just realised that Black Caviar is a direct descendant of one of the greatest broodmares, Conjure: so a relative of at least 3 Oaks winners and a Kentucky Derby winner, plus other good horses like Hornbeam, Cherry Hinton and High Stakes.
PN any standout lots that you've heard about in the horses in training sale. I had a glance at the catalogue and saw Motivado and Grandeur
Black Caviar's dam has turned into a right little gold mine. Her colt by Casino Prince was knocked down for $1,025,000 and recently went on to win the G1 Caulfield Guineas. Then last April, a filly by Redoute's Choice fetched $2,600,000.
I haven't had a chance to look at the Horses in Training catalogue yet, my job revolves more around the yearlings. It can be a good sale to try and pick up an unraced 2yo from one of the big owners - like MAKFI for example! Catalogue here for those who want to have a look
Motivator is moving from the Royal Stud at Sandringham to France for 2013. Perhaps they are making room for Carlton House?!
Princess, that sales catalogue is a fascinating document. I said a while back that the horse I’d love to see over hurdles this winter is Mr Gosden’s Unex El Greco and I see that he is amongst those on the sales list. Surely jumps trainers will be queing up to buy this old boy as he has the potential to reach the top. Personally, I hope Mr Henderson gets his hands on him as what a partnership they could be. Similarly, the likes of Electrolyser, Debating Society, Hototo, Motivado, Repeater, Rugged Cross and Jet Away are other classy individuals set to go through the old sales ring and this is a sale to watch with keen interest to see exactly who goes where. Well I’m on do you think that Bullet Train and Noble Mission are set for careers at stud, sometime in the future, as a result of Frankel’s phenomenal success??? Albeit it would be at a lower level than Sir Henry’s champion but I would imagine that their relationship to Frankel would be a major selling point and an attraction to breeders with less money at their disposal.
I suspect both Bullet Train and Noble Mission, and even Morpheus, will end up at stud somewhere. As you say, they will never command fees alongside that of Frankel, but I'm sure breeders' will be willing to pay to tap into the bloodline. It is possible they may end up on the continent, or they may find a lot of attention from the likes of India, South Africa and South American countries, who are all always on the lookout for stallion prospects - I believe an Indian breeder offered a substantial amount for Twice Over, but was turned down on the grounds that Sir Henry wanted to keep him! After all, he has described the horse as his best friend.
As an aside to the above, breeders have always been willing to pay to use brothers of top class sires - Montjeu has had 3 brothers (2 full, one half) at stud - LITTLE JIM (disappeared off radar a few years ago), GOLD WELL, who has just joined Coolmore's National Hunt roster after some success with small crops and LE FOU who stands in France. Don't forget, Sadler's Wells' full-brother FAIRY KING went to stud on the back of one unplaced effort and proved to be very good, siring the likes of Oath, Helissio, Falbrav, etc. Other successful brothers to Sadler's Wells included PERUGINO (1 win from 1 start), HERMITAGE (unraced) and TATE GALLERY (2 wins from 5 starts).
Nathaniel's retirement has now been confirmed. In an interesting development, the horse will be syndicated. More here
