Hello all, I'm back! A quick note for your diaries - FRANKEL's 2yo half-sister, JOYEUSE, has been given an entry in the Fillies Maiden at Lingfield on 28th May.
Did you know that if the produce of a French bred mare, from a French based stallion, wins prize money, the breeder receives 15-19% of the prize money. Interesting information (includes how racing is supported financially).
According to the BHA's statistics for 2011: Number of Fixtures - 1,469 Number of Races - 10,147 (6270 Flat; 3870 Jump) The French have a very different funding model, which allows them to pay the high premiums. The premiums in France have been a bone of contention for a while. Previously, anyone could have their horse "assimilated" into the scheme simply by having the horse resident in the country for a few months. They have now tightened up the qualification criteria, but in my mind any scheme that encourages isolationism can only be bad for the sport. Breeders/owners should be encouraged to use a wide range of stock - buy the horse or use the stallion that is best for you, don't do it just because you might get a little extra money at the end of the day.
Thanks Princess. That compares with 6,500 races in the whole of France. I think for flat races it's 10% if the stallion isn't French and for Jumps it's 15% regardless. I think the 19% relates to races that are only open to French bred horses. I suspect many breeders are influenced by the stallion fee, which is certain, rather than the prospective % of winnings. And stallion fees are more competitive in France. But to receive a bonus for having bred a winner is a nice touch and helps to finance breeding operations. Can't see the point of using an unsuitable stallion, whatever the price.
At yesterday's Magic Millions Sale in Australia, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum purchased ENDLESS, an unraced half-sister to Kind (dam of Frankel) for AUS$1.05million. The mare is in foal to Australian sire HUSSON, but the agent acting on behalf of the owner said that mare may well be sent to Europe after foaling. Juddmonte sold Endless as a 3yo at the Tattersalls December sale in 2009 for 105,000 guineas. There are four other daughters of Rainbow Lake in the population: MARELLA - sold as a 3yo in 2005, no produce of note POLISH LAKE - has changed hands several times at the sales, not produced anything of note ARIZONA JEWEL - winner of 1 race from 4 starts, covered by Oasis Dream in 2012 RIPOSTE - winner of her maiden at Newmarket on 17 May and holds an entry in the Ribblesdale
Morning Princess. You missed my question on the foal thread so I've moved it to here. "I must ask you, have you had much experience of mares snoring. Twice now, I've gone out around midnight to check on the mare that is next due and found her grunting and making all sorts of noises. I thought maybe she was in labour and peered in only to find her laying flat out and snoring her head off. An hour later she was stood up asleep and not snoring. Apparently she often snores in her sleep."
I find most animals snore to a varying degree! My very small female moggy can drown out the tv at times! I suspect, that it may have something to do with the additional pressure on her body caused by the imminent foal. They often say that overweight people can help their snoring by losing weight, so I wonder if it is a similar thing? Is she looking likely to drop soon?
I know what you mean about cat snoring, and dogs. Just never seen a horse in a deep sleep, flat out, snoring before. I think you could be right though; it has only been since she has got very big. We think it's likely she will drop tomorrow night, which is a nuisance as we are away for 2 weeks from early tomorrow morning (forced holiday due to a wedding in Spain). Should be going to a funeral too but the wedding was planned first.
Shock news that Prince Khalid is planning to sell off parts of his bloodstock empire0. Despite the speculation, I can't see that they would sell any of their major stallions - it is the income from these horses that allows the operation to function .
I don't hear anything about Noel Cecil. I believe Sir Henry owned Warren Place, so what happens to it will all be down to his Will. It is entirely possible that it will have to be sold to pay the inheritence that will be due to his children, unless he bequeathed everything to Lady Jane, or left the yard in trust.
Well I wasn't able to go away and haven't had much sleep keeping watch through the nights. And 16 days on, still no foal. Wouldn't surprise me if both mares foaled at the same time now as the Dancing Brave granddaughter looks imminent (thought she was having it during the night). She is such a darling, we had the vet out to slit her the other day (stitched as a youngster) and she was an angel. Night before last Amanda sat in the stable with her and fell asleep with the mare's head in her lap.
hi princess,first time possing a question.I would just like to know how come there are very little english raiders going over to ireland for weekend racing and during the big festivels.I'm saying this as I noticed the prize money on offer on sundays in ireland can be 3/4 more than in england which should surely be appealing to alot of owners/trainers.I noticed during the punchestown festivel the only really signiifcant trainer to come over was mr henderson and im very thankfull he did as i got see the super star attraction in sprinter sacre.There were on or to other english trainers there too but with the fantastic pots on offer you would think more english trainers would have popped over with a few horses.I know there is logistics & costs involved but its not exactly the other side of the moon! What do you think is the reasom for the lack of english raiders seeing as the irish trainers have been very sucessfull as cheltenham/ascot etc!?
Princess - reading about Ron's impending foals got me wondering whether mares are ever "induced" if they are well over the calculated birth date? Can it become dangerous for the foal if it stays in too long? Is there any such thing as a "cesaerian" birth for horses?
Ste, the honest answer is I don't know! You'd think that English trainers would want to travel for the better prizemoney , but so few of them are willing to do it. I don't know if worries about handicap marks come into it, but that is often the excuse for small field sizes - no one wants to get too close to a good horse and risk their mark being raised. Oddy, I've never heard of a mare being induced, and I've known some go up to a month "overdue". I have known of mares that have had Caesarians though and while not common, they definitely do them if needed.
