What's the latest on the $16M dollar Monkey?
 

Things have been quiet on that front. Is he a total bust or will they get him to the track.

Isn't he vacationing on a farm? I think they keep having re-occuring problems with his back end.

When i saw "The Monkey" breeze at Saratoga this summer i knew there was going to be trouble making the races. I did not see a sore horse. Just a slow one. He couldn't outwork any of the matches Pletcher lined him up with. I'm not saying the hind end issues had anything to do with it. Pletcher knows of the great expectaions of this colt, so he wisely sent him home when he proved to him that he was lacking in any ability..

That's a lot of money to spend to be wrong. Wonder if being a bust has an impact on the high end of the auction block. Probably not.

16 million isnt that much money to some people, believe it or not. Like you and I buying a TV. For some, money will never be an issue, they just play on a different playing field.

I think when two giants in the game are going after the same horse, money seems to be secondary. Ego must take over somewhere in the bidding because you can't justify ever paying that kind of money for an unraced horse. So im not sure if this bust(so far) will have impact. Im sure there will be battles again between Darley and Coolmore..and the price won't affect their bidding..

Pretty weird way to compete. You think a pie eating contest would be a better way to find out who the better party is. A lot more interesting too. I dont know what the general public's constant infatuation with how much so and so pays for a horse. Who really cares?

The impact has been felt in the Arabs boycott of Coolmore and its stallions. Though the "bust" part has nothing to do the boycott, Demi pushed ol' Sheikh Mo too far one time too many.

I was thinking this would be a great addition to the Friday's Breeder's Cup program; "Whose ego (or insert any other word you wish) is bigger than Whose?

Actually watching their bidding develop at the sale is more exciting than one would thing...well maybe amusing is a better word.

It's exciting if its your horse they are bidding on.

Random facts on Monkeys:

Chunky Monkey has to be the worst flavor for an ice cream ever created by Ben & Jerrys.

Monkey Puzzle was a pretty good horse and occasionally popped on the turf, I think Canon Shell use to train him.

In the movie Blood Diamond, Leonardo Dicaprio kills a monkey because he is hungry.

Coolin' at the track
Crowd is kinda funky
Me sippin' on a brew
waitin for The Green Monkey

say what?! i loove chunky monkey ice cream. well, i used to. can't eat all that garbage anymore..:(

I never trained him though I do think I tried to claim him one time.

Oops, maybe he ran in a race at one time where a horse you trained ran and I got him mixed up. Sorry. My memory usually is way better than that. I remember he was a staunch closer.

It was a sad day when I saw him run last for $5k at Phila Park and he looked like he could barely pick up his feet.

i backed the green monkey to never win a race at 4-1 when he was bought by coolmore. at the same time he was just 33-1 to win the KY Derby.

how long do you have to wait for your payout?

This horse walks by
I gave him the eye
ran fast to the teller
cuz I knew he couldnt fly

at Wynn, the last time I checked, he's STILL just 75-1 to win the Derby.

Dreaming of Anna, for reference is 100-1.

I will take action on either of these horses for anyone interested. I'll give you 500-1 on The Monkey and 100-1 on Anna.

ha! i'd almost be tempted to take a shot on Anna, but not with any significant amount of money -- and it would just be a homer bet, not a realistic deduction from handicapping.

i just find it insane that the undefeated and untested 2YO filly champion is a longer shot than an overpriced horse who has never started and is currently relaxing on a farm somewhere.

Really should be 5000-1 !

Who? Anna or the Monkey? I hope you mean the Monkey.

If I had bigger pockets I'd be betting Anna in future wagers -- but I won't get to Vegas, and will have a hard time getting someone to take action on her for $20 :D

send me the $20

In "play" money so the Bykster does not run afoul of the authorities

Right! I just think that if she has a productive Spring, she's got the kind of connections that would throw her into the mix in the Derby instead of the Oaks. Calabrese is one gutsy dude, and even if she could hit the board in the Derby her residual value would skyrocket, wouldn't you think? Once she's in the gate for the Derby, anything can happen. That'd be worth a wager for me.

However, I wouldn't wager on the Monkey with m worst enemy's money right now -- it's simply impossible.

I dont think that hitting the board in the Derby would raise her value that much. Winning the Derby would be another matter but I cant see that happening.

Obviously, it's a longshot -- but I see it this way. If she goes to the Derby, it means that she's likely done pretty well this Spring...on dirt. They aren't going to throw her in there off of huge losses just because they can based on her Juvenile Fillies earnings.

With that said, she gets in the gate, it's because she's racing well. At that point, her odds will be far below 100-1 if she has been running well enough to get her connections to take her in the first place. If she's been running that well, I would likely have a saver/homer bet on her in the Derby anyway, so why wouldn't I take 100-1 when it's at least twice as much as I'd get on her in the Derby?

It's just like taking 100-1 that she's going to have a good Spring.

My logic may be atrocious in this case, but it certainly makes sense in my head.

dont know about that one. When I hear that he retires, I'll go in to see if I get paid out. They could hold onto the bet until he dies, but paddy power are usually good about bets like this and its only a small bet..

That's all pretty funny. You are a real Barrel of Monkeys...

ALostTexan

Well who knows if they horse is a bust or not. They didnt buy him to make millions racing. They bought him for the shed. Now if doesnt race but produces a couple of champions then he might be worth a couple of million. Who knows--this story has yet to end.

Where are you getting these "future bets?" Bodog????

Van Nistelrooy
 

I remember Van Nistelrooy. They paid $6.4 mil for that horse and he never did much and they retired him before he was 3. I thought he looked beautiful.


The Green Monkey will never race. It's off to New Zealand or some other never never land. They just don't need the money.

Now... if I could just convince them to fight over my Illinois bred. (I don't have one but if I did...)

Van did a bit though.. he won a G2 and 3rd in a G1 i think..he did look nice

at least he did better than Tasmanian Tiger $6.8 mill, won a maiden in his 3rd start, then got gelded and was sold to Hong Kong..

and thens there's Snaafi Dancer!!

Oh I agree 100%. I dont think we see TGM race.