One of my favorite issues of the year has arrived – the Thoroughbred Times freshman sire forum.
This year’s guest selectors were Sobhy Sonbol of Zayat Stables, Eric Guillot of Southern Equine Stables, Florida pinhooker Eddie Woods, and Utah-based pinhooker John Brocklebank.
Bloodstock Editor John P. Sparkman invited them to pick five freshman sires each. To see a pdf of the magazine story, including the complete list of freshman sires for 2009 so you can make your own picks, click here.
The two-year-old sales will tell us much more about the new studs, such as how their progeny move and what kind of speed they have, but here are the five sires I’m most excited about at this time:
1) Ghostzapper
2) Rock Hard Ten
3) Closing Argument
4) Afleet Alex
5) Roman Ruler
Horse of the Year Ghostzapper is the obvious standout from this crop based on his initial $200,000 stud fee. A nine-length winner of his debut as a two-year-old, Ghostzapper is one of the fastest horses of the modern speed figure era. The three things I noted in his babies were balance, bone, and (perceived) class.
Rock Hard Ten is not a horse that will be expected to peak as a juvenile sire, but I saw several yearlings I absolutely loved, led by a $700,000 colt out of Tapstress that the Thoroughbred Legends bought at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. Word is Bob Baffert will train him. I would love to see this son of Kris. S turn out to be an important sire.
Closing Argument got called up to Kentucky on the strength of his first crop of weanlings, and it was obvious why. The son of Successful Appeal is producing well muscled, athletic foals that simply look fast.
They are not fancy looking horses, but by the end of last year Afleet Alex started to win me over. And when a skilled pinhooker like Eddie Woods says they all move well, I take note. I love the sire’s combination of speed and stamina and his ability to win at six furlongs to 1 ½ miles.
For the fifth spot on my list I figure I better take a stallion who is getting fast, precocious types, which I narrowed to Forest Danger and Roman Ruler. Donato Lanni of Hill ’n’ Dale Farms, where Roman Ruler stands, says I would be a fool to leave Roman Ruler off my list. Lanni won my freshman sire contest in 2008, and he has a sharp eye for talent, so his advice broke the tie.
Who do you like from the freshman sire class of 2009?
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14 comments:
I haven't seen enough babies to make an educated opinion about their prospects, but I will be interested to see how the Saint Liams and Wildcat Heirs do. I have a soft spot for Wando, so I hope he will get some good runners.
Of the foals I saw, most were a mixed bag, but I did see ones by Medallist, Unforgettable Max, and Consolidator that turned my head. I will be watching for those specific individuals.
How did your picks in 2008 do? Did you have Tapit?
I did have him in one contest....although in all fairness, it was only because I took tap lessons when I was little and couldn't decide between him and another stallion. Better to be lucky than good, after all!
It's always fun to see who does well and who does not.
Until I see them run at the two-year-old sales, I am making educated guesses, and even then I'm still missing a major piece of the puzzle -- how they'll perfom in a race environment.
Last year I was on board Lion Heart from the start and I came around on Tapit after the Timonium sale (mid-May). The one that fooled me last year was Cuvee. They were fast at the sales...
I can't get into a son of Kris S.
As far as Kris S. goes, Arch hasn't done too badly for himself, although I will admit 2-year-olds aren't exactly his strong suit.
No one can deny Ghostzapper's brilliance, but his soundness (or lackthereof) is a bit concerning...
1. Afleet Alex
2. Purge
3. Closing Argument
4. Grand Reward
5. Proud Accolade
Eddie, admittedly I root for just about every Hail to Reason-line stallion.
Lolli,
I have a Wando in the Barrett's 2YO Select Sale who is doing exceptional and is a beautiful colt.
Great to hear, ITP. I'll keep an eye out for him.
Although I don't think he is going to make his mark as a 2-year-old sire, I really hope North Light does well. He is an incredibly handsome (and well bred) horse. I also have a soft spot for Eddington.
There were two Eddingtons I really liked from the yearling sales. The first was a colt out of Favorite Times that Zayat Stables bought for $270,000 at Fasig-Tipton July. The second was a colt out of Appealing Jewel, and the Thoroughbred Legends bought him for $325,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga.
I just checked and neither have been named yet. Nick Zito has the Eddington-Appealing Jewel.
Thanks for the Eddington information. I really appreciate it, and will have to keep a look out for the two you mentioned.
1. Consolidator
2. Wildcat Heir
3. Bwana Charlie
4. Taste of Paradise
5. Powerscourt
I'm raising the stock of Consolidator and Wildcat Heir after watching the breeze show for the OBS Feb sale (Tuesday).
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