...to WinStar: http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com...TOKEN=50640480
Didn't see that coming.
...to WinStar: http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com...TOKEN=50640480
Didn't see that coming.
Me either, it seems like the farm is becoming a little like Darley this year grabbing up everything in sight even if the others are homebreds.
Kenny and Bill are certainly being very aggressive.
First rule: Try always to do what's right for the horse. The people part will work out. -- Josh Pons, Merryland, 2007
Last edited by second_glance; 12-22-2010 at 02:59 PM.
First rule: Try always to do what's right for the horse. The people part will work out. -- Josh Pons, Merryland, 2007
I'm surprised by the move as well; they must have a lot of faith in him.
I still remember rooting hard for the Ohio-bred going into the Kentucky Derby years ago. I hope he does well for WinStar.
I was surprised at this too.
Harlan's Holiday has always been a favorite of mine, being a fellow 'Ohioan'.
Brere and Coolmore were the two biggest individual shareholders. I think combined they had almost 30 of the 45 shares. I know the Niarchos have a few too.
Everyone was on the up and up in the decision and Winstar really likes the horse. I think it's a smart play by them. He's gotten terrific books the last few years.
Nobody said giving Kirstie Alley a colonic would be easy.
I like the horse a lot.
But if it such a smart play then why would Coolmore let him go when they are a stallion factory and seem to be spending money again? It isn't like they have a deep roster in US right now. I am surprised Airdrie would sell him, too, but could see them needing the cash like most. And every horse has a price.
But why would Winstar pay enough of a premium in this market for a 25k horse (that everyone agrees has an upside) to get them to do that? Isn't 45 shares an odd number? If Airdrie is getting him such good books (and I am sure they are - not always a fan in every way, but he can make a stallion) then why wouldn't they want to reap the future benefit of that effort?
ps is Taylor Made in the deal?
Last edited by Hermes; 12-22-2010 at 07:48 PM.
I have no idea if TM is in the deal nor do I have any idea why Coolmore didn't want to stand the horse. Maybe they were one of the sellers? I imagine, in this market, any infusion of cash is looked at as a positive, no matter the entity.
I just know the breakdown of the shares since I know a multiple holder.
I do like Winstar and their management and where HH would have been a "maybe for the right mare" with me, I'll probably look a lot closer at him in the future just because of their involvement.
Nobody said giving Kirstie Alley a colonic would be easy.
I got him at 17.5 a few years back then got turned down at 25 (or so) the following year with the same mare adding to the proof that his books are getting better and better. He is the real deal.
I'd be hard pressed to find a better 25k deal today. Maybe Mineshaft, but HH is definitely at the top of that price range. There is a lot of upside here especially if the market comes back.
I dunno...I kinda think Broken Vow and Afleet Alex would be just as good in that price range.
One of these days I'll stop saying I'm new here, but I still am. And part of being new in a forum community is going back and looking at threads that are a few months old. I'm doing that here.
Harlan's Holiday was one of the loves of my life. I can't tell you why actually, but he just spoke to me. He wasn't brilliant....didn't set the track on fire....but he was game. He did manage 3 GI's and two GI seconds in his career, and he earned over $3M. Admittedly, a big chunk of that was by his second-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. Anyway.........
Harlan's Holiday finished up second on the Freshman Sire list of 2007. From his first crop, he got Denis Of Cork, who finished 3rd in both the Derby and Belmont, and Riley Tucker, who I think was a GII winner and GI placed, but then he just settled in to being a nice stallion who's bubble expired. I was afraid that he was going to go off to Japan, Korea, or Turkey...someplace like that. Then Majesticperfection came along.
I don't know that Majesticperfection is the reason that Winstar bought Harlan's Holiday, but the fact is that they did. I think I can be comfortable that Winstar isn't going to give Harlan's Holiday up to international interests any time soon.
I really did love that boy!
WinStar is one of those farms who will advertise their stallions and stand behind them 100%. They will send some of their top mares to Harlan's Holiday to help make his book better. HH is a gorgeous horse in my opinion, and I think WinStar was a good move for the horse. Good Luck HH.
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