The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

cah — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:25:37 GMT

It is usually pretty obvious on a sales result sheet, which horses are 'kickback' or 'bid up' individuals. I am talking about the purchase of a few at fair market value to race. Stallion syndicates are currently in a period of time that screams integrity and the 2009 season highlighted this when several stud fees were adjusted not once, but twice. Hopefully lessons were learned from this and fair market value will be the norm. It will be interesting to see if Darley raises Bernadini's fee next year. If they are smart, they will set an example and leave the stud fee alone. The Jockey Club's prediction of only 30,000 foals in 2010 is another indicator of the market correcting itself. As a result of this, syndicates may find themselves in a position where it is beneficial for them to buy a limited number of individuals instead of being able to rely on exorbitantly large books of mares to boost their earnings. A couple of years ago Posse proved that you can top the list with half as many foals as others. I was in high school when this market situation happened in the late eighties and I must admit it is frustrating and compelling to watch how it is all shaking out.

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

bflodave — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:49:44 GMT

Seems to me that the same thing happened with the Green Monkey, just more hidden. jmo

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

Transparancy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:22:48 GMT

CAH: If we had a choice between a world where stud connections bid up the prices of their stallions get (artificially inflating his value), and a world where stud connections were forbidden from bidding on their stallions get (possibly deflating his value), I would have to vote for the latter. Using profits from stud fees to bid up prices on yearlings, with the resulting higher averages being used to justify maintaining or raising an already questionable stud fee for the next batch of mare owners would be, to put it mildly, skating close to fraud.

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

adamalexander — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:18:56 GMT

These extremely dubious practises are even more profound in Australia ! Not only are the top yearlings 'sold' to those with connections, but often 'sold' directly back to the stud itself. It really is a joke, especially at major 'sales' here in Australia (2nd biggest T'bred breeder in the world)

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

mauk one — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:37:29 GMT

hope everyone is excited about the new stallion that's going to stud... he had a grand total of six lifetime starts...love these horses that had trouble staying sound...we should keep breeding to these horses and keep getting more of the same bad a** horses that are pretty but very fragile...

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

Tiznowbaby — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:39:17 GMT

Here's my caustic observation. Perhaps if the books weren't so large stallion owners wouldn't need to buy offspring.

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

cah — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:28:49 GMT

I think every stallion owner/syndicate should assume some obligation to purchase a few of their stallions progeny, especially from the first crop. The approximate cost and number of individuals to be purchased should be figured into the stallions total projected expenditure (board,vet,marketing etc) before he starts his initial season. Mare owners are making a commitment so there should be some level of the same in return. You used to see this happen more a few years ago but it definitely occurs less often nowadays. In place of that, I would like to see greater efforts made to help breeders sell their horses. A lot of this responsibility lies with the bloodstock agent as that is how they earn their commission but again, syndicates should also be their stallions cheerleaders.

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

zipssecret — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:36:27 GMT

Darley Medaglia doro and Bernardini, they bought several of their foals.

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

bernie — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:42:51 GMT

Very insightful and informative blog. Buyer beware .

re: The Influence of Stallion Owners at Public Auctions

steve s — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:35:56 GMT

COULD WE have those 11 named somewhere