Northern Hemisphere Mares Make Their Mark 6 October 2005

Leading Cox Plate fancy, Lad of the Manor, is just one of many outstanding gallopers we’ve seen here in Australia, whose dams have come from the Northern Hemisphere.

Lad of the Manor is by Zabeel from the Woodman mare Matrona (USA), who made her way to the Southern Hemisphere after we purchased her in the UK on behalf of Lorraine Smith and David Thomas of Davilora Lodge.

Unfortunately, she passed away in 2002 and mares of her calibre are just not easily replaced in this part of the world.

Another good purchase from the Northern Hemisphere is Highland Legend (USA), the dam of seasoned US Group One performer Personal Legend, who emerged not long after this mare had been exported to Australia.

Highland Legend (USA) has been at Reavill Farm since 2001 and her first two foals were sold as Easter yearlings making $300,000 and $150,000.

Congratulations on Black Ink

6 October 2005

An exciting win by slick Queensland trained sprinter Black Ink in the AJC The Shorts Gr 3 was a pleasing result for Mrs Iffy Caldwell.

Ages ago I purchased Black Ink’s dam, Empress Regina, for Caldwell, as a tried racehorse off the track in central Queensland.

She’s done a fine job at stud, producing four yearlings for the sales, which made a gross return of $161,000 including Black Ink, who made $50,000 at the 2002 Inglis Sires’ Produce Yearling Sale.

Sadly, Empress Regina died in 2000 and failed to leave a filly behind her to breed on with, but with five named foals, all raced, four winners and three of them $100,000 plus earners, she has more than done her job.

2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale 27 September 2005

In what can only be described as a mammoth sale, Keeneland lived up to its reputation as the world’s premier Thoroughbred auction house, surpassing last years world record with 3,545 yearlings sold for an enormous $384,349,900.

As expected the first three days of the sale were extremely strong, featuring a record $9.7 million dollar colt by Storm Cat out of multiple Group 1 winner, Tranquility Lake. The sale buttressed by continued high demand, meant that the sale went over the previous years gross early in day seven.

Record-breaking Keeneland Surges Ahead

23 September 2005

Australian bloodstock agent Vin Cox is back in Sydney, following an exciting and successful stint in the US attending the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Declared by all as a resounding triumph, this year’s sale surged past last year’s world record gross of $324,904,300 while still early in the seventh session.

“It has exceeded expectation on all levels and there are still four more sessions to come before the sale concludes next Monday,” said Cox, Keeneland's Australasian representative.

Vin Cox Bloodstock secured five yearlings for a range of clients, with an emphasis on nicely bred fillies at value prices.

“When people read there were 40 yearlings sold at this sale for $US1million or more, it can be a bit intimidating. You have to get past the hype and just start looking for those nice athletic types, the same as you would at any sale at home,” said Cox.

Cox purchased a filly for $US37,000 by champion Australian first season sire More Than Ready during the fourth session of the sale.

She is a half-sister to a stakes-winner, from a winning half-sister to Group One winning, Champion Grass Mare, Laugh and Be Merry.

“The progeny of More Than Ready have been exceptional value at Keeneland, especially when you consider the sort of money they will be making at Australian yearling sales next year,” said Cox.

After 10 sessions a total of 32 yearlings by More Than Ready averaged $US52,406, the highest price of $US300,000 paid for a colt from Midnight Goer.

The filly purchased for $US45,000 during session five comes with an outstanding pedigree, being from Group One winner Lotka, a proven producer of six winners including stakes-winners Lotta Dancing and Mambo Twist.

She is from the first crop of the young Juddmonte Farms owned sire Mizzen Mast, a Group One winner by Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and leading sire, Cozzene.

The final purchase from Keeneland this year was a modestly priced filly for $US19,000 by a promising young sire in Tiznow, whose oldest progeny are two-year olds.

A former Horse of the Year and dual Breeders Cup winner, Tiznow sired his first Group One winner last weekend when the filly Folklore scored by 14 lengths in the Belmont Matron Stakes.

Our filly was purchased on behalf of an Australian client and is from the Group Three winner, B.A. Valentine.

