Tattersalls Book 1 When 1.6 million almost feels like a Bargain

As ever the auction days at Tattersalls were exciting, long and of course filled fantastic horses. Although most of them are way out of my budget, I’ll give you a quick overview of my highlights. Maybe we can, dream or play the lottery toghether?
Of course after the sale concluded lot 418, the 4 million filly, by Galileo out of the Dansili mare Dank, was all everyone was talking about. With good reason 4 million is a lot, even at Book 1 and yes even by Godolphins lofty standarts. Especially for a yearling out of a Coolmore sire. However the page of this filly speaks for itself, out of a champion racemare with the proven Galileo/ Danehill cross in the background. A good-looking individual too, it would be hard to fault this horse.
But personally, I liked Lot 318 a touch better. Only because her damline looks even stronger on the page. Her dam, the Indian Ridge mare Cassandra Go, is a six time winner herself. As well as the mother of six blacktype winners. Among them the great Rhododendron and of course Tickled Pink a full sister to the filly on offer here. Tickled Pink, may not have won a Group 1, but she proved to be good racehorse on numerous occasions. Her grandam Rahaam, showed little on track but foaled nine blacktype performers herself. In fact this pedigree is so stacked with quality horses, half of them don’t even fit on the catalogue page. Although relatively small, I thought the filly way a beautiful horse too, very well made with a great walkI hope we’ll see her race next season, perhaps she’ll even be able to follow in the big hoofprints left by the likes of Winter and Found.
Another lot I loved was 222 a Dubawi colt out of the wonderful racemare Sky Lantern. Champion two year old in the UK and Champion two year old in Ireland. While this yearling is her first foal, both her dam and her grandam have proven themselves as broodmares. Again a lot of depth in the page. I thought this colt was a very good-looking horse too, a proper stallion type, as they say. I am looking forward to see what he achieves on the racetrack.
On day one lot 144 caught my eye, this well related No Nay Never colt, will go to Japan, which is a pity because I would love to see him race in Europe. Not only does he come from a blacktype family, he was also a very attractive colt. Early with a lot of depth he bore a striking resemblance to his grandsire Scat Daddy.
I also liked lot 13 a striking Dubawi out of a Group 1 winning Pivotal mare as well as the Dubawi Yearling out of the great Danedream. Since her Frankel filly is unraced to date, I am very curious to see how her Dubawi colt develops. Selling to Shadwell for 1.5 million, he is certainly in capable hands.
The offspring of first season Sire Kingman imperessed me a lot, great commercial and precocious types. I am excited to see how they’ll fare on the racetrack. I also liked a fair few of Australias first yearlings. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on their crop as the sales continue.
I am sure I’ll do another one of these quick reviews when I get the chance.
lots of love

Little Muck grows up

Datei 08.10.17, 21 58 07Two years ago I bought a little colt from friends. It wasn’t planned, I needed a companion for another foal of mine on a short notice. I was abroad, it was december, I wasn’t exactly spoiled for choice when it came to suitable foals, I liked. I rang my friends knowing they didn’t want to sell, but I had liked the little Muck when I had seen him and honestly at this point I was ready to beg…
Lucky for me they agreed to sell and Muck moved to northern Germany, where I kept my youngstock at the time. He was shy around people, bossy with his mates, all in all a normal young colt. Of course every once in a while I watched him move, I always liked what I saw. But well I owned him so that was to be expected, right?
This year, in February it was time to take stock, stallion preperation is though for the horses. I was only willing to gamble if there was a chance it could pay off.
First Muck was measured: Like his nickname suggests, was still on the small side but he could still grow enough util the Pre-Selection in October .
Next x-rays: A jittery day waiting by the phone. The x-rays were good.
Still I wasn’t convinced Muck was good enough. A good horse and a genuine stallion-prospect are two different things, after all. Neither was my good friend and stud owner who had agreed to prepare Muck for me, but we decided to give him time. Muck was still developing after all. He did, by August Muck had grown into a proper colt. Everyone at stud seems sure he has a good chance of making it to Vechta. As for myself?
Tonight, on the eve before the pre-selection, am still sceptical, a glace at the catalogue is enough to know how fierce to competition will be. This is my first warmblood stallion-prospect, I am a very small fish in this game. No matter what happens, in Vechta tomorrow, I am very proud of the horse litte Muck has grown into.
By the way Muck or Muckel is german slang for a small animal or person, just to clear that up.
Of course I keep you posted how everything turns out
Keep your fingers crossed for us
lots of love