May 10, 2007

BARRY IRWIN LANDS TOP BUY AT SOUTH AFRICAN YEARLING SALE,
DOZEN YOUNGSTERS BOUGHT AT NATIONAL SALE OVER THREE DAYS,
TEN FILLIES, TWO COLTS MAKES UP TEAM VALOR 2007 DRAFT PICKS

Barry Irwin, riding the crest of a wave from his successful purchases at the last two National Yearling Sales in South Africa, bought a dozen youngsters this week, two more than last season.

In the span of a little more than a week, Team Valor pluckings from the two previous yearling sales won 4 races, each significant in its own way, as follows:

Sally Bowles made her $24,000 yearling price look more of a bargain than ever when winning the Grade 2 Fillies Guineas as a prep for the Grade 1 Woolavington next month, after which she will be exported to the United States. Stately made locals shake their heads at her $16,700 yearling price when nabbing the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes as a prep for a Grade 1 this month over the same layout. She is already one of the leading fillies of her generation. Field Event got tongues to wagging when he scored first time out while bullying his way into contention and roaring home a winner in course record time for a 2-year-old. His trainer has hopes of making him into the Champion Colt at 2 this season. Captain’s Lover made her $27,000 yearling price look like chump change when cruising up to win by 4 lengths in her debut, leaving the impression she is a Graded filly in the making. She made a bigger impression than the winner of the Grade 3 Fillies Nursery two days later.

Bargain yearling Stately winning the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes.

So in 4 starts for last season’s yearling buys, there are 3 wins and a second, and all three winners appear to have unlimited potential.

One of the colts bought by Irwin this time around is a devilishly handsome bay named Greenwich Park, who topped the sale on a final bid of 2.6-million rand, which is the equivalent of about $377,000.

Sales-topper Greenwich Park was knocked down to Team Valor.

The price was 1 million rand greater than Team Valor spent last year for Field Event, who like the new acquisition is a son of leading sire Western Winter.

Greenwich Park has a pedigree that is 100 percent American. He was named, bred and sold by the legendary couple of Laurie and Jean Jaffe.

Barry Irwin said “Laurie and Jean are the most internationally successful owners in the history of South Africa. He has raced and prospected top horses all over the world. The man, who is now 85 years old, is a hero of mine. Everything the guy touches turns to gold.

“Ever heard of Invasor? Laurie sold the dam to the breeder. What about London News, the sire of Sally Bowles? Laurie took him to Hong Kong to become the first South African winner there when he preceded Irridescence in winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.”

Laurie has been part of partnerships with the greats of the Turf on an international scale for decades and among the races he can count in the winning column include the English Derby at Epsom Downs.

Legendary South African owner/breeder Laurie Jaffee presented the trophy to Team Valor connections following victory in the Grade 1 Queen Empress.

Two days after the opening session, Jaffe phoned Irwin to ask to buy back into Greenwich Park, which he said may be the best-looking prospect he’s bred in a quarter century. Following a meeting at the sales grounds, Jaffe took a quarter interest in the youngster, joining Anant and Vanashree Singh, who also are taking a quarter interest.

For the entire venue, Team Valor bought 12 horses for a gross value of 8,405,000 rand, which is the equivalent of about $1.25 million in Yankee greenbacks.

“Go ahead and laugh yourself silly,” Irwin dead-panned, “but the one colt may be worth that much alone.”

Team Valor wound up being the second-leading buyer at the sale in terms of average at about $100,000 per animal. Team Valor was the fourth leading buyer in terms of number of horses and gross expenditure.

There was the one big colt at about $376,000, one filly at about $175,000, four youngsters at about $116,000, and enough cheapies to spice up the package at prices as low about $11,500.

“We planned to buy about 5 fillies and spend about $500,000, but we got 10 for about $742.500,” Irwin said. “I asked a few of our regular participants in the South African filly partnerships whether they would like us to syndicate them the fillies in one big package of 10, or divide them into two lots of 5 each, and the consensus seemed to be to make two groups.

