As we approach the end of the calendar, we turn our attention to the incoming sire class of 2021. We asked several judges who their favorite incoming sire is for next year and if there are any other stallions, new or otherwise, that have caught their eye as under-the-radar picks
ADRIAN REGAN, Hunter Valley Farm
War of Will (War Front), $25,000, Claiborne Farm
I hate singling just one, but War of Will made a lot of sense for me. I was very impressed with his physical appearance when we went to see him at the farm. With his performance on the track, he was pretty durable on both dirt and turf which I’m a big fan of. There’s not too many horses like that.
For under-the-radar incoming stallions, I was very impressed with Complexity. I thought he was a super physical. He’s got a beautiful frame and is an athletic, correct horse. He also was able to carry his speed on the track, which was a big plus. I thought he was good value.
Caravaggio (Scat Daddy, $25,000, Ashford Stud) and Laoban (Uncle Mo, $25,000, WinStar Farm) also both impressed me when seeing them for the first time. I thought they were both very good physicals.
Thank you to the breeders and agents who have participated in our ongoing ‘Who’s Your Pick’ series this week. Did you miss a few responses? You can catch up on the entire series here.
Many horse owners have walked into snow-covered fields and been startled to find what looks like blood in areas where horses urinate. When the health of the turned out horses is assessed, however, everyone seems fine.
Though a call to the vet may be tempting, red-colored urine in the snow isn't unusual—it's a chemical reaction that occurs when urine hits cold snow: Proteins in the urine oxidize in low temperatures. This can cause a range of colors, from light pink to red, brown and orange. The same reaction takes place when a urine sample is left unrefrigerated.
If a horse's health is still in question, it's worthwhile to collect a urine sample to see if it's bloody as it is excreted before it hits the snow. This can be done by taping a large can to a stick and waiting patiently until a horse urinates, and catching some of his stream. If it's not red, the horse is most likely just fine.
In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. Second-year trainee Rachel Wade discusses how racing must gain a clearer understanding of its economics.
Often vaguely described, economics is a study in human choice and behavior and their effect on society. The term has historically carried a monetary connotation but really delves into how different choices are made, why humans make those choices and what the implications of those choices are to industry and the wider economy. As such, it is important for any industry to understand economic forces in order to achieve whatever their goals may be.
Horse racing falls short in its research and understanding of the more subtle economic intricacies such as incentives and decision making. Reports on economic impact show the quantitative measurements of the industry, which are indisputably important, but fail to address anything qualitative pertaining to racing. How can we expect to improve our industry and keep it relevant without understanding what everyday decisions and incentives drive it forward or hold it back?
I have been incredibly privileged to experience racing in four major racing jurisdictions during the past 15 months on the Godolphin Flying Start scholarship. Through my travels I have yet to see a racing industry that doesn’t suffer from a skilled staff shortage. This issue is both fashionable and widely accepted within the industry, yet there is no research into why it exists. Many are quick to point the finger extrinsically, blaming issues such as an increasingly urbanized population and its resulting disconnect between humans and animals or the younger generations’ aversion to manual labor. Perhaps it is time to look intrinsically and improve our understanding of things such as the appeal and value of racing, what its barriers to entry are and what incentivizes people to work in it. Without an understanding of something such as incentivization, our industry will never be able to attract and retain a viable workforce.
The book Freakonomics describes incentives as “why human beings do things,” and separates incentives into three categories: economic (material), social and moral. Humans base decisions on all three factors which is evident in society as well as more specifically in the Thoroughbred industry. For example, Australian studs in the Hunter Valley constantly compete with the neighboring mining industry for workers. Mining staff work fewer hours for substantially higher wages, yet stud farms still manage to recruit and retain staff (albeit often international/seasonal workers), demonstrating that people find value outside of material incentive to work in our industry. If humans were truly rational and motivated only by material incentive, it is unlikely racing would have any workers in any jurisdiction.
