A Time to Spend
This week's CTHS Yearling Sale catalogue is a slim volume, but it's jam-packed with Black Type pedigrees and has an almost 'Select Sale' feel. The Sale gets underway on Wednesday at 3pm
Even in the best of times, the decision to breed a Thoroughbred is an act of faith over experience, writes Nigel Reid
Fortunately, commercial Thoroughbred breeders are optimists by nature. Indeed, how could they be otherwise? Breeders must commit to the considerable expense of “now” while investing in an uncertain future; knowing that once their mare is confirmed “in-foal” it will be, if everything goes perfectly, more than two years until there is even a chance of a return through the yearling auctions.
However, when set against the background of spiralling costs of labour, feed, veterinary services and land prices that preclude all but the already wealthy from even participating, it is clear that mere ‘optimism’ is no longer enough.
The number of breeders in BC has withered over the past few years to an all-time low level and we are rapidly approaching a point where the quantity of horses being produced locally is no longer large enough to satisfy the industry’s current demands.
Obviously, these issues are not unique to racing and breeding here in BC. Foal numbers are down throughout our region and across the continent and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that the entire sport faces massive rationalization if it is to survive in anything like its current condition.
However, we certainly do not help ourselves. Breeders are currently ill-served by disproved policies, restrictive incentives, redundant dogma and a parochial approach to an industry that has become over reliant on schemes that reward breeders, regardless of the numbers of horses being produced, or even whether those “incentives” actually benefit horseracing nationally.
In our opinion, the Thoroughbred breeding sector must, with some urgency, find a way to navigate provincial barriers and adopt national policies that reward horses bred and raised in Canada, regardless of the province they are foaled in. The market will take care of the rest.
What we now know for an indisputable fact is that every incentive introduced to help grow the breeding industry in BC over the past ten years has failed to result in more breeders or more horses. If breeding in Canada is to survive long-term at any level above “hobby farming” then the industry needs a complete rethink and a total overhaul nationally.
And that’s an optimistic view…
Catalogue Preview
And now to the business of this year’s CTHS Yearling & Mixed Sale catalogue which, although indisputably a small offering, is once again jam-packed with strong “Black Type” pedigrees and yearlings from proven, winning producing, mares.
Indeed, the auction has a “Select Sale” feel, with almost the entire catalogue filled with yearlings out of mares who are either Stakes performers themselves, siblings to Stakes performers or already producers of Stakes-performing runners.
This year, rather than haphazardly attempting to predict the highlights, we’ll take a glance at some of the offerings by each sire, concentrating mainly on the local stallions that, after all, do so much to support the local industry.
BAKKEN (Distorted Humor), twice leading sire in BC and currently heading this year’s list of local sires by number of winners and money earned, has another strong contingent, with five boys and a filly catalogued. HIP# 25, a colt out of LANA’S FORTUNE (Harlan’s Holiday), a half-sister to Stakes winner SIR DUDLEY DIGGES and the producer of Stakes-placed performer, Silent Fortune; HIP#28 is a half-brother to BC Cup Nursery third, MAGIC ROAD; HIP# 41 is out of the former BC Champion three-year-old QUATRE CAT (Abraaj) and is a half-brother to CTHS Sales Stakes third LICORICE (Finality), as well as this season’s useful maiden winner QUATRE BAK (Bakken) – who, incidentally, is probably the best named horse currently running at Hastings!
COUNTERFORCE (Smart Strike) is beginning to look a serious threat to Bakken’s title. His winners-to-runner percentage is currently the best in BC and his Black Type winners-to-runners this season is neck-and-neck with Sungold. His flag is being carried high this year by the likes of DIOCLESE and the smart Alberta-based juvenile, PUTTINGONTHEFOIL. He’s got five yearlings catalogues, including a possible sales-topper in HIP# 12, a full-sister to multiple Stakes winner AIR FORCE and half-sister to the rapid MORNING BLURS; HIP# 33 is a full-sister to Century Mile Stakes winner and former Supernaturel Stakes third, FORCE TO REKKN WITH. At the other end of the catalogue, HIP# 50 is the first foal out of SWEET SIXTEEN (Finality), a five-time winner and full-sister to Hastings Stakes winner, COULTERBERRY.
FINALITY (Dehere) continues to get quality runners, including this season’s Monashee Stakes winner, MATSQUI, and his sole offering this year is HIP# 44, a colt out of REAL VAIN (Western Trick), who is a half-sister to former Champion BC sprinter ALMOST TIME, already the dam of three Stakes performers by the same sire in ELEADOR, GOLIATH and GROOT.
LENT (Pulpit) remains a consistent source of winners (he has another seven this season already) and his four yearlings catalogued include: HIP# 8, a half-brother to last year’s leading juvenile filly and this year’s BC Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club runner-up, BROOKE MAGIC (Honor Code); HIP#11 is half-sister to last season’s CTHS Sales Stakes second, FEBRUARY (Mo Town); while HIP# 23 is a full-brother to the former River Rock Casino Stakes winner, SHAMRA.
