Better Than Honour will go to Coolmore and Point Ashley will go to anyone other than Coolomore or Darley.

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I don't think the Arab groups will let a mare like Better than Honor get away.  I would imagine the hammer will fall between 10 and 20 million dollars.  Also, the owner of Casino Drive might be a third player if he has the $$$'s needed to purchase this awesome mare.

The Sheiks will get Better Than Honor and most likely Point Ashley as well.  The they will simply be bred to death.

I think Coolmore may get her (Better than Honour) for less than expected $$$.  She will have not had a live foal for two years and buyers may be worried that she has some fertility troubles.

Point Ashley will probably go to Darley for a nice bit as she is in foal to a sire that they like.

>>>"The Sheiks will get Better Than Honor and most likely Point Ashley as well.  The they will simply be bred to death."<<<

Yes, Whatever, the Sheiks are picking up American habits very quickly.

Don't understand Whatever's comment about the Arabs breeding Better Than Honor to death if they get her.  Sounds petty. The Arabs as a whole love their horses. Remember where the Thoroughbreds came from.   Byerly Turk - The Darley Arabian - the Godolphin Arabian - ring any bells?

Thank you NancyB for that comment!  Having worked indirectly for Shadwell Farm, I can guarantee that everybody would want to die and come back as a horse owned by the Sheikhs.  Horses are held in very high regard with these owners.

Sheikh Mohammad's mother was a reknowned healer. Not only did he learn those skills, he's also a multiple European Endurance Champion as a rider.

By personality Sheikh Mo began his equine career selecting the most difficult horses to work with.

Sheikh Mo is also a man who can pick out his own camels by the hoof prints. Did I mention his skill with falcons or Sheikh Hamdan's world's best camel hospital.

I don't know about the Darley stallions or related statistics. My memory is that they are bred too much for me, including shuttling to the Southern Hemisphere.

On the other hand, I'm not worried about these mares. I'd lease a spot in their stalls if I could.

This is a partnership breakup as oppossed to a complete dispersal, therefore the partners are most likely to buy anything.  Since Southern Equine owns 70% of these horses and will only be bidding in 30 cent dollars, they will be most likely to buy anything.

I hope they stay in American hands.

The Arabs have had a love of horses into antiquity. A well-loved mare, in the camps of the Bedouin, are allowed to live inside the tent with the family. Many of these horses are looked at as beloved children. There is an old Bedouin proverb that states that the wind of heaven blows between the ears of a horse and that Allah created the horse with more care than he did people. Therefore, if the Arab interests acquire them, they will be living in the lap of equine luxury. And you can bet that Better Than Honour will be treated like the princess she is.

That being said, I would hope that they all stay in U.S. hands. Since I discovered what happened to Ferdinand, I don't want to see them in Japanese hands. I'm still spooked over that one.

I've heard that the Japanese have learned to alter their practices since our outrage to the slaughter of Ferdinand. Let's not forget Exceller. He was slaughtered in Sweden, though murder would be more apt. His multimillionaire owner was going bankrupt and mad that Exceller didn't bail him out with a few really big winners. Looing to rescue a T-bred? Visit www.excellerfund.com

I too hope she stays in America, wouldn't it be great if someone could form a consortium to buy her. Of course the Dubi's or one of the others might keep her here anyway. To the always negative people on here, I'm sure they would treat her better than you would, you have a mean streak in you that is disgusting. The Arab people honor the horses above nearly everything. So do a lot of American racing families.

they (Arabs) get what they want for now...it's how the good mother work's thing's (Black Gold in the hole)...Long Live The King!!!

"Bred to death"?? I doubt that very much. That was an ignorant thing to say. As stated above, Sheik Mohammed is an incredible horseman in his own right. He loves horses and they receive fantastic care in his ownership, from everything I have read or seen in television interviews.

On the other hand, how many American mares are bred every single year for 20 or more years without a break? LOTS. And shame on the breeders who do that! There should be a limit on how many foals can be registered from a single mare in her lifetime, so mares either get a break from being bred every few years or are pensioned at a younger age.

AS EVERYONE KNOWS THE ARABS POCKETS RUN VERY DEEP, AS WELL AS THEIR LOVE OF GOOD HORSE FLESH, TO OWN THAT IS.  I AM QUITE SURE THE HORSES IN THEIR CARE ARE TREATED BETTER THAN MOST PEOPLE.  BUT IF THEY WISH TO CONTINUE THE COMPETITATION OF RACING--THEY MAY NEED TO QUITE BUYING ALL THE BETTER BRED AMERICAN HORSES.  BUY LEAVING US SOME GOOD BREEDING STOCK WILL ENSURE RACING FOR MANY MORE CENTURIES.

Don't count out the Irish as they have deep pockets as well and I think that is where Better Than Honour will go, back to my beloved homeland of Ireland

Thanks, Jim. I had heard about Exceller, as well, but never did get the straight of the country. I will add the exceller fund to my list. Also, thanks for letting us know about the Japanese change in policy. That makes me feel better.

Julie, thanks for the reminder that Ireland is still in the horse game. I was strongly reminded of this when I discovered that 3 (at least) of the horses in the equestrian events are Irish Draught Sport. Yep, that would be good, too.

Thanks to all of you as being separated from what I love most, horses in general and Thoroughbreds in specific, has not agreed with me for the last 30 years. This helps so much.

May all of them go to deserving owners and have long, comfortable lives.

Yes Julie, maybe Coolmore will get her. The homeland of my Mother, the Irish love horses (my mom is a bit afraid of them although surrounded by them and her horsemen and women family). But then again maybe that legendary love the Arabs and the Irish have for horses is a myth, like many would claim on here.

Katsan - they can claim all they want but the Irish have a deep love and respect for their horses, they are in our blood.

Too put somethings straight regarding Exeller.

His owner was never a multimillioner, he was harnesshorse trainer that wanted to try TB-breeding, but went belly up and a bank appointed lawyer was in charge of the horses owned by him.

Exeller was sent to a small hobby TB-breeding outfit(did not cost the bank any money that way), where he was diagnosed with bad laminates and subsequently had to be put down. Why it was done at a slaughterhouse and not at the farm I don't know, only the local goverment Vet in Sweden and/or the farm owner can anwser that question.

It was a bad deal from the start, who ever sold him from the USA to this man is as much responsible as anyone in Sweden, did they not do a background check before he was sold?

The website For the Exceller Fund is

http://www.excellerfund.org/

Dam of Rags to Riches, Jazil, and Casino Drive fails to produce a foal in 2008 or 2009. Does that affect her value in the Thoroughbred sales ring?