I can understand or justify selling now as the odds that any colt will make the Derby are pretty long and cash in hand often beats illusions of glory.
It's less understandable when a super wealthy person like Mr Tafel sells a colt for stud as early as SS was sold. However, I've never been in that position.
A friend of mine spoke to Tafel at Saratoga about selling SS. Mr Tafel is obviously very wealthy and as a man in his 80's he probably cannot spend it all. However, the sale of a horse like SS can mean that his children and their children can be "set for life." (I tend to feel that the wealthy ruin alot of kids by providing everything for them, but that is not part of the discussion.)
It could allow him to set up a charitable foundation for something about whcih he cares and which would exist long after his passing.
While I think that the game is hurt by the sale of talented young horses with so much left to prove, I cannot begrudge any individual who can foresee a host of options for themselves and their family with the big payday.
Funny thing is that one of the most "hated" sets of owners in my lifetime was the "Slew Crew" and yet they never sold him and even went out and bought mares to support him.
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RIP Monroe.
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