Ashford Stud Newcomer Dunkirk Now on TrueNicks

re: Ashford Stud Newcomer Dunkirk Now on TrueNicks

Coldfacts — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:58:42 GMT

Dunkirk at $10,000 is overpriced. Birdstone the sire of the 2009 Kentucky Derby & Belmont winners was retired to stud with similar price tag. However, he was the winner of three G1s including the Belmont. Dunkirk won a maiden and an allowance in pedestrian times. He is as overpriced as he was overrated.

re: Ashford Stud Newcomer Dunkirk Now on TrueNicks

Megan — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:38:22 GMT

Oh boy, another Unbridled's Song headed off to the shed to propagate more and more soundness issues in the breed. Remember Eight Belles? How about Midshipman? Old Fashioned? Even poor Dunkirk was done after the Belmont.

Do breeders not realize that unsoundness begets unsoundness? Or do they simply not care? (Given the number of breedings that Big Brown got, I'd have to say it's the latter.)

Byron's reply: Megan, statistically there is very little evidence to support your assumption/assertion that Unbridled's Song is a source of soundness, at least any more than any other stallion that stands at stud. He may be a more high profile stallion, and have high profile horses on the track, but his average for starts per runner and runners per foals is equivalent to his peers. It may be fashionable for you to say that Unbridled's Song is a source of unsoundness, but there is no evidence whatsoever that it is the case.

Equally, rightly or wrongly, "unsoundness" (a loose term as it is hard to know if it was man made or hereditary anyway) has for centuries been the hallmark of some of the breed shaping stallions in the thoroughbred, many of whom had brief race careers but an outstandingly positive impact on the breed. Not to make a virtue out of a vice but the likes of Alibhai, Blandford, Bois Roussel, Crepello, Danzig, Nureyev, Raise a Native, Red Ransom, Spearmint, Ultimus and Vice Regent all had a career spanning five starts or less but their impact on the breed as progenitors has been outstanding.

re: Ashford Stud Newcomer Dunkirk Now on TrueNicks

Marilyn — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:11:04 GMT

I'll miss him at that track, but here's hoping that Dunkirk produces babies just as spectacular as he is. I've always loved him and thought we never got to see his full potential, even though I was one of the lucky ones to witness his 2nd place finish in the Belnont, I felt he was capable of SO much more. GO DUNKIRK! I'm looking forward to seeing your babies run!! LOVE YOU!

re: Ashford Stud Newcomer Dunkirk Now on TrueNicks

Chris — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:13:36 GMT

Alan,

Your praises of Dunkirk do not go unnoticed especially considering the fact that he rates an abysmal "D" Truenick rating. As a mating you would have argued against it...and presumably you would have argued against purchasing him for a lofty 3.7 million. Now the question is can you recommend him as a stallion "D" true nick rating and all???

re: Ashford Stud Newcomer Dunkirk Now on TrueNicks

Tiznowbaby — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:33:43 GMT

I can't believe this horse was retired after such a brief career. What a disappointment.