There can be no doubt that higher wages would make our industry more attractive, but it is unlikely that racing will ever be able to pay enough to compete with an industry as large and subsidized as mining. It is therefore paramount that we identify and promote the key social and moral incentives that racing offers in order to maximize our workforce. Furthermore, racing should pinpoint nonmaterial incentives that could be changed in order to align with society’s values. For instance, assume that society places high value on time spent with friends and family. If horse racing altered its working hours to appeal to this value and allow staff a more sociable lifestyle, the personal utility gained may make our jobs more attractive than the higher paying industry next door.
Oftentimes to its detriment, the racing industry has acted as a ‘reactive’ rather than ‘proactive’ business. Issues such as animal welfare and aftercare have emerged and been debated with increasing ferocity in the past decade as society’s values and opinions on animals used for sport has changed. In my opinion, racing has responded urgently and effectively to this issue, but much of the damage to public perception may prove irreversible. If the industry is to survive over the coming years, it will be necessary to identify strengths and weaknesses within the sport and attempt to make change proactively rather than reactively. The world’s population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, with approximately 70% of the population living in urbanized areas. This can be viewed as both an opportunity and a threat to the racing industry. If racing can shift to a proactive mindset, perhaps this growth can be used to thrust horse racing into a top tier sport. For example, racing may appeal to those who value ecological sustainability as it is a sport with a relatively small ecological footprint and has many positive externalities. Stud farms have a vested interest in the land they occupy, protecting and cultivating it so that it may be used to raise healthy racehorses. This is more sustainable than single- use industries such as mining. As more people become disconnected from animals through an urbanized lifestyle, horse racing may satiate a desire to connect with large animals. Though these are only speculations, horse racing must prepare for society’s change over the coming years and identify how it can fit into shifting values and norms.
Although often hidden and misunderstood, economics plays a vital role in our beautiful industry. A greater understanding of its impact could unravel the numerous challenges the Thoroughbred industry faces as it struggles to maintain relevancy in a constantly changing and modern world. Maybe it is time we begin to look at racing through the eyes of an economist and ask ourselves why we love this industry and what hidden incentives can be used to attract new people to racing as both professionals and patrons.
History tells us that when one darling of the Hong Kong turf fades into the sunlight, almost invariably–though not to be taken for granted–another one appears.
Fairy King Prawn (Aus) was the marquee Hong Kong galloper at the turn of the century and it wasn’t long after that Silent Witness (Aus) took the jurisdiction by storm, embarking on a 17-race winning streak that included back-to-back runnings of the G1 Hong Kong Sprint in 2003-2004.
A Derby win often paves the path to Hong Kong super-stardom, and such was the case with the likes of Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Viva Pataca (GB) and Ambitious Dragon (NZ), while Hong Kong International Sale grad Good Ba Ba cemented his status as one of the greats with three consecutive victories in the G1 Hong Kong Mile.
Able Friend (Aus) became a fan favorite with his thrilling and irresistible late bursts, Rapper Dragon (Aus) was sadly lost before fully realizing his true greatness and Beauty Generation (NZ) was the undisputed king of the hill through the 2019 season, while Exultant (Ire) has proved an able understudy.
The proverbial baton is set to be passed on again this weekend, as Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) looks to stretch his current winning streak to 11 and his lifetime mark to 14 from 15 as the banker of the Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse.
A ‘Gaud’-y Purchase…
A $60,000 Keeneland September acquisition, Gaudeamus won the 2006 G2 Debutante S. for trainer Jim Bolger, but was winless in four starts as a 3-year-old, including the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish Oaks and was the first horse ever acquired by Sheamus Mills. He bought the filly on behalf of former Moonee Valley chairman Bob Scarborough and his wife Rosemary’s Victoria-based Wood Nook Farm. Gaudeamus arrived in Australia in foal to Pivotal (GB) to Southern Hemisphere time and went on to produce five foals to race for Wood Nook, including Listed Tasmanian Derby third Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}).
The Scarboroughs offered Gaudeamus in foal to Medaglia d’Oro on a Nov. 4 cover date at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Then 11 years of age, Gaudeamus, whose second dam includes European champions Bosra Sham (Woodman) and her full-brother Hector Protector as well as G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains hero Shanghai (Procida), was hammered down to Josh Hutchins Bloodstock for A$160,000. The mare produced a Queensland-bred bay colt Oct. 14, 2015, and a year and three months later when offered by the Hutchins family’s Element Park agency at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale, he fetched A$120,000 from Sam Beatson’s Riversley Park and Ben Foote’s Enigma Farm, both New Zealand-based operations.
