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Photo: Breeders’ Cup / Eclipse Sportswire
A meeting for the horse people
THE HEART of the bluegrass in horseman’s country is a fitting place to watch the best horses from around the world compete.
The Breeders’ Cup meeting staged at Keeneland has a different feel to the event than when it is staged at Del Mar or Santa Anita – it is not better or worse, but it feels it is for the horseman rather than betting handle.
Of course, the handle is important everywhere but in Kentucky the Breeders’ Cup loans itself to everyone in the horse industry who works with, buys and sells the thoroughbred.
On arrival even at the airport horse images have swamped the traditional Toyota car adverts.
Since the pandemic there are not many sensible flight connections to Lexington, most flights arriving between 10pm and midnight.
It was refreshing to still be able to call the Hertz desk to say we were delayed by an hour and hear that it would stay open for us!
Jet lag or no jet lag we were wide awake at 4am and ready to get to the quarantine barn located by barn 75, I didn’t know there was a 75!
And there could be even more barns in the future as Keeneland has bought the historic Manchester Farm, which makes such a beautiful back drop to the sales barns.
Adrian Beaumont runs a slick operation for the International Racing Bureau looking after the many European participants; his professionalism also ensures that there is a real feel of camaraderie about the journey.
Some of the best Europeans were brave enough to take on the Americans on their home soil and an amazing seven individual Group 1 winners were housed in our barn, including Classic winners.
There were no hard luck travel stories as everything is done so well; Luck Greayer Shipping does an outstanding job.
On the second day we were there D. Wayne Lukas came down on his pony to see his old friend John Gosden, and I am also sure to take the opportunity to check out the European ammunition!
The last race for Mishriff
Each morning, trainers Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby, comrades before the race, use the same areas to warm up and exercise.
The weather throughout was kind to us – no rain, a few misty mornings but warm and mild.
The meeting was incredibly well-organised – a fleet of over 100 Lexus cars on hand at all the hotels to ferry you to Breeders’ Cup events and the racetrack.
Drivers were drafted in from across the US having just finished working at the LIV Golf.
Restaurants had been booked for months in advance with Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse impossible to get into, along with Dudley’s and Malone’s the industry favourites.
Afternoons were spent in the Mall or at Fasig-Tipton looking at the elite mares due to be presented on the Sunday after the Breeders’ Cup.
The logistics required by the sales companies to run their November sales straight after the Breeders’ Cup is nothing short of incredible.
On Saturday’s race day we amalgamated the tables for Mishriff and Nashwa in the Lexington Room overlooking the finish line.
Cars from the hotels and buses transported the record Keeneland crowds to the races, everyone waiting in anticipation for Flightline.
It was a meeting for the horsemen from across the world – many of the jockeys had arrived from Australia and from Japan.
Our table enjoyed two fourth places, we took home a little prize-money and it didn’t cost the owners of both Mishriff or Nashwa. It was Mishriff’s last race before stud duties in France at Sumbe Stud, while Nashwa stays in training as a four-year-old.
Flightline delivered on the track and in the sales ring.
He put in a truly awesome performance and goes to stud unbeaten.
He may not be a Triple Crown winner, but he is the best of his generation. The 2.5 per cent sold making $4.6 million does not really value him at $184,000,000 – it was a unique sale.
But mares are making millions also.
There is no return on these figures and it’s hard to see a business plan that makes financial sense, but a lot of very wealthy Americans want to own the best they can get their hands on and produce the best racehorses to compete at the top level in America.
I am sure it will carry on at the December Breeding Stock Sales at Tattersalls.
The added advantage to foreign investors is the exchange rate, which is strengthening everyday since the political fiasco in the UK has been somewhat normalised.
The Tattersalls mares’ catalogue is perhaps the strongest it has been for many years – the Sceptre sessions has certainly added to the hype and made it easy for purchasers to view a ready-made short list!
So find a seat in the sales ring and put on your safety belts at 17.00hrs on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. You are in store for a spectacle!
