49 of the 130 Lots up for grabs today changed hands and went to new homes. This represents a 38% Sold ratio or if you deduct the extra 46 withdrawn lots a 58% Sold ratio of the 84 horses there. A marked difference thanks to EI of the original 481 catalogued.
Leaving some 35 passed in lots and seemingly vendors who had over rated stock for this sale.
Hardly something to crow about and the vendors really should have a long hard look at themselves. Either that or they love paying fees to the sales company.
I spotted a couple of great colts who breezed up good and looked like with a bit more education could be something to win races with but come sale time the vendor must have had some Golden Slipper aspirations because they wanted to keep them just as much as I thought they were for sale.
Passed in at $74,000 (Lot 113) and $48,000 (Lot 444) respectively, on pedigree these figures were well and truly over inflated but i still couldn't arrest them off the vendors. Another marker I use for valuing my stock is the service fees paid and the figures above represent 3.5 and 8 times those fees in 2004. How much do they want on a humid sultry showery day with not many people in attendance. Oh well good luck to them!
I suppose if they win the slipper the passed in amounts mean nothing, but then again has a breeze up horse ever won a Magic Millions let alone a Slipper, in short NO.
So my odds are improving rapidly.
Anyway I left empty handed but my friends (who had originally summoned me to the sale to assist) walked away with a mare to put on their farm and happy as "Larry".
Thank Goodness mare owners aren't as hard to buy from as others?
DD
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
KARAKA purchases CAN return to Australia
The mis-information going around in Sydney newspapers about the importation of horses back into Australia from New Zealand Karaka sales one would think is timely. Given that most of Sydneys trainers attend Karaka one could also be sceptical about who or how the information one journalist printed was received.
Marketing of these sales cost millions and with one major January sale being postponed and not having first crack at the money in 2008 it could seem likely that a conspiracy is at work to attempt to hurt the 2008 Karaka Sales series.
Another scenario is breeders in NSW and VIC could certainly be hurt by a better than expected Karaka series especially seeing it has no competition for this time of the year. A first and most probably, definately the last time this will happen. Lets face it can Australian racing support the two biggest sales within 3 weeks of each other, i think one of them if not both of them could suffer at each others peril. I mean 1800 horses for Easter Magic Millions and 1200+ for Inglis in April.
Another positive for the Karaka buyers is that they get the chance to have the yearlings broken in earlier, see a stable earlier and most probably a race track first. Experience in racing is everything in million dollar races.
NZB have been quick to act and have posted the information buyers will need to be aware of to purchase with confidence at the sales series.
Read the full article here: -
http://www.nzb.co.nz/news.cfm?content_id=32814
Marketing of these sales cost millions and with one major January sale being postponed and not having first crack at the money in 2008 it could seem likely that a conspiracy is at work to attempt to hurt the 2008 Karaka Sales series.
Another scenario is breeders in NSW and VIC could certainly be hurt by a better than expected Karaka series especially seeing it has no competition for this time of the year. A first and most probably, definately the last time this will happen. Lets face it can Australian racing support the two biggest sales within 3 weeks of each other, i think one of them if not both of them could suffer at each others peril. I mean 1800 horses for Easter Magic Millions and 1200+ for Inglis in April.
Another positive for the Karaka buyers is that they get the chance to have the yearlings broken in earlier, see a stable earlier and most probably a race track first. Experience in racing is everything in million dollar races.
NZB have been quick to act and have posted the information buyers will need to be aware of to purchase with confidence at the sales series.
Read the full article here: -
http://www.nzb.co.nz/news.cfm?content_id=32814
Saturday, January 12, 2008
First Foal of GROUP 1 placegetter a REAL RACE HORSE - NZB KARAKA 2008 Select Sale
http://stallions.com.au/sirecam/sale_view_nzpr.asp?lot=1078&dam=&sire=&vendor=&Submit=Submit
A 2yo Wellington 1400m winner at her third start, Unearthed showed glimpses of her class yet to come by winning that day after a torrid journey across the from the South Island. Jumping first and never being headed she steam rolled a talented lot.
