Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Pedigree Ann — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:07:09 GMT

Ranagulzion, I think it was John Sparkman who published a blog that included his assessment of Eskendereya's conformation and had bad things to say about his forelegs. He added that having seen these, he no longer wondered why the horse developed tendon troubles. If you want to have a horse that runs for more than a few starts, he looks like one to avoid.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Robert — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:55:26 GMT

"Rachel"......you may think Claiborne doesn't care about commercial appeal, but you would be wrong. EVERY farm cares about commercial appeal. If they didn't, they would not advertise their stallions or what their offspring do on the track and at the sales ring. Blame is overpriced for his first season at stud and I would be money you can get to him cheaper than his advertised fee. $20,000.00 is a better price for him and this will probably be his fee next year.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Patty — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:16:45 GMT

Stallion fees are still too high. Just look at The Bloodhorse stallion lists. There are barely a dozen stallions that can truly justify their fees based on what their offspring have sold for in 2010. Farms that won't do pay from proceeds or other creative options are saying they don't have confidence the yearlings will even bring the stud fee at auction.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Ranagulzion — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:43:03 GMT

Big mistake Shesfast about Eskendereya. The short season could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for breeders. Esky at $35000 is a bargain because 1) he was a potential triple crown winner based upon hard core sensational performances 2) he looks like a million bucks 3) he is bred in the purple top and bottom, and 4)he is from a sire of sires line i.e. Northern Dancer over Secretariat. No way this guy is gonna be a dud at stud.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

anna — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:12:43 GMT

i think all stallions should start at 10k or so. to me this is a top sire who gets sprinters, routers, he gets stakes and graded stakes winners and horses that win early in their 2yr old seasons.

winstarfarm.com/stallions.aspx

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

duane a — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:55:31 GMT

The stud farms of Kentucky feel they are the only ones in this business entitled to make money. They have for years ignored the problems of the small breeders to fuel their own greed. They have, effectivley, eaten their partners. Five percent of the yearlings offered in January made the stud fee they were bred on, nowhere near the two and a half times stud fee breeders need to make a profit. I wonder what percentage of farms lowered their fees this year?

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

marc — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:10:35 GMT

I think freshman stallios fees should be placed as low as possible giving the stallion the possibility of serving a large number of mares which can be selected a priori by the stallion manager. Example is Candy Ride which with a fee of $12500 was able to have a very productive first season and establish itself at the top.

The other imaginative approach is that employed by Spendrift which gives the mare owner a chance to have a life time share to breed to a young stallion with very little investment.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Rachel — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:23:37 GMT

Blame is out of a really nice proven stallion plus he's from a hot broodmare stallion in Seeking The Gold. I see virtually no risk in breeding to him!

I really don't think Claiborne cares one whit if Blame has "commercial" appeal..and good for them! They breed for the good of the breed...that's why they're Claiborne.

"Commercial appeal" is breeding strictly for novices and has been harmful to more than just the TB breeding world.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Jean in Chicago — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:20:02 GMT

I agree with shesfast. I think the best bargain out there right now is Red Giant. Is his fee so low because here in the US we just don't have any interest or respect for turf horses?

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

sceptre — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:57:14 GMT

It's unfortunate, but a fact of life, that when assessing the value of stallions should one be breeding for the market, for the short term it's not how you might assess a stallion's value, but rather how well you assess how others will perceive that stallion.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

cesar — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:49:49 GMT

I would rather go with proven, well priced stallions like northen afleet, pollards vision or wildcat heir.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

shesfast — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:26:13 GMT

I am not a breeder, but i do agree that stallions standing their first few years at stud do cost way too much. Some young stallions do turn out to be worth their price, but some like Smarty Jones for example, do not. Esky in my opinion is way too much. I was checking him out the other day and while I thought he was good looking, I wouldn't pay that price when there are more proven stallions out there for way cheaper. Especially since his time on the track was so short.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

katethegreat — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:48:45 GMT

Take the older mares to the young

stud Blame. Take the young

mares to his sire Arch.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Robert — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:59:30 GMT

Good value is a proven sire of both colts and fillies at a reasonable price. A stallion is already showing to be a lasting influence on the breed. For my money, Quiet American is the real deal. We have a yearling colt by him and he is a serious colt. Boss of the heard and NEVER stops running in the field. We cannot wait to break him this fall and get him started. He comes from a stout female family and will have no problem getting a classic distance. For me, this Stallion is a top pick.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

LoriM — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:55:15 GMT

What is Arch's fee? It is published at $30,000.

I also think $35,000 feels a little high for Blame in this market. No question in years past, this would certainly be reasonable considering his performance and his pedigree. There seems to be a lot of value to be had right now with proven sires, even young proven sires. For example, Afleet Alex at $25,000 would appear to me to offer pretty good value if you compare the these two, having a GI winners at 2 and 3.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Dona — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:53:44 GMT

A stallion that stamps his offspring with his best qualities along with the ability to improve on the mare's produce is most desirable, for me. Improving the thoroughbred is a lofty goal we should all aspire for but is it practical for everyone? NO one wants an inferior horse but sometimes you kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.

re: Assessing Value in Thoroughbred Stallions

Karen in Indiana — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:44:37 GMT

It depends on why you are breeding - to sell or to race. If you are breeding to sell, you're more likely to breed to 'fashionable' stallions. But if you are breeding to race, producing plain brown wrappers won't be an issue as long as they can run and stay sound. Personally, I think the latter is better for the breed in the long run.