Stallions in Florida?

Discussion and analysis of thoroughbred stallions.

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toadie
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Stallions in Florida?

Postby toadie » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:16 pm

I'm going to Ocala within a couple of weeks and plan to fit in a farm visit (or two!). I'm interested in "grass types" and conformation and soundness are more inportant to me than commercial bloodlines. No Storm Cats! I've heard that Skip To The Stone is a nice mover (sport horse type). Has anyone seen him in the flesh?
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Nappy
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Postby Nappy » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:48 pm

Not too many grass sires in Florida. I have a grass bred mare (yeah I know it's not marketable). Take a look at Honor Glide by Honor Grades, Black Mambo by Kingmambo, Mr. Livingston by El Prado, Sligo Bay by Sadler's Wells, Exchange Rate by Danzig, and Mecke by Maudlin.

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Postby Spain » Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:30 pm

Equinevision.com has a moving video of Skip to the Stone. I believe so does Thoroughbred Time's Stallion register. I'd think twice about calling him a nice mover. The first video is really bad, so bad that I used him as an example of what you don't want a horse to move like in a presentation I had to give.

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Mahubah
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Postby Mahubah » Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:50 pm

That's interesting, because when I saw Skip to the Stone in 2005 (he is quite an attractive horse, by the way), Lou Gurino told me they'd actually shown him in an in-hand class at one of the big hunter/jumper/dressage shows down here and finished third with him while competing against warmbloods as well as TBs.
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Postby Ann » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:31 pm

You're more than welcome to come visit us and see some fine old grass blood. We have Prince Bobby B ( King Pellinore X Riviere Bleue by Riverman ).

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FOS
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Postby FOS » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:18 pm

hi toadie

You wrote "I'm interested in "grass types" and conformation and soundness are more important to me than commercial bloodlines. ... I've heard that Skip To The Stone is a nice mover (sport horse type). Has anyone seen him in the flesh?"

Skip To The Stone is a deceivingly tall, well-conformed and very strongly made...handsome horse. He offers plenty of body and bone, is well muscled...and is quite the gentleman. He certainly does have a confidence and very nice way about him...is definitely appealing...and offers a lot of nice qualities.

He's not exactly what I would describe as a horse that seems to dance across the ground effortlessly, seemingly floating on air. Regardless, he is a good mover.

Arguably Skip To The Stone is not particularly commercial (yet) nor is his sire, but Skip To The Stone's sire Skip Trial was and is a very solid sire...and did get many good ones, along with a GREAT and very SOUND one in Skip Away. I expect that Skip To The Stone has it in him to sire good and sound racehorses...but I do not expect that turf-types will be what he will be best known for. If he reproduces himself, I sense he'll get very solid dirt-types (for the most part)...with a cool, calm way about them (like he is).

I suggest that Skip To The Stone (although arguably not particularly commercial, which doesn't seem to be a concern of yours) is worth a look...is a very nice horse...and is very easy to like.

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wilf
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Postby wilf » Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:03 am

If you go to Bridlewood to see Black Mambo then take a look at Great Pyramid too. He is Floridas only son of the incredible Danehill, as a trainer I would love a barnful of Danehills descendants to play with on the turf in the summertime.

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Postby Retrospectiv » Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:35 am

wilf wrote:If you go to Bridlewood to see Black Mambo then take a look at Great Pyramid too. He is Floridas only son of the incredible Danehill, as a trainer I would love a barnful of Danehills descendants to play with on the turf in the summertime.


Indeed, and the Danehill's seemed to run on any turf as well, hard firm, soft, good....you name it.
With Great Pyramid being a full brother to the best ever son of Danehill, Rock of Gibralter and Danehill's reputation as a sire of sires I'd give him a SERIOUS look for only $2,500 (especially where there's no interest in the commercial market). He may not have run like his brother, but if anything I think he looks more like his sire than ROG does.

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Postby toadie » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:39 pm

Thanks everyone. STTS, MrLivingston and BlackMambo were at the top of my list. I think Exchange Rate and Adena stallions are out of my price range. :cry:

Ann, where are you located? I'll be at Karen and David OConnor's in Ocala.
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Postby Ann » Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:43 pm

Hi Toadie, we're about 22 miles west of Ocala, midway between Dunnellon and Williston.I can PM you a phone number and directions if you might like or have time to come visit.

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Postby reese » Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:27 pm

wilf wrote:If you go to Bridlewood to see Black Mambo then take a look at Great Pyramid too. He is Floridas only son of the incredible Danehill, as a trainer I would love a barnful of Danehills descendants to play with on the turf in the summertime.


Forbiddden Apple stands at Bridlewood. If I were looking for a turf sire in FL, I'd look at FA.

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Postby FOS » Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:48 pm

hi reese

It's no secret...Forbidden Apple has had difficulty impregnationg many mares...BEWARE.

I expect the farm will discuss his issues with you.

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Postby reese » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:02 pm

FOS wrote:hi reese

It's no secret...Forbidden Apple has had difficulty impregnationg many mares...BEWARE.

I expect the farm will discuss his issues with you.

Respectfully


That's too bad. He was a very nice turfer.

What is his problem?

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FOS
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Postby FOS » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:13 am

hi reese

I agree...Forbidden Apple was one heck of a turfer (your word).

Re: his breeding issues...I'm not sure whether it's fertility related...libido...and/or some other problem (whatever it might be) that's the culprit.

It's definitely no secret though that something's going on with him.

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Postby reese » Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:20 pm

FOS wrote:hi reese

I agree...Forbidden Apple was one heck of a turfer (your word).


Respectfully


You learn something every day...didn't realize turfer is not in the dictionary. Must be a slang contraction I've heard used for turf runner or racer.

I see what you mean about FA. It was obvious when I looked at the stallion register. ..

That is really too bad because I saw FA's races in NY, and he looked the part of a "star". He had speed for a grass runner and a very good closing kick. Held his own against European grass racers and held up physically.