Randwick
Bloodstock's Brett Howard will be in attendance at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton
& Keeneland Breeding Stock Sales (November 6th – 18th) - "The World's
Greatest Annual Collection of Breeding Stock".
The influence of the thoroughbred blood which is offered for sale in Kentucky
over a two-week period in early November each year has historically resonated
globally, and Australia is no exception. Randwick Bloodstock's Brett Howard
remains very passionate about the need for Australasian breeders to continue to
import blood from overseas.
Mares imported into Australia and NZ continue to punch well above their weight.
Relative to the locally bred mare, the imported mare is producing a much higher
ratio of stakes winners to foals. In addition, their produce has also been
particularly well received at our yearling sales, even more so in recent times,
as our premier yearling sales continue to attract an ever-growing band of
international buyers.
Here are a couple of 2017 examples, both on the track and in the sales ring:
In 2017 Group 1 winning three-year-olds RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (By SNITZEL ex BALLET
D'AMOUR (USA)) & FOXPLAY (By FOXWEDGE ex BUTTERS (USA)) are from mares
imported from the USA. Indeed, FOXWEDGE himself is out of US mare FOREST
NATIVE.
At the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale - Arrowfield Stud sold two $1 million yearlings out of US bred mares –
the NOT A SINGLE DOUBT x QUIET MAGGY colt ($1.25 million) & the SNITZEL x
TARA FROM THE CAPE colt ($1 million). Not to mention two other yearling fillies
out of US bred mares DANCE MIX & DREAM PEACE which sold for $850,000 &
$800,000 respectively.
There are at least fifty individual
Group 1 winners out of imported US bred mares which have graced our shores
within the past twenty plus years. Notables and multiple Group 1 winners such
as ALBORAN SEA, DIATRIBE, EXCEED AND EXCEL, FASHIONS AFIELD, FLYING SPUR,
GALLICA, HASNA, HURRICANE SKY, INTERGAZE, KINSHASA NO KISEKI, MAHOGANY, MAKYBE
DIVA, MALDIVIAN, MENTALITY, MISS FINLAND, NORTHERN METEOR, REPUBLIC LASS, SPIN
AROUND, THESEO, TOLEDO, TRUST IN A GUST, TYPHOON ZED, UMATILLA and ZAVITE.
Interestingly, only two of the Group 1 winners were out of stakes winning mares
and four were out of stakes placed mares. Hence, the bulk of these Group 1
winners were produced out of mares which
were either unraced, unplaced, placed or minor winners . Which leads to our
next point. You don't necessarily have to pay a fortune to acquire these good
producing US mares.
While the million-dollar broodmares will no doubt grab the headlines, there is
value to be found for those keen to think outside the box. 2014 was the last
time Brett Howard attended the November Breeding Stock Sales in Kentucky. He
purchased two maiden mares to bring back to Australia - one for US$25,000, the
other for US$7,000. The first foals from these mares were by a $20,000 fee
stallion and sold for $120,000 and $110,000 at this year's Magic Millions
National Weanling Sale . Previously Howard was involved in the purchase of the dams of
HASNA (Champion 2YO, third Golden Slipper) and DIATRIBE (Caulfield Cup) from the USA. These mares
were bought for US$25,000 and US$54,000.
If you've ever considered purchasing in the USA maybe now's the time? Even
after factoring in the air freight of approximately US$22,000 there is value to be found at all levels of
the market.
Catalogues for each sale can be downloaded using the below links:
Fasig-Tipton Sale (PDF file approx. 1MB) (click on the PDF logo in the middle
of the page) - http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogues/2017/The-November-Sale/The-November-Sale-new.asp
Keeneland Sale (PDF file approx. 13MB) (click on catalog downloads or view
online) - http://flex.keeneland.com/saleindex/saleindex.html
For more information, please contact Brett Howard on 02 4938 0011 or from the
6th to 15th November on +1-310-721 8977 or email randwickbloodstock@bigpond.com