Running Stag To Stand '07 in Texas

[jellac]

FYI -

From the Texas Thoroughbred Association site -

Millionaire Running Stag moving to Turf Express Stud in Texas

8/11/2006


Running Stag, a multiple Grade 2 winner and one of the top stallions in Florida, is being relocated to stand at Turf Express Stud Inc. in Collinsville, Texas. The 12-year-old son of Cozzene will stand the 2007 breeding season for $7,500 as the property of Turf Express and Adena Springs.

From three crops of racing age, Running Stag has sired the earners of more than $3.6 million, including multiple stakes winner and $313,860-earner Running Bobcats. Running Stag, who comes to Texas after standing at Adena Springs South in Ocala, was the leading freshman sire in Florida and is currently the state’s top third crop stallion. Through August 7, Running Stag’s runners have earned $1.29 million this year, which would make him the leading stallion in Texas by 2006 progeny earnings, ahead of perennial leader Valid Expectations, whose progeny have banked $1.22 million. Valid Expectations stands for $17,500 and was the only stallion in Texas with a fee of more than $5,000 for the 2006 breeding season.

Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Running Stag earned more than $1.6 million in a 40-race career that included starts in six countries on four continents. Running Stag broke his maiden in England and scored a Group 3 turf victory in France before coming to the United States, where in his first outing he finished third to Skip Away in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes. His stakes victories include three Grade 2 events – the Massachusetts, Brooklyn and Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicaps. Running Stag also competed in the Arlington Million, Breeders’ Cup Classic and twice in the Dubai World Cup.

“We are very excited to team up with Adena Springs and the Stronach family to bring Running Stag to Texas,” said Mark Cornett, President and CEO of Turf Express. “Running Stag has 71 2-year-olds on the ground, so we think this will be a golden opportunity for breeders not only in Texas but Louisiana and Oklahoma as well. So far his horses have shown incredible versatility, and he has thrown everything from sprinters to routers to grass horses. By making 40 starts over five well-traveled years of racing, he proved his soundness and his durability, and now it looks like he is passing on those qualities to his offspring.”

Turf Express Stud Inc. is also home to New Trieste, a full brother to the late Old Trieste, and Aggressive Chief, a half brother to prominent Texas stallion Open Forum. Millionaire Running Stag moving to Turf Express Stud in Texas

8/11/2006

[louis finochio]

RS will be a great outcross for those 8 crosses of Phalaris sire line mares.

Lets hope RS will make a fine sire.

[Derring]

What does everyone think of this horse as a sire?

[madelyn]

Well he is certainly a nice horse. Since he apparently only started in the breeding shed in 2001, it is awfully soon for him to be "scrubbed." Seems that's the new business model, though... get 'em in, scalp the mare owners, and then ship the poor stallion out before his offspring prove what they are.

If the mare and the price are right, he would certainly be worth a shot.

[henthorn]

His dam's German roots are a little baffling for American pedigree folks, but he likely will provide some class and distance to the Texas and regional mares.

[horsenuts]

What does everyone think of this horse as a sire?

I'd like him MUCH better at $2,500.... $3,500 tops. At $7,500 I just don't see many people being enthused especially in Texas where racing is dying a slow death. He has little commercial appeal and is strictly "breed to race" for the most part. Based on that alone his $7,500 can't be justified very easily.

Frankly, I like him somewhat as a stud for his durability as a racehorse.. but not at $7,500.

Another stud in Texas that is in for a serious price correction is Valid Expectations. He's listed at $17,500 after showing early promise but is really faltering as of late and $5,000 would be much more in line with current performance and $3,500 not out of the question. He has really fallen off a cliff.

[larrygene]

For those out there that would like to breed to a very well bred son of Cozzene, I am standing a stallion in Louisiana that I believe is much better bred than RS. He certainly didn't win the money RS did but check out his pedigree. His name is COUNTER PUNCH. His mother is a Graded stakes producer by Storm Cat and his second dam is a graded stakes winner and producer by Mr. Prospector. PUNCH looks a lot like RS, is correct and has a wonderful disposition. He will stand next year for a 10th of the stud fee of RS. He stands at the Running R Ranch in Opelousas.

[Derring]

Another stud in Texas that is in for a serious price correction is Valid Expectations. He's listed at $17,500 after showing early promise but is really faltering as of late and $5,000 would be much more in line with current performance and $3,500 not out of the question. He has really fallen off a cliff.

I'm sorry but I can't agree with you on Valid Expectations.

$3500 to $5000 is really quite low for this horse. $17,500 might be a little high but not by much. He has six crops of racing age.
He's shown he's capable of getting the 'big horse' and his offspring sell well at auction (in comparison to his currect stud fee).

[louis finochio]

Running Stag had 2 winners at Del Mar on Wednesday.

[aurora]

Sending him to Texas will 'kill' him.

[horsenuts]

Sending him to Texas will 'kill' him.

Agree, Texas is not the place to be for any stallion with a potential future right now. Looking objectively at Running Stag his yearlings have not sold well at all if the stats in Blood Horse are correct. I don't see how anyone can justify a $7,500 fee when the average yearling has been selling below that... it's financial insanity. And why RS is headed for Texas rather than say Kentucky or staying put in Florida.

At this stage of his career RS is strictly a "breed to race" sire but at $7,500 who in the Texas area is going to spend that kind of money for a "breed to race" animal? I think RS would find good demand at $3,000 give or take $500. I struggle to think anyone is knocking the door down at $7,500.

[TomFool]

I agree with horsenuts in that while Running Stag is a standout name horse in Texas his stud fee makes no sense whatsoever. How can you go from FL at 5k & take a huge step down to the TX market & go up to 7.5k with no big horse going or anything? When I first heard of him moving I did rush to check his stats & was dissipointed quiet a bit but thought oh well he is class & an outcross & may be usable on certain mares. The only question was to me was is he going to be listed at 2.5k or 3.5k after looking at his stats I thought they should set him at 2.5k, half of his FL listed fee. I then saw 7.5k & said ok thats enough of looking at Running Stag.