consignor | Horse Racing Free Tips

Colin Brennan Gets Fast Start at Keeneland September

Colin Brennan hit a home run with the first horse to represent his consignment during its inaugural appearance at the Keeneland September Sale when he sold a $55,000 pinhook for $100,000 during the eighth session of the sale.

Brennan purchased the Flatter filly out of stakes-placed Summer Reading (Hard Spun) at last year's Keeneland November Sale.

Before the yearling went through the ring on Tuesday, Brennan walked alongside his pinhook prospect for the long trek to the sales pavilion and discussed how he was first drawn to the filly after working with her half-sister at his father Niall's training operation.

“Dad and I pinhooked her sister Very Scary (Connect) last year and she had quite a bit of ability,” Brennan explained. “Then I saw this one at Keeneland November and she fell within our price range. She was a bit immature and narrow at the time, but looked like she had the potential to grow into a pretty filly. She has really blossomed and of course you can't go wrong with Flatter.”

Brennan was greeted by a chorus of well-wishes from fellow horsemen as the filly entered the back walking ring. The consignor has already sold at various auctions in the past two years, but he didn't deny that there is something special about offering his first horse at Keeneland September.

“We're in the big leagues now,” he said with a smile before the filly stepped into the sales ring. “It's always on a young consignor's to-do list to be able to sell at Keeneland, so this is pretty cool”

Hoping to get within a target range of $75,000 to $100,000, Brennan was more than content when the filly hit six figures and sold to Granpollo Stables. Later in the sale, Colin Brennan Bloodstock sent four additional yearlings through the ring including an Audible filly that Brennan pinhooked at Keeneland November for $35,000 and sold during Book 4 for $95,000.

Establishing a consignment of his own has been a dream come true for Brennan, who can pinpoint the exact moment when he decided he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps by making his career in racing.

Three generations of Brennans on the job | photo courtesy Colin Brennan

“I remember working the Miami Calder sale with my dad when I was 13 and I told him that this is what I wanted to do for a living,” Brennan recalled. “Growing up, it has always been a family affair. My mom [Jolane Weeks] was a large Florida breeder and we would foal out 100 to 150 head of mares each year. I grew up working a lot with her, but also at my dad's farm doing the 2-year-old sales. I learned a lot from both of them.”

After graduating from the Godolphin Flying Start program a decade later, Brennan joined Stonestreet Stables as a traveling assistant trainer for several years and then returned home to Ocala to be an assistant trainer at Niall Brennan Stables.

While working for his father, Brennan began pinhooking a few weanlings to yearlings of his own. On top of helping develop the 2-year-olds each day, he would hand walk all of his yearlings himself, often putting in over 30 miles on foot under the Florida sun every day.

“It was exhausting,” he said with an easy laugh. “There weren't enough hours in the day. Eventually when my son was born, that was the ultimate deciding factor. I had started buying more and more weanlings to yearlings and I thought that this was more of a conducive lifestyle to be with my family.”

While focusing on his own operation does allow Brennan a touch more flexibility, he said he has always been drawn to the yearlings in particular.

“I enjoy raising horses and seeing the changes that they go through,” he said. “I like being able to shape them physically and mentally and have an impact on their development. This was always something that I thought I would like to give a try, and I'm still able to go visit at Dad's and have some useful input at the 2-year-old sales.”

Brennan credits his father and Mike Ryan for the eye he has developed for scoping out future stars.

“I think of all the influences I've had, they would be the two biggest in terms of sales and selecting horses,” he explained. “It's about [looking for] an overall quality in their mindset and their demeanor. I look for an active, fluid mover that gives you a good energy. Of course you also have to understand who your end user will be and envision where they would fit in the market, but ultimately I'm looking for a big mover with a real athletic feel to them.”

With his first Keeneland September consignment under his belt, Brennan said he hopes his operation continues to grow from here.

