Hypothetical Situation

Irish Stamp

Irish Stamp

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How much would you pay for a 12yo gelding, has run well in big races (Grand National etc), placed at the Cheltenham Festival in the past but not run since May 2012.

In a leading yard at the moment, tried in headgear and currently rated in the high 130's.

Martin
 
"Senator, you can have my answer now. Here's my final offer; nothing. Not even the training fees, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally".
 
Last edited:
£15,000 and no training fees plus first choice on stable jockey.
 
Irish Stamp said:
How much would you pay for a 12yo gelding, has run well in big races (Grand National etc), placed at the Cheltenham Festival in the past but not run since May 2012.

In a leading yard at the moment, tried in headgear and currently rated in the high 130's.

Martin
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good pointer - £10k ish.
 
I'd be concerned about the motive of owner and trainer selling a 12 year old after a year off to stay in racing Martin. Why would the owner be looking to sell a 12 yo horse that he and the trainer thought still fit to race and do himself justice.

Why has the horse had a year off? What problems does he have? Should he be resuming his career? Why did they feel he needed headgear? Is he still capable of running anywhere near to his mark?

Once I had the answer to all of those questions and I felt he was fit to resume his racing career I could answer the price question.
 
In answer to Maruco's questions I'd have gone with:

1. Leg problems

2. Unsure but probably the above.

3. Possibly not - if he does though you'll get at most 2 seasons out of him.

4. Last throw of the dice IMO.

5. Highly unlikely - if he can run to 120 they'd have chopped it.

To answer BTB's question - no he wouldn't be staying with Mullins (though he maybe now as friends didn't buy it in the end) ;)

Frog was fairly close to what they got for it - surprised me as wouldn't have touched it with a barge pole for more than 3k.
 
I wouldn't touch it myself although some trainers would - Sophie Leech buys a lot of jaded/once decent animals to try to rejuvenate them - some it works with some it doesn't.
 
Church Island was sold at Ascot for £3kish. I was disgusted at that. These horses should be found a decent home and found something they like to do.

Another time I saw a ex hurdler who had won a big race at Sandown sold at Leominster sale with newly clipped scan marks on both hid legs. Talk about setting a horse up for disaster. Luckily I think he went to a good home. I and several other people there thought it terrible that a horse who had once won an owner over £100k was in this position.

Nx
 
Sadly some end up being exported for meat though hopefully Brightwells take action against any that do given it's against the terms and conditions of sale.

Minimum bid has been raised too so there's no longer a chap from Belgium giving £100 for meat, our trainer went to £650 for one a few months back as there was a "horsey lady" from Essex bidding against her as she felt sorry for it, it couldn't be going to a better home and there were plenty there that she could have bid on had she wanted to stop horses from meeting a nasty end.

Some horses like to race Fizzbw - our trainer retired a pointer after a heavy fall, they've tried to re-train him for eventing and I'm not sure how that's going though not all horses can be found something they like doing that isn't racing. I don't know Church Island that well (outside of his racing career) so possible that he doesn't like SJ, XC, dressage, hacking out etc.

Agree that if he's won them 100k they shouldn't be selling him for tuppence - could surely find him a good home locally or pay to keep him at the trainers yard etc?

Martin
 
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