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Thread: Dark Angel Retired To Stud

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    Senior Member Harbinger's Avatar
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    That's right, this year's Middle Park winner will not be raced as a 3yo. His owners, Catherine Corbett and Chris Wright have accepted an offer from Morristown Lattin Stud, feeling that:

    "He wouldn't have run in a Classic next year. It was felt he would be a six-furlong specialist and it's very hard for a three-year-old who has won a Group 1, so selling him wasn't really a wrench."

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    That's just...bizarre. I daresay the owners were made an offer they felt they couldn't refuse, but there has to be something seriously awry with a racing environment in which there's effectively "no point" in racing a top class, sound colt at three.

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    Senior Member Aldaniti's Avatar
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    Totally agree, just seems wrong shrug::

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    Senior Member Shadow Leader's Avatar
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    I hope this isn't going to start a new trend - I don't see the point of retiring them to stud at 2. Whether the owners "think" they'll win a Classic or not at 3, whatever they do in their 3yo season cannot take away their status as a 2yo Group 1 winner.
    Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.

    False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

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    Senior Member Harbinger's Avatar
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    Offer must have been too good to refuse, I guess.

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    Senior Member Bar the Bull's Avatar
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    What is the difference between selling a horse to Godolphin at two and selling it to a stud at two?

    I am sure the owners of Opera Cape were far from sure that their horse would win a Classic either. They were given a good offer, and they accepted it. Good luck to them.

    Dark Angel's owners were clearly given a good price for their commodity. And you could argue that shagging a bevy of mares is preferable than getting trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

    It would have bothered me if they had retained ownership and stood him, like Coolmore did with Holy Roman Emperor.
    Welsh and Proud.

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    Senior Member Shadow Leader's Avatar
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    It must've been!

    It's a shame the horse wasn't given a chance though - mind you it's not as frustrating as retiring Holy Roman Emperor so early was, not least as it was done for entirely the wrong reasons.
    Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.

    False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

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    What a pathetic, gutless pair Dark Angel's owners are, they should be up for bringing the sport into disrepute.

    I could understand it if they sold the horse on to Godolphin or somebody to continue his racing career, but this almost defies belief. It's even worse than HRE's retirment earlier this year.

    If I was fortunate enough to own a 2-y-o Group 1 winner, I'd want the horse to show what he cold do as a 3-y-o, even if he was expected to be "only" a sprinter.

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    Senior Member Euronymous's Avatar
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    Agree with Ven. There are lots of opportunities for decent three year old sprinters if they are good enough. And what about the joy of watching one of your horses in Group races.

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    Senior Member crazyhorse's Avatar
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    Originally posted by Shadow Leader@Oct 31 2007, 02:45 PM
    I hope this isn't going to start a new trend - I don't see the point of retiring them to stud at 2. Whether the owners "think" they'll win a Classic or not at 3, whatever they do in their 3yo season cannot take away their status as a 2yo Group 1 winner.
    totally agree! they are called racehorse and not bredhorses

    Bizzare is too soft a word.
    I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts. (John Steinbeck)

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    Quite appalling, and events this year should lead those eminences which run the sport to refuse to register the offsping of stallions which are unraced at 3. Period. Otherwise we'll just see more of this - which might lead to even more unsound stallions, and young horses breaking down. No horse is mature at 3 let alone 2 - how can anyone know if a stallion is worth breeding from, or what weaknesses might be lurking?

    Maybe they know there is one, and have opted to cash in before it becomes obvious? Who knows?
    I do wish breeders would boycott this kind of cynicism - and the authorities woudl act to stop it.

  12. #12
    Senior Member an capall's Avatar
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    On the other hand he seemed a 2YO to me and would probably have form of -340576246 or something, next season. Maybe it is the right business decision.
    "And still they gazed and still the wonder grew. That one small head could carry all he knew.

    And that small head knew that Impaire Et Passe would win the Champion Hurdle."

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    You are probably right, An.

    It just seems silly that breeders would be tempted to use a stallion that has proved very little.

    And if they don't see sense and Dark Angel doesn't prove popular, then perhaps it wouldn't be good business, at least for the the buyers.

    The vendors are in a no-lose situation, it seems to me, except why did they get involved in racehorse ownership, when, at the first opportunity they sell a possible Group horse.

    Strange world.
    Ah! but a man's reach should exceed his grasp......

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    Well it may or may not be good business for the owners, but surely the authorities should be trying to ensure that breeding *enhances* the quality of the thoroughbred, and its soundness - and if they can do that by ensuring people don't breed from stallions untried at 3, then why not?

    OK you might miss out on the odd good stallion prospect which might have got injured at 2 - but you'd surely lose more which were of dubious quality.

    Breedeers who stand their own stallions tend to put a load of their own mares to them - some even buy mares with this e3xpress plan. That's fine for a young stallion which has proved itself on the track over a couple of seasons or more....

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    Senior Member an capall's Avatar
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    Why? Sperm is sperm, regardless of how many times it has been carried up and down a racetrack.
    "And still they gazed and still the wonder grew. That one small head could carry all he knew.

    And that small head knew that Impaire Et Passe would win the Champion Hurdle."

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    Originally posted by Colin Phillips@Nov 2 2007, 09:53 AM
    The vendors are in a no-lose situation, it seems to me,
    Which is why they are selling I presume. I wonder what people on here would do given the same situation.
    .

  17. #17
    Senior Member an capall's Avatar
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    He is the kind of horse that I would sell in a flash if I was lucky enough to won him.
    "And still they gazed and still the wonder grew. That one small head could carry all he knew.

    And that small head knew that Impaire Et Passe would win the Champion Hurdle."

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    Same here.
    .

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