“Long term, I would like to increase the quality,” he said. “I don't ever want to be a very large consignment. I would like to keep my numbers well under control and be able to offer quality over quantity at the major sales. I hope to be able to provide people with confidence that we've raised and prep a good horse.”

The post Colin Brennan Gets Fast Start at Keeneland September appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Session Toppers and 5 A.M. Errands: Chance Timm on First Keeneland Sale as Grovendale Partner

Making a 5 a.m. trip to Walgreens for Vicks VapoRub was probably not what Chance Timm envisioned as part of his job description when he partnered with James Keogh at Grovendale Sales earlier this year, but when your consignment needs its supplies replenished during the second half of the Keeneland September Sale, you do what you need to do.

Timm is more than happy to take on some of those less-than-glamorous duties. In fact, he enjoys them.

“I like being hands on,” Timm said Monday morning while showing Book 4 yearlings at Barn 43. “I like being involved in everything that happens. We run a pretty tight ship, but James and I will both wear whatever hat is needed so that whatever needs to be done gets done. We love being involved and understanding all the little intricacies about each horse so we're able to make those small changes throughout the process that may really help.”

Timm has been involved in the Thoroughbred business for over 15 years, including eight years serving as the Director of Stallions Seasons and Shares at Lane's End Farm. While he has spent his fair share of time combing through the barns at various sales over the years, this is his first experience as a consignor during the marathon that is the Keeneland September Sale.

“It's nuts,” he said with a laugh and a wipe of his brow. “I was lucky at Lane's End that I was involved in the sales process but– fortunately or otherwise–I never had to deal with the minutiae and all the intricate details that come with putting something like this on. But I am now and it's exciting. It's great to work for yourself and put that pressure on yourself to make it happen. James has given me an unbelievable opportunity to partner with him and take advantage of his name, reputation and what he has built here. Hopefully I can build on it too.”

Grovendale Sales sent a $575,000 Munnings filly through the ring during the sixth session of Keeneland September | Keeneland

During its first Keeneland September operating under the Keogh-Timm partnership banner, Grovendale is already in the midst of a successful auction. On Sunday, they sold the session-topping filly for $575,000 to West Bloodstock for Repole Stables. The daughter of Munnings out of the stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare Oh Carole was bred by Chelsea Bloodstock, Galtee Bloodstock and Paget Bloodstock.

Timm noted that the headlining filly had all the top players looking at her over the weekend.

“That's why we have horse sales,” he said. “When buyers hook up, they can exceed your expectations. She was an impressive filly with a lot of class. She had a lot of leg and length to her and was very robust. I would think she's an exceptional model of her sire and the market agreed.”

As for the marketplace in its entirety, Timm explained that they have found it to be a continuation of the polarized market.

“It's exceptionally strong at the top,” he said. “For those that are deemed as desirable, it's crazy strong. The filly yesterday had an enormous amount of interest and it's crazy for those kinds of horses, but it's probably equally polarized on the other end. If they fall through the cracks or people don't like them, it kind of is what it is.”

With just under 30 yearlings on Grovendale's Keeneland September roster, Timm said that the group represents many of Keogh's longstanding clients as well as some he shares a connection with through the various positions he has held in the industry over the years.

“There are a lot of people that have come with me as I've joined the partnership,” he explained. “Fallbrook Farm, Gail Radke, Jackpot Farm and Summer Wind Farm are all organizations that I am lucky to have a close association with and they're willing to support Grovendale. WinStar Farm has had a long association with James. They raise a really nice horse and I think people are aware of that so we're grateful for their continued support.”

One of Grovendale's seven yearlings going through the ring on Tuesday during Book 4 was bred and raised at WinStar. The colt by Winstar's first-crop yearling sire Yoshida (Jpn) is from the family of GISW Corinthian (Pulpit) and sells as Hip 2543.

“He's a really strong physical,” Timm shared. “We purposefully placed him in Book 4. I thought he was good enough to be in Book 3 and Keeneland originally placed him there, but we felt like he would stand out in Book 4. I think he'll represent his sire and his farm well.”