Returning as a three year old Unearthed lined up in a 1200m event and ran a credible race behind the likes of King's Chapel in a listed event, Yes the King's Chapel now at Stud after winning multiple Group 1 races in a stellar career; Next start over 1400m she all but won going under to the talented "Rapid Kay" a filly she would meet and beat two starts later in the 1000 Guineas.
Third start back Unearthed finally got a chance to shine over her more favoured distance 1600m and beat a very nice field by 3.5 lengths. The placegetters would come out at their next starts respectively and both win on 1000 Guineas day. This went unnoticed by most punters on race day except for US, the Unearthed group of owner, trainer and stable followers;
1000 Guineas day had assembled "The Most Talented Group of Fillies to line up in this race for some time" as reported by racing journalists in the New Zealand press.
. Taatletail (Faltaat x Defensive Lady) Dual Group 3 winner; 1000 Guineas $2.25 favourite;
. Kainui Belle (Kashani x Lady Ukiah) Gr. 2 Wellington Guineas winner.
. Sarah Vee (End Sweep x Captivating) Listed ARC Soliloquy Stakes winner.
. Rapid Kay (Towkay x Racing Waters) Listed Canterbury Stakes winner against the Boys!;
. Catscan (Tale of the Cat x Translucent) Second Listed Canterbury Stakes to Rapid Kay;
· Classic Clare (Gold Brose x Funny Features). Winner of the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes
· Danette (Danske x Amynette). Second last start behind Taatletail in the Lowland Stakes.
· Eftee One (Volksraad x Bashful Lady). Third in the Hawkes Bay Guineas Group 3
· Eternal Melody (Shinko King x Billie Holiday). Stakes winner at 2.
· Her Hidden Talent (Groom Dancer x Royal Recluse). Third in the ARC Soliloquy Stakes.
· Hot Elle (Al Akbar x Hot Classic). Second in the Otaki Maori Racing Club NZISS Bonus Stakes
· Lilakyn (Danehill x Popsy). Royally bred filly who won well second up.
· Ocean Melodie (Unbridled's Song x French Tide). Fourth in the ARC Soliloquy Stakes.
· Personal Column (Personal Escort x Noble Light). Won on debut; 2nd Listed Coupland Stakes
· Salsa (O'Reilly x Ungaro). Consistent three year old filly down from the North
· Sarah Little (Volksraad x Libra Bay). Smart filly looking to complete a hat trick if successful;
· Spur Bird (Flying Spur x Auptag).
New Zealand Bloodstock took over sponsorship of this race and doubled prizemoney to new levels at $275,000 a couple of years ago, which assuredly suggests the 1000 Guineas a must attend day especially for the hungry North Island trainers and their blueblood horses. This also makes it a very tough assignment indeed to Win let alone gain Group 1 status for the South Island folk.
So it was history in the making, Unearthed the unheralded South Island hopeful would start at
each way plus odds at only her 10th race start, settle mid field sweep around the home turn and only fail to run down two of the most talented fillies in NZ of 2003, being Taatletale & Kanui Belle. The North Islanders had landed the money but Unearthed had stood up for the South taking third beating the rest of this multiple Black type group by another 1.25 lengths;
Now her first progeny have arrived and judging by this magnificent filly by the Cox Plate victor Savabeel her dynasty will see this superior family add more Black Type to the pages of catalogues to come.
Unearthed's 4th Dam "Regal Exception" was a multiple classic Group 1 performer, winning the
1972 Irish Oaks Gr.1, Saint-Cloud Prix Douvre, 2d The Oaks, Gr.1, 4th Longchamp Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe, Gr.1.
Unearthed's 5th Dam "Rajput Princess" was also a multiple Group 1 performer winning the French One Thousand Guineas, Gr.1, 2d Longchamp Prix Saint-Alary, Gr.1, Prix Vanteaux, Gr.3.
So it is no wonder Group 1 abilities were passed down this family line; View this filly online and be sure to inspect at the NZB Karaka 2008 select sale.
http://stallions.com.au/sirecam/sale_view_nzpr.asp?lot=1078&dam=&sire=&vendor=&Submit=Submit
A 2yo Wellington 1400m winner at her third start, Unearthed showed glimpses of her class yet to come by winning that day after a torrid journey across the from the South Island. Jumping first and never being headed she steam rolled a talented lot.
