First Year Sires of 2006

[StrawberryFelidos]

I'm sorry, but $30,000 seems like a lot to pay for a horse who ran three times. They announce with pride that he was unbeaten in those starts, as if that's supposed to wow the pants off of me
WOW, unbeaten in THREE starts? Superstar! I think High Limit was unbeaten in three starts once upon a time, and Fusaichi Samurai was unbeaten for several months, they must be superstars, too

[Keith]

GRAND REWARD by Storm Cat-Serena's Song by Rahy $12,500 Nice looking son of Storm Cat and winner of the Grade II Oaklawn H. Great pedigree loaded with great racemares like Serena's Song, Glorious Song,and Terlingua along with great producers in his pedigree like Natalma, Crimson Saint, Little Hut, Ballade, and of course you have to mention Glorious Song again because she is a great producer. He has pedigree, conformation, and a Grade II stakes winner.

Grand Reward has the potential to be a successful stallion.

Keith

[austique]

I knew Footstepsinthesand would get some blood boiling and just think he'll cover around 200 mares next year. Big books, a problem for the breed? Nah! I about choked when I saw the $30,000 price tag. That's $10,000 per start folks.

[Keith]

Maryland Stallion Station gets two nice horses for 2006

St. Averil by Saint Ballado-Avie's Fancy by Lord Avie. He does have Sir Gaylord and Halo bloodlines which should make nice line breeding options on Almahmoud through Northern Dancer or Somethingroyal through Secretariat. St. Averil won the Gr. II Santa Catalina S. and should stand for a fraction of the stud fee of Saint Liam. No stud fee has been announced.

Gators N Bears by Stormy Atlantic-I'll Be Along by Notebook He is a multiple Grade III stakes winner and would make an interesting cross on El Prado mares line breeding Cap and Bells. There are many line breeding options with this stallion. Breeding a Cure the Blues mare you bring in Imperatrice as GNB has Sir Gaylord and Secretariat. GNB has Alluvial through Coastal as bloodlines with Slew O Gold could be an option. He also has Miss Baba through Raja Baba so there are options to line breed through Lassie Dear. He also has Moccasin and Rough Shod II bloodlines which breeding an El Prado mare would be a nice option as Thong and Moccasin are full sisters. Other options may include Lear Fan bloodlines through Lt. Stevens a full brother to Moccasin and Thong. Alysheba also has Lt. Stevens bloodlines. Moccasin could even be line bred through the way of Apalachee. GNB also has Ta Wee and Aspidistra so breeding Quiet American or Real Quiet mares could be an option. A Cure the Blues mare crossed on Gators N Bears would line breed Imperatrice 5x7x7 and Aspidistra 5x6. An El Prado mare crossed on Gators and Bears would line breed Cap and Bells 4x5, Rough Shod II 6x7, Northern Dancer 4x5 and Sir Gaylord 5x5. No fee has been set on Gators N Bears.

Keith

[austique]

Couple of fee announcements and retirements

Badge of Silver: Ramsey Farm $12,500
Great Pyramid (IRE): Bridlewood $2500
Kitten's Joy: Ramsey Farm $25,000
Song of the Sword: Fox Tale Farm $3500
Value Plus: Stonewall $10000

[Coquinerie]

I think im going to Grand Reward and Indian Ocean next year. I will talk it over with one advisor tomorrow and then contact the farms. If anyone wants any questions asked to the managers of these stallions, let me know.

[FOS]

hi Coquinerie

Sounds like two interesting choices.

I have not yet seen Grand Reward...but I submit that Indian Ocean (in the flesh) is one grand, beautiful and special individual...

...from my perspective he's a lot of horse for the money and I expect he'll be Very well received.

There seems to be a buzz about him already.

Respectfully

[Coquinerie]

Honestly, they are the only two stallions retiring this year that excite and are reasonably priced. I think Grand Reward can get a sales foal if he passes on his looks that can bring quite a bit (in theory) so I dont have any qualms about using him. Im hoping Indian Ocean is the same type but on a smaller level and for a Fl-bred. I will send more of a "new project" to Indian Ocean, but Grand Reward will get my stakes mare.

