Oppenheim: Yearling Sale Debutants

Most of the big Kentucky stallion farms will be represented among the 25 North American sires with first foals 2013 (F2013) whose first yearlings will be appearing at either Fasig-Tipton July on the 14th, and/or at Saratoga's select sale next month, but two farms–Ashford, whose two debutants, Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) (167) and Cape Blanco (Galileo) (170) top all 25 sires by number of 2013 foals on the ground; and Spendthrift, which has no fewer then four new sires in Kentucky with their first yearlings selling–grab the biggest headlines.
Uncle Mo, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2010 when he went three-for-three, including a 4 1/4-length cruise in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile (equaling Street Sense's Beyer 108, the best figure yet recorded in that race), was this crop's leading sire by weanling average (including 2014 'short' yearlings) in 2013/early 2014 (through February), with 26 weanlings/short yearlings sold for an average of $109,808. He's the leading F2013 sire by number of representatives in the first two Fasig sales with 15 total, five at Fasig Kentucky and another 10 at Saratoga. Uncle Mo, the second of four consecutive champion 2-year-old colts bought to stand at Ashford (The first was Lookin at Lucky, who's off to a good start. After Uncle Mo, the next two were Hansen and Shanghai Bobby.), actually represents a somewhat unconventional these days, but very powerful, sire line, that of Nasrullah's son, Grey Sovereign (1948). The line was originally known for sprinters, but over the ensuing decades there have been plenty of stayers and jumpers as well. It's really best known for greys.The French sensation Kendargent descends from this line, as does the big American influence Caro (imported by Spendthrift Farm), sire of Cozzene and damsire of Unbridled's Song and Maria's Mon.
Among many others, Caro sired the 1984 G1 French 2000 Guineas winner Siberian Express. He in turn sired In Excess, who was imported to the U.S. in the early 1990s and became a top two-turn dirt horse and later perennial leading sire in California, where he sired the 1998 GI Santa Anita Derby winner and GI Kentucky Derby third Indian Charlie. Indian Charlie is then the sire of Uncle Mo. Another wrinkle in Uncle Mo's pedigree is that his dam, Playa Maya, by Arch, is distantly inbred to *Turn-to. As Uncle Mo has only three distant crosses of Northern Dancer in his fourth and fifth generation, he's an excellent horse to use for Mr. Prospector-line and Northern Dancer-line mares alike. He has a lot of pluses, and a plus for buyers is there are likely going to be a lot of them to choose from this year.
Castleton Lyons' Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) and Darley's Lonhro (Octagonal) ran Uncle Mo close with 2013/14 weanlings/short yearling averages also around the $100,000 mark. Gio Ponti, two-time champion turf horse, won seven Grade I races on the grass from four through six, having been a black-type winner at two and a Grade II winner, all on the grass, at three. He also ran second to Zenyatta in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, on the synthetic at Santa Anita, in 2010, and second to Goldikova in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in 2011.
Given the success at stud of U.S. grass runners Kitten's Joy and English Channel, Gio Ponti is a horse whose yearlings Europeans, as well as Americans, should have on their lists at the yearling sales. He had 18 weanlings/short yearlings sell for an average of $102,167, and has two yearlings catalogued at Fasig July, and another five at Saratoga.
Lonhro, already a champion sire in Australia, was brought up by Darley and had five weanlings/short yearlings average $99,600. He has three yearlings catalogued at Saratoga.
After Uncle Mo–we'll be seeing his name a lot at the yearling sales this year, I bet–two sires have nine yearlings catalogued each, between Fasig July and Saratoga. Most first-crop sires sold well at the mixed sales last year and early this year, but one who sold noticeably well, even given that group's general strength, was Claiborne's Trappe Shot, a son of Tapit who had 31 weanlings/short yearlings sell (94% of 33 offered) for an average $66,097, and a median of $65,000–6.50 times his stud fee, and 98% of his average. This was a particularly strong commercial showing for a sire who, like the same stud's War Front, was a Grade II winner sprinting as a 4-year-old. Trappe Shot has five catalogued at Fasig, four at Saratoga.
