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Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing
The reason he stands so reasonably is the fact that he has no commerciability in terms of the what future horse buyers and bloodstock agents will be looking to purchase...the auction environment wants a faster, presocious-looking animal, and turf stallions struggle to survive in the American market, especially those that figure to produce routers and horses that won't produce their best until late in their racing careers.
It might be unfortunate, but true....
I believe Powerscourt is a prime example....he is a brilliant turf horse with top class ability, all-around credentials, regal pedigree, brialliant looks and good conformation - yet he is standing for $12,500 because nobody in this country will breed to a turf router and he need to stand for that to get a full book of mares....He would be standing in Europe with more racing success over there, but they never thought he was a good horse on that circuit and he ran his best races in America for one reason or another..
I'd breed to him with the right mare...
Also, aside from turf, you have great value stallions like Victory Gallop that can only stand for $10,000 because nobody wants top wait until 4-years-old for a good horse...they want speed and precociousness....but Victory Gallop gets a pretty solid and sound horse and doesn't get a great book of mares...you just have to be willing to wait on them to develop...
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See this is a prime example in the fact that horse racing needs to change. You have the great Powerscourt standing for 12,500 dollars because owners don't want to wait for a horse to develop and mature. Most horses run best in their four year old years. That is because they are mentally and physically ready to meet the demands of rigorous racing and training. The handicap horses are my favorites, yet we rarely see any of our major two year old and three year old stars make it to the handicap division because most are retired or injured due to the demand of speed and precociousness. I'd much rather have a good three year old and four year old than a good two year old.
It also amazes me why in the world anyone would want to pay an outrageous stud fee for such an unsound horse as Ghostzapper, although he was very amazing. It makes no sense to me. His sire, Awesome Again, has a cheaper stud fee, and he is proven. I could go on and on about this sort of thing all day long. I'm a fan of the horses, and have realized that if racing wants to get where it needs to be, people/owners/trainers are going to have to realize that the horses must come first. That includes breeding sound horses who aren't ruined in their two and three year old years. I got way off topic didn't I?