Van Nistelrooy?

[TomFool]

Thoughts on this horse as a stallion prospect esp from those of you who have seen him in the flesh. What are his strong & weak points? Also what do you all think of him with the mare Morgansbluebonnet? Thanks

[FOS]

hi TomFool

I suggest that Van Nistelrooy is extremely difficult to recommend.

For a few bucks more why not consider Northern Afleet (as long as your mare has some size to her).

If a Northern Dancer connection is your goal (as your Van Nistelrooy who is 3x3 Northern Dancer suggests) it might be wise to consider that Northern Afleet's dam is by Northern Dancer's very high-class son Nureyev.

It will be years before Van Nistelrooy proves (or disproves) anything...whereas Northern Afleet from three crops to race has sired a number of nice stakes winners...including the top-class G1 winner Afleet Alex.

Northern Afleet seems to be a sire on the rise (and VERY good value to boot...at $12,500)...while Van Nistelrooy seems to be a stallion with little appeal.

Even if Northern Afleet doesn't suit your taste...there seem to be so many better choices out there than Van Nistelrooy. Furthermore...if going the sales may be an option which you might consider...I suggest VN will probably have (in general) little market appeal.

Even Ashford/Coolmore (arguably the best marketers in the world of thoroughbreds) seem unable to generate enthusiasm for VN. hmmm.

Respectfully

[ef]

Just to add a few more comments on Van Nistelrooy, for what they're worth:

1. He was VERY well supported last year, breeding 186 mares.
2. He is a lovely horse.
3. He was a quality race horse at two, with a deceptively good performance in the Breeders Cup Juvenile.

The negatives:
1. I'm not sure what calibre of mares he's getting, as he's a low-priced Storm Cat at a heavily Storm Cat operation, Ashford.
2. He never got a chance to run at 3- possible soundness problems?
3. He is a half-brother to Halory Hunter, who is no stud superstar.

Overall, I think that for 7500, he might be worth a shot.

[saintlyCZ]

I would think a lot about using him, and I must say it although he was one of my favourites... As Ef said, he was just lovely horse, his racing photos are really imposing, and his action and strides too. However, he wasn't any superstar on the track, and he enden too soon... I don't like horses who end as 2yos because of injury.
I would forget the fact his half brother isn't too successful as a sire - you can say it about almost all stallions. Considering this, you would have to use only Sadler's Wells as a stallion... But remember that Halory was good broodmare, that's more important for me, although it's no guarantee.
Conformation - not good, not bad... Some parts of his body impressive, some not - not at all. Everything about this horse is only 50 percent I think...
And considering the pedigree of your mare, I wouldn't breed to him. Too much Northern Dancer for me... I would try some Mr. Prospector stallion. I don't know whether Northern Afleet - I don't like Nureyev there, in combination with your mare... And also I don't know whether he's such good stallion. Afleet Alex is great horse, I love him and I doubt there's somebody who rank him higher than me But his sire... it needs little more time to say.
I don't think he's ideal stallion for your mare, but he's better than Van Nistelrooy, anyway. It depends on how much money you are able to pay, your mare has very nice pedigree and you can do wonderful combinations with it. You can do much more than multiple inbreeding to ND as basic idea of future foal's pedigree. Think about it
Good luck!

[erins isle]

Van Nistelrooy was in 2001 at $ 6,400,000 the word's most expensive yearling sold at auction, so there obviously were high hopes. The TF considers him as a strong good bodied individual. Must have been for such a prize!

[kiwi]

He is also a shuttle horse, standing in New Zealand during the Southern Hemipshere.

[saintlyCZ]

erins isle: snaafi dancer was two times more expensive
Yearling isn't four-year-old and sale price is no guarantee, just look at the most expensive horses at the sale, most of them are bought because of conformation... And where they ended up...