Opinions Needed Please!

Postby **Roguelet** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:43 am

I would like to ask for opinions, pretty please! I would like to know thoughts as well as pros and cons on each of FOUR stallion choices with a specific mare. Breeding to race most likely, for a regional program (Indiana) but wouldn't mind hearing thoughts on sale potential as well.

Here ya go:

Mare:
McGuerty Creek (1999 model, Strodes Creek - Flirty McGuerty, by H.D. Orphan)

Stallion choices:
1.) Crafty Prospector
2.) Woodman
3.) Teton Forest
4.) Quest

Thanks in advance!

LSB · Postby **LSB** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:15 am

I'll leave it to others to do a stallion/mare match but just looking at the three horses, if I were breeding to race I'd definitely pick Crafty Prospector. He's proven as a good sire, which puts him ahead of Teton Forest, and while Woodman can produce a good runner, I believe his percentages of same are quite a bit lower than CP's. Plus, CP generally produces a pretty sound horse.

Postby **Roguelet** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:55 am

Thanks, LSB... I liked Crafty P of those three as well, but I'm by no means a pedigree expert!

Also, I edited my original post to add one more stallion to the list... Quest. I'd like opinions and thoughts on him as well, if you don't mind.

Postby **Roguelet** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:04 am

OK, I'm editing again. Here's the new and revised list of stallions to potentially go with this mare:

Woodman
Crafty Prospector
Jade Hunter
Pioneering
Quest
Leelanau
Pikepass
Silver Ghost
Teton Forest

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:05 am

If you're breeding to race, your best bet is to visit the stallions and physically inspect them to compare to your mare. Planning, of course, for an athletic, well-made baby. I don't know how much commercial appeal there is in this particular list of stallions.

ak1 · Postby **ak1** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:11 pm

Ditto what Madelyn writes and will add that I have read many times on this board and the old TTimes board how well regarded Crafty Prospector and Silver Ghost are as breed to race sires.

bcassidy · Postby **bcassidy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:34 pm

Crafty Prospector and Silver Ghost are very good breed to race stallions and fairly priced.
Did you look at Unforgettable Max? You may want to check him out. His pedigree looks like a great match with your mare but he is obviously a first year stallion.
He is about as good looking a stallion as you would ever see--if your mare has any confirmation faults he may help her out and I believe he will throw dirt and turf runners.

Morningside · Postby **Morningside** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:20 pm

is crafty prospector still in service? why am i under the impression he's been pensioned or something?
i think he's the best one out of the bunch, with woodman a close second

Postby **Roguelet** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:16 am

This mare will be leased from us for the 2006 breeding season, and this is the lessee's "short list." I believe he's done his homework as far as knowing what the stallions look like, etc. and I believe the mares's been already approved to any of these stallions. It is my understanding that Crafty Prospector is "private" to a smaller book than he's had in the past, but that this mare is accepted into that book and he is an option for her. The final decision is the lessee's, not mine, but I told him I would post here to get pedigree and stallion opinions, since this board is chock full of knowledgeable people and I think it's an invaluable resource for things like this. That's the background on what's going on here. :wink:

That said, I personally am all excited about the opportunity to have her bred to Crafty Prospector. However, that's based mostly on just who he is (the "wow" factor... I don't usually get to entertain the options of having one of my mares bred to such a "big name" stallion.) I HAVE looked at the match on paper and I do really like what I see, but my knowledge in that area pales in comparison to many of the experts that contribute to this board.

As for the mare, there's really nothing wrong with her conformationally. If anything, she's a bit light, but she's not a wisp of a mare by any means. From what I've seen of Crafty P, he's got some bulk, and that wouldn't be a bad thing for her. She doesn't have any glaring issues that would need to be specifically addressed or offset in a stallion choice.

I really only threw the "sell" thing in there for curiosity if anyone wanted to comment, but really this is a breed to race thing, so that's where the importance would lie.

Thanks again for any input!

Postby **Roguelet** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:56 am

I just received notice indicating that the lessee has narrowed the choices down to 2 stallions:

Crafty Prospector
or
Quest

kimberley mine · Postby **kimberley mine** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:32 am

Crafty Prospector. He's proven, he throws sound offspring who earn their keep...go for the known value every time over the unproven.

ragsdaj · Postby **ragsdaj** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:38 am

seeking the gold seems to do a little better than Crafty Prospector with Halo. There are two crafty strodes creek progeny that show no earnings. I dont have access to race records so that should be checked.

crafty creek and shesa strodes lady, strodes lady also had some Dr Fager.

I did not see any seeking the gold strodes creek pairings. From what I can see I will probably be the oddball and say Quest would be my choice of the two.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:46 am

Between Crafty Prospector and Quest, it would have to be Crafty Prospector.