Showcasing

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, we spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we hear from Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm. TDN: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? CB: Pinatubo (Ire) was a top-class 2-year-old and his introductory fee of £35,000 is probably very fair compared to where similar horses have started off over the years. Shamardal is the sire of Lope De Vega (Ire) and he comes from the female...

DEAUVILLE, France—In a yearling sales season which has had more reshuffles than the British government's cabinet, the caravan has finally started rolling in the last week and has now pitched up in Deauville for Arqana's headline event of the year. As it is taking place three weeks later than usual, it is no longer the August Sale but the Select Sale, though there is a more than familiar feel to the catalogue, which features plenty of France's leading equine families. Two consignors have taken advantage of the sale's later date...

Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}-Roodeye {GB}, by Inchinor {GB}), a group winner at two, three and four who earned his first Group 1 victory last out in the Sussex S., has been retired to stud due to bone bruising in his near hind fetlock joint. "Towards the end of last week it was noticed that Mohaather was not moving as well as he had been immediately after the Sussex S.," said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan. "Precautionary x-rays were taken over the weekend which have revealed significant bone...

A one-stop shop for stallion nominations? Well maybe it's not quite there yet but, having only launched last autumn during the yearling sales, the stallion nomination trading website buyanom.com has quickly gained a decent following. A browse through its listing pages this week showed nominations available to Dandy Man (Ire), Dark Angel (Ire), Kodiac (GB), Oasis Dream (GB) and Showcasing (GB) among the more established stallions, and these are just a fraction of the those for sale, with the first-season sires available including crack sprinter Soldier's Call (GB) and Arc...

When starting off a new stallion, an important part of inspiring confidence in outside breeders is for the horse's home farm to be giving him plenty of support. This is routinely the case at Whitsbury Manor Stud, where the pedigrees of their stakes-winning offspring are liberally spiced with names from its own roster on both sides. Take, for example, the two group winners from the first crop of Due Diligence last season. Both Good Vibes (GB) and Streamline (GB) were bred at Whitsbury Manor from daughters of the farm's late...

The second edition of the boutique Goffs UK Goodwood Sale, held immediately after racing in the Goodwood parade ring, was topped by dual winner Red Armada (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 1), the first horse offered. Overall, trade was very selective, with only two of the seven horses offered finding new homes for a gross of £475,000. Consigned by Clive Cox Racing, the son of listed winner Alumni (GB) (Selkirk) brought a bid of £275,000 from Charlie Dee of Lillingston Bloodstock. One of six winners of six runners from him...