“This way, if anybody wants in on the whole shebang, they can do so, but for those with limited capital, they can choose from one of two options.

“Each colt will be syndicated separately into its own Limited Liability Company.”

Barry Irwin took time out to explain the reason he has totally embraced the concept of buying yearlings in South Africa, proving them on the race courses of that nation and bringing the nuggets to America.

Sally Bowles to be first American immigrant among Team Valor's yearling purchases.

Sally Bowles, by the way, will be the first South African yearling to make her way to the United States, because Irwin has decided to export her to America following her race next month in the Grade 1 Woolavington Stakes.

“The whole point of buying these yearlings is to prospect nuggets that are reasonably priced and well raised, with an eye toward developing them under the ideal racing conditions in South Africa before importing them to the United States, and via Dubai if they are suitable,” Irwin said.

“When I came up with idea of buying yearlings down there, it was an experiment to see if it were possible to find and develop yearlings in South Africa that would be able to cut it in North America.

“I believe we have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it not only works, but has proven to be a bonanza. Where in the hell else on this planet is anybody going to consistently buy and develop bona fide Graded stakes winners for the type of money we have been spending?

“This year we have increased the dollars spent and the quality obtained at the sale. While we had to spend more money than we would have liked for a few of the better-bred fillies by Western Winter and Jet Master, we got rare quality for our dollars spent.

“Let’s face, we’ve been spoiled beyond belief in the past with total thefts. We got some of them this year, too, but for horses that looked the part by real sires, there was value for money, but not thefts in broad daylight based on the recent past.

“The stud fees of Western Winter and Jet Master have increased dramatically and, commensurate with this advent, the value of their stock has risen.

“For the all important intangible of quality the Western Winter colt we bought for $377,000 is a minimum of a $1-million yearling anywhere in the real world and is closer to $1.5 million than $1 million.

“The fillies we bought are worth $500,000 to $700,000 in the major yearling markets in Europe or North America.

Supersire Jet Master accounted for two Team Valor buys this year.

“When the sale began, I thought we were going to get completely blown out of the water, as prices at first soared through the roof. When I checked my sales catalogue notes, I saw that some of these individuals were not of top quality.

“Then I got outbid on a couple of lots, which was a first, as I had never been bested before. The ones I let get away this time were not my top picks, but good prospects nonetheless.

“Upon analysis, it immediately became apparent that the reason the sale looked even better than it was could be attributed to the fact that The Rupert Family, which is laying a foundation for market breeding, was collecting future broodmare prospects and paying premiums for pedigree.

“Since none of my top selections were out of top mares, I felt safe that I could still play a big role at the sale, and this notion turned out to be the case, as on the first night I got everything that I really wanted.”

Over the past few years, Irwin has shown the full range of his talents in picking out unraced stock. Of the 6 stakes winners currently racing for the stable, all but one was bought by Irwin as a yearling.

Irwin is especially proud of the fact that he is one of the few individuals to have bought a sale topper and won a Graded race with it, as most high-priced stock flops. Fairbanks is showing that when Irwin commits to something expensive, there is more steak than sizzle.

“One of the reasons I like the sale in South Africa,” Irwin explained “is that the horses are presented honestly and truly by serious, dedicated horse breeders. Their legs are not manipulated and they are not on steroids. They have not been exercised on machines for weeks before the sale. Basically what you see is what you get.

“Try this on for size: I found more horses with correct front limbs in the consignment of one breeder at the South African sale than I am normally able to find in an entire day’s prospecting at Keeneland in September.

“At Keeneland, even though lots of horses have already been subjected to pre-sale surgeries to clean up their joints, only about 3 of every 10 lots we like pass veterinary muster. In South Africa, it is about 19 of every 20 that the vet clears for purchase. This is very, very, very significant and a real confidence builder for a buyer.”