For catalogues and information on the 2005 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale contact Vin Cox.

Value Fillies at Keeneland

15 September 2005

The action continued at Keeneland overnight and after three sessions a total of 654 horses have been sold at an average price of $US363,106, generating record gross turnover of $US237,471,000.

Vin Cox Bloodstock featured on the buyers list today, securing Lot 797, a filly by Lemon Drop Kid from Clary Sage for $US85,000; and Lot 888, a filly by Maria’s Mon from Imaginary Gold for $US50,000.

The Lemon Drop Kid filly was purchased on behalf of US based client Stuart Housten, partner of Helen Alexander (King Ranch).

“She appeals as a later type of filly being by Lemon Drop Kid, who won the Belmont as a three year old. Over here, she would be referred to as a ‘two turn filly’ in reference to her preferred distance to race over, that is - around two turns of the track,” explained Cox.

Her dam is stakes-placed Clary Sage, a half-sister to Group One winner and prolific broodmare Too Chic, grand-dam of Group One winner and promising young shuttle sire Brahms (USA).

The second purchase was secured on behalf of a private Australian client, who intends to race the filly in the US as a two year old.

“She is a crackerjack type of filly!” enthused Cox. “Mid-sized and lengthy, with an enormous amount of presence and attitude.”

The stylish grey filly by former champion juvenile Maria’s Mon is the first foal of the Mr Prospector mare Imaginary Gold, a three-quarter sister to champion two -year old Flanders, dam of the champion three-year old filly of 2000 in Surfside.

“She comes from a sensational family and was bred at Overbrook Farm (home of Storm Cat), one of the best studs in Kentucky,” added Cox, who could not believe his luck in snapping up this quality filly at such a great price.

For full statistics and results visit keeneland.com

Fleur Royale showing 2YO promise

15 September 2005

Fleur Royale stamped herself as an up and coming racehorse, proving far too good in winning her trial at the 2YO trials at Randwick on 13th September.

Fleur Royal (Royal Academy x Azalea) was bought for long time clients at the Melbourne Premier Sale 04 for a mere $38,000. This lovely yearling has furnished into a well balanced horse whose attitude far exceeds her years.

Lenny Beasley, commented to the Daily Telegraph: “Fleur Royale reminds me of Hasna, she’s a real professional and the type of horse you always like to ride – she gets on the speed and stays out of trouble”.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse believes that she is a “racehorse right down to her tippy toes”.

Depending on how she pulls up after the trial she will be aimed at the Gimcrack Stakes, a Listed event for 2YO Fillies at Randwick on Saturday October 1st.

$3.8 million for Fleming Storm Cat Filly

15 September 2005

Leading Australian breeder Jim Fleming hit the jackpot during the second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale when his Storm Cat filly from Warrior Queen made $US3.8 million to the bid of Irish agent Demi O’Byrne.

“Congratulations to Mr Fleming on an outstanding result. She is the highest priced filly sold at this sale so far and is in fact the equal third highest priced filly ever sold at Keeneland,” said Vin Cox, Keeneland's Australasian representative.

Fleming purchased Warrior Queen for $US2million at the 2002 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and her first foal, a colt by A.P. Indy, fetched $US1.3 million at this sale last year.

Demand for the progeny of champion sire Storm Cat soared to new heights when bloodstock agent John Ferguson bid a massive $US9.7 million to secure a colt from Group One winner Tranquility Lake for Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum of Dubai.

Described by Ferguson as a “powerful athlete”, the colt is bred on the same cross as Giant’s Causeway (USA), being from a daughter of the Blushing Groom horse Rahy.

The number of yearlings sold for $US1million or more at this sale rose to 38, easily topping the previous record of 28 set in 2000.

Giant’s Causeway (USA) contributed to the elite club of million-dollar plus yearlings with a colt from Aquilegia fetching $US1,000,000 and a filly from At The Half making $US1,050,000.

Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) also chimed in at the top level with a colt from Northern Hilite for $US1,000,000 and another colt from Hishi Nile for $US1,050,000.

“The third session tomorrow features some more outstanding horses and should be at least as strong as what we have seen already,” added Cox.