Returning as a three year old Unearthed lined up in a 1200m event and ran a credible race behind the likes of King's Chapel in a listed event, Yes the King's Chapel now at Stud after winning multiple Group 1 races in a stellar career; Next start over 1400m she all but won going under to the talented "Rapid Kay" a filly she would meet and beat two starts later in the 1000 Guineas.
Third start back Unearthed finally got a chance to shine over her more favoured distance 1600m and beat a very nice field by 3.5 lengths. The placegetters would come out at their next starts respectively and both win on 1000 Guineas day. This went unnoticed by most punters on race day except for US, the Unearthed group of owner, trainer and stable followers;
1000 Guineas day had assembled "The Most Talented Group of Fillies to line up in this race for some time" as reported by racing journalists in the New Zealand press.
. Taatletail (Faltaat x Defensive Lady) Dual Group 3 winner; 1000 Guineas $2.25 favourite;
. Kainui Belle (Kashani x Lady Ukiah) Gr. 2 Wellington Guineas winner.
. Sarah Vee (End Sweep x Captivating) Listed ARC Soliloquy Stakes winner.
. Rapid Kay (Towkay x Racing Waters) Listed Canterbury Stakes winner against the Boys!;
. Catscan (Tale of the Cat x Translucent) Second Listed Canterbury Stakes to Rapid Kay;
· Classic Clare (Gold Brose x Funny Features). Winner of the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes
· Danette (Danske x Amynette). Second last start behind Taatletail in the Lowland Stakes.
· Eftee One (Volksraad x Bashful Lady). Third in the Hawkes Bay Guineas Group 3
· Eternal Melody (Shinko King x Billie Holiday). Stakes winner at 2.
· Her Hidden Talent (Groom Dancer x Royal Recluse). Third in the ARC Soliloquy Stakes.
· Hot Elle (Al Akbar x Hot Classic). Second in the Otaki Maori Racing Club NZISS Bonus Stakes
· Lilakyn (Danehill x Popsy). Royally bred filly who won well second up.
· Ocean Melodie (Unbridled's Song x French Tide). Fourth in the ARC Soliloquy Stakes.
· Personal Column (Personal Escort x Noble Light). Won on debut; 2nd Listed Coupland Stakes
· Salsa (O'Reilly x Ungaro). Consistent three year old filly down from the North
· Sarah Little (Volksraad x Libra Bay). Smart filly looking to complete a hat trick if successful;
· Spur Bird (Flying Spur x Auptag).
New Zealand Bloodstock took over sponsorship of this race and doubled prizemoney to new levels at $275,000 a couple of years ago, which assuredly suggests the 1000 Guineas a must attend day especially for the hungry North Island trainers and their blueblood horses. This also makes it a very tough assignment indeed to Win let alone gain Group 1 status for the South Island folk.
So it was history in the making, Unearthed the unheralded South Island hopeful would start at
each way plus odds at only her 10th race start, settle mid field sweep around the home turn and only fail to run down two of the most talented fillies in NZ of 2003, being Taatletale & Kanui Belle. The North Islanders had landed the money but Unearthed had stood up for the South taking third beating the rest of this multiple Black type group by another 1.25 lengths;
Now her first progeny have arrived and judging by this magnificent filly by the Cox Plate victor Savabeel her dynasty will see this superior family add more Black Type to the pages of catalogues to come.
Unearthed's 4th Dam "Regal Exception" was a multiple classic Group 1 performer, winning the
1972 Irish Oaks Gr.1, Saint-Cloud Prix Douvre, 2d The Oaks, Gr.1, 4th Longchamp Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe, Gr.1.
Unearthed's 5th Dam "Rajput Princess" was also a multiple Group 1 performer winning the French One Thousand Guineas, Gr.1, 2d Longchamp Prix Saint-Alary, Gr.1, Prix Vanteaux, Gr.3.
