moment to look at how the most expensive progeny by some of the 'sexiest' stallions have matched their sale hype.
We've all heard the quotes:
"one of the most impeccable colts I have ever seen"
"the nicest colt in this year's sale"
"by far the best foal the mare has produced"
"An outstanding colt - the pick of the sale"
"When I saw him I knew I just had to buy him. Nothing was going to stop me"
"On type he is sensational. I just had to have him"
"The nicest filly in the sale"
... But how many 'impeccable and outstanding' yearlings have become 'impeccable and outstanding' racehorses? When you consider how small the sample is for horses selling at the highest levels then it's actually interesting to note that whilst the odds of winning the lottery are certainly very difficult they are not impossible. Sure the blood baths appear worse at this level (and give pause for thought in terms of the way these horses are "sold" to the media when they are knocked down for such large sums of money) but Darci Brahma's results prove that sometimes, just sometimes, the gamble pays off. Personally I think the research on the Group 1 winners who DIDN'T cost 6 or 7 figure sums is far more persuasive!
I chose to analyse the 2002 crop who sold in 2004 as it's always useful to allow the horse time to develop into its 3 year old year. I looked at the top priced yearlings from a number of well marketed commercial stallions. The horses were sold at either Easter, Magic Millions Premier, or the New Zealand Premier sale.
The stallions I chose were: Fusaichi Pegasus, Montjeu, Redoute's Choice, Danehill, Zabeel and Sunday Silence.
"The second coming of Christ" is how a non-thoroughbred fan would probably assess the hype that has attached to Coolmore's Fusaichi Pegasus. I've always found the endless glut of marketing about this horse almost embarrassing in its desire to make something it isn't. Fortunately the stallion has done well in the States (enough to warrant a US$125k service fee?) and he is starting to get some good results in Australia which is reassuring news to those who have supported him and have yearlings in the upcoming sales. Given this stallion has received an outstanding book of mares for each of the season's he has stood in Australia one can only hope he does a lot BETTER in the coming months as well.
Fusaichi Pegasus colt ex Crown Crest. Sold Easter. Consigned by Widden Stud and purchased by Magus Equine as agent for $500,000. Floral Pegasus is one of just 2 Fusaichi Pegasus' who call Hong Kong home. The 3yo has won HK$1,640,300 (AUD$294,723) this season, including wins at class 4 and class 3 level (Class 3 twice). At his last 2 starts he placed (at class 2) and he is entered in a class 2 handicap (1400m) this Sunday.
Fusaichi Pegasus colt ex Dashing Eagle. Sold Easter. Consigned by Tyreel Tbred Stud and purchased by Yoshinori Sakae for $650,000. Gaburin was purchased by Japanese connections and this Saturday the 3yo Australian-bred will take his place in the US$2m Gr 2 UAE Derby (1800m dirt) in Dubai. Gaburin was recently switched from turf to dirt and he has won his last 2 starts.
Fusaichi Pegasus colt ex Elizabeth Drake. Sold Easter. Consigned by Coolmore Australia (as agent) and purchased by Demi O'Byrne (as agent) for $775,000. Named Crackenback, the 3yo has had 3 starts for a 5th in a Mornington 3yo Maiden Plate. He has yet to return any prize money to connections and will barrier trial again on the 24th of this month.
Sir Patrick Hogan part owns 2 of the top priced Montjeu fillies from the 2004 sales. Alas, whilst the stallion's Northern Hemisphere results suggested the sky was the limit, local results required a caveat - "just not in the Southern Hemisphere".
Montjeu filly ex Greta Hall. Sold New Zealand Premier. Consigned by Windsor Park and purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock for $400,000. Names Seraphina (NZ) the best this 3yo has only beaten one horse home in her 2 starts. Currently being spelled.
Montjeu filly ex Mazarine. Sold New Zealand Premier. Consigned by Ascot Farm and purchased by Cambridge Stud for $460,000. Game Duchess has earned just $1375, her best effort a 4th in a 2yo handicap.
Montjeu filly ex Tristachine. Sold New Zealand Premier. Consigned by Windsor Park and purchased by Mark Pilkington Bloodstock for $380,000. Numero Douze has prize money to date of just NZ$550, her best effort a 4th in a Bendigo maiden in February this year.
Redoute's Choice colt ex Assertive Lass. Sold Easter. Consigned by Twin Palms Stud and purchased by Gai Waterhouse for $1,300,000. Assertive Choice was the half brother to Reset and in his 4 starts he had one win and a third (the G3 Kindergarten Stakes) for $33,300 in prize money. He broke down in the Brian Crowley Stakes (L/R) in October 2005.
Redoute's Choice colt ex Patrona. Sold Easter. Consigned by Kia Ora Stud (as agent) and purchased by Tim Martin for $750,000. Patronize won his third barrier trial on 7-Oct 05 but hasn't been seen since.
Redoute's Choice colt ex Ballroom Babe. Sold Easter. Consigned by Tyreel Thoroughbred Stud and purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $425,000. Solo Turn races in Japan and was an impressive 7-length winner at Nakayama, Japan on 24 December 2005. He now has 4 starts for 2 wins and a 2nd.