This year, Team Valor will break down the South African horses into 4 separate Limited Liability Companies, as follows:

Greenwich Park is a single entity and 50 percent of this horse has already been subscribed. Interests in 10 percent and maybe 5 percent will be marketed, with preference to the larger percentages. Golden Idol is a single entity in which interests of 10 and maybe 5 percent will be sold. On Her Toes, President’s Girl, Wild on Tara, Picturesque and Catch the Wind will form one of the two filly partnerships that has been named the Ladysmith LLC after a singing group (Ladysmith Black Mambazo) that backed up Paul Simon on his hit African inspired album “Graceland.” Carromantica, Chancilly, Jet Park, Caesour’s Queen and Penny’s Drift has been named the Gosforth LLC after the famous old race course that is adjacent to the yearling sale complex in Germiston outside of Johannesburg.

It bears repeating that Team Valor has raced most of the outstanding fillies to have graced the South African scene in the past few seasons. The South African export authority publishes a brochure to encourage foreign investment in its country’s Thoroughbred, but the publication looks like a Team Valor booklet!

Featured are 4 fillies, three of whom are Ipi Tombe (Grade 1 Dubai Duty Free), Irridescence (Group 1 APQE2 Stakes in Hong Kong), Crimson Palace (Grade 1 Beverly D) and Perfect Promise (Group 1 winner vs. males in Australia). The first three race in Team Valor’s colors and the fourth is a full sister to Irridescence.

Fillies to win or make the frame in Grade 1 races for black-type recognition in South African sales catalogues for Team Valor are Ipi Tombe, Irridescence, Little Miss Magic, Sally Bowles, Alexandra Rose, Joshua’s Princess and She’s on Fire.

The 2007 National Yearling Sale draft for Team Valor follows. Team Valor plans to enlist help from those participating in the South African filly LLCs to suggest a couple of new names each for Carromantica, Wild on Tara, President’s Girl, Penny’s Drift, Chanchilly and Caesour’s Queen. Team Valor has already asked to change the name of Golden Fandango to Golden Idol.