Timm said that another promising youngster from their list of Book 4 offerings is Hip 2672, a filly by World of Trouble.

“I think she'll be represented well here in this spot too,” he noted. “She's by a first-crop sire and she has a wonderful profile. Herbener Farm raised her and we're honored to have the opportunity to represent the Herbener family.”

Other yearlings preparing to go through the ring for Grovendale in the coming sessions showcase sire power like Munnings, Uncle Mo and Justify, as well as additional first-crop yearling sires in Vino Rosso, Mitole and Coal Front.

Once the September Sale concludes, Timm and Keogh will be preparing for a busy Keeneland November. Last year Grovendale was a top 10 consignor there with gross sales of over $6.9 million.

Timm said that as Grovendale evolves, they hope to maintain the consignment's well-known presence at the breeding stock sales while also widening their reach on the yearling side of the business.

“I think for the most part, James' business in the past has been pointed toward the breeding stock sales and we have a really strong group of about 80 horses pointing towards this November Sale,” he explained. “I'd say the opportunity for us is within the yearling market. It's something I hope to contribute to over time, but we're never looking to be a large consignment. I think for both of us, our primary motivation is helping the people that we represent do well. We try to do whatever we can to be hands on and help people make the right decisions so they can maximize the value of their horses.”

The post Session Toppers and 5 A.M. Errands: Chance Timm on First Keeneland Sale as Grovendale Partner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Q&A with Zach Madden of Buckland Sales

When Zach Madden announced Tuesday he is now the sole owner of Buckland Sales, as partner Ro Parra has decided to step back, we figured there might be more than the basic story put out to the public. Jen Roytz learned it's a feel-good story–someone using the success they've had to help others carve their path.

JR: How did the idea of Buckland Sales come about?

ZM: The idea came organically between myself and Millennium Farms back in the fall [of] 2015. I was doing a lot of different things on the farm, which I am fond of, but I wanted to devote my entire focus to the sales.

That's where my passion truly lies and where my skillset and personality fit best. I wanted to focus all my time and energy on what I love.

JR: Has Buckland developed and evolved the way you and Ro envisioned?

ZM: Yes. From the beginning we wanted it to grow, but we wanted to be strategic about the growth so it never evolved faster than we could manage well. The growth has been very solid going into our sixth year. Ideally, I'd like to be big enough to hold our own and represent the sport's top prospects, yet small enough that we are always able to give each customer and horse the personalized experience Buckland was created to offer.

Consigning horses is ultra-competitive. There are a lot of truly good consignors out there that I respect and admire. My goal is for others to hold us in that same esteem.

JR: What does it mean to have Ro entrust Buckland to you?

ZM: I'm very appreciative of what Ro was able to contribute as a business partner. He has been a successful entrepreneur in several industries and the lessons he taught me will serve me well throughout my life.

In any industry, but especially with horses, it's not just a business. It's personal. It's about having relationships built on respect, skill and communication. It's about being as good as you can possibly be at what you've chosen to do, and it's about how you approach and work through challenges…finding the opportunity in adversity.

As appreciative as I am to Ro for all he's contributed to Buckland and taught me personally, I'm even more appreciative of his friendship. He knows I will be pinging him for advice and I look forward to celebrating both of our successes and milestones as time goes on.

JR: After the market has such a strong resurgence in 2021 after 2020, what are your predictions for the consignment market in the coming year?

ZM: If the last couple years have taught us anything, it's to take nothing for granted.

I think we were all very appreciative of the vibrant market in 2021. I feel the trends should continue. The horse business and the people in it are very resilient. Hopefully the market stays resilient as well.

JR: Based on what you saw from their first yearlings last year, which freshman sires do you think will make headlines this year?

ZM: Bolt d'Oro–I really loved the physicals on his yearlings last year. They were strong and athletic.

JR: If you could make one simple change to the industry, what would it be?

