| November 4th, 2007 |
An interesting story through to his sale at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses
In Training (HiT) Sale in late October. By an American First Season sire
who produced three winners (including all three debut runs) with his three
British trained 2yo runners in 2007 (plus the Irish filly Ariege who ran
in the May Hill Stakes).
All thee winners for the sire were bought at US yearling sales for relatively
low amounts ($17,000 in his case) and brought to Britain to be prepared
for resale at the 2yo Breeze Up Sales in the Spring of 2007. Note that
the phrase 'Pinhooking' refers to this purchasing of a horse for the intention
of later resale and, hopefully, worthwhile profit.
Here he is - Picture
- as a cheeky young lad early in his breeze up preparation period. Looking
at his flank he was the sort of lively character who got into the odd scrape.
He'd come on a lot - Picture
- and put on a good deal of weight by the time he went out to make his
debut at Ascot. He won at 66/1 and gave his trainer his first 2yo debut
winner.
After a win in a minor Conditions race at Ripon he ran in a Polytrack Group
3, finishing fourth and showing just 'smart' form. His cheeky side still
showing - Picture.
Stepped up to 8f on his next run, and a notch lower in a Listed event,
he finished fourth. That was a slowly run race which favoured the front
runners and didn't allow the competitiors to show their full ability. He
looked much more mature that day - Picture.
So, for a 45,000 guineas purchase as a 2yo he had looked a sound buy. His
form wasn't up to average Group 3 level and on physical type he wouldn't
seem likely to make that improvement to be at that level (in Britain) as
a 3yo. So what would he be worth if sent to the sales? As it turned out
he was sold for 220,000 guineas to race in America as two US bidders went
against each other for him (Picture).
Clearly he couldn't have won anything like that amount racing Britain.
Presumably as a proven turf runner, who acts on Polytrack, he has prospects
of being a good purchase to race in the US where prize money levels are
much higher (and turf races easier to win).
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![[Picture]](../../07_publish_pics/SportingArt_070713_asct2.jpg){kind=link}
