Pedigree Query

He will be at a farm in Northern La for a fee of 2k. He seems to fit well there at that price. He ran lights out in the Norfolk but never did much else. Thoughts?

There is so much growth in the Lousisiana stallion market, that pretty soon the stallions are going to out number the mares. (just kidding) It does appear to be a much more competative market now. I am not sure that this guy can compete unless he gets some good support from his connections, and time to prove himself with foals on the ground. Five years ago, he would have been a star -- today, I just don't know.

Bedouwia

Hmmm...this is his first season at stud...he's a G2 winning co-highweighted 2-year-old on the experimental free...from the Seattle Slew sireline...from a very nice Fred Hooper family. He lost most of his 3-year-old year in Dubai but was an allowance winner at 4 at Belmont. And he's standing for only $2,000. I don't see what's not to like.

The obvious question to my mind is why he's moving from Florida after only one season and having his fee more than halved to boot. No matter how hot the Louisiana stallion market is getting, this doesn't spell a move up. It could be only that he hasn't drawn as many mares as hoped while at Vinery South and the slashed price is just an attempt to get him a bigger book, but since he hasn't yet had the chance to prove whether or not he can sire runners, fertility could also be an issue -- hasn't Doneraile Court, his sire, had trouble settling his mares?

From what I know, the TB Times story that said Ruler's Court stood in 2006 at Vinery Florida was incorrect. Yes, he was scheduled to stand there, but the plans fell through at the last minute and he did not cover any mares at all in 2006. His 2007 season in Louisiana will be his first year at stud, and at $2,000, I feel he's pretty intriguing.

hi guys

If I might add my two cents...I believe that Ruler's Court was a VERY nice racehorse. Furthermore...I'm not so sure he wouldn't have won the G1-BC Juvenile had he run. If you recall, Darley indicated that they believed he was Ky Derby caliber, and they announced (after his smashing victory in the G2-Norfolk Stakes) that they were going to skip the BC Juvenile. The reason? They offered that no BC Juvenile winner had gone on and won the Kentucky Derby. I disagreed with their decision to skip the G1-Juvenile, but it was not mine to make. Subsequently it was reported, as I recall while the colt wintered in Dubai, that he was hurt and would miss the Kentucky Derby.

He was an average size yearling but quite correct and nicely balanced & proportioned. He was pinhooked for approx $40k (if I recall correctly) from Fasig July, and resold for approx $400k (to Darley/Ferguson) as a 2-yo in training.

If you can handle Doneraille Court as a potential sire of sires, I say his son Ruler's Court is probably worth a look for $2,000k live (in Louisiana).

Whether you like him as a stallion prospect or not...RC should at least be recognized for the talent he exposed, especially in the G2-Norfolk.

Respectfully

Well, he was at Vinery South when they had their open house this last January, and I have the photos I took of him there to prove it. He could have moved out before the breeding season actually got underway, though, since he disappeared pretty fast from the Vinery South website.

I agree, Mahubah: he probably wasn't getting the reception they wanted in mares, and they sold him/moved him.

P. S. If there's no breeding shed issues involved, he's certainly worth a look. I found him a plain-looking horse at first glance, but the longer I looked the more I was taken with him -- nothing flashy there but he's got one powerful, well-balanced drive train without looking like a QH.

Why did he not run after two?

What sort of injury?

He's going to be in my neck of the woods.

Ruler's Court went to Dubai at 3 and did not race that year due to some unspecified issue. Sometimes it's hard to get information from halfway around the world, but perhaps his new owners can tell you what happened. But it's important to note Ruler's Court DID come back to run (and WIN) as a 4-year-old vs. good allowance horses at Belmont Park.

Mahubah wrote:The obvious question to my mind is why he's moving from Florida after only one season and having his fee more than halved to boot. No matter how hot the Louisiana stallion market is getting, this doesn't spell a move up. It could be only that he hasn't drawn as many mares as hoped while at Vinery South and the slashed price is just an attempt to get him a bigger book, but since he hasn't yet had the chance to prove whether or not he can sire runners, fertility could also be an issue -- hasn't Doneraile Court, his sire, had trouble settling his mares?

My question is how long until we see stallion fees being slashed in Kentucky? To many studs of the same pedigree line eventually causes contraction in price as supply exceeds demand. These 150-200 per year breedings being done by Coolmore/Asford and the like will bring prices down... and dramatically at some point. When?... I'd say that day is not far off.

I agree with you about the Kentucky market being overpriced. but in Florida, $3000-$7500 has been the typical range for new stallions with something in the way of credentials. Very stiff competition in that range with some of the established sires, too.

Mahubah wrote:I agree with you about the Kentucky market being overpriced. but in Florida, $3000-$7500 has been the typical range for new stallions with something in the way of credentials. Very stiff competition in that range with some of the established sires, too.

Agree on Florida stallions having value. Sweetsouthernsaint is a better sire than many standing in Kentucky at $20,000-30,000 even $50,000. Of course if they get good enough they are gone as you well know.