Greenwich Park is a bay colt that cost 2.6 million ZAR ($377,000). He is by Western Winter out of Hancock Park, by Pompeii Court. Notes dictated during the conformation analysis by Barry Irwin had a one-word comment: “Perfect.” Irwin “He is bred to be a Miler, as the sire was Grade 1 placed over that trip in New York, the colt’s dam was a Grade 2 winner over 7 furlongs and Grade 1-placed, and the colt’s half-sister was a Grade 2 winner at 7 furlongs who was Grade 1 placed. I fully expect him to be a good horse at 2 and 3. Our hope is that he will be racing in the United States at 4.” The pedigree, both top and bottom, is 100 percent all American. The dam of the muscular colt is a half-sister to a Group winner in Australia that came close to beating older males in a Group 1 sprint as a 2-year-old filly in what would be the equivalent of July. He will be trained by Geoff Woodruff. More on Hip 84
Golden Idol is a chestnut colt that cost 800,000 ($116,000). He is by Rich Man’s Gold out of Light Fandango, by Cordoba. He is a half-brother to the current 3-year-old filly Winter Ade, who was second in the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas this season. The dam was among three stakes winners produced by her dam, who herself was a winning half-sister to one stakes and to the dam of a St. Leger winner that was second in the South African Derby. When Barry Irwin went to tell Mike de Kock he was sending the colt to him, the trainer informed him that he was the underbidder. “I absolutely love him,” said de Kock, who has trained some exception runners by the ill-fated Brazilian import who died prematurely 2 seasons ago. Irwin said that in terms of conformation, “He is pretty close to being the equal of the 2.6-million sale topper, although he is a different type of colt, being slightly less powerful and more. I was happily surprised that he didn’t cost more, as I was prepared to give 3 times the price for him. If he were by Western Winter or had sold later in the sale, I think he would have scaled the heights at the auction. But somebody’s loss was our gain.” Apparently the reason he failed to sell better than he did is that his German breeder is not well known in South Africa, where buyers are provincial and tend to stick with those breeders they know. He will be trained by Mike de Kock. More on Hip 6
Carromantica is a bay filly that cost 1.2 million ZAR ($175,000). She is by Western Winter out of Caramanta, by Fairy King. She is the second foal from a 3-time winner in Germany. The dam is a half-sister to a Champion Stayer and winner of the German St. Leger over 1 ¾ miles and the dam was produced by the a stakes-winning daughter of German suiper sire Surumu. The filly’s broodmare sire Fairy King is the highly successful full brother to Sadler’s Wells whose own son Encosta de Lago was imported from Australia to Ireland to cover Coolmore Stud mares originally meant for Sadler’s Wells, whose fertility is declining. Irwin said “She has the kind of pedigree I like, because is by a hot, highly-bred American type stallion out of a coarse, stamina-bred German family. This often ignites a fire in the family.” Irwin said that physically she is well balanced, strong, racey and has a beautiful cameo-like head.” More on Hip 57
On Her Toes is a chestnut filly that cost 800,000 ZAR ($116,000). She is by Western Winter out of Savannah Breeze, by Badger Land. She is the second foal out of a daughter of Broodmare of the Year Pretty Falcon, whose offspring include Grade 1-winning Miler Follow the Falcon and Grade 1-winning filly Savannah Queen. The next dam produced produced George Steinbrenner’s Hollywood Park Grade 1 winner Big Whippendeal. The pedigree, both top and bottom, is 100 percent America. Irwin said “She had the best shoulder of any horse in this sale. My notes on inspecting her were as follows: “Looks like a racehorse. She is going to be awesome when she strips for her first start at 2.” She will be trained by Mike Azzie. More on Hip 31
Catch the Wind is a bay filly that cost 800,000 ZAR ($116,000). She is by Jet Master out of Brave the Wind, by Great Brother. She is a half or full sister to 4 winner in South Africa. Her dam was a winning full sister to Cardinal Sin, a 6-time winner that was best in the one-mile Newmarket Guineas and stakes-placed on many occasions. This is the family of Champion South African 2-year-old filly Star Effort. Irwin’s note when he saw the filly was simply “Buy her.” He said that she is an imposing physical specimen, as are many of the Jet Masters. “She is only a yearling, but she is already intimidating because of her size and scope. She gives me the impression that her potential could be unlimited. She exudes class.” She will be trained by Glen Kotzen. More on Hip 54
Jet Park is a bay filly that cost 800,000 ZAR ($116,000). She is by Jet Master out of National Desire, by National Assembly. She is the second foal from a half-sister to Her Way, a multiple stakes winner that took the Grade 3 Camellia Handicap. The second dam was a winning half-sister to Radical (Grade 1 winner in Argentina) and Fanciful (twice a Grade 1 winner in South Africa). The second dam also is the grandam of the current stakes filly School Assembly. Irwin said “She is similar the Jet Park in conformation, but gave me the impression that she would come around sooner and can be expected to make her presence felt at 2. Jet Master had made his reputation as a dominant sire by improving his mares and this is apparently another case, because she looks like an expensive, quality animal.” She will be trained by Justin Snaith. More on Hip 205
President’s Girl is a bay filly that cost 450,000 ($65,000). She is from the first crop of the lightly-raced imported French stallion Modus Vivendi out of Dicey Mistress, by Call the Guard. What she may lack in production in her female lineage, she more than makes up for in their provocative names. The dam Dicey Mistress is out of the mare Dick Dick. “She may turn out to be by Old Shep out of a Clap Trap mare,” said Barry Irwin, “but as an individual, I rated her highly. Her price indicates how good her conformation is compared to her obscure pedigree. My kind of gal.” She will be trained by Mike de Kock. More on Hip 487
Wild on Tara is a bay filly that cost 340,000 ($50,000). She is by Tara’s Halls out of Rock And Roll, by Rakeen. She is the third foal out of a mare whose first two foals are the winners of 7 races between them. The dam was a 2-time winning half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Nilgiri, an 8-time winner. The next dam was the grandam of a Cham;pion 2-year-old named Kashwan. This filly’s broodmare sire Rakeen is the sire of Jet Master. She will be trained by Mike Bass. More on Hip 267
Penny’s Drift is a bay filly that cost 260,000 ($38,000). She is by Freshman sire Badger’s Drift out Catchpenny, by Freedom Land. Barry Irwin found out during the selection process that he is partial to the bloodline of Badger Land, a former D. Wayne Lukas Triple Crown runner that became a leading sire in South Africa. This filly is out of a stakes winner from the female family of the great South African racing filly Majorca, for whom a Grade 1 race is named. The filly would have sold for more, but the bidding stopped with trainer Geoff Woodruff saw Team Valor bidding and walked away to let the stable have her. Says Barry Irwin “She is a personal favorite. She has a bold look for a filly and a body that elicited an involuntary verbal utterance that ended in a word that rhymes with the object hit in hockey games. She will be trained by Basil Marcus. More on Hip 448
Chanchilly is a bay filly that cost 200,000 ($29,000). She is by Fort Wood out of Lucy Percy, by Northern Guest. She is out of a mare that has produced 3 winners from as many foals to race. The dam is a half-sister to Syon, another Fort Wood offspring that won the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes who also was Grade 1 placed. Another half-sister to the dam also produced a stakes winner by Fort Wood of the Grade 2 Premier’s Trophy. The filly’s dam sire Northern Guest is a son of Northern Dancer who has long been a leading broodmare sire. She will be trained by Michael Roberts. More on Hip 139
Picturesque is a bay filly that cost 175,000 ZAR ($26,000). She is by Al Mufti out of Requista, by Fort Wood. She is out of a mare whose only foal to race is a winner. Requisite, the dam, was a stakes filly on the track and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Cruise Collection and stakes winner Dacha, who was Grade 2 placed. The filly hails from the famous English and French family that includes Champion juvenile filly Welsh Guide. She will be trained by Glen Kotzen. More on Hip 28
Caesour’s Queen is a bay filly that cost 80,000 ZAR ($11,500). She is by Caesour out of Queen of Stars, by Crystal de Roche. She is a half-sister to three winners. Her dam was a half-sister to Fov’s Favourite, a multiple Grade 1 winning sprinter, and to the grandam of Yankee Clipper, a stakes-winning filly going a mile. The next dam produced the stakes winner Empire Ruler and the dam of stakies winner Arctic Waters. She will be trained by Wendy Whitehead. More on Hip 247