MISTER SNICKERS (Empire Maker) is a first-season stallion standing at Roads End Farm and has just the one yearling catalogued. HIP# 39 is a colt out of former BC Cup Day Distaff winner, P.S. TOUCH DOWN (Stephanotis) and is a half-brother to the Emerald Downs winner, Rox Star Archie (Texas Wildcatter).
POP ARTIST (Songandaprayer) has seven yearlings catalogued this year. HIP# 3 should see plenty of traffic as he’s out of former Hastings juvenile Champion ARCHITECTURE and is therefore a half-brother to Champion two-year-olds LEGACY SQUARE and U DID IT, as well being a full-brother to the former Jack Diamond runner-up, Blueprint; HIP# 14 is a half-brother to Stakes-placed two-year-old LITTLE BLACK DRESS (now a mare and for sale this week as HIP# 54, a supplementary entry, who is offered in-foal to Pop Artist and with a Pop Artist colt foal “at foot”); HIP# 37 is a half-brother to Stakes-placed FINDING WAYS (Harbor the Gold), while HIP# 52 is a half-brother to the Stakes-placed and multiple Hastings winner, WANDALITA (Violence).
RALIS (Square Eddie) has four yearlings on offer, including: HIP# 30, a half-brother to the Stakes-placed trio, MY COLLEGE FUND (Finality), SILENT NATIVE (Storm Victory) and LOGICAL AL (Storm Victory); and HIP# 36, a full-brother to former BC Oaks heroine ABOVE AVERAGE and Stakes-placed DONNA WYN (Numaany).
SUNGOLD (A.P. Indy) has been a major force as a BC stallion and he continues to make his presence felt, even as his career comes to an end. His 10-strong draft this week includes HIP# 2, a half-sister to R.K. “Red” Smith Stakes winner, ANSTRUM; HIP# 10, a half-brother to the magnificent BOLD ARCH (Archarcharch); HIP# 16, a half-brother to multiple Stakes winner WEEKEND WIZARD; and HIP# 20, a half-brother to European Group 3 winner GIFTFORM and the Stakes-placed Hastings’ performer, HIGHER IMAGE (Paynter).
Sires from Further Afield
Non BC-based sires with yearlings on offer at this week’s sale include the perennially-leading Canadian sire, and now Alberta-based, FED BIZ (Giant’s Causeway). His two offerings will be eagerly sought out. HIP# 1 is a half-sister to Stakes winner CALL IT A WRAP, while HIP# 15 is out of the winning Alphabet Soup mare FLIGHT PATH and is a half-sister to winners FLYINGUNDERTHEGRAYDAR (Graydar) and Y VEE R (Value Plus).
HIP# 18 is a colt from the first crop by Grade 1 winner BASIN (Liam’s Map) and is the first foal out of the winning Liaison mare, GYPSY WIND (a half-sister to Stakes winner, GEORGIA’S REWARD).
HIP# 21 is by the Preakness winner CLOUD COMPUTING (Maclean’s Music), out of the winner-producing mare HIGH WEST (Empire Maker).
HIP# 48 is by the former Washington-based CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie) and is the first foal out of the winning mare, SHE’S DIVINE (Creative Cause).
HIP# 38 is by the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner, GIFT BOX out of the Stakes winning Tale of Ekati mare, PERHAPS A PIE.
HIP# 19 is the fifth foal from the winning mare HER TIME TO SHINE (Songandaprayer) and is by the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) winner, HALLADAY (War Front).
HIP# 47 is by the two-time Breeders Cup Sprint (G1) winner, MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet) and is a half-sister to CTHS Sales Stakes third, PISCO (Practical Joke).
PRACTICAL JOKE (Into Mischief) is also represented here by HIP# 7, a filly out of Washington Oaks third CHAMPAGNE GAL (Yes It’s True) and is a half-sister to the former Spaghetti Mouse Stakes runner-up, VINTAGE MAN (Texas Wildcatter).
HIP# 40 is the first foal out of QUALITY OF MERCY (Summer Front), a half-sister to Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner SUMMER SOIREE (War Front) and is by the former Woodward Stakes (G1) winner, PRESERVATIONIST (Arch).
Grade 1 winner SHARP AZTECA (Freud) is represented by HIP# 6, a filly out of the winning Curlin mare, CASH IN MY POCKET and is a half-sister to four-time Hastings’ winner (three this season), TEXAS MOONSHINE (Texas Red).
California sire STANFORD (Malibu Moon) has two yearlings catalogued: HIP# 4 is the fourth foal out of the former Strawberry Morn Stakes winner, AVADIVA (Skimming), and is a half-brother to Hastings’ winners DIVALDO and DIVAANY. Interestingly, the yearling’s dam is a half-sister to Stakes-placed Hastings’ performer MS. STANFORD, who is also by Stanford. HIP #29 is the first foal out of the winning INTO MISCHIEF mare, MISCHIEF FREE.
Finally, HIP# 49 is by Wood Memorial (G1) winner WICKED STRONG (Hard Spun) and is a half-sister to Stakes-placed BURNINGHUNKOFLOVE (Munnings).
The very best of luck to all the consignors and purchasers. The high quality catalogue should make for some competitive action in the ring, so don’t forget your chequebook and keep on bidding!
