The influence of the thoroughbred blood which is offered for sale in Kentucky
over a two-week period in early November each year has historically resonated
globally, and Australia is no exception. Randwick Bloodstock's Brett Howard
remains very passionate about the need for Australasian breeders to continue to
import blood from overseas.Mares imported into Australia and NZ continue to punch well above their weight. Relative to the locally bred mare, the imported mare is producing a much higher ratio of stakes winners to foals. In addition, their produce has also been particularly well received at our yearling sales, even more so in recent times, as our premier yearling sales continue to attract an ever-growing band of international buyers.
Here are a couple of 2017 examples, both on the track and in the sales ring:
In 2017 Group 1 winning three-year-olds RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (By SNITZEL ex BALLET D'AMOUR (USA)) & FOXPLAY (By FOXWEDGE ex BUTTERS (USA)) are from mares imported from the USA. Indeed, FOXWEDGE himself is out of US mare FOREST NATIVE.
At the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale - Arrowfield Stud sold two $1 million yearlings out of US bred mares – the NOT A SINGLE DOUBT x QUIET MAGGY colt ($1.25 million) & the SNITZEL x TARA FROM THE CAPE colt ($1 million). Not to mention two other yearling fillies out of US bred mares DANCE MIX & DREAM PEACE which sold for $850,000 & $800,000 respectively.
There are at least fifty individual Group 1 winners out of imported US bred mares which have graced our shores within the past twenty plus years. Notables and multiple Group 1 winners such as ALBORAN SEA, DIATRIBE, EXCEED AND EXCEL, FASHIONS AFIELD, FLYING SPUR, GALLICA, HASNA, HURRICANE SKY, INTERGAZE, KINSHASA NO KISEKI, MAHOGANY, MAKYBE DIVA, MALDIVIAN, MENTALITY, MISS FINLAND, NORTHERN METEOR, REPUBLIC LASS, SPIN AROUND, THESEO, TOLEDO, TRUST IN A GUST, TYPHOON ZED, UMATILLA and ZAVITE.
Interestingly, only two of the Group 1 winners were out of stakes winning mares and four were out of stakes placed mares. Hence, the bulk of these Group 1 winners were produced out of mares which were either unraced, unplaced, placed or minor winners . Which leads to our next point. You don't necessarily have to pay a fortune to acquire these good producing US mares.
While the million-dollar broodmares will no doubt grab the headlines, there is value to be found for those keen to think outside the box. 2014 was the last time Brett Howard attended the November Breeding Stock Sales in Kentucky. He purchased two maiden mares to bring back to Australia - one for US$25,000, the other for US$7,000. The first foals from these mares were by a $20,000 fee stallion and sold for $120,000 and $110,000 at this year's Magic Millions National Weanling Sale . Previously Howard was involved in the purchase of the dams of HASNA (Champion 2YO, third Golden Slipper) and DIATRIBE (Caulfield Cup) from the USA. These mares were bought for US$25,000 and US$54,000.
If you've ever considered purchasing in the USA maybe now's the time? Even after factoring in the air freight of approximately US$22,000 there is value to be found at all levels of the market.
Catalogues for each sale can be downloaded using the below links:
Fasig-Tipton Sale (PDF file approx. 1MB) (click on the PDF logo in the middle of the page) - http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogues/2017/The-November-Sale/The-November-Sale-new.asp
Keeneland Sale (PDF file approx. 13MB) (click on catalog downloads or view online) - http://flex.keeneland.com/saleindex/saleindex.html
For more information, please contact Brett Howard on 02 4938 0011 or from the 6th to 15th November on +1-310-721 8977 or email randwickbloodstock@bigpond.com
