Help! Mare & Possible Stallion

Rebecca Cass · Post by **Rebecca Cass** » 17 years ago

I picked <a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=21558' target='_blank'>If Angels Sang</a> in Laura's very generous mare lease and would like some ideas on who to send her to? I’m on a budget so my options are rather limited, the highest stud fee I’ve seriously considered so far is 12,500 to give you an idea of where I’m at. I’ve looked at various stallions (Deathdefying, American Baby, El Corredor, Harlington, It’s okay to Live and Brave the War) to name a few. Not sure if I’m on the right path with any of those or not, so help please!

Also just curious if there would be any interest in <a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=28567' target='_blank'>Raven Skies</a> should I retire him this year. Thinking of giving him another race just to see if he’s really backing off or if I made a bad race choice.

Thanks!

Rob Canterbury · Post by **Rob Canterbury** » 17 years ago

Whta are you asking about Raven Skies..any interest in what? If you are askign about whether it is a good enough horse to go to stud then I would say NO... There are 500 horses at stud and nothing about this horse stands out that would make it marketable for others... Bu this has been discussed at length in countless other posts..

if you are interested in other trainers opinions about what makes for a good stud, feel free to ask.

If you were asking something different I apologize as I may be misunderstanding your question.

If it were me I would geld the horse and run it another year so you can continue to support your barn with a horse that earns money!

Jolene Danner · Post by **Jolene Danner** » 17 years ago

There are LOTS of sons of Giant's Causeway available for stud. I'd just geld him so you won't be tempted to breed to him. He's got 2 wins.. only 2! They were a Maiden and An Allowance. Geld him! We don't need his bloodlines and he's not a stakes winner.

As for the Mare, you might try Hap. Her theatrical ran well once it got to the turf (3-1-1-1) and Hap is underrated i think, most of his foals have earnings. He's only $5,500. The cross is 4x3 to Northern Dancer and 4x4 to Boldnesian which is cool! you don't get that inbreeding much. LOL

Anna Leroux · Post by **Anna Leroux** » 17 years ago

Unless he's proven himself on the track, or has proven offspring I'm simply not interested in a stallion. This stallion should be gelded, and kept racing, he'll make you more money that way.

Paul Heinrich · Post by **Paul Heinrich** » 17 years ago

I'm new at this stuff too, so this is just as much for my benefit as for yours...

To start off, <a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=29744' target='_blank'>Hurricane Relief</a> is the best runner out of this mare yet, a winner, and competitive in stakes. His father is a little out of your range, and it would be boring to do a full copy anyway (IMO). But he has an uncle I like - <a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=18502' target='_blank'>Motivator</a> should be affordable to you, and he has some winners.

However, for this one, you might want a new cross - something like <a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=17242' target='_blank'>Shining</a>. It's a gamble, of course, as he's a brand new stallion. But that Xett seems to know what he's doing, and it's only a 7,000 gamble.

Other ideas - if you can do a game points stallion, Dynaformer has a good turf cross with a Seattle Slew mare with X Marks The Spot. And Deathdefying would be a solid choice - he hasn't been crossed with a Seattle Slew mare yet, but he's been a successful sire for the price so far, and seems to match up with what I'd be looking for with this mare regarding surface/distance.

Good luck, whatever you choose!

Sarah Chase · Post by **Sarah Chase** » 17 years ago

I like Negative Six a lot. <a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=18340' target='_blank'>http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php ... D=18340</a>

He's newly retired and very cheap at $5k. He also brings in Storm Cat through No Tears Here/Giant's Causeway.

Scott Eiland · Post by **Scott Eiland** » 17 years ago

I am a full believer of the "When In Doubt, Blatantly Copy Success" philosophy. The way I would handle it is this:

1. Write a 500 word article on one of the big stakes races coming up in week 14 (Jockey Club, Super Derby, a myriad of others).

2. With the extra money, breed to Hurricane Run, make it a filly, and it should work out. Then after her fourth year, retire your (hopefully stakes) winner and breed her to the sexiest stallion you can afford.

I know this requires some effort and some work, but I'd rather figure out a way to afford the proven commodity than speculate every time.

Or you could do what Sarah says. I often do.

Nathan Sellers · Post by **Nathan Sellers** » 17 years ago

Scott Eiland wrote: I am a full believer of the "When In Doubt, Blatantly Copy Success" philosophy. The way I would handle it is this:

1. Write a 500 word article on one of the big stakes races coming up in week 14 (Jockey Club, Super Derby, a myriad of others).

2. With the extra money, breed to Hurricane Run, make it a filly, and it should work out. Then after her fourth year, retire your (hopefully stakes) winner and breed her to the sexiest stallion you can afford.

I know this requires some effort and some work, but I'd rather figure out a way to afford the proven commodity than speculate every time.

Or you could do what Sarah says. I often do.

Haha...I love this.

It's interesting how The Feature Race can make money problems the smallest of your concerns. I mean, it may take you a while to earn a stud fee for Ghostzapper, but Megan Grant, I'm sure, is well on her way.

Paul Heinrich · Post by **Paul Heinrich** » 17 years ago

Nathan Robert wrote: Haha...I love this.

It's interesting how The Feature Race can make money problems the smallest of your concerns. I mean, it may take you a while to earn a stud fee for Ghostzapper, but Megan Grant, I'm sure, is well on her way.

I wouldn't say the "smallest" of concerns...I've written dozens of articles, and I'm still having trouble lining up the stallions I want for the money I have.

But then again, I've been buying a lot of horses from the sales pages, too. My money from my last article, written last night, was gone by 9am this morning. I guess even winning the lottery wouldn't solve some people's money problems. :rolleyes:

Rebecca Cass · Post by **Rebecca Cass** » 17 years ago

Hmm interesting, thanks for the opinions!