21 million-dollar yearlings at Keeneland

13 September 2005

The 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale kicked off with a star-studded opening session featuring 21 yearlings which sold for $US1million or more.

“The market was incredibly strong and 21 yearlings selling for $1million or more in a single session is a record for this sale, with the previous best of 19 set back in 2000 during the second session,” said Vin Cox, Keeneland's Australasian representative.

The first day of trade generated $US88,712,000 in turnover with 188 yearlings selling at an average price of $US471,872, both figures up dramatically on the corresponding session last year.

Top price today of $US3.5 million was paid by bloodstock agent John Ferguson, acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum of Dubai, for a colt by perennial leading sire Storm Cat out of champion mare Serena's Song.

Storm Cat provided seven (or one third) of the 21 yearlings in the million-dollar plus price bracket, demonstrating once again why this 22-year old stallion commands the most expensive service fee in the world ($US500,000).

His exciting young sire son Giant's Causeway (USA) was also in keen demand with 12 yearlings averaging $US440,417 highlighted by a colt from former champion two year old filly Golden Attraction which made $US1.5 million.

Elusive Quality (USA), whose first Australian yearlings will sell here next year, was also popular with half a dozen yearlings averaging $US408,333.

Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) remained very solid with 12 yearlings averaging $US338,333, highlighted by a colt from Fineza which made $US900,000.

21 million-dollar yearlings at Keeneland

13 September 2005

The 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale kicked off with a star-studded opening session featuring 21 yearlings which sold for $US1million or more.

“The market was incredibly strong and 21 yearlings selling for $1million or more in a single session is a record for this sale, with the previous best of 19 set back in 2000 during the second session,” said Vin Cox, Keeneland's Australasian representative.

For full sale results and statistics visit keeneland.com

Aussie breeders take on Keeneland

1 September 2005

Several Australian breeders are set to take part in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale (September 12- 26) as vendors, led by Tyreel Stud’s Jim Fleming with a spectacular Storm Cat filly from Warrior Queen (Lot 394).

“Fleming paid $US2million for this mare at the 2002 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and her first foal, a colt by A.P. Indy fetched $US1.3 million as a yearling at Keeneland last year,” said Vin Cox, Keeneland's Australasian representative.

Racing as A.P. Warrior, the colt from Warrior Queen was a hugely impressive winner on debut at Hollywood Park back in July and his half-sister by Storm Cat is sure to be a big seller during the second session (Tuesday September 13).

“A.P. Warrior absolutely bolted in over five and a half furlongs and from what the boys in America tell me A.P. Indy's just don't do that. He was due to run in a Grade Three, but tossed the rider in the birdcage and as a result was scratched, but he is certainly showing serious stakes potential,” said Cox.

Phillip Esplin of Twin Palms Stud is another local breeder with US bloodstock interests, who will offer two yearlings at the sale, Lot 1967, a Dixie Union filly from Cabiria; and Lot 3876, a Mr Greeley colt from Summer Voyage.

“I take holidays each year to coincide with the Keeneland September Yearling Sale,” said Esplin.

“Other people go overseas to look at cathedrals and stuff, but I like to go there and see the horses, talk to the people and keep in touch with what’s going on in the international world of racing and breeding.”

Esplin has a small number of mares based in Kentucky and is keen to pursue the idea of breeding for an international market.

“For the first few years we were really feeling our way, but more recently things have come together and we have a few better quality mares to play with,” said Esplin.

Summer Voyage, the dam of the Mr Greeley colt is one mare likely to find her way to Australia where she will join the broodmare band at Twin Palms Stud.

“She is a half-sister to the dam of French Braids from the family of Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago, so she’s one that would be really well suited down here,” said Esplin.

One of Esplin’s first forays into the international market was the purchase of Australian bred South African stakes-winners Sydney’s Dream and Super Sheila.

“We sent Sydney’s Dream to Australia and Super Sheila to America as she had more of an international pedigree. Her first foal, Gone on Sheila by Gone West, ended up stakes-placed, so we brought her back to Australia,” said Esplin.

Gone on Sheila’s first foal, a Viscount colt, made $230,000 at the Magic Millions Sale earlier this year and the mare is booked to Redoute’s Choice this spring.

