27 August 2010

It may be Winter but this is an exciting time of the year with the Spring on our doorstep. The first-crop of Churchill Downs sold extremely well earlier this year around Australia and the early reports from those that purchased are positive indeed.

We have been speaking to some of those with Churchill Downs 2yo's and will continue to let you know their thoughts as the weeks progress. 

"He (Churchill Downs) was a very handsome yearling himself and had serious ability too. I bid on a dozen or so of his progeny and I've ended up with three. I'm absolutely delighted with the way they have broken in" David Hayes, who trained Churchill Downs

"Dominant sons of Danehill haven't missed and we set our sights to buy the best colt by Churchill Downs and we think we got him ($140,000 Weekend Surprise). The horse has a terrific temperament and a lovely free-flowing action." Mark Pilkington

"They are just really nice horses, that's why I bought them." John Hawkes

Churchill Downs ended the Premier Sale as the leading Victorian-based sire by average; the leading first-season sire by average on the Premier 1 session and he was the most profitable stallion ($10,000 or more) across the entire sale with a ratio of nearly five times conception fee.

His yearlings sold for $150,000, $140,000, $135,000, $110,000, $80,000, $70,000 - twice, $65,000 and they have found favour with leading trainers such as David Hayes, who trained Churchill Downs himself, Peter Moody, Mick Price, Anthony Cummings, Shane Fliedner, John Hawkes, Robbie Griffiths and Steve Richards.

Churchill Downs stands at $8,800 in 2010.

UPDATE: Churchill Downs 2yo colt out of Gur sells for $120,000 to De Burgh Equine on behalf of a Dubai-based syndicate at the BC3 Sale at Oaklands.