[austique]

And some new ones

Woke Up Dreamin: Millenium $7500
Unforgettable Max: Stonewall $7500
Blazonry: Hopewell $5000

[Coquinerie]

I like Blazonry at 5k. He could be a very good deal as well.

[rudydee]

[quote="FOS"]

"I have not yet seen Grand Reward...but I submit that Indian Ocean (in the flesh) is one grand, beautiful and special individual..."

FOS-I have come to quickly appreciate your opinions from the limited time I have been reading the posts on this site. I have not seen any decent pictures of Indian Ocean or even seen him in the flesh. What makes you like him so much? Thanks in advance

Rudy D

[FOS]

hi rudydee

I submit that first impression can sometimes have a significant impact on one's perception of a stallion.

In the case of Indian Ocean (and pedigree aside for now)...when I first set eyes on him (in the flesh) I was quite taken by the image of a young stallion prospect that was not only Grand...but also beautiful...WOW. He stands approx 16-1+HH...appears to be a lot of horse, and seems to carry himself in a way that grabs attention (at least he caught mine).

For what it's worth, the fact that he's colored and marked similarly to many that Northern Dancer himself sired...might also have impacted my initial impression. You know...that light bay...with black points, mane and tail...and two or three white pasterns (a couple extending into partial stockings)...and a stripe on his very handsome (leaning toward beautiful) face and head.

He had a very forward way about him and appeared to possess an impressive quality and intelligence. As you might expect...physically he had a look about him of a colt that's recently retired from racing...and I could only imagine what he might look like when he fully matures (remember...he's only a three-year-old), puts some weight on, and his hip and quarters blossom. I expect he'll probably take on a more massive physical presence over time and as he settles into his new job as a breeding stallion.

Clearly he seemed quite special (from my perspective anyway)...and when presented...he stepped into a near-perfect pose on his own, without any noticeable assistance from the stallion handler. He also appeared to be dead-on correct up front...which (in my opinion) is another feather in his cap.

He's scopy, has a lovely neck that ties-in nicely into his shoulder, has good length and has plenty of leg under him. To me, he looks like a horse that could be versatile (as it relates to racing distances). The fact that he broke his maiden in 1:14 and change (going 6 1/2 furlongs), then went on to win a Santa Anita G3 going a mile and a sixteenth (all on the dirt), coupled with his physical structure...seems to support the contention that his offspring might be versatile. I suggest that he looks like the kind that could not only sire a very fast sprinter-type...but also a classic-type.

I look forward to seeing him again.

Best to you.

Respectfully

[rudydee]

I am very appreciative of you taking the time to give me your impressions of Indian Ocean. I have been in touch with Bridlewood this morning and they are sending out promotional material to me.
I was told by John at the farm, that originally they were going to use a race shot in the upcoming Stallion Register, but recently taken conformation photos look so impressive that they will be used instead.


Again my deepest thanks for sharing your thoughts with the forum and me.

Rudy D

[Sysonby]

I'm sorry, but $30,000 seems like a lot to pay for a horse who ran three times. They announce with pride that he was unbeaten in those starts, as if that's supposed to wow the pants off of me
WOW, unbeaten in THREE starts? Superstar! I think High Limit was unbeaten in three starts once upon a time, and Fusaichi Samurai was unbeaten for several months, they must be superstars, too

That's in a time honored European tradition though. Check out the race record for Nureyev. Secreto had a whopping 4 starts. Storm Bird was a grizzled warrior with 6. There's also Golden Fleece (4 starts) and Lammtara (4 starts).

[StrawberryFelidos]

That's in a time honored European tradition though. Check out the race record for Nureyev. Secreto had a whopping 4 starts. Storm Bird was a grizzled warrior with 6. There's also Golden Fleece (4 starts) and Lammtara (4 starts).

True, there have been successful studs with short careers- but I wouldn't pay 30K on a 3-starter stud unless he'd already proven he could make some quality babies