Some time ago I wrote about how managing a popular stallion can make you feel very unpopular, says John Freeman in his latest Freemanstallions eNews.
John Freeman – take a chance and back the young sires
When that “book full” flag goes up there is nothing you can do but decline your best friends’ requests and disappoint so many who think you really don’t want to help them.
And so it is with many of the stallions in our portfolio – we can’t exceed the limits set by the stud masters, they know their stallions and we have to obey the limits they set.
And in any event there are young sires that can take more mares, sires that we have been advertising and asking people to take note of, sires that WILL be contenders for top honours in their time. They deserve support.
Dynasty’s son Jackson – the future
When that call comes in for a nomination to a sire that is fully booked I suggest for example: “I can’t let you have a nomination to Dynasty, but how about one of his three sons, Futura, Jackson or Legislate” – often comes the reply “thanks I will think about it, what I really want for my mare is one of the top proven stallions”.
How did stallions like Dynasty get to be Dynasty in the first place? I am loathe to use my real life heroes like Dynasty as example to illustrate the obvious, but I do that now because I want people to know how easy it is to miss a great opportunity.
Champion Dynasty’ sensational 2003 July win
I remember how Dynasty battled for mares in his 3rd and 4th season, even after we’d cut his fee in half – people wouldn’t listen, I begged and cajoled but they had made up their minds; I believed in him but they weren’t interested.
Well now! I have told you about that part of my stallion experience many times before.
As the 2016 covering season starts, please reflect, again!
Backing young sires is what we all need to be doing – these are the future champions. Putting your mares to young sires that have the credentials to become the next, Captain Al, Dynasty, Trippi etc is so obvious its elementary; and that is why we keep buying their progeny at the sales.
We have bought the progeny of all of the new sires and have been patting ourselves on the back for keeping a share in a dozen youngsters by each of our young sires; Gimmethegreenlight, Pathfork, Philanthropist, Querari, Twice Over and What A Winter.
Master Of My Fate (Jet Master – Promisefrommyheart)
Of course we will be doing the same with the young stars Futura, Jackson, Legislate, Master Of My Fate, Potala Palace and Wylie Hall when their yearlings go on sale. The thought of seeing the progeny of these young sires at yearling sales puts a smile on my face.
The stallions we market have been selected from the top of the gene pool with the very best racing credentials. They all look the part and are syndicated amongst breeders who will give them the start they need. If you start with the right combination you load the dice.
One of my prime criteria is the word champion!
Not only when referring to the horses own ability but it must apply to both his sire line and damline. It’s just not good enough to have a would-be racehorse as a sire because he is by a champion out of a champion – they MUST prove that they inherited those genes on the racecourse themselves and look the part.
If you start off with proven ability in the first generation you have removed one of the biggest obstacles.
To become champion sires in their turn the new boys only have to beat their opposition. The stars at the top of the current log are getting on in years and aren’t able to cover the size of book they did previously.
Querari during his racing career
As their crops get smaller they become more vulnerable in the stats giving more opportunity to the new boys and this is exactly why I know that the hot new champs like Gimmethegreenlight, Querari, Pathfork and Philanthropist will keep heading up the sire lists. So will the very new sires who are just starting to cover. They only have to beat, in the breeding shed, horses that they took account of in racing. QED.
I can’t imagine that there ever has been a portfolio of young sires packed with more potential than the new sires we are representing this year.
The word champion on its own doesn’t do them justice.
Two Horses Of The Year, not only the best of their generation but the best in racing of any generation in their season and they both broke track records, a dual international champion, an Irish Champion, the highest rated horse ever bred in SA etc.
Our future is not about the proven stars, it’s about those that are to follow in their footsteps.
