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Fusaichi Samurai

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 4:51 pm
by HR LLC
I posted this in the stallion section since I think this horse's career looks like its over. This was his 3rd race ever since he broke his maiden 29 months ago. This horse does not look like he wants to be a race horse. He came off nearly a year rest to run next to last in an allowance race today at Hollywood Park. He had no excuse and was clear in the lane but never fired.

He was purchased out a a 2YO sale for a then record 4.5million. He broke his maiden in Dec 2004. They showed the backtrack on TVG and after that 2004 race Victor Espinoza said he was the best horse he ever rode.

The analysts on TVG poked fun at this horse after the race by saying, "I dont think this horse will run even if he took another year off..."

I would not be surprised if they retired him with an "injury".

I wonder where he will stand at stud?

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 5:26 pm
by louis finochio
TB with heart of a chicken are a high risk to make an impression as a stallion.

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 5:41 pm
by HR LLC
Regardless of his heart, I think the connections on this horse have been in recovery mode since Dec 2004. They will look to get something out of him. Why not stud fees??

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 6:19 pm
by austique
I think his record is such he'll stay regional if he isn't shipped to some developing nation. He doesn't have a lot to offer.

Just a note his being inbred to both Mr. P and ND fairly close up makes him a tough fit for a lot of the U.S. broodmare population, but then I said the same about Limehouse and he filled a book this year :wink: All that being said FuSam looks like a wash especially with his sire's popularity starting to wane a bit.

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 7:40 pm
by Derby2004
being inbred 2 x 3 to mr p and 4x4 to ND through his two most popular sons in america, storm cat and danzig, i dont see much of a market in KY or anywhere on the east coast. maybe a long shot of ending up in CA. But doubtful. Im not a huge fan of his sire anyway.

Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 5:01 am
by Barbaro06
I didn't see the race, but I read the chart. I would say he's headed towards retirement real fast. Have to get some of that 4.5 million back....

Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 5:46 am
by griff
Not much of a race record but an awsome pedigree. Seems like there should be some potential in out crossing to AP Indy, In Reality, Ribot and other non Pr. P and non ND line bred mares.

griff

Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 4:35 pm
by FOS
hi Barbaro06

Barbaro06 wrote:I didn't see the race, but I read the chart. I would say he's headed towards retirement real fast. Have to get some of that 4.5 million back....

Mr Sekiguchi needs Fusaichi Samurai like he needs bird flu, and it wouldn't surprise me if a couple of hundred thousand dollars (maybe less) could buy the colt right now. If Mr S sells FuSam, maybe he'll retain a minority interest or a couple of lifetime-breeding-rights to him.

Arguably FS does have a couple of marketable aspects about him. For starters...1/ he was a $4.5 mil 2-year-old, 2/ he did break his maiden first time out impressively (in the opinion of some), and 3/ he's got a family to talk about including impressive names in the broodmare-sire category (Storm Cat, Mr Prospector, Herbager, Court Martial). On the flip side...FS being 2x3 Mr Prospector (as Derby2004 pointed out) could be difficult for some breeders to swallow.

That said...arguably just about any colt retiring with a maiden win and two subsequent unimpressive (up the track) efforts from 3 career starts, needs a lot of help if he's bound for the breeding shed, "...especially with his sire's popularity starting to wane a bit" as austique pointed out.

I expect that quotes and comments from his trainer Neil Drysdale describing how special FS was (whether fact or fiction) could also help a skilled marketer to reinvent Fusaichi Samurai and possibly generate some market appeal for him as a regional stallion (standing for a rather nominal stud fee)...if he looks the part of course.

I expect we'll see Fusaichi Samurai on someone's stallion roster for 2007.

Respectfully

Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 4:47 pm
by louis finochio
I hope FS connections dont sell him to Calif. as we already have enough mediocre bloodstock. Maybe the Japanese will take the bait and swallow the hook.

Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 5:59 pm
by Barbaro06
Hello FOS...

Thanks for the insights on FuSam. I agree that there is going to be some serious marketing on this colt to make breeders want to breed to him. I could see him going overseas as well. If he stays in the states, what kinds of outcrosses could you get from him? With Mr. P and ND so prevalent in pedigrees today, what mares would be decent mates?

Best Regards,

Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:40 am
by FOS
hi Barbaro06

Assuming that former $270K yearling (and subsequent $4.5mil 2-yo in training) Fusaichi Samurai retired with a race record the likes of which he currently boasts :roll: ...he is NOT a horse I could recommend that someone sends a non-problem mare worth her salt to.

That said...if someone insisted on breeding to him, pedigree-wise a Seattle Slew-line mare might be worth consideration.

Respectfully