Opinions Please...

newby · Postby **newby** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:12 pm

I just made my first purchase. I would love to get some opinions...good or bad! She's 9 months old...not sure if she should be considered for racing or just breeding.

Thanks

Diane · Postby **Diane** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:54 pm

Welcome Newby,
Congratulations on your new filly. The name of her sire and dam will help people here form and give their opinion.

newby · Postby **newby** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:13 pm

Sorry that might be helpful.
Sire: Invasor
Dam: Point Me The Way

Skipitgirl · Postby **Skipitgirl** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:28 pm

Of course race her first. Then IF she does well breed her. No reason to breed her if she cant accomplish a successful career.

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:57 pm

https://secure.keeneland.com/sales/Nov10/pdfs/2937.pdf

She has a lovely pedigree and seems to have some nice bone on her. Pedigree says distance with a good possibility of liking the turf.

Take your time with her but she looks very nice. Congrats.

bayrabicano · Postby **bayrabicano** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:14 pm

Hi Newby,

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of thoroughbreds.

I love your girl's sire (and don't think anyone will argue about his success) and he's out of an unraced mare.

Here's a pretty short article about mares from the same stud...

http://www.breedingracing.com/pdfs/95/Editorial/goodbad.pdf

Conformation of stayers...

http://www.breedingracing.com/pdfs/95/Editorial/stayers.pdf

I'm not sure what type of opinion you are looking for and am no expert by any means. However, I really like your filly's feminine appearance and her hip and shoulder. The filtered light and the way she's standing makes it hard to see what's really going on and I can't tell if she may be just a tad back at the knee.

I wish you all the best with whatever path you take with her and hope that you have great success and a lot of fun in the process.

You may want to directly ask the questions that you are wondering about instead of just asking for general opinions. For example, if you want opinions on her conformation - ask about that. Or, if the questions are related to her breeding, be direct.

They have some really knowledgeable folks on this site and I'm sure they will help out if they had a grasp of what you were curious about.

newby · Postby **newby** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:41 pm

Honestly, I was not looking to purchase a race horse. I happened to come across her and had to have her. She is very intelligent and well mannered for being so young. She does have a nice pedigree...but is that enough? Does her confirmation look adequate for racing...might be hard to tell since she has a thick winter coat right now. I'm just trying to figure out if I should invest in sending her to a training facility next year.

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 6:13 pm

Welcome to the crazy world of thoroughbreds and their owners. You are right to be thinking ahead about your filly's possible future. It's really your choices to make, and they are several. She is young, so keep her from getting accidentally pregnant in the pasture or trying for motherhood at two or three. If you have access to horsemen in your area that train thoroughbreds for racing, contact the trainer and some local owners for their suggestions. Our photo view is a snapshot only, and she would need evaluation of her biomechanics as well. (How does she move?)

Planning a racing or breeding career for future racing is a long term and expensive investment, and is often taken too lightly by many of us. Look into the business aspects of breeding and racing before you burn too many bridges.

You've got lots of time for her, and can learn a lot from our posters. Most TB sales begin as summer yearlings, and unless you are considering selling her in that venue, just take your time and enjoy your new filly. Nice choice!

Hold Your Peace · Postby **Hold Your Peace** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 6:14 pm

newby wrote:Honestly, I was not looking to purchase a race horse. I happened to come across her and had to have her. She is very intelligent and well mannered for being so young. She does have a nice pedigree...but is that enough? Does her confirmation look adequate for racing...might be hard to tell since she has a thick winter coat right now. I'm just trying to figure out if I should invest in sending her to a training facility next year.

She doesn't have the pedigree to be worth anything without a race record (at least to a race breeder).

Do you know why she was an out at Keeneland? Just no interest or was there an x-ray or scope issue?

If you don't know about her x-rays and scope that's the first thing to do.

The vast majority of horses aren't worth investing in putting into training, but it's hard to know too much about a horse until you do put them into training.

newby · Postby **newby** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 6:25 pm

No x-ray or scope issues...she cut her leg the day of the auction. They didn't want to take the chance with the buyers. They were going to send her back to Keeneland as a yearling this year.

Hold Your Peace · Postby **Hold Your Peace** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 6:48 pm

newby wrote:No x-ray or scope issues...she cut her leg the day of the auction. They didn't want to take the chance with the buyers. They were going to send her back to Keeneland as a yearling this year.

That might be something you could try.

Send her out for some serious sales prep in a few months and try selling her in a yearling sale later this year.

Rather than Keeneland September, where she might be lost in the crowd, consider a smaller sale and/or a regional sale.

And if she draws no interest in that sale then you will have just gotten the opinion of a whole slew of professionals on what they think of her racing prospects.

Of course my wish for you is that she would draw a lot of interest and you'd hit for a nice pinhooking score.

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:16 pm

Newby where are you? Is she living in your back yard or did you just bring her up for the photo? She would be better served growing up in a large paddock with others of similar age. Of course bringing her in for handling and further education at this age is always time well spent.

newby · Postby **newby** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:31 pm

I'm in Florida. She is at a local barn. She has been staying in a smaller paddock because she just arrived last week and is still adapting. Unfortunately, there are no other horses there that are similar in age for her to be turned out with. So, we are very hesitant to turn her out with the mares. They are turned out on a 9 acre tract...I'm hoping that is a large enough area?

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:47 am

Ok , I see your point and understand your dilemma however there are several consignors who have fields full of thoroughbreds of similar age around your area . I am in Morriston and Summerfield Farm seems to have a bunch if you are looking for another spot. I think that you have made a nice purchase and that she will blossom into a nice 3 yr old ,like her sire.

cng · Postby **cng** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 1:06 pm

Diane wrote:Welcome Newby,
Congratulations on your new filly. The name of her sire and dam will help people here form and give their opinion.

I think knowing the sire and dam do nothing but confuse the issue. Judging the quality of an individual has nothing to do with pedigree. Hopefully the good individual will have the pedigree to match the conformation. Too many people make the mistake of letting a pedigree blind them in the evaluation of a prospect. Knowing the pedigree is a function in establishing a price - not conforminational quality.

That said, I think she is a nice enough filly in her everyday clothes. She has some good qualities and no glaring faults, from what I see.