Lexington stallion views

[aurora]

austique, I am also big on Kafwain and recently tried to get a season but he is booked. His pic looks dynamite but my agent in Ky went to look and he and his wife both said that he is ordinary. Have you seen him?

[aurora]

Have you seed Najran? Hopewell doesn't have a confirmation pic of him so I have no idea what he is like.

[Pete]

Thanks LSB, I saw that Twigs was back in action

[LSB]

Thanks Pete, we're thrilled about that. It's been a long haul since that first race.

Having gotten caught up in the last quarantine for two months, I'm now feeling a little nervous about the new quarantine at Churchill. Twigs is at Keeneland but racing-wise that's right around the corner.

[austique]

Aurora,

Kafwain is magnificent. I actually booked my best mare to him. He does have kind of an ugly head, so I wouldn't recommend sending a mare with that particular problem to him if you are planning to sell. I loved him though. The boarding farm I'm using also booked one of their mares to him and feels the same way I do about him.

[Pete]

Hi Aurora,

Kafwain was in heavy demand in his first year and has been well supported this year as well. He has a lot of the elements that commercial breeders like, precocity, speed and size.

He was a major player as a 2yo, and excitingly fast as a 3yo winning the San Vincente (G2) in 1:21.0.

Conformation is subjective but a look at Kafwain's auction prices should tell you that he is a well made horse; $170K as a yearling (2nd of 37 sold for a stallion standing for $7,500 at the time), and $720k as a 2yo in training (1st of 25).

Cherokee Run has become a solid and consistent commercial size. If you look at his auction prices at the Keeneland sales they have a lower beta (volitility) than most. Breeders are hoping that his sons can be consistent like the father.

At the right price Kafwain is a potentially good stallion to play the bubble on.

Regards,

Pete

[choltz]

I visited Darley at Jonabell in April and was fortunate enough to have bred my mare to Holy Bull in March (thank you Giacomo!). My friends are enjoying having had their pictures taken with the sire of the Derby winner....the simplest steps can create new fans.

Gainesway introduced us to the physical masterpiece hailed as Ten Most Wanted. Size, conformation, class, ability, and female line...I'm already dreaming past the Holy Bull foal.

Birdstone? Why do all the short kids feel compelled to exaggerate their height and then add the extra 1/2 for good measure? He seemed in constant danger of being knocked off of those spindly little legs by either a slight breeze or an errant bumble bee. He also gave us hope that the runt yearling of ours may also run with his heart rather than just on his hoof.

[henthorn]

In answer to above questions, comments:

The stallion manager said he put a stick personally to Birdstone and came up with the 15.3 1/2 hh.

I have seen Horse Chestnut on previous trips and I think he's great. I hope he starts to reproduce his talent soon.

I goofed; Five Star Day is by Carson City and Ecton Park is by Forty Niner. I liked them both, but FSD is the more impressive of the two. Both toe in slightly. This was my first visit to Wintergreen, and I liked all three boys, particularly Century City.

At Gainesway we had to go out to the stallions' paddocks to view them. Ten Most Wanted was showing off and wanting all the attention while we were trying to see the others. He was running the fence and pasture, and throwing on the brakes just in time to keep from hitting the fence. What a character! I was not crazy about him on my first visit, but he has really filled out and seems more athletic now. Orientate was also running around while everyone else was quiet.

At Adena Springs I especially liked Milwaukee Brew, big and well-balanced with a good eye. Olmodavor was fine, just a little close behind. Gold Case I would characterize as midsize and with good angles. Alphabet Soup is super.

At Brookdale Forest Wildcat has a strong sprinter body with compact size and good feet. Silver Deputy was suffering from a sore hoof and was lame. He is of moderate size and with good bone. I wasn't crazy about Newfoundland with his long upright pasterns, light-boned.

At Darby Dan Perfect Soul is an attractive strong horse, very popular. Vicar is well-conformed and well-balanced. Behrens is a very strong horse. Repriced is a long-bodied strong horse with large feet.

At Lane's End Came Home is strong and relatively correct. City Zip is well-balanced, fairly correct, and more refined body type. Pleasant Tap is a massive horse with good overstride and conformation.

I only saw four horses at Ashford this trip. Chapel Royal was all-over-nice, solid and correct. I really liked Johannesburg, very athletic with a good eye, though somewhat close behind and broad in front. Honour and Glory is strong with big feet and good eye. Monashee Mountain is powerful, midsized well-balanced and with good angles.

Enough for tonight.

[liberty]

Thanks for the info.

[ak1]

did you get to see fit to fight at lanes end? he has always been a favorite of mine--won the handicapping triple as well as having count fleet up close. he is up there in age and i'd love to see a current picture/description of him. his conformation photo online is quite old.

loved hearing about the stallions you have mentioned.

thanks, ak

[henthorn]

Welcome to the forum, ak1. No, I've never visited Fit to Fight.

[erins isle]

Hi all,

I must say I just enjoyed reading the updates about the stallions. About Fit to Fight, does anybody have info on him about his character?
Thanks a lot.

[henthorn]

Sorry, Kimberley. I forgot to address your question about Include. He is only slightly knock-kneed, but it didn't slow him down any. Overall package is very nice.

[ak1]

thanks henthorn!

[Pete]

And of course, Fit To Fight's son, Scrappy T was second in the Preakness.

Pete