How are the Marino Marini babies this year?

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 4:32 pm

Those are good points, Sysonby. You'll have to excuse my non-Californian logic.

My thinking was that Brother Derek has had much more California exposure than had Roar or Deputy Commander, so he'd have his legion of fans in the state. Plus, Benchmark isn't a kid any more, and I was thinking that Brother Derek might be his "heir apparent."

Do you think Brother Derek would be better off standing in another state? If he did and didn't get off to a fast start like Officer and Indian Charlie, wouldn't he wind up back in California? I don't see another state being all that interested in a son of Benchmark.

petersd · Postby **petersd** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:28 pm

I think there would be plenty of interest standing Brother Derek in California, and depending on how he does this year on the track, maybe some Kentucky interest, too. At this point in time, he's more accomplished then either Officer or Indian Charlie were as racehorses, and no one in Kentucky seemed to mind that they were by Bertrando or In Excess.
Yes, he's be Benchmark. But he's got a fairly good female family and is a very nice looking individual. Also, Benchmark is just about the last chance the Alydar sire line has of surviving in the next few years, so that gives him a bit of a boost as well.
Benchmark has been a wonderful success story, as his stud fee for the first two seasons was basically free. It'll be interesting to see if he can continue his success with the better mares he's getting now.
On Formal Gold - have always loved him and was happy to see Rancho San Miguel acquire him. The biggest knock on him is that he doesn't throw big yearlings, and they tend to take longer to mature. But if you want a racehorse and aren't in a hurry to get to the 2 year old drag races, then he's a great buy at $4,000.

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:49 am

Rokeby Forever wrote:My thinking was that Brother Derek has had much more California exposure than had Roar or Deputy Commander, so he'd have his legion of fans in the state. Plus, Benchmark isn't a kid any more, and I was thinking that Brother Derek might be his "heir apparent."

In my experience, breeders might be fans of a horse but that's not necessarily how they select a stallion. Case in point--I love Grey Memo. I saw most of his races live and, if he was running, I made a point to go. But I haven't bred a mare to him and probably won't because he had no speed.

And just as an aside, it is so funny to hear some post about a heir apparent to Benchmark. This is a stallion that was being given away free to approved mares only three or four breeding seasons ago.

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:10 am

petersd wrote:I think there would be plenty of interest standing Brother Derek in California, and depending on how he does this year on the track, maybe some Kentucky interest, too. At this point in time, he's more accomplished then either Officer or Indian Charlie were as racehorses, and no one in Kentucky seemed to mind that they were by Bertrando or In Excess.

I'm not sure that Brother Derek is more accomplished than either Officer or Indian Charlie when you take into account the sizzle factor. Indian Charlie came into the Derby as a lightly raced but undefeated Santa Anita Derby winner as I recall and went off as one of the favorites. He finished a good third and got hurt.

Officer was a $700,000 2 year old, and after the year was out was widely reputed to be one of the fastest 2 year olds in a decade. He won a race in New York impressively before Baffert got greedy/brain dead/delusional and ran him back in the CalCup and got him beat by Yougottawanna which took some of the luster off. Still he had performed on the national stage before the BC debacle.

Brother Derek has won some California 3 year old stakes in a pretty weak year as a need to lead type on speed favoring tracks. He has to win something back East IMO to get a shot at a Kentucky stud career.

tbrace · Postby **tbrace** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:57 am

Brother Dereck is also not the soundest horse to ever run. He had sore feet most of his two year old year, and has had various issues ever since.

Remember he came out of the BC3 (John Brocklebank) short school of horse training. Those horses don't tend to be very durable.

Hard to tell what he might have done had he been brought along slower.

CA Michael · Postby **CA Michael** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:13 am

Brother Derek is owned by a British Columbian, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him enter stud there. With slots apparently around the corner, it might be a good move to grab the top spot among local stallions rather than joining a somewhat crowded field in CA.

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:38 am

Tbrace, you made me laugh! LOL!

This thread started by asking about the metits of Marino Marini, who raced 16 times and never won a Grade I. I'm reading about his good looking progeny, his attractive pedigree, and other nice things. Brother Derek has raced the same 16 times, and has won two Grade I's....and, suddenly, Brother Derek's durability is in question?

You're right about the John Brocklebank school of early breakdowns, which makes me think that Brother Derek is an iron horse - 16 starts out of any BC3 baby tells me that Brother Derek was born as sound as any horse around today.

Sysonby is 100% correct with the assessment of Brother Derek's victories, but I think his best effort to date was his 2nd place finish in the Goodwood. He didn't have everything his own way in that race and ran pretty well.

tbrace · Postby **tbrace** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:09 pm

That's exactly my point, Rok.,

Bro. Dereck must be pretty tough. He's been breezing since he was a yearling, and he can still walk.

So, can't tell if you are laughing with me, or . . .

But, anyway, I am glad you are laughing.

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:48 pm

I'm laughing with you, Tbrace...not at you, be any means! I didn't think Brother Derek would even make the BC Juvie.

For all of Dan Hendrick's "Horsemanship," he didn't give the horse a break for a full year...and then running him against Bernardini and Invasor in the BC Classic was just insane!

tbrace · Postby **tbrace** » Tue May 01, 2007 4:20 pm

I know Rok, just kidding. But you make some great points. We have to wonder what some of those horses could have been, even though they have huge accomplishments to their credit.

Sierra · Postby **Sierra** » Tue May 01, 2007 11:16 pm

petersd wrote:I think there would be plenty of interest standing Brother Derek in California, and depending on how he does this year on the track, maybe some Kentucky interest, too.

There is already an agreement in place for Brother Derek to stand in Kentucky upon his retirement.

tbrace · Postby **tbrace** » Wed May 02, 2007 1:37 pm

Interesting.

Care to share at where he will be?

petersd · Postby **petersd** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:26 pm

If anyone can tell me how to insert images, I can show my two Marino Marini foals of this year.[/img]

Lucy · Postby **Lucy** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:53 pm

petersd wrote:If anyone can tell me how to insert images, I can show my two Marino Marini foals of this year.[/img]

Here, give this a whirl...
http://www.pedigreequery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14536

If you're still having trouble, feel free to PM me.

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:57 pm

petersd wrote:If anyone can tell me how to insert images, I can show my two Marino Marini foals of this year.[/img]

You need a site like Photobucket or Webshots to upload your shots to and then you can insert a URL that will display on your post.

Not a great shot but here's Marino Marini when he first retired. I saw a lot of Relaunch in him. Not at all your usual Storm Cat.

Pedigree Query

How are the Marino Marini babies this year?

bd

f

r

bd