100k Bernardini
40k Henny Hughes
Bernardini, Henny Hughes retired to Darley
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I'm not surprised that Bernardini was retired, but it is disappointing. He is a very talented horse and should have a lot of racing career left. If he were owned by someone in a much lesser financial state, it would make more sense. With as much money as the Sheikh has, why not continue to race Bernardini? He is an extremely popular horse and his continued racing career could really help the industry. It’s just so disappointing that horses have such short careers just so they can be retired to stud.
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TBG wrote:I'm not surprised that Bernardini was retired, but it is disappointing. He is a very talented horse and should have a lot of racing career left. If he were owned by someone in a much lesser financial state, it would make more sense. With as much money as the Sheikh has, why not continue to race Bernardini? He is an extremely popular horse and his continued racing career could really help the industry. It’s just so disappointing that horses have such short careers just so they can be retired to stud.
I totally agree. It is unfortuanate to see that he has been retired. I understand the reasoning behind it and I am glad that he had retired safe and sound but what a racing season he could have had as a 4yr old.! Ahh well we'll never know now.
Re: Bernardini, Henny Hughes retired to Darley
hi Ill-bred
It surprises and disappoints me that BOTH are being retired...if in fact they are sound to go on and perform at the highest level.
3-year-old Henny Hughes finished last in a field of 14...on the biggest stage...and in the biggest race of his life. For what it's worth, he was also the prohibitive favorite ($1.60).
With but one G1 win by 3-year-old Henny Hughes, I find both his retirement (unless he was injured and unable to come back at the top) and a $40,000 stud fee (that you report is apparently in place for 2007) to be perplexing (take a glance at his pedigree...hmmm).
Barbaro aside...I view Bernardini as North America's premier three-year-old, and he has earned (to my way of thinking) his 3-yo Eclipse. That said, prohibitive post-time favorite Bernardini ($1.10) did NOT win the BC Classic...and was (from my perspective) by virtue of finishing 2nd by a length to Invasor in the BC Classic...one length plus a nose short of earning Horse of the Year honors. For what it's worth...I also find it interesting that 3-year-old Bernardini carried 122 pounds as compared to 3 1/2-year-old Invasor's 126 pounds.
As for Henny Hughes...I would say he was embarrassed in the BC Sprint*. Hardly circumstances under which I would have expected the Maktoums to retire their 3-year-old colt to stud (*unless of course injury was honestly responsible for his poor performance).
I sense that Henny Hughes might be delivered (what tongue-in-cheek I describe as) a GIFT Eclipse (in the sprint category) despite the fact that he had his you-know-what handed to him in the BC Sprint...finishing last in the field of 14, which included the (as described by some as off-bred) winner Thor's Echo (by Swiss Yodeler out of a daughter of Mr Integrity).
It seems out of character (the way I see it) for the Maktoums to retire these two colts under such disappointing circumstances...if in fact they are sound to go on and compete at the highest level. The Maktoums are a racing family that seems to have prided themselves in racing their best against the best...and not retiring their runners to stud until they have proven all they can. Do they believe...are we to believe, that 3-year-olds Henny Hughes and Bernardini have proven and/or accomplished all they can, as racehorses?
Needless to say, I'm very disappointed in the decision to retire 3-year-old Henny Hughes...and even more disappointed in the decision to retire 3-year-old Bernardini.
Respectfully
Ill-bred wrote:Bernardini, Henny Hughes retired to Darley
100k Bernardini
40k Henny Hughes
It surprises and disappoints me that BOTH are being retired...if in fact they are sound to go on and perform at the highest level.
DRF wrote:Henny Hughes stumbled at the start, was caught in traffic early, angled in on the far turn and lacked a late response.
3-year-old Henny Hughes finished last in a field of 14...on the biggest stage...and in the biggest race of his life. For what it's worth, he was also the prohibitive favorite ($1.60).
With but one G1 win by 3-year-old Henny Hughes, I find both his retirement (unless he was injured and unable to come back at the top) and a $40,000 stud fee (that you report is apparently in place for 2007) to be perplexing (take a glance at his pedigree...hmmm).
Barbaro aside...I view Bernardini as North America's premier three-year-old, and he has earned (to my way of thinking) his 3-yo Eclipse. That said, prohibitive post-time favorite Bernardini ($1.10) did NOT win the BC Classic...and was (from my perspective) by virtue of finishing 2nd by a length to Invasor in the BC Classic...one length plus a nose short of earning Horse of the Year honors. For what it's worth...I also find it interesting that 3-year-old Bernardini carried 122 pounds as compared to 3 1/2-year-old Invasor's 126 pounds.
As for Henny Hughes...I would say he was embarrassed in the BC Sprint*. Hardly circumstances under which I would have expected the Maktoums to retire their 3-year-old colt to stud (*unless of course injury was honestly responsible for his poor performance).
I sense that Henny Hughes might be delivered (what tongue-in-cheek I describe as) a GIFT Eclipse (in the sprint category) despite the fact that he had his you-know-what handed to him in the BC Sprint...finishing last in the field of 14, which included the (as described by some as off-bred) winner Thor's Echo (by Swiss Yodeler out of a daughter of Mr Integrity).
It seems out of character (the way I see it) for the Maktoums to retire these two colts under such disappointing circumstances...if in fact they are sound to go on and compete at the highest level. The Maktoums are a racing family that seems to have prided themselves in racing their best against the best...and not retiring their runners to stud until they have proven all they can. Do they believe...are we to believe, that 3-year-olds Henny Hughes and Bernardini have proven and/or accomplished all they can, as racehorses?
Needless to say, I'm very disappointed in the decision to retire 3-year-old Henny Hughes...and even more disappointed in the decision to retire 3-year-old Bernardini.
Respectfully
Last edited by FOS on Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hate to see Bernie go too, but I had a feeling after he demolished the fields in the Travers and JCGC, he was destined for the shed. Sad to see another 8 start colt go to the shed, but it's about the benjamins now.
Beginning next year it really won't matter what he did on the track. His worth will be measured in how well his progeny sell in 2009 and how they fare on the track in 2010 and beyond. I wish him luck and I am sure there will be blueblooded mares bred to him.
Now we wait and see what kind of sire he is...
Beginning next year it really won't matter what he did on the track. His worth will be measured in how well his progeny sell in 2009 and how they fare on the track in 2010 and beyond. I wish him luck and I am sure there will be blueblooded mares bred to him.
Now we wait and see what kind of sire he is...
A horse gallops with his lungs
Perseveres with his heart
And wins with his character. --Tesio
Perseveres with his heart
And wins with his character. --Tesio
Re: Bernardini, Henny Hughes retired to Darley
Ill-bred wrote:100k Bernardini
40k Henny Hughes
The direction of US racing is down so how much longer can these fees continue? I'd warn any breeder/buyer to tread with caution as I see no way these prices will continue for much longer. I predict a 50-75% across the board "correction" in stallion fees by 2010 and with that will come the plunge in overall bloodstock prices as well. The only hope is overseas racing and that is what appears to be holding up the current market from "correcting" at this time.
I go to racetracks all across the country and attendance is abysmal and getting worse. Yes, simulcasting etc. is largely responsible BUT the bigger threat are casinos that are sprining up EVERYWHERE in states that allow them.... which grows each year.