“International breeding is the way the market is heading and what John Messara is doing with Alinghi has the potential to create great upside for our whole Australian breeding industry. If she can win a Group One in America it will completely change the way they view and more importantly value our horses,” said Esplin.

Rapid improvement in communications and technology has made international breeding a far more appealing proposition in recent years.

“When we first started, America seemed so far away, but with the quality of pictures you can now see through photos and video on DVD it is almost as good as being there and seeing the horses for real,” added Esplin.

Another yearling of particular interest is an Australian foaled colt by successful US based sire Arch from the End Sweep mare Desert End (USA).

The colt (Lot 1622) will be offered by Mike O’Donnell of Fairhill Farm (at Mulbring near Cessnock), who imported Desert End (USA) to Australia in foal to Arch and then sent this colt, her third foal, back to the US in June of this year.

“If he had been a filly we probably would have kept him, but as a colt we just thought sending him back gave him the best chance of becoming a successful racehorse. He would have been difficult to market here and probably not started racing until he was a four year old,” explained O’Donnell.

Desert End (USA) was purchased by O’Donnell two years ago on the advice of leading NZ bloodstock agent Robt Dawe and is due to foal any day now to Encosta de Lago, to whom she will be returning.

Desert End (USA) is stakes-placed and comes from the family of Valid Appeal, sire of last year’s champion US first season sire Successful Appeal.

“Desert End has a lovely pedigree but we have no great expectations about what this colt can make, although the people at Bluewater Sales who are preparing him are most pleased with his progress. The whole exercise is far more about giving him the opportunity to make something of himself,” said O’Donnell.

More than ready for a global market

29 August 2005

As the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry becomes ever more global in nature, Australasian breeders need to look forward and take advantage of a flourishing international market.

“In the future I believe we will see more and more local breeders purchasing fillies to race in the Northern Hemisphere, with the long term view of importing them to Australia as broodmares,” said Vin Cox, Keeneland's Australasian representative.

“Worst case scenario, you have a lovely mare with an international pedigree that will boost your Australian broodmare band and if, heaven forbid, she becomes a stakes horse, then you’ve really hit the jackpot.”

Purchasing and racing horses in the Northern Hemisphere often appears to be a daunting proposition, but in reality the processes involved are no different to what we find here in Australia.

Outstanding horse trainers are not exclusive to Australia and their counterparts in North America and Europe are more than capable of doing an excellent job.

“How many times do we see foreign bloodstock investors coming to Australia to buy yearlings with the intention of racing them here in our country, before deciding on their future destination. Why shouldn’t we be doing the very same thing in reverse?” suggests Cox.

Thoroughbreds have become an international commodity these days and for local breeders who are prepared to consider a broader picture the returns are potentially far greater.

The middle market at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale (September 12-26) is awash with opportunity for Australasian breeders.

The catalogue features a vast number of fillies by a diverse collection of stallions including many turf-performed sires, whose progeny can often be purchased far more easily in North America where the primary focus is most assuredly on dirt track racing.

Yearlings by renowned turf sires are frequently under-valued on the North American market and can represent outstanding value for the astute investor.

More Than Ready (USA) is an interesting case given his overwhelming success in Australia where his first crop of two year olds have gained him the title of Champion First Season Sire.

With six individual stakes-winners to his credit highlighted by Group One winner Carry On Cutie, the performance of More Than Ready (USA) drew comparisons with legendary sire Danehill (USA), whose first Australian crop yielded just four stakes-winners.

“There is no doubt More Than Ready is more popular in Australia than he is in North America. Local buyers can expect to pay big money for his stock at the sales here next year and in comparison I think you will find he is great value at Keeneland,” explained Cox.

At Keeneland September last year More Than Ready (USA) had 40 yearlings sell at an average price of $US84,500 or approximately $111,000 in Australian dollars.

This compares most favourably to his overall tally in Australia for 2005 where 34 yearlings averaged $109,000.

More Than Ready (USA) has 42 yearlings (26 fillies) catalogued for sale at Keeneland September and all bar three will be offered from session five onwards.