Roman Ruler

[LB]

With the first yearling sale of the year fast approaching, I was wondering whether anyone has any yearlings, or any opinions of yearlings they've seen, by first crop sire Roman Ruler? Opinions on his chances of making it as a sire?

Thanks!

[Mali]

I saw two that I absolutely loved. They had a terrific hip and great movement. The two I saw were quickly bought privately for a large pinhook operation.

I've come to learn that the sires pinhookers jump on early, are usually safe bets at the yearling and especially 2yo in training sales.

[LB]

Thanks Mali! We have a RR filly that was intended to be a sales yearling but came up a bit too small for the current market. Instead we'll hope to race her next year. She's got the hip and the movement you mentioned, plus plenty of attitude. But she's the only RR I've seen, LOL.

Last time we bred to a first year horse and kept the offspring instead of selling, it was a Street Cry. I hope this one works out as well.

[Mali]

It's worth remembering that there's also a lot of them on the ground. He bred really large numbers if I remember correctly. So, from a breed to sell perspective, that might work against a breeder. It's certainly something to keep in mind.

[Mali]

Saw this after I posted. I don't think you can go wrong with him if the foal has that hip I've been seeing. They have beautiful movement!

[LB]

It's worth remembering that there's also a lot of them on the ground. He bred really large numbers if I remember correctly. So, from a breed to sell perspective, that might work against a breeder. It's certainly something to keep in mind.

You're right, it's always something to think about with Hill n Dale stallions. I think Roman Ruler was #1 or 2 on the sire list for most mares bred that year.

[Intrinsic Worth]

Hopefully they aren't as crazy as Roman Ruler was.

[FOS]

hi LB

We have a (Roman Ruler) filly that was intended to be a sales yearling but came up a bit too small for the current market. Instead we'll hope to race her next year.

What I've seen by RR also appeared to be a bit on what might be described as the smaller than average size.

Strongly-made (in general) but somewhat top-heavy...and (proportionally) not enough leg and length (for me anyway).

She's got the hip and the movement you mentioned, plus plenty of attitude.

The movement (your word) that I saw was not as fluid as I would have preferred.

As for attitude...that can (as you likely know) sometimes be a double-edged sword (if you will).

All things considered...including that Roman Ruler stands for an advertised stud fee of $30k, and is by FuPeg, I scratch my head and ask...Why? Reality is though, Sikura and his Hill n Dale are capable of doing one heck of an advertising/promotion/marketing job.

Based on what I've seen thus far (by RR), one of the first words that comes to mind is disappointing.

Regardless...hopefully your filly will prove to be a star.

Good luck.

Respectfully

[LB]

Thanks for the opinion, FOS. The dam of this filly isn't big so I figured that's where the lack of size came from. The mare ran really well however (stakes placed at SA, HOL, and BM) and I don't mind small, so I'm more than happy to have her in my racing stable.

I probably should have been clearer about the attitude (especially since there's FuPeg in the mix, lol). I meant that she's top filly in her field, not that she's hard to handle. And yes, I've been around more than my share of FuPegs, so I know what the possibilities are.

This one does move like a racehorse, so hopefully she can carry that onto the track.

[LB]

I just saw that there are 14 Roman Rulers yearlings in the Fasig Tipton July sale. That should give me plenty to look at.

[Mali]

They were allegedly very selective about the physicals for the July sale, so the fact there's 14 bodes well for the overall conformation.

[LB]

They were allegedly very selective about the physicals for the July sale, so the fact there's 14 bodes well for the overall conformation.

Interestingly, there are 21 Limehouses (another first year sire that I'm curious about as we have one of those too.) So they must have looked pretty good as well.

[Mali]

It should be interesting to see what the Limehouse's do. The close inbreeding to Mr. Prospector and then the Northern Dancer behind it, turned me off a bit. I always feel like I'm breeding myself into a genetic "corner" with stallions like this, but he was certainly fast and sound and competitive over 3 years of racing. Can't fault that, at all.

I did some research on that family in the past and it was one of those that, even when bred in strange regional markets, seemed to be able to rise above it with some class.

He's powerfully built from the photo in the database. I can see why people would be on them, from that standpoint.

[LB]

It should be interesting to see what the Limehouse's do. The close inbreeding to Mr. Prospector and then the Northern Dancer behind it, turned me off a bit. I always feel like I'm breeding myself into a genetic "corner" with stallions like this, but he was certainly fast and sound and competitive over 3 years of racing. Can't fault that, at all.

I did some research on that family in the past and it was one of those that, even when bred in strange regional markets, seemed to be able to rise above it with some class.

He's powerfully built from the photo in the database. I can see why people would be on them, from that standpoint.

Generally speaking, the trouble with inbreeding is that you lose the hybrid vigor, so the resulting horse is less likely to stay sound or be competitive. Since Limehouse managed to do both those things beautifully, I was really excited about him when he got to the breeding shed. That's the point where inbreeding becomes a good thing--as he's more likely to pass on his good traits.

That being said, we bred a Seattle Slew mare to him, one that was a complete outcross. I wasn't about to double up any more on anything.

[Mood Swings]

I have seen a few and I have liked them all. One filly in particular - I am very fond of. Good luck with yours!