“He was a good-moving, athletic yearling with a great head and eye on him and looked like he would grow into a lovely 3-year-old and oozed class,” Beatson recollected.
The colt was sent across the Tasman for the next part of his preparation.
A Fast Start For Riversley Park…
Sam Beatson was always destined for a career that included horses. A descendant of John Beatson, a successful amateur jockey and one of the founding members of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, his grandfather was George Beatson, a similarly successful amateur rider, owner/breeder and racing administrator. Sam Beatson got started in show jumping from an early age, representing his native country in India and Australia, before relocating to Cambridge, where he started a breaking-in and pre-training business. He initially operated as Beatson Stables before going out on his own at Riversley Park in 2015.
The Medaglia d’Oro colt was the second most-expensive of five purchases made by Beatson and Foote at the Gold Coast sale nearly four years ago, and Beatson said the colt, who would ultimately be targeted at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale in the springtime, grew up the right way over the ensuing 10 months.
“He developed along the path that I hoped he would,” said Beatson. “He grew and strengthened and matured into the potential I saw in him early on.”
The Gaudeamus colt made an exceptionally racy impression during his under-tack preview, clocking :10.48 (see below) for 200 metres, a time well above average for the sale.
“He moved across the ground well with a great galloping action, doing it all in a nice time,” Beatson commented.
Consigned by Riversley Park to the RTR sale–also responsible for 2019 G1 Hong Kong Sprint hero Beat The Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus})–as lot 136 and by the sire of that year’s G1 Golden Slipper hero Vancouver (Aus), the colt was ticketed for Hong Kong after trainer Francis Lui signed the winning ticket at NZ$300,000.
“When I buy horses I try to identify horses that would be suited for Hong Kong, so I was confident that he would perform up there,” Beatson said.
And perform he has.
The Meteoric Rise of Golden Sixty…
Golden Sixty arrived in Hong Kong in October 2018 and his trackwork and trials were such that the betting public sent him away as the $27 (17-10) favorite for a Class 4 over 1200 meters and he obliged with a decisive turn of foot that has since become his trademark (video) en route to a cheeky score Mar. 31, 2019. He would go on to add a pair of wins in Class 3 before a below-par 10th to close the season in July.
He hasn’t lost since. Golden Sixty made the G3 Chinese Club Challenge H. his first success at Pattern level last Jan. 1, then joined the star-crossed Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) as the only horses to sweep the 4-Year-Old Classics with a thrilling victory in the BMW Hong Kong Derby over the 2000 meters (video). Put away for the year instead of pressing on to either the G1 QE II Cup or the G1 Champions Mile, he has rattled off three straight this term, all at odds-on, including a facile defeat of Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile. Vincent Ho has been in the boot for each of his 14 starts.
WATCH: Golden Sixty reigns supreme in the Derby
Beatson believed from his sales prep that he had a quick horse on his hands. But was he one that could see out a classic trip?
“I knew he had a lot of speed so he would suit running a mile, but I was confident he would make the Derby distance in Hong Kong,” he opined.
Beatson has been around a good horse or two in his career, having had a hand in the careers of horses like G1 Melbourne Cup hero Prince of Penzance (NZ), New Zealand Horse of the Year and six-time Australian Group 1 winner Dundeel (NZ) and Lucia Valentina (NZ), a treble top-level winner. He reckons that Golden Sixty can become the best of that bunch at the weekend.
“It’s fantastic to be associated with Golden Sixty, we always thought he was special and for him to be doing what he is doing on the track just reiterates my thoughts of what a special horse he is,” Beatson said. “I had very high expectations of him, you always dream of selling a horse of his caliber, so I hope he can carry on his great performances. To have bought, prepared and sold a horse that is competing in the Hong Kong international Mile is fantastic. But if he wins, it would be a huge result for Riversley Park.”
