[Linny]

Based purely on conformation, I would prefer Pins and Hat Trick from the original four posted. Hat Trick has a nice head (he appears to be blinking or squinting in the pic and it makes him look dull.) and a long neck, providing balance. His shoulder os good and his legs don't show anything glaringly wrong. In the pic his left front foot looks odd, almost like it was photoshopped.

Pins is a different type. He's more compact, with a thicker, lower set neck and flatter back but he too appears correct. He has a pretty "typey" head but some might say it's almost feminine. It could just be the photo, but he appears to stand wider up front that Hat Trick.


You really cannot assess conformation fully from photos but you can get a general idea of how a horse is put together. A short straight shoulder usually produces a more stilted stride up front, and low set knees and hocks generally result in sounder lower limbs. Horses that appear balanced from front to back usually will have the more efficient way of going though it doesn't make them fast. From WinStar, Bellamy Road is stunning as is Summer Bird. I saw both up close when they were running and was impressed.) Col. John is also a nice looking horse. There is nothing about him that is WOW, but everything looks even and balanced.
When looking at young stallions you have to keep in mind than horses being let down post racing often go through a very homely stage. They lose muscle tone earned in training, but haven't filled out with the cresty neck or rib cage of a mature stallion. Super Saver appears to look a bit awkward, and he was a nice looking colt when I saw him last summer. I never got a good look at Hold Me Back but he doesn't look like much in that pic. I would hope that he might fill out and have a new pic by this time next year.

I like the "appearance videos" that the Korean farm did of Vicar. It's nice to see his action on get a bit of an idea of her disposition. The head on jog while he's free shows that his action is quite straight. Vicar was always a very handsome horse. One of my friends owns a son of his and looks very much like his sire.