Is it just me or is he not getting great mares? I know Will Farish is sending the Lane's End mares to him, but they really aren't so great; a lot of those good mares are by Indy, so obviously they are out. I'm seeing some ok/decent mares being bred to Mineshaft, but his book is definitely worse than Empire Maker's (who has the Juddmonte advantage) and maybe even Aldebaran's. The Blood Horse had an article in this week's issue of who the top mares are being bred to, and not one is going to Mineshaft. I loved this horse and am disappointed. Maybe I'm wrong about his book - does anyone have a list of mares bred to this guy?
Thanks!
Mineshaft
Moderators: Roguelet, WaveMaster, madelyn
hi Betsy
You are right on target re: Juddmonte...they have an abundance of absolutely incredible mares...many (if not most) of which are home-breds.
"The Juddmonte advantage"...as you called it...carries over from their breeding program(s) to their racing stable(s)...and it's probably fair to say that the vast majority (if not all) of their racing stable is comprised of home-breds. Can you recall the last time they raced other than a home-bred?
Prince Khaled Abdullah's Juddmonte is a very serious breeding and racing entity...and is definitely a force (often) to be reckoned with. I suggest they have their sights set on nothing less than the top...and consistently strive for excellence.
Re: Mineshaft...I expect he is being offered an outstanding opportunity at Lanes End...regardless of whether or not he has any of the elite producers in the country available to him.
If he's got it in him...he'll succeed.
Respectfully
You are right on target re: Juddmonte...they have an abundance of absolutely incredible mares...many (if not most) of which are home-breds.
"The Juddmonte advantage"...as you called it...carries over from their breeding program(s) to their racing stable(s)...and it's probably fair to say that the vast majority (if not all) of their racing stable is comprised of home-breds. Can you recall the last time they raced other than a home-bred?
Prince Khaled Abdullah's Juddmonte is a very serious breeding and racing entity...and is definitely a force (often) to be reckoned with. I suggest they have their sights set on nothing less than the top...and consistently strive for excellence.
Re: Mineshaft...I expect he is being offered an outstanding opportunity at Lanes End...regardless of whether or not he has any of the elite producers in the country available to him.
If he's got it in him...he'll succeed.
Respectfully
I agree FOS... its impossible to think a Champion son of AP Indy standing at Lanes End isn't being given every single chance to be sucessful. The only negative with Mineshaft, that I see, is the obvious absence of Mr P broodmares coming to him. That leaves a lot of wonderful mares on the outside looking in ,but I am quite sure there are plenty of high quality grade AA talent out there that match up wonderfully well with him. Mineshaft was a wonderful racehorse, with a beutiful pedigree I have to beleive he will be making a great impact on Racing in the future.
Thanks for your comments, FOS and Freddy. I'm sure Mineshaft is getting good mares; it's just frustrating that no top mare was bred to him this year. I wish Lane's End would publish the mares that their stallions are being bred to. Anyhow, I think he's going to be a terrific sire; I can't wait to see more pics of his foals (which I wish Lane's End would put up on their out of date site).
Betsy, why do you think Mineshaft has not gotten a great book of Mares?I have not seen it,and I do not know where to find it, but I believe it was top notch. I don't think he saw anything but extremely solid candidates. Lanes End has a wonderful network and I am sure they gave him a bunch or new prospects with proven track records and great conformation, as well as, some mares that never raced but had either extreme talent. Some I would imagine just had wonderful pedigree. Listen when I looked up some of the stuff Northern Afleet was bred to I wasn't sure they were TB's lol. He still did what he had to do and now he is well on the way to seeing better and better stock. Same can be said for St. Ballado's early days.. If Mineshaft has it in him they will win and win often. It won't be they lack of quality mare that hold him back. He stands at Lanes End at 6 figures thats enough said alone.
Freddy, I only thought that because I was comparing him to Empire Maker. Juddmonte has so many glorious mares, either proven producers or newly retired blue-blooded mares. In comparison, the mares I've seen bred to Mineshaft seem to be lacking.........of course, I could be way off base, and as you pointed out, Lanes End is a great operation. I tend to be rather pessimistic, so take my comments with grains of salt. This is an exciting time, with these babies being born - I'm sure Mineshaft will be a success.
Betsy when money is not considered anything is possible.. meaning what Juddmonte wants Juddmonte gets.. If they want to Empire Maker into an Empire they have all the money in the world to make that a possiblity. I think Mineshaft will make a stallion anyway. Both horses where extremely talented ,but I am a Mineshaft fan so I am routing for him.
Meanwhile, Dear Birdie is in foal to 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft and will visit Unbridled’s Song later this year, while Birdstone began covering mares on February 11 at Gainesway, Hendrickson said. Among those already visiting Birdstone is Sing and Swing, a stakes-winning daughter of Dixieland Band who is a half sister to stakes winner and stakes producer Windansea and is out of the 1975 Kentucky Oaks (G2) winner Sun and Snow.—Ed DeRosa
Betsy Mineshaft/Dear Birdie NOT BAD!!!
Betsy Mineshaft/Dear Birdie NOT BAD!!!