ZM: More uniformity. I think this could be applied to various sectors in different ways, but at the core, I think the more we can strive toward uniformity, the better, stronger and more appealing to outside participants we will be.

JR: What advice would you give to someone looking for a consignor for their bloodstock?

ZM: Get a consignor who can give you and your horse(s) personal attention. Dig deeper than looking at websites or what they say on social media. Have the conversations and ask the right questions to find someone who genuinely cares about your results and that you can trust.

JR: Did you have any New Year's resolutions for 2022?

ZM: Lose 20 pounds. Check back with me at the yearling sales for a progress report.

JR: Who's your early Derby pick for this year?

ZM: Pappacap (Gun Runner). He traveled around, danced every dance and proved that he's very game.

The post Q&A with Zach Madden of Buckland Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Sunday Morning Luck Strikes Again at Keeneland

Less than 48 hours after what was arguably her greatest achievements in the horse business, Rosilyn Polan was back at Keeneland with a pair of yearlings slated to go through the ring on Sunday. Earlier in the week during Book 2 of the Keeneland September Sale, her City of Light colt out of the Tapit mare Anchorage became the probable sale topper when he sold for $1.7 million to Woodford Racing, Talla Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds.

But now it was on to Book 3 and the spirited breeder and consignor was ready for round two.

“Of course, as beyond exciting as the Anchorage colt was, now that I'm here with another consignment, that's really behind me and this is where my focus is now,” Polan said at Barn 28 as she stood alongside the stalls of her Accelerate colt and Sharp Azteca filly. They wouldn't bring quite what her first offering sold for, but the duo did fetch over $160,000 combined.

Although the owner of Sunday Morning Farm had her mind set on her final two offerings of the auction, it was clear that most other salegoers were still fixated on her farm's earlier success as a steady stream of well-wishers dropped by to extend their congratulations.

“People have been so genuinely happy for me, people I don't even know,” she said. “People ask me if I expected that [result]. Well nobody ever dreams of even getting to a million dollars. I knew people would like him, but nobody even thinks of liking him for that kind of money. The words haven't been invented yet to describe that feeling. The only thing that would have made the day more perfect would have been to have my daughter Laiken there. She is always such a good help to me and is my best cheerleader.”

The day before Polan's City of Light colt entered the sales ring, another colt by the Lane's End first-crop sire, consigned by Woods Edge Farm, brought $1.05 million.

“I had told a friend of mine, 'Oh darn, I wanted to be the most expensive City of Light at the sale,'” Polan said with a laugh of still a bit of disbelief.

But even after achieving such a monumental goal, the breeder went home that night to commemorate the achievement by catching up on barn chores.

“My celebration is all right here,” she said, pointing towards her heart. “The best thing about what I do is that I go back home and work. I have fly masks to tend to and stalls to tend to. That keeps me grounded and keeps my happy. It fills me up.”

City of Light colt out of the stakes-placed mare Anchorage fetches $1.7 million. | Keeneland

Polan had held a similar celebration ceremony last year, when her Practical Joke colt brought $575,000 at the same auction. Now of course named Wit, he brought attention to his breeder earlier this summer when he became a GIII-winning 'TDN Rising Star.'

“I can't compare the two horses or the two feelings,” she said when asked to describe the similarities between her experiences with Wit and with this yearling colt. “I will say that with both of them, I just felt so special.”

Polan did admit that with Wit, she had not realize how well he would be received until after he was on the grounds at Keeneland.

“He was just so laid back about it but when he came to the sale, every time he came out of his stall he got bigger and had more presence and was loftier.”

But this City of Light yearling was different, she said. “The Anchorage colt was always that way, whether it was at the farm or the sale, he was always coming out of his stall saying, 'Let's go.' At the sale people would comment to me, 'It's four o'clock in the afternoon and he's still marching.' But that was always his type.”

To Polan, his powerful-but-easygoing stride and eye-catching presence was reminiscent of what she saw in the colt's dam six years ago at the Keeneland November Sale.

