Sheikh Hamdan does what's best for the horses

[majxmom]

The Sheikh has decided to limit the books of his new stallions:

http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40859

Kudos to him and Shadwell for making the right decision for the horse, and not for just trying to get a Grade 1 winner.

[madelyn]

Actually, I think by limiting the book and actually being selective about the mares, they are much MORE likely to get a Grade 1 winner.

[Maven]

First off, I commend them and this goes right into something I was alluding to about hearing things at the sale about wanting to separate themselves from Coolmore, BUT, Shadwell gets the stallions who are not as commercial or expected to be as popular.

So, yes, kudos, but maybe more of a golf clap. When they announce an 85 cap on the more commercial Jonabell boys, then i'll take off my hat.

[Rokeby Forever]

By announcing a cap, they've actually made their less commerical stallions more popular...the less there is of something, the more people want it.

[winds]

Yes, but isn't this the way they do things at Claiborne too? We've got to get more farms thinking like this, start thinking about the horses instead of their dang blasted pocket book.

winds

[bdw0617]

well.. some of these horses these stud farms are literary writing themselves blank checks with..How the hell does a horse with no racing foals of age tied with the lead of live foals born this year (Roman Ruler).. i mean hell.. if you are just going to GIVE me the money...

[Lucy]

So, yes, kudos, but maybe more of a golf clap. When they announce an 85 cap on the more commercial Jonabell boys, then i'll take off my hat.

Isn't Jonabell Sheikh Mohammed's farm? He may not share his brother's opinion, laudable as that opinion may be.

[Maven]

Yes, but the ties run deep and if Jazil or Invasor had warranted more commercial appeal, they'd be standing at Jonabell.

[Rokeby Forever]

Why is Jazil at stud? Two career wins makes a horse a stallion prospect nowadays? Sad!

[griff]

I believe the "Limit" is 85 outside mares plus his own mares. That could top 100 mares.

griff

[majxmom]

Yes, but isn't this the way they do things at Claiborne too? We've got to get more farms thinking like this, start thinking about the horses instead of their dang blasted pocket book.

winds

It is the same at Claiborne. I remember when Seth Hancock announced that Pulpit was only going to stand to 80 mares, conventional wisdom said that it would stop him from being able to compete with the top 5 on the freshman list, because he simply wouldn't have enough earners. I thought then that Claiborne might start having trouble attracting top sires like they used to. Anybody look at their sire list lately? Not exactly bowling me over, compared to the days when they had Danzig, Sir Ivor, Mr. P. I hate it when good intentions are not rewarded...

[Rokeby Forever]

Claiborne also doesn't support new sires like in the past. You don't see the yellow silks on the racetrack any more.

[wallinga]

http://opinions.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40848

Some great points made here.

[majxmom]

Yes, I enjoyed that essay. I wonder if the 6% figure reflects the narrowing of the diversity in the sire line. If the sons of Northern Dancer and Mr. P are dominating the sire lists, and they are roughly equal in genetic ability, than it might be logical to expect that more stakes wins would be spread amongst them, resulting in parity. Perhaps it says that no one stallion is dominant, but the sire line is dominant.