Spendthrift Farm has no fewer than seven stallions, scattered across three states, with their first yearlings selling this year. Highest representation among the four which stand at Spendthrift in Kentucky is Wilburn (Bernardini), whose most important achievement was defeating subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile one-two Caleb's Posse and Shackleford in the 2011 GII Indiana Derby. He has nine catalogued at Fasig. The other Spendthrift Kentucky debutants are: 2011 GI Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch (by Arch), who has six at Fasig; Untapable's half-brother Paddy O'Prado, the last big chance for El Prado (sire of Medaglia d'Oro' Kitten's Joy, and Artie Schiller) to further his already established reputation as a sire of sires. Paddy O'Prado won the GI Secretariat S. and GII Virginia Derby on the grass, and was third in the GI Kentucky Derby on the dirt. He has five catalogued at Fasig.
The 2011 GI Met Mile (Beyer 113) and GI Whitney Invitational (Beyer 111) winner Tizway (Tiznow), who actually got my Eclipse vote among older males in 2011, has three at Fasig and another three catalogued at Saratoga.
WinStar debuts two stallions with strong followings: the very fast 7-9 furlong horse Sidney's Candy (Candy Ride), who had 21 weanlings/short yearlings average $74,476; and Drosselmeyer, the 2010 GI Belmont S. and 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner by Distorted Humor. He's had 30 sell, for an average of $55,717. Sidney's Candy kicks off with two at Fasig and one at Saratoga. Drosselmeyer has five at Fasig, one at Saratoga.
Other major Kentucky farms with debutants include: Ashford's Cape Blanco, a son of Galileo who won the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Irish Champion S. in Europe, and was unbeaten in three starts and champion turf male in North America as a 4-year-old in 2011 (he has four at Fasig, one at Saratoga); Airdrie's Haynesfield (Speightstown), the only horse to beat Blame in his championship 2010 season, (five at Fasig); and Lane's End's Twirling Candy (Candy Ride), who won the seven-furlong GI Malibu as a 3-year-old in 1:19.7 (five at Fasig).
Florida's first-crop sires First Dude (Stephen Got Even, Double Diamond Farm), placed in the GI Preakness and GI Belmont and winner of the GI Hollywood Gold Cup; and Big Drama (Montbrook, Stonewall Florida), winner of the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, have four and three at Fasig, respectively.
Also with four at Fasig is a first-crop sire from Louisiana, Clear Creek Stud's Custom for Carlos, a dual Grade III winner sprinting by More Than Ready.

Irish Derby Fallout…
There has been a lot written in the European press in the aftermath of Australia's (Galileo) facile win over two stablemates and one runner each trained by Dermot Weld and John Oxx in last Saturday's G1 Irish Derby. It was the second time in the last three years there has only been a five-horse field for the race. Horse Racing Ireland CEO Brian Kavanagh, who is also chairman of the all-important European Pattern Committee, is a very forward-thinking and internationally minded racing administrator, which means there's a very good chance the issue will get a real airing. Probably the biggest issue is that since the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club was changed from 12 furlongs (2400m) to 10 1/2 furlongs (2100m) and the Grand Prix de Paris, run on Bastille Day (July 14) was increased to 2400 meters, there's no real incentive for French horses (who previously had won a 1 1/2-mile French Derby) to make what English-born French trainer John Hammond cited in the Racing Post as a difficult (two-day van ride) or very expensive (by air) trip to Ireland. Previously the Irish Derby was often the 'decider' between the winners of the English and French Derbies.
It makes for a really knotty problem when you throw in three other factors. First, this presents a big opportunity for a total re-think of the European Classic program given the potential marketing explosion for the sport if a true European Triple Crown, or at least Classic program, could be created. Second, there are three countries involved–Britain, France, and Ireland–so it isn't (and shouldn't be) just so simple as to say 'Oh, we'll design a new English Triple Crown,' or whatever. And third, there is the question of distance. The 10-furlong races (up until the 2005 switch) were mostly preps for the Derbies. But I would argue there is a logical progression of distances (8, 10, 12 furlongs) which present opportunities which would be far more significant for the breed than the archaic (if always interesting) St. Leger over an extended 14 furlongs at the beginning of September.
The Classic season should be finished sometime in July. So there are plenty of questions, and, really, lots of options. What would be a huge win would be if the three countries could start with as blank a slate as possible and create a new Classic pattern which would prove both interesting and entertaining to our customers, and informative for our breeders. A knotty problem, yes, but at the same time a great opportunity.
Bill Oppenheim may be contacted at bopp@erb.com (please cc TDN management at suefinley@thoroughbreddailynews.com). Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/billoppenheim.