Some random notes:

• Jet Master – while his yearlings sold nicely, they did not sell through the roof as expected, one reason being that the mares he covered that produced this yearling crop did not own good pedigrees. The horse’s stud fee has risen from $1,250 to $40,000 and one season changed hands at public auction a couple of months ago for about $84,000. The South Africans are too pedigree conscious for their own good and fail to realize that the stallion made his mark with these kinds of mares. The upshot of all this is that Team Valor was able to get its Jet Master fillies at what it considers to be bargain prices.
  

  Western Winter sired the sales-topper.

• Western Winter – Team Valor bought its only offspring by this prolific Classic sire last year in Field Event. “He was the first one I ever liked well enough to buy,” said Barry Irwin. “He gets the most American-looking foals in South Africa. But a lot of them tend to be too heavy. This crop, though, was a different story. I am sure it reflects the breeders ability to mate him more compatibly based on their experience from year to year. The ones by him that I bought this year were outstanding.”
  
  
• Badger Land – Apparently this son of Preakness hero Codex sires stallions and mares that hold a special appeal for the eye of Barry Irwin, as both last year and this he has been drawn to the bloodline. Captain’s Lover is out of a Badger Land mare. This year Penny’s Drift if by a son of Badger Land and On Her Toes is out a mare by Badger Land. “They have strong expressions, bold eyes and great length of rein through the neck to the withers. Badger Land was a leading sire and broodmare sire before passing on a few seasons ago.