Although a controversial figure, I am a fan of the way Stronach runs his sales operation. I like the way the 2 yr. olds are brought along and presented at his spring sale, and the resulting racing numbers from the sale are impressive. His fall broodmare sale also intrigues me from a covering sire standpoint and the breedback option that's included in the sale price. I may go out this November as I've been contemplating a buying a mare.
Here's my question....most of the breedbacks are to the newer stallions as you would expect. How do you think North Light and Sligo Bay will fare in the U.S.. as breed to race stallions. Will their form on grass carry over to "poly" type tracks? How about dirt routes?
It sure would be nice to inject some great European blooflines into our racing.
Adena Springs
Moderators: Roguelet, WaveMaster, madelyn
-
Monmouth Matt
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:14 pm
- Location: NJ
Adena Springs
And DOWN the stretch they come!
-
LaTroienne
- Restricted Stakes Winner
- Posts: 762
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 9:57 pm
I really think that foal will be a late-maturing, stamina type. Dynaformer's offspring all do better with age, and North Light did his best over a distance of ground at later ages. I think the foal will come into his/her own at the end of his/her three-year-old year on the turf.
The thing about Sligo Bay and North Light, though, is that American breeders already have a mindset directed towards speed. They'll look at two late-maturing, turf sires and not consider them as much as other sires because they want early-maturing two-year-olds. Hopefully, though, those two will get good horses: I think they'll do well on Polytrack. European bloodlines really don't apply to these two, though: SB is a son of Sadler's Wells and NL is a son of Danehill, and America has plenty of Northern Dancer blood already.
The thing about Sligo Bay and North Light, though, is that American breeders already have a mindset directed towards speed. They'll look at two late-maturing, turf sires and not consider them as much as other sires because they want early-maturing two-year-olds. Hopefully, though, those two will get good horses: I think they'll do well on Polytrack. European bloodlines really don't apply to these two, though: SB is a son of Sadler's Wells and NL is a son of Danehill, and America has plenty of Northern Dancer blood already.
I really like Sligo Bay and he carries one of the greatest female lines in the studbook, in my opinion. It's a line that has also produced top stallions in Rahy and Singspiel and good stallions Saint Ballado, Devil's Bag, Memet, etc.
His foals, yearlings and weanlings in particular, really showed how much of late developers they were. I liked the look of a lot of them, but they looked very under-developed compared to the usual American yearling type.
His book was also of questionable quality. I didn't see a ton of class in the bottom sides, but there was a few interesting ones.
I really expect him to be a good breed to race... unfortunately, his move to Florida pretty much cemented the fact he's going to have to work his way up from the absolute bottom.
His foals, yearlings and weanlings in particular, really showed how much of late developers they were. I liked the look of a lot of them, but they looked very under-developed compared to the usual American yearling type.
His book was also of questionable quality. I didn't see a ton of class in the bottom sides, but there was a few interesting ones.
I really expect him to be a good breed to race... unfortunately, his move to Florida pretty much cemented the fact he's going to have to work his way up from the absolute bottom.
Don't be so humble - you are not that great.
-
wallinga
- Restricted Stakes Winner
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:41 pm
- Location: Sydney, Australia
LaTroienne wrote: North Light did his best over a distance of ground at later ages. I think the foal will come into his/her own at the end of his/her three-year-old year on the turf.
I disagree with that, North Light won his best race, the derby in June of his three year old year and then never won again, and Danehill is a tremendous juvenile influence.
Incidentally, The Roberto and Danehill cross has produced some top horses here so good luck with it.
You guys are lucky to have the only Epsom derby winning son of the worlds most prolific sire. Use him! Use him!
-
Monmouth Matt
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:14 pm
- Location: NJ
wallinga wrote:LaTroienne wrote: North Light did his best over a distance of ground at later ages. I think the foal will come into his/her own at the end of his/her three-year-old year on the turf.
I disagree with that, North Light won his best race, the derby in June of his three year old year and then never won again, and Danehill is a tremendous juvenile influence.
Incidentally, The Roberto and Danehill cross has produced some top horses here so good luck with it.
You guys are lucky to have the only Epsom derby winning son of the worlds most prolific sire. Use him! Use him!
I agree that he is a very interesting prospect....especially if you are buying a decent mare in foal to say....Alphabet Soup, and the purchase includes a free breeding to North Light the following season. I realize how important the pedigree analysis and matching of conformations is, but I do like that program. Has anybody attended the Nov. FT Adena broodmare sale in the past? This sale has a reputation as a cull, but I liked some of the mares that sold last year. Some nice producers and some very nice race mares went for relatively low prices.
