Stevie Wonderboy at $17,500 at Airdrie

[Rokeby Forever]

A future favorite of Weekend Surprise fans, that's for sure. But at $17,500? I think this stallion is really tough to swallow.

[bdw0617]

i would have a hard time plumping half that for a horse that literary broke down before he was 3 with steven got even as a sire.

17.5 his VERY high IMHO.. but what do I know. If macho uno stood for 12.5

[Maven]

Macho Uno had multiples of anything Stevie Wonderboy has going for him. No comparisons!

This horse is ridiculously priced, but then again I thought Friends Lake was as well, but they've been selling well.

I will be shocked if this horse makes a decent stallion. And Airdrie leaves many breeders hanging... I'd pass quickly.

[bdw0617]

Macho Uno had multiples of anything Stevie Wonderboy has going for him. No comparisons!

This horse is ridiculously priced, but then again I thought Friends Lake was as well, but they've been selling well.

I will be shocked if this horse makes a decent stallion. And Airdrie leaves many breeders hanging... I'd pass quickly.

what do you mean by leaving breeders hanging?

[Maven]

They dump stallions very quickly without much warning which leaves a lot of breeders at a dead end.

All farms do it, but they have a higher turn out and the ex-Gov has gone on record saying he makes as much profit as he can before the foals hit the ground and has no problem releasing the stallion to another market.

Dont get me wrong, it's a common business practice, but the way he said it was very abrasive. I also think they over-price all their new stallions for that very same reason.

[kimberley mine]

The following is from the American Thoroughbred Review:

In considering Friends Lake, mare owners might want to look between the lines of a recent quote by Airdrie Stud owner Brereton Jones:

"I want a horse who can stand for $10,000 or $20,000 and be well received by the public so that by the time his 2-year-olds race I've got my investment back. Then, if the horse hits, you're in good shape. And if he doesn't, you find another home for him in a lesser market and move on to something else."

Translated: Jones wants mare owners to subsidize his investment so that in effect, it becomes a no-risk scenario with only upside potential. If Friends Lake succeeds, Jones wins. If Friends Lake fails, Jones breaks even and mare owners are left holding a $15,000 bag.

While I frequently disagree with what the ATR has to say, he's pretty near spot-on with this one with regards to how quickly Airdrie will sell a stallion that isn't "performing." Forest Camp is the most recent example, but also see Siphon, Mazel Trick, Afternoon Deelites, and Deputy Commander.

[rudydee]

I couldn't agree with Maven & Kimberly more.
Jones treats his clients with contempt as he looks to them to subsidize
his poor investments. Why does anyone send their mares to Airdrie stallions?
You are not about to get a bargain. You are about to get your pockets picked!

[bdw0617]

well.. they do have include... and a smokin hot harlin's holiday. I love indian charlie... and even thought Slew city slew has produced A champion gelding in lava man and a champion calibur filly in Sis City...he's just 6k.

[Tesio]

I agree with Maven, Airdrie is hard to deal with. Stevie Wonderboy for $17.5K? Rediculous. With Jones' way of doing business, Stevie will be gone in 3 years.

I do think Badge Of Silver has a shot. As long as his runners succeed early like Include's. Otherwise, Jones will probably turn his back on this one.

[madelyn]

I think Badge of Silver might still be a Ramsey horse, so he has other options besides the nether end of the world if he fails to maintain Airdrie's business standard for their stallions.