Candy Ride

[dray33]

Will he make a good stallion?

[KAL]

I would love to go with "Yes".

While some others don't particularly care for him, I found him to be a fantastically balanced and athletic horse. Additionally, he was a superlative racehorse... even while battling some problems (feet). He didn't just beat his competition, he destroyed it.

Unfortunately, I am not certain the KY hierarchy is ready to have a top sire who isn't one of their own... one of their "commercial" successes. Over the past couple decades they haven't exactly been ready to give a solid chance to lines that they don't control.

It is very telling that his stallion fee was so low. Had he been a son of Storm Cat, A.P. Indy, Gone West... etc., imagine the promotion and stallion fee.

Additionally, without their support it may be hard for him to maintain quality books because of his "exotic" blood. Sure it is b.s. but will be against him because that is how they do things.

I would love to see him become the "next big thing". Heck, the industry needs the variation in bloodlines.

[bdw0617]

one of my fav horses of all time... even though I'm not that old.. his 3 ameriacn races made an impression on me. you can still watch them online

[windyr]

I spent a long time deciding on the best mating option in the $10 - 15,000 range for my Hennessy mare. I understand all the marketing tactics involved in promoting a stallion and I tried to ignore the hype and stick to the facts. After considering all the options, I decided on Candy Ride.

First, he was a tremendous runner. He was unbeaten in six starts, winning from 6f - 10f, at the highest level, on two continents, on both dirt and turf. In Argentia, he ran the mile in an unbelievable 1.31 flat, before he was brought to America. In the Pacific G1, he swept by the 3-5 favorite, Medaglia d'Oro, as if he was standing up. After stumbling at the start, he recovered to break the track record, earning the highest beyer (123) for the year. He proved once and for all that he was no fluke.

In my book, he is the real deal. His foals are well made, very correct and show no sign of having his smallish hoofs and base narrow front feet.

I expect his offspring will come out running and I have already decided to send the mare back to him next year.

[xfactor fan]

How important is the "kentucky blessing" on stallion marketing? It sure looks like if you aren't one of the in crowd, you and you horse can go hang.

Also there seems to be favored Kentucky farms/owners and ones that have to buck the a lot of bad press.

[Maven]

I love Candy Ride. And my adviser loves the horse as a future stallion and he's pretty much spot on with young stallions. Take it for what it's worth.

[Mood Swings]

I too love Candy Ride. The foals that I have seen have been exceptionally well put together. I would love to see him become a successful sire.

[bdw0617]

Question..

how can people love Candy Ride.. and I"m one of them.. but be so DOWN on Invasor?

[dray33]

I visited him on the farm, he was out in the feild, so I could only get 20-30 feet from him. He was nothing short of spectacular. He looked ready to run, as is. I have high hopes for him.

[hpkingjr]

Please take a look at Candy Ride' pedigree and tell me what kind of mares would best suit him. Any thoughts or theories would be welcomed. I'm having a hard time coming up with what would best fit.

http://www.pedigreequery.com/candy+ride

One of our mares would I believe make an interesting match:
http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php? ... lor=000000

Thoughts?

[Maven]

With Candy Ride, as is with any South American pedigree in my opinon, it's all about re-enforcing the American lines.

I would certainly attempt to pick up more Alablue. I also like the idea of doubling up on Herbager and Red God.

At first glance, barring physical issues, his pedigree screams Unbridled and Caro blood for me.

[griff]

What about his tail female ?/

griff

[kimberley mine]

With Candy Ride, as is with any South American pedigree in my opinon, it's all about re-enforcing the American lines.

I would certainly attempt to pick up more Alablue. I also like the idea of doubling up on Herbager and Red God.

At first glance, barring physical issues, his pedigree screams Unbridled and Caro blood for me.

Candy Ride actually has quite a lot in that South American damline that can work with the US mare base. To add to what Maven wrote:

*The genetic siblings Great Above and Dr Fager have a well-proven affinity with Blushing Groom. There is already one cross here via Fappiano, but Fappiano will tolerate more Dr Fager so why not? Holy Bull fits the bill here as well. Not sure about Quiet American mares, that might be a bit close, but Real Quiet mares would bring in more Dr Fager and a dose of Buckpasser for good measure (see below).

*If you are going to try to hit any of the truly South American lines in the pedigree, start with Good Manners. Roberto appreciates a return of Nashua. A good Memo mare might be interesting.

If you have read my comments on linebreeding to Plucky Liege, Roberto seems to have especially good success with the addition of Bois Roussel (the "fourth brother"). Candy Ride has two crosses to Bois Roussel: one through Bubble Company and one through his 2nd dam City Girl. Arch looks good here...four of his five Gr-1 winners carry Bois Roussel on the damline.

*Continuing with Good Manners, he is tail-female to the blue hen Recce. She is common in the US through Cormorant and Go For Gin. It's worth noting that Go For Gin's best offspring is out of a Fappiano mare, and that so far his best offspring Albert the Great's best offspring is linebred to Recce. Albert the Great actually has two winners linebred to Recce...the other being an MSW winner out of Mom's Command.

*Candy Ride is (surprisingly) devoid of Tom Fool, which opens up some really cool possibilities for the US mare base while playing for that South American damline. Conveniently, Tom Fool is a key strain for Blushing Groom and Candy Stripes doesn't appear any different--game on! Buckpasser is the obvious choice here, but Stop the Music, Tri Jet and Nijinsky are available as well.

I think that's plenty, as it's 2:15am and I need to go to bed.

[bdw0617]

very, very interesting read.. thanks for the info

[windyr]

Kimberly thanks for your very insightful post. I must confess that I am a rank amateur when it comes to these things. I would be interested to hear your views on my decision to send my mare Pouilly Fuisse to Candy Ride. She is by Hennessy out of a Swing the Axe mare. At an upcoming sale there is a full sister to Candy Ride by Johanesburg who is by Hennessy, so there are lots of similarities there.