Runaway Groom

[austique]

Okay here's another old fellow I've been looking at for a breed to race prospect. Obviously he's at the tail end of his career, but he has improved his mares throughout his career. Am I missing something with him? His fertility still appears to be fine. This years numbers weren't too impressive, but overall he's been pretty solid. Opinions? Any other solid breed to race types that tickle people's fancy that I may be missing (aside from Slew City Slew, Evansville Slew, Kissin Kris)?

[hpkingjr]

Is old Crafty going to be around next year? Certainly been a stand up guy for many years.

Private Terms is another old solid breed to race guy. Not a lot of stakes winners but almost 80% runners from 3 year olds up with 75% of those going on to win. Not sure if he'll be arounf again next year either.

[henthorn]

Crafty Prospector is pensioned. Not sure about Private Terms. Consider Out of Place, Silver Ghost, Pleasant Tap, Matty G, Runaway Groom for reasonable fees and good results breed-to-race in KY.

[kimberley mine]

Crafty Prospector is pensioned. Not sure about Private Terms. Consider Out of Place, Silver Ghost, Pleasant Tap, Matty G, Runaway Groom for reasonable fees and good results breed-to-race in KY.

Sky Classic is another solid breed-to-race choice, especially if your mare has grass tendencies. Excluding 2yos of 2005, he has 87% runners and 63% winners from foals--not too shabby.

[kimberley mine]

Am I missing something with him? His fertility still appears to be fine.

To answer your question re: Runaway Groom, no, you're not missing anything. He simply isn't commercial, for a number of reasons.

*He comes from a sireline largely underrated in the US (the notable exception being Rahy), from a female family with older bloodlines. There are no "names" there to catch a commercial breeder's attention;

*His best runners in USA/Canada (Cherokee Run, Wekiva Springs, Down the Aisle, etc) have all been at least late 3yos and older before they turned from good runners into track monsters;

*All but one of his five champions have been in smaller overseas markets (two from Puerto Rico, and one each from Hungary and Yugoslavia)--causing buyers to overlook the fact that they were really good horses;

*His 7% stakes winners is just under the magical 10% mark...even though if he were getting better mares, he'd probably be getting more stakes winners;

*Nobody is going to spend seven figures on one of his sons as a stud prospect regardless of whether that son even runs well (cough cough Van Niestelrooy cough).

So in short, he doesn't produce what the market is looking for--early-maturing, flashy yearlings that turn into early-maturing fast 2yos (residual stallion value a bonus). What that means for you, the breeder, is that you get a golden opportunity to send a nice mare to a really nice stallion without breaking the bank.

[henthorn]

And Meadowlake is now more affordable than in the past.

[austique]

Thanks for reminding me Henthorn. I saw they were changing his stud fee and forgot to look when they set their roster fees.

Kimberly Mine, thanks for the breakdown on Runaway Groom.

Lots of good ideas. Any opinions on Peaks and Valleys?

[Monmouth Matt]

I'm a big fan of Pleasant Tap for breeding to race. they almost all run....both long and short.Stud fee is reasonable @ 10k

[Bettina]

Haello,
Runaway Groom has a Son named March Groom standing in Germany.
MarcgH Groom has raced in Austria, Hungary and Geramyn. with
31 starts, 13 wins, 7 placings, from 2 - 7 years. He stands at "Gestut Martinushof". He will have his frist crop racing this season.

Interestingly he is free of ND, Mr. Prospector.

Regards, Bettina