“I was trying to buy a mare in foal to Will Take Charge,” she recalled. “I wasn't able to buy anything so I went and looked at every RNA after the sale. I looked at quite a few before I saw Anchorage, but from the second I saw her I went, 'Oh yeah, this is it.' I mean she just fills your eye and she's got so much presence. She's a big, heavy mare that looks like she would hit the ground hard, but when I brought her home and turned her out, she went off across the field and her feet never hit the ground -just like mine after that sale.”

Polan sold Anchorage's first Will Take Charge foal for $130,000 at the following November Sale. That filly, named Tijori, won on debut to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status. Bred back to the same sire, Anchorage produced a Will Take Charge colt that brought $280,000. Now named Abaan, the Todd Pletcher trainee broke his maiden earlier this month at Saratoga by over seven lengths.

“She continues to produce fabulous runners,” Polan said proudly. “At home, she's my special mare. I'm sure everyone's going to say that if I sell a million-dollar horse out of her, of course she's my special mare. But she just is. She's such a queen and she's the gift that keeps on giving.”

Polan recalls the stunned sensation she felt when Anchorage foaled her City of Light colt last February.

“I felt like the luckiest person in the world,” she said.

As the newborn stepped up on wobbly legs, she thought back to the photo of trainer Michael McCarthy sending City of Light off to Lane's End alongside his young daughter when the champion retired in 2019.

“In the picture, there he was on the van and the daughter was boo-hooing because she couldn't believe that her horse was leaving. So I got in touch with Allaire [Ryan] at Lane's End and asked if I could send her a picture of this foal because he was so special and I wanted to show this young girl that her horse was not gone. That was my first picture of the foal and from the minute he stood up, some horses give you that feeling and some don't. This one was, 'Oh my gosh, wow.'”

Polan's City of Light colt out of Anchorage thrives as a youngster at Sunday Morning Farm. | Rosilyn Polan

According to Polan, the stunning bay didn't lose an ounce of 'wow factor' from the moment he got to his feet to when he went through the ring at Keeneland.

“He was a beast on the farm and never really went through a gangly stage,” she explained. “All summer as we've been sales prepping him, he would handwalk 45 minutes up these hills and then he would go in the stall and lay down. He would sleep flat out all day long and sometimes I would have to wake him up to feed him. He just had a good attitude. There was nothing super sweet about him; he's always been a man.”

While the colt's stall now stands empty back at Sunday Morning Farm, it will soon be filled by his half-sister by Omaha Beach that was foaled in March.

“She is like the farm princess,” Polan said with a big smile. “I don't spoil them and I didn't make her that way. She was just born that way.”

Also on the farm is Wit's younger brother– this one a son of none other than City of Light.

Polan said she currently has eight mares in her broodmare band.

“I count them 40 times a day and then I forget,” she jokes, and then shares what she looks for in potential additions to her band. “It's the same thing when buying a mare as choosing what stallion to breed to: If they make my knees weak then that's the one I want. I don't get emotional about it to where I'll spend whatever it takes. With my mares I have to have a price limit and I'm just lucky that I've been able to have been so lucky.”

And luck, Polan believes, is what it all comes down to in this business.

“Everyone says they're glad to see that the small breeder can do this. Well honestly, the big breeders deserve it just as much as anybody because look at the financial responsibility that they put on the line to be who they are. I think it has more to do with luck than it has to do with hard work or intention or being out there every evening going through your fields, because we all do that. We all work hard and some of us get lucky and some of us haven't had our luck yet.”

However modest Polan's outlook on the reasoning behind these recent successes, she will keep the fond memories tucked away to ponder daily as she raises up the next crop of future runners at Sunday Morning Farm.

“I think it's what keeps us all working in the Thoroughbred business,” she said. “It's the carrot in front of the old nag, or whatever they say, and it's just amazing to think that a payoff like this can happen to anybody.”

The post Sunday Morning Luck Strikes Again at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post