Flat action on the track might be over, but the breeding stock sales are almost upon us and it is imperative that those who are going to produce the stars of the future are unearthed.
We know that pedigrees are the best guide to the genetic make-up of an individual giving us indications of their grade, class, and distance potential and limitations. And essentially, that success breeds success.
But generally, the best genes and families in the world are wrapped in cotton wool in their homebred operations with little to no chance of anyone getting their hands on a twig of them. So when any form of young, fresh talent or a branch of a royal family appears at public auction, they would certainly appear the fastest and most promising route to achievements at the highest level for those with deep pockets.
Since 2003, there have been 69 young unproven mares (maidens or with first, second or third cover) sell for over 900,000€/gns at the Tattersalls and Goffs Breeding Stock sales. (There were actually 70 transactions as Banimpire sold for more than a million on two occasions).
In general terms many have done well in their broodmare careers. But in terms of their purchase prices, subsequent covering fees and being the best young mares that come to market, the results are rather disappointing.
Of the 69, 48 of the mares have progeny of racing age and only one mare, Pearling, has produced a Group One winner.
A full sister to Giant’s Causeway and You’resothrilling, she was purchased in 2011 by Tony Nerses for 1.3million guineas carrying a foal by Galileo which ended up being Irish Champion Stakes hero Decorated Knight.
Fourteen of these mares have produced a stakes winner and there are just five whose progeny won a Group race.
Some notables from the table below include Cheveley Park Stakes winner and three-part sister to Alexandrova, Magical Romance who cost 4.6million guineas in foal to Pivotal in 2006.
Magical Romance did produce an Australian Stakes winner Tall Ship from her twelve foals but it was actually her fourth foal Love Magic who sold in foal to Nathanial for 170,000gns that has kept the family alive in producing French Oaks winner Channel.
At 3.4 million guineas, Satwa Queen was the most expensive of six mares that cost John Ferguson Bloodstock over a million guineas at Tattersalls in 2007. She did produce the stakes winner Important Time but her first foal is also the dam of this year’s Phoenix Stakes winner Lucky Vega. The Group Three winner Galatee was the most fruitful from that year giving life to three stakes winners including the dual Group Two winners Dartmouth and Manatee.
The dual Group Two winner and twice Group One placed Banimpire sold for €2.3million at Goffs at the end of her three-year-old season in 2011. And after appearing on the track once at four years in the States, she sold at Tattersalls for 800,000gns less than in 2011. She has produced just one winner to date.
Two mares are joint on the top price of 6million €/guineas and both are still very young. Chicquita, the quirky Irish Oaks winner was bought by Peter & Ross Doyle in 2010 and her first foal is the Group Three placed Secret Thoughts. Marsha fetched that same price to MV Magnier in 2017 and is yet to have runners.
Sander Camillo, Ocean Silk and Angara who all cost over 3million guineas in 2007, have all produced either nine or ten foals but no stakes performer to date.
While there is a number of solid performers amongst the offspring produced, one would certainly have to expect more bang for their multi-million bucks. And it definitely pays to search for value as there are endless examples of mares gone through the breeding stock sales for fractions of those tabled below that have gone on to produce top-level winners.
Just a couple of recent examples include the dam of this year’s unbeaten dual classic winning heroine Love, who was sold for 30,000gns in 2007 and again for 50,000gns in 2012.
Senta’s Dream was bought for 14,000gns in 2013 before producing four-time elite-level winner Iridessa and this year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia.
The dam of Stradivarius, Private Life, was sold three times at Tattersalls December for 140,000, 225,000 and 70,000gns before the millionaire stayer came along.
Alina was sold for 65,000gns carrying her first foal in December 2013. That foal ended up being Barney Roy and her 2018 foal made 3.6million guineas as a yearling last year.
Scarlett Rose was purchased carrying her first foal for 50,000gns in 2006 before giving life to Group Two winner Formosina in 2008 and then triple Group One winning sprinter Blue Point in 2014.
Mujarah, an unplaced sister to Group One winner Matterhorn and three more stakes winners, was sold as a maiden by Shadwell in 2011 for 18,000gns and her first foal became the brilliant miler and four-time Group One winner Ribchester.
Galicuix, a Galileo half-sister to Goldream went through the ring for 8,000gns after having her first foal. That foal became 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner Galileo Gold.
The list really does go on and on, painting a much brighter picture for the diamonds in the rough. Best get digging.