So it is no wonder Group 1 abilities were passed down this family line; View this filly online and be sure to inspect at the NZB Karaka 2008 select sale.
http://stallions.com.au/sirecam/sale_view_nzpr.asp?lot=1078&dam=&sire=&vendor=&Submit=Submit
Friday, January 4, 2008
NICKS - Breeding for an A++ or Breeding for Racetrack Success
Recently i re-read an article (which i will give you the direct link to later) which raised my always thinking, breeding part of my brain.
Do NICKS work or is it just a marketing PLOY?
I've long been a user of these Nicks as part of my breeding philosophy but always combined with many other facets. It has always been a great starting point to know that this sireline over this dams sireline has produced stakes horses. Note please i said starting point!
More and more I see this type of marketing attached to Syndicators advertisements. This horse (we have just purchased, mind you) has a mating rating of A++ a score of over 700? What does this mean? I can only imagine a horse standing there for hours stomping his hoof 700 plus times to get his A++ rating!
I mean really if it was that simple would we all not buy these ratings sheets and try to outbid each other at the sales to get the best horses?
Why should i study my catalogue for six plus weeks and then spend at least a week looking over 500 plus horses some of them two or three times. I can sit back and wait for the lot numbers to come through the ring surely with my A++ rating sheet in hand and bid gleefully away.
Example please.
The mare owner finds that when his mare is crossed with stallion A, the resulting nick is an A++, while the cross with stallion Z results in an A, convincing the mare owner to book his mare to stallion A.
But what if the mare owner had information about the pool size used for each rating and learned that the A++ rating had been formulated by using three runners, while the A rating was based on dozens of runners? The mare owner in this situation would have based his final decision on ratings being purported as equally derived.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The main problem here is that we’re dealing with a very dynamic question: What is involved in a successful mating? Nicking theory tries to answer this question with an all too simple letter grade, which is terribly insufficient to answer such a complex question.
Nicking theorists are often quick to point out how their theory applies to the upper levels of horse racing i.e. listed and group stakes winners, but they never mention whether or not the same phenomenon exists in the lower percentiles of racing. After all, if this were the case, and we saw the same dispersal of nick ratings in the bottom tiers, the theory would have no practical use.
Perhaps the most obvious flaw in the nicking theory is the omission of the female factor. If nicking pundits are able to point to certain statistical probabilities based on the sire line, they should be able to point to similar probabilities based on certain female families and blue hen type mares.
An indirect result of the nicking craze is the effect it has on the behavior of mare owners. Too many breeders (and yearling buyers for that matter) are allowing this over-simplified method of planning matings to take up the bulk of their planning process.
Many will simply make a phone call and pay a fee to get the latest ratings before booking their mares. Less and less time is being spent on researching full detailed genetics, progeny results, conformation, market trends, etc. Where as this should be viewed as a starting point at best, it is all too often being used as a start and finishing point.
Please view the full article here - http://www.thoroughbredreview.com/nicksthefinalnail.htm
We thank the ThoroughbredReview.com for such a detailed expose' on Nicks and No Chicks.
Best Regards
DDT Racing
Do NICKS work or is it just a marketing PLOY?
I've long been a user of these Nicks as part of my breeding philosophy but always combined with many other facets. It has always been a great starting point to know that this sireline over this dams sireline has produced stakes horses. Note please i said starting point!
More and more I see this type of marketing attached to Syndicators advertisements. This horse (we have just purchased, mind you) has a mating rating of A++ a score of over 700? What does this mean? I can only imagine a horse standing there for hours stomping his hoof 700 plus times to get his A++ rating!
I mean really if it was that simple would we all not buy these ratings sheets and try to outbid each other at the sales to get the best horses?
Why should i study my catalogue for six plus weeks and then spend at least a week looking over 500 plus horses some of them two or three times. I can sit back and wait for the lot numbers to come through the ring surely with my A++ rating sheet in hand and bid gleefully away.
Example please.
The mare owner finds that when his mare is crossed with stallion A, the resulting nick is an A++, while the cross with stallion Z results in an A, convincing the mare owner to book his mare to stallion A.
But what if the mare owner had information about the pool size used for each rating and learned that the A++ rating had been formulated by using three runners, while the A rating was based on dozens of runners? The mare owner in this situation would have based his final decision on ratings being purported as equally derived.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The main problem here is that we’re dealing with a very dynamic question: What is involved in a successful mating? Nicking theory tries to answer this question with an all too simple letter grade, which is terribly insufficient to answer such a complex question.
