Pedigree Query

I was at Darby Dan over the weekend to see Perfect Soul but was blown away by Aldebaran. Not to be mean but does he have any knocks against him conformationally he was visually stunning and I was wondering if I missed anything in the Kentucky rain.

I visited DD awhile back, and have booked Express to Boston to Aldebaran. I can't think of anything at all in terms of any strikes against him, just he probably needs a good sized mare (my mare is 16.3+ hh).

He used to be overpriced, and is now a little more affordable. I recall him a few years ago at Darby Dan as an ugly little guy that no one would want to breed to for commercial purposes. He had a nice walk, and his front legs were too close together. Quite a runner, though, and sound. The Private Account on his dam's side is a big plus for my mare with Deputy Minister ancestry. That year I chose Vision and Verse for her instead (also Private Account broodmare sire).

I could not have afforded Aldebaran at his $40K fee for an unproven stallion with his appearance. Vision and Verse at $5K was a much sweeter deal.

I, too, thought he was rather unattractive but sturdy enough. Also remember him being rather small for some reason.

Madelyn,

I was wondering if you thought their pedigrees matched up well of if you chose him for his physical attributes. Thanks for the response and best wishes with the mating.

In fact, it was both. I always go to see a stallion before I commit to take a mare because usually I have selected a stallion based on a compatible pedigree but I have to see if the physical matchup is good. Express to Boston is simply a massive mare. She will throw size, substance and bone, and Aldebaran will hopefully refine her. The resulting pedigree is loaded with speed. At $30K he hits exactly in her price range (the fee being 25-30% of the mare's market value). He was overpriced at $40K. This is a commercial mating and the offspring will be sold.

We are, at this moment, waiting for Express to Boston to drop her Street Cry foal, which was "due" April 12th. She will go to Aldebaran, hopefully, on her foal heat, or her 30-day, depending.

My impression was that people have to be incredibly crazy to mate their mares tu such small animal with that stud fee without proving himself. I think this is one of those I would definitely wait to see what results bring before sending a mare to him.

I find it interesting that you refer to him as "small". Rahy is small. Aldebaran sticks an honest 16h.

Rahy is also a proven top sire. And as I said in my original post, I remember him being very small to me but I dont remember what I had him at. Im not sure 16h would have come across as "small" to me, but i'll take your word for it.

Ah, bill with 3 l's, this is the first year for Aldebaran offspring to run, since he entered stud in 2004. His first foals are two year olds. You might have said the same thing about Street Cry at $30K, but now you can't even get to him for $50K because his book is full. And if Street Sense, et al, live up to their billing and he gets another hot runner or two, you will see that fee rise. Street Cry was at $30K with two year olds just starting when I bred this mare to him.

Aldebaran x Express to Boston will be my second "shot" at trying to get a Very Hot weanling in the fall after some sizzling 3 year old has set everyone's hopes ablaze. Aldebaran's offspring have been impressive (the ones that I have seen), as were the Street Cry ones that I saw. Third year sires are usually a good value because the freshman/sophomore breeders have fallen away. Have you presented a mare to Darby Dan for Aldebaran to ask about flexibility in his fee?

I really think perhaps breeding to Giant's Causeway, FuPeg, and others at six figure freshman/sophomore fees is much more questionable. Rumor this year was you could get to FuPeg for $20K...

I honestly havent been that excited by the physicals of the Aldebarans i've seen. With that said, I still pay attention to his daughters.

Don't misunderstand me. I cannot say that Aldebaran will be a failure at stud. I am just bringing the point that is not reasonable to pay that amount for a horse that does not say aything based on his physical attributes. Certainly the odds are against him.

Yes you're right, that was also my opinion on Street Cry and I still think we will need more time to assess his performance at stud in a fair way. Producing a couple of high quality runners is not enough for me. He has only proved that he's able to get a great horse (street sense). But he still has a median earning per starter of about $11,000, which is really low for a horse that is standing for $50,000.

On Rahy, I would say this individual is really small but we are talking probably on a exception. He has achieved success at every level is a clear example of consistency. I consider myself a fan of Rahy.

Hi Bill,

Nice to meet you. There was a time when a son of Mr. Prospector with the pedigree and race record of Aldebaran would have been thought to be a can't miss stallion prospect. My impression of Aldebaran at the track was that he looked smaller than he was, perhaps due to less mass with longer legs - especially his canons. As CS points out, Aldebaran measured 16.0hh when he arrived at Darby Dan and isn't small. Given his credentials and a market that pays premiums for unproven stallions Aldebaran presented a good package.

Rahy is 15.1hh but that didn't appear to stop breeders because his sire, Blushing Groom, was no taller. Lyphard struck me (in the 1990's) as being one of the shortest stallions I'd ever seen. Quite a diminutive trio.

Regards,

Pete

Street Cry was always a much better stallion prospect in my mind, even with the higher class bottom line of Aldebaran anchoring his pedigree.

I own a stakes-placed Street Cry filly and I wish you the best with yours, Madelyn. I LOVE mine.

Pete,

It's nice to meet you too. I really have followed the threads developed on this board for some time and I really have a great respect for all you, even though I may disagree a couple of times.

I did not have the opportinity to see Aldebaran as runner, but I did see him at Darby Dan on 2004. I can tell you he does not look 16 hands tall. But thats only my appreciation. He's not a fleshy horse, but his quite correct on his conformation, and his race record speaks by itself. Also has a very good pedigree. So I do agree with you that it makes a good fit on this current market, specially if you have a mare with decent size. This market likes: 1) to play against odds with unproven sires; 2) speed 3) size and flesh, all this under an atmosphere that discriminates in favor of just three or four male bloodlines.