And DOWN the stretch they come!
-
Monmouth Matt
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:14 pm
- Location: NJ
Maven wrote:I really like Sligo Bay and he carries one of the greatest female lines in the studbook, in my opinion. It's a line that has also produced top stallions in Rahy and Singspiel and good stallions Saint Ballado, Devil's Bag, Memet, etc.
His foals, yearlings and weanlings in particular, really showed how much of late developers they were. I liked the look of a lot of them, but they looked very under-developed compared to the usual American yearling type.
His book was also of questionable quality. I didn't see a ton of class in the bottom sides, but there was a few interesting ones.
I really expect him to be a good breed to race... unfortunately, his move to Florida pretty much cemented the fact he's going to have to work his way up from the absolute bottom.
Thanks Maven. those factors may make his 2 yr. olds at the sales quite reasonable from a value standpoint. Did anybody see him race? Any thoughts?
And DOWN the stretch they come!
-
kimberley mine
- Breeder's Cup Contender
- Posts: 1811
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 8:43 pm
Regarding North Light:
He's a champion with an exceptional European pedigree. His bottom line is a useful outcross for most North American breeders. He won the most important 3yo race in England. I love to see Herbager anywhere in a pedigree as a major source of class.
On the other hand, he never won another race after the Epsom, never won in open company, had a very light race schedule even for a European horse (7 times in 4 years), seems to have all the beauty of conformation of his front end that we have come to expect from Danehill (back at the knee) and Rainbow Quest (um, "interesting"), and most of all his fee is way too much for what the US market has shown in the last few years that it is willing to bear.
With the exception of Giant's Causeway a couple of years back, what other turf horse (no dirt wins, no dirt tries even) with no crops to race stands in the US for more than $30,000? That's Leroidesanimaux's initial fee, who arguably comes from a better-known female line, has a better race record, and at least similar front-end alignment. It's also Kitten's Joy's fee, whose race recordmakes North Light's look paltry (and he soundly defeated one of North Light's rivals). Horses with arguably equal pedigrees (Gone West out of Windsharp, Sadlers Wells out of a Rainbow Quest mare) stand for half his current fee or less AND have better performance records.
For his initial fee of $50,000 and present fee of $30,000, he's a dangerous proposition in the US market...particularly in the current auction market where conformation is key.
He's a champion with an exceptional European pedigree. His bottom line is a useful outcross for most North American breeders. He won the most important 3yo race in England. I love to see Herbager anywhere in a pedigree as a major source of class.
On the other hand, he never won another race after the Epsom, never won in open company, had a very light race schedule even for a European horse (7 times in 4 years), seems to have all the beauty of conformation of his front end that we have come to expect from Danehill (back at the knee) and Rainbow Quest (um, "interesting"), and most of all his fee is way too much for what the US market has shown in the last few years that it is willing to bear.
With the exception of Giant's Causeway a couple of years back, what other turf horse (no dirt wins, no dirt tries even) with no crops to race stands in the US for more than $30,000? That's Leroidesanimaux's initial fee, who arguably comes from a better-known female line, has a better race record, and at least similar front-end alignment. It's also Kitten's Joy's fee, whose race recordmakes North Light's look paltry (and he soundly defeated one of North Light's rivals). Horses with arguably equal pedigrees (Gone West out of Windsharp, Sadlers Wells out of a Rainbow Quest mare) stand for half his current fee or less AND have better performance records.
For his initial fee of $50,000 and present fee of $30,000, he's a dangerous proposition in the US market...particularly in the current auction market where conformation is key.
I had the privilege of visiting Adena Springs last Saturday as I drove back from the East Coast to Texas. I was interested in seeing Giacomo and Alphabet Soup as possible mates for my mare Talking Girl in 2008. My contact at the farm, Mike Recio, suggested I also look at North Light and Olmodavor. I think the suggestion about North Light was more from a pedigree perspective as his current fee was far outside my stated price range. The staff at Adena was very cooperative in showing the stallions. Once we were done they gave me a tour of the barn and the rest of the stallions including Awesome Again, Ghostzapper, and El Prado. For what it is worth I learned that Adena is moving to Paris, KY. The current farm has been purchased by Jess Jackson.
Here are a couple snaps of North Light:
Here are a couple snaps of North Light:
