Pedigree Query

Just read that Miesque's Approval is being retired and is being purchased to stand at stud in an as yet unnamed South American country. I find myself somewhat disappointed. Any thoughts?

My immediate thought is that it's nice to see this horse retire on a high note - he beat Lava Man.

I was thinking more along the lines of whether we are losing something by not having him stand at stud in North America.

Would you have asked this question in Fall, 2005, when he was finishing off the board in $50,000 claimers?

How did Wolfson get this horse so good, anyway? He was washed up in the Mott barn.

I saw Miesque's Approval run last year at Keeneland. I liked him.

Plus, after watching him run, I can't believe that he wasn't even on the board in $50K claimers before.


Miesque's Approval taking the lead in the 2006 Makers Mark Mile

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e226/FelanMoira/Keeneland%20April%2014%202006/makersmarkmile6.jpg?t=1175999548
Link to the pic I just tried posting

Rokeby Forever wrote:Would you have asked this question in Fall, 2005, when he was finishing off the board in $50,000 claimers?

How did Wolfson get this horse so good, anyway? He was washed up in the Mott barn.

Well, I checked his record (just on the database, I didn't pull his pp's) and he won stakes races each year from 2001 to 2006. He had 41 starts in his career. So he dropped to 50k claimers in 2005. It seems from what I have so far observed that Bill Mott is an excellent trainer, but it also seems that no matter how good the trainer, there may often be a horse that fails to thrive under a regime and can benefit from a training change. I don't know how Wolfson got him so good, and I don't know if there's a hidden implication that some illegal means are involved, but I'm a little surprised at you Rokeby, that you would immediately discount a potential stud who raced as long as Miesque's Approval and retired without a broken leg.

Looking at his female family, nothing jumps out at me, so perhaps it's not that great a loss to have him go to South America. I'd still be interested in any thoughts about his pedigree.

I'm implying nothing...Wolfson also did a terrific job with Pomeroy.

Miesque's Approval as a stallion? Well, his dam side doesn't scream, "Sire!" but as far as soundness, Miesque's Approval does have what I like to see in stallion prospects. My unscientific impression is that he might not be a great addition to the South American breeding program, but he might fit well in Panama's program. Maybe even Costa Rica's. Who knows?

geowarrior wrote:I was thinking more along the lines of whether we are losing something by not having him stand at stud in North America.

Could still happen. Breeding seasons are opposites as for timing... Horses shuttle all of the time.

Geowarrior,
Like you, it bothers me that we're so willing to ship these nice handicap horses out of the country (Premium Tap, anyone?) so that we can eliminate any chance of stamina-laced pedigrees like his remaining as an influence in the American turf. UNLESS, of course, he becomes a shuttle stallion, but I don't see that with him, because of the inevitable "turf" knock he'll have against him.
Rokeby, unlike you, that dam's side screams nothing but sire for me, just incredibly unfashionable ones by current bloodstock industry standards. But we don't breed to sell, we breed to race, and preferably, over a distance of ground, so I'm biased, and out of fashion, too.
When they sent With Approval back to England, it broke my heart. What an incredibly underrated and underappreciated sire he was here. And with the *Ribot influence through his great son, Tom Rolfe, and his son Hoist the Flag, you get horses that can run for weeks.
Ah well, just my opinion. I could be wrong.

He's off to South Africa, not South America. Gets to visit all those Fort Wood mares....

Fort Wood raced five times in his career. Big fan of soundness in a sire, aren't you, Mr. Brogers?

PS: Please give Unbridled's Song a carrot for me.

Yes, and that goat Danzig should have been gelded per your criteria.

Malibu Moon makes Danzig look like an iron horse.

Yes, because that one extra start would have sold me as a breeder... some of your comments make Paula Abdul look sober. Just saying...