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Randwick Bloodstock's Brett Howard remains very passionate about the need for Australasian breeders to continue to import blood from overseas.
Howard says the results imported mare's foals are producing on Australasian racecourses are outstanding.
Specifically focusing on US bred
mares, Howard states, "Mares bred in the US currently make up 2.67% of the
Australian mare population however, in recent years they have been producing
approximately 10% of our annual stakes winners. That is very impressive."
Howard reports over the past ten or so years mares imported from the US have
produced the likes of Group 1 winners and Champions of the calibre of Absolut
Glam, All American, Alverta, Exceed and Excel, Gallica, Helenus, Irish Lights,
Makybe Diva, Maldivian, Mentality, Miss Finland, Northern Meteor, Republic
Lass, Swiss Ace, Theseo, Typhoon Zed and Zavite.
And then consider our greatest
home bred sires in the past decade are either sons or grandsons of mares
conceived in the US – Redoute's Choice, Zabeel, Encosta De Lago and Flying
Spur.
Adding to this list during the past twelve months have been further stakes
winners from US bred mares such as Group 1 winners Manighar, Foxwedge (pictured) and
Quintessential ; Group 2 winners Hot Snitzel, So Pristine, Platinum Princess
and Rekindled Interest; Group 3 winners like Smart Missile, Anabandana, etc,
and Listed winners Tatra, Soft Sand, She's A Fox, Nobby Snip, More Strawberries,
and many more.
On top of this a number of our very best young horses in the
past two years in Pierro, Helmet, Polish Knight, Epaulette and Sangster are
from mares bred in Europe. As the headline suggests, these are results
broodmare owners cannot afford to ignore.
Howard has been a regular visitor to the US for many years.
From the small
number of mares Randwick Bloodstock has been involved with importing from the
US, these mares have produced the likes of Hasna (Champion Australian 2yo),
Diatribe (VATC Caulfield Cup) and Blue Murder (SAJC SA Derby). These three
mares were purchased from as little as $25,000 and all were under $100,000. At
the Kentucky sales in more recent times, Howard feels he has secured for his clients
some excellent buys, and once again these were also purchased from as little as
$25,000 and all less than $120,000.
Howard concludes, "If we plan to keep Australasia at the forefront of world
breeding it is imperative we continue to invigorate our herd with these
international female lines."
Early next month Howard will once again travel to Kentucky
for the world's largest breeding stock sale in the hope of returning with a
mare or two which in time will see their produce added to the above lists of
top class horses. Howard adds, "I am now on the lookout for any breeders who have
a genuine interest in adding an imported mare to their breeding band or even breeders
who could be wishing to purchase a mare to trade."
There are over 2,000 broodmares and broodmare prospects catalogued for the
Fasig-Tipton Sale (5th November) and the Keeneland Sale (6th to 16th November).
The catalogues for both sales can now be to be viewed and downloaded from the
internet. For Fasig-Tipton visit http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogues/2012/The-November-Sale/The-November-Sale-new.asp and click on "Download Catalogue" and for
Keeneland visit http://flex.keeneland.com/saleindex/saleindex.html and click on "Catalog Downloads".
For further information please contact Brett Howard, Randwick Bloodstock
Agency. Phone 02 4998 6488 or email randwickbloodstock@bigpond.com
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