Nicking theorists are often quick to point out how their theory applies to the upper levels of horse racing i.e. listed and group stakes winners, but they never mention whether or not the same phenomenon exists in the lower percentiles of racing. After all, if this were the case, and we saw the same dispersal of nick ratings in the bottom tiers, the theory would have no practical use.
Perhaps the most obvious flaw in the nicking theory is the omission of the female factor. If nicking pundits are able to point to certain statistical probabilities based on the sire line, they should be able to point to similar probabilities based on certain female families and blue hen type mares.
An indirect result of the nicking craze is the effect it has on the behavior of mare owners. Too many breeders (and yearling buyers for that matter) are allowing this over-simplified method of planning matings to take up the bulk of their planning process.
Many will simply make a phone call and pay a fee to get the latest ratings before booking their mares. Less and less time is being spent on researching full detailed genetics, progeny results, conformation, market trends, etc. Where as this should be viewed as a starting point at best, it is all too often being used as a start and finishing point.
Please view the full article here - http://www.thoroughbredreview.com/nicksthefinalnail.htm
We thank the ThoroughbredReview.com for such a detailed expose' on Nicks and No Chicks.
Best Regards
DDT Racing
Vendor Transparency Issue - A Real Issue or Overrated?
As going by some of the more serious commentaries here the transparency issue goes farther than the sales.
Come on gang if you have a point and or an issue with the industry please stand by your comments and post a name with your comments and claims.
I have been racing, purchasing and selling in this industry for over 20 years now. I am not a big player and all of my dealings are hobbyist in nature but because of the love and lifestyle the racing industry can afford me, i see more in the industry than just some of these minor issues.
As one of the posters stated here, it really is an easy decision. IF YOU LIKE THE HORSE BUY IT, IF NOT FIND ANOTHER!
The only point of conjecture i have with Steve on this issue is more with i dont care who bred or owns the horse if i like it and believe it is value i will buy it. If they have run off with my wife they probably have the worse end of the stick.
Cheers to all of you for 2008.
This post started at http://thisracinggame.blogspot.com/ Thanks Mr. Steve Brem
Come on gang if you have a point and or an issue with the industry please stand by your comments and post a name with your comments and claims.
I have been racing, purchasing and selling in this industry for over 20 years now. I am not a big player and all of my dealings are hobbyist in nature but because of the love and lifestyle the racing industry can afford me, i see more in the industry than just some of these minor issues.
As one of the posters stated here, it really is an easy decision. IF YOU LIKE THE HORSE BUY IT, IF NOT FIND ANOTHER!
The only point of conjecture i have with Steve on this issue is more with i dont care who bred or owns the horse if i like it and believe it is value i will buy it. If they have run off with my wife they probably have the worse end of the stick.
Cheers to all of you for 2008.
This post started at http://thisracinggame.blogspot.com/ Thanks Mr. Steve Brem
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
2008 Sales First Season Sires Poll
13th January UPDATE: POLL FINISHED; FASTNET ROCK TO BE 2008 SALES KING;
Who will it be? Who will be the leading First Season sire on average at the 2008 Sales series throughout Australia and New Zealand.
We have put together a poll of some of the contenders for you to place your thoughts too. If you disagree and have another possibility please leave us a message and we will add it to the poll.
We believe this year to be one of the most open in years with alot of promising sires first foals going to the market place. Australia and New Zealand both have some top credentialled sires amongst those in the running and this should produce some interesting viewpoints.
In the meantime please vote and leave us your thoughts.
Who will it be? Who will be the leading First Season sire on average at the 2008 Sales series throughout Australia and New Zealand.
We have put together a poll of some of the contenders for you to place your thoughts too. If you disagree and have another possibility please leave us a message and we will add it to the poll.
We believe this year to be one of the most open in years with alot of promising sires first foals going to the market place. Australia and New Zealand both have some top credentialled sires amongst those in the running and this should produce some interesting viewpoints.
In the meantime please vote and leave us your thoughts.
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