Redoute's Choice filly ex Dashing Granada. Sold Easter. Consigned by Arrowfield Stud as agent and purchased by William Inglis as agent for $700,000. Albaicin is owned and raced by the Woodlands Syndicate and has earned $74,850. From 9 starts the 3yo has recorded 2 wins and 4 placings including a 3rd in last weekend's Eskimo Prince Stakes (L/R). She also ran 4th in the G2 Furious Stakes in September last year.
Redoute's Choice colt ex Zalinda. Sold Easter. Consigned by Twin Palms Stud and purchased by Equine & Livestock for $660,000. Fast 'N' Famous won his Wyong maiden by 3.3 lengths in December last year and has since been spelled.
Danehill colt ex Bonanova. Sold Easter. Consigned by Tyreel Thoroughbred Stud and purchased by Darley Australia for $800,000. Nova Sofala ran last in a barrier trial in November 2005 then won his next trial in early December. He has been in the paddock ever since.
Danehill colt ex Foxwood. Sold Easter. Consigned by Coolmore Australia (as agent) and purchased by David Hall for $1,100,000. Apologia has had 4 starts for no wins or placings and returned just $1,100 to connections. In his last start he ran 8th of 11 in a Kilmore Maiden.
Danehill colt ex Grand Echezeaux. Sold New Zealand Premier Sale. Consigned by Pencarrow Stud and purchased by prominent New Zealand racing identity and Te Akau Stables principal, David Ellis for $1,100,000. The colt from the family of four-time Group 1 winner Ethereal (by Rhythm) was named Darci Brahma (NZ) and he has now won $859,197 and recorded 8 wins and 3 placings from just 12 starts. The 3 time Group 1 winner is entered in this Saturday's Gr 2 Phar Lap Stks.
Danehill colt ex Kensington Gardens. Sold Easter. Consigned by Collingrove Stud and purchased by William Inglis (as agent) for $1,100,000. Manton is owned and raced by the Woodlands Syndicate. From 10 starts he has had 1 win and 3 placings (including a 2nd in the Gr 2 A A M I Vase and Gr 3 Spring Stakes and a third in the Ming Dynasty Stakes (Listed). His prize money total to date is $123,950. Of interest he is also nominated for the Phar Lap Stakes this weekend.
Danehill colt ex Marigot Bay. Sold Magic Millions Premier Sale. Consigned by Coolmore Stud (as agent) and purchased by Mark Pilkington Bloodstock for $1,050,000. The blue-blooded Prague is owned by an equal number of famous names including David Hayes, the Singletons, Adam Sangster, Susan Magnier, and Gerald Ryan. From 6 starts Prague has earned just $1,200 and in his last start he ran 5th in a 3yo maiden plate at Murray Bridge.
Danehill colt ex Mirbeck. Sold Easter. Consigned by Collingrove Stud and purchased by Tim Stakemire for $1,000,000. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the 3yo Gelmood has never started.
Danehill colt ex Prawn Cocktail. Sold Easter for a then-Australian record of $2.2 million. Consigned by Coolmore Australia (as agent) and purchased by Freedman Bros. Overlord is owned by Coolmore interests and having won his first start (in a Sunshine Coast maiden no less) he then ran third in a Class 1 at Werribee before being shipped to the States where he registered a three-quarter length victory in his first start at Turfway Park. It's a black type page not easily replicated given its ties to Danehill, Storm Cat and Royal Academy ... But at the end of the day, has the horse shown anything on the track to justify his page/purchase price? Coolmore may well be able to answer that question when they tell us how many broodmare owners they manage to entice to the horse when they (no doubt) eventually retire him to some backwater stud.
Danehill colt ex Push A Venture. Sold New Zealand Premier. Consigned by Curraghmore Stud as agent and purchased by BBA Ireland for $1,000,000. Offenbach is owned by a number of names common to Prague. The 3yo has earned $8,080 from one win and he ran second over 1800m in a Morphetville Handicap earlier this month.
Danehill colt ex St Clemens Belle. Sold Easter. Consigned by Coolmore Australia (as agent) and purchased by Tim Stakemire for $975,000. Raced by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Al Miqdaam has earned $2,400 from running second in a Gosford maiden in May 2005.
Sunday Silence colt ex Bright Finish. Sold Easter. Consigned by Arrowfield Stud (as agent) and purchased by Tim Martin for $1,500,000. Goldtown has earned $32,180 and from 7 starts has recorded 2 wins and 2 thirds. He is due to run today in the Class 2 Executive Inn Handicap.
Sunday Silence colt ex Sonoray. Sold Easter. Consigned by Arrowfield Stud (as agent) and purchased by Yoshinori Sakae for $1,500,000. Zone Moment races in Japan and I have not been able to find his racing record.
Zabeel filly ex Carmel Valley. Sold Easter. Consigned by Trelawney Stud and purchased by William Inglis (as agent) for $600,000. Del Mar (NZ) is owned and raced by The Woodlands Stud Syndicate. The 3yo filly has earned $11,950 to date and has recorded one win from 6 starts. Like Bright , she is due to start in today's Executive Inn Hcp (C2).
Zabeel filly ex Waihora's Lass. Sold New Zealand Premier. Consigned by Haunui Farm and purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services for $600,000. Zalila (NZ) was beaten 12.8 lengths in her first start earlier this month.
Zabeel colt ex Emerald Dream. Sold New Zealand Premier. Consigned by Cambridge Stud and purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $400,000. Zed (NZ) has had 2 starts and 1 win for $3,125 in prize money.
