Category Archives: Big Brown

Changes in Big Brown ownership

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Existing shareholders, including top US breeder Three Chimneys, have increased their holdings in the young stallion Big Brown (Boundary – Mien, by Nureyev) after buying out another major shareholder.

IEAH Stables was part of the partnership that raced the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner during his racing days but has decided to sell its shares in the sire, who has shuttled to Vinery Australia for the past three seasons.

US agent, The Stallion Company brokered the deal, which left representative Jamie LaMonica excited.

“We believe in the horse and thought we could make a decent trade and put the ball in their hands,” LaMonica told TDN.

“He’s a very unique horse in that he’s bred more and more mares each year at stud, which is a great sign and definitely against the trend.

“The feedback we’ve had from trainers about his horses has been phenomenal, and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of what he can do.

“He looks a very promising stallion prospect.”

Big Brown has sired one stakes winner Brown Almighty (Big Brown – Gone Goodbye, by Gone For Real) while his progeny averaged more than $80,000 at the recent Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Vinery’s US arm on the market

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US breeder Tom Simon has put North American flagship property Vinery Stud on the market.

The move will not affect Vinery Australia after local breeders secured the Scone operation some years ago. Prominent New South Wales owner and breeder Neil Werrett recently secured a stake in the local arm of the operation.

Simon is looking to sell Vinery’s farms in Kentucky and Florida as well as passing on the lease Vinery holds on two farms in New York.

Vinery US president Tom Ludt told The Bloodhorse that Simon was not looking to leave racing and breeding.

“Mr. Simon is not bailing on the industry, this is mainly about his children who don’t have an interest in the horse business,” Ludt said.

“It is his passion but not theirs. This is not going to be a fire sale. It is our hope to keep everything running only, eventually, with a new owner.

“At the end of the day, we’re a mammoth operation but we’re a profitable operation.”

 

 

Big Brown’s brother bolts in at Leopardstown

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The juvenile half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown (Boundary – Mien, by Nureyev) broke his maiden in wonderful fashion at Leopardstown in Ireland on Thursday.

Afonso De Sousa (Henrythenavigator – Mien, by Nureyev) suffered defeats at the Curragh and Newmarkt at his first two starts but demolished his opposition in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders’ Fund Maiden (6f).

The Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old jumped straight to the lead in the event before barely breaking a sweat while posting a nine-length win under jockey Joseph O’Brien.

“This better ground made all the difference, as his sire hated soft ground,” Aidan O’Brien told TDN. “He is a possible for the G1 Phoenix S. [at The Curragh Aug. 12].”

The $US330,000 Keeneland purchase was the sixth individual winner for Coolmore stallion Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo – Sequoyah, Sadler’s Wells), who stands his northern hemisphere seasons at the international operation’s Ashford Stud arm in the US.

Henrythenavigator will complete his 2012 southern hemisphere duties at Coolmore’s Jerry’s Plains property where he will command a $22,000 service fee.

Big Brown not shuttling to Vinery Australia

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Injury has forced Vinery Stud to abandon plans to shuttle Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown (Boundary – Mien, by Nureyev) to Australia for the upcoming breeding season.

Vinery reported Big Brown sustained a laceration to a hind leg. The injury is relatively minor but it did become infected.

Vinery has followed veterinary advice, which recommended the stallion not make the trip to Australia because “the extensive travel and quarantine process would not be conducive to his recovery”.

Big Brown has gained momentum in recent weeks with Brown Almighty (Big Brown – Gone Goodbye, by Gone For Real) and Brown Eyes Blue (Big Brown – Golden Lips, by Silver Ghost) scoring in the US.

Big Brown served 255 mares in his two seasons in Australia.

“We are very happy for those breeders who took the opportunity to send mares to Big Brown in his first two seasons – 130 plus each year,” said Peter Orton.

“It looks like he is going to reward their support given good early results and the promise of so much more to come.

“We greatly look forward to Big Brown’s return to Vinery in 2013.”

Big Brown colt sells for US$1.3 million

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A 2yo colt by Gr 1 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown (Boundary) became the new sale topper at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of two-year-olds on Monday when he fetched $US1.3 million from Coolmore associate Demi O’Byrne.

Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, the Big Brown colt was bred in Pennsylvania by Lansdon Robbins and Tom Hansen. He worked 200m in :10 1/5 during the auction’s breeze-up show at Palm Meadows Training Centre. 

The $1.3 million colt was produced from the winning mare Cool Ghoul (by Silver Ghost). He is a half brother to dual stakes winner Dagnabit and the winning, stakes-placed runner Bad Boy Rising (both by Freud ).

A considerable amount of appeal comes from the family of the Big Brown colt‚Äôs second dam, Single Blade (by Hatchet Man), who captured the 1987 Gazelle Handicap (gr. I). She is the dam of 12 winners, including grade II victor Comeonmom (by Jolie’s Halo).‚Ä®

Big Brown shuttled to Vinery in New South Wales for the 2011 Australian season.

Death of Derby sire

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Boundary, sire of Kentucky Derby winner and Vinery shuttle-sire Big Brown, was euthanised on February 4 due to the infirmities of old age. The 22-year-old son of Danzig had resided at Claiborne Farm as a pensioner since 2005. According to farm spokesman Bernie Sams, Boundary had been in good condition until the weekend.

Boundary (Danzig – Edge) won his first five starts in 1994 including the Gr 3 Roseben Handicap (gr. III). He retired with a record of six wins from eight starts and earnings of $217,777 and entered stud at Claiborne in 1995.

Boundary is represented by 26 stakes winners and the earners of more than $35 million. Big Brown, his sire’s chief earner, won the 2008 Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes on his way to being voted champion 3-year-old male.

Boundary’s other leading runners include English and Irish champion 2-year-old Minardi and Saratoga Grade I winner Pomeroy.

The winner of seven of his eight starts and $3.9 million, Big Brown shuttles to Vinery Stud in New South Wales where his fee in 2011 was $27,500.

Hunter Valley open day reviews

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Patinack Farm

Patinack Farm held their stallion parade on Friday night at their Sandy Hollow stallion property. Held under lights and with Moroccan themed cuisine keeping guests fed and warm, the thinking outside the square approach was a great success and is sure to be copied in future.

The New South Wales based stallions Beautiful Crown, Casino Prince, Husson, new boy Lope de Vega, Murtajill and Raheeb were paraded in great order. All are eligible for the Patinack bonus scheme with the exception of Beautiful Crown.

Vinery

Vinery

Vinery

Vinery Stud held parades on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The Saturday parade was held under overcast skies with the rain somehow kept at bay. There was a real buzz to the parade with such an outstanding selection of stallions. Peter Orton welcomed guests and commented on the need to keep the Valley free from the double threat of more coal mining and the new mining option Coal Seam Gas, before handing over to Adam White who took us through the parade in knowledgeable style.

Big Brown impressed, the Kentucky Derby winner looking every inch a super horse. The established stars More Than Ready, Testa Rossa and Mossman all have proven themselves and the up and comers like Benicio, Dubleo and Excites give real balance to the roster. Apart from Big Brown and Onemorenomore who are both in their second year at Vinery Australia, more recent additions to the team include: Congrats, the Champion First Season Sire in the US; and Prix Morny winner Myboycharlie.

Our thanks to Vinery for an excellent parade and a fine breakfast!

Arrowfield

It was then a short drive up the road to Arrowfield following the completion of the Vinery parade and here we were welcomed by Arrowfield principal John Messara. John reiterated Peter Orton’s message about land use and mining, and welcomed a special guest in local parliamentarian and Racing and Tourism Minister, George Souris.

Handing over to commentator Susan Archer, and roving interviewer Jon Freyer, the parade went like clockwork. The threat of rain was heavy in the air, but miraculously, and again, all managed to stay dry.

Beneteau was introduced as the new boy on the roster and he is truly a handsome individual. Those who have seen him at the track can attest to that. Not A Single Doubt looked physically awesome and an interesting interview by Jon Freyer with Andrew Reichard showed up some interesting statistics on his early season runners and how he was identified very early as potentially a top stallion. And that has happened.

All American has returned from his stint at Darby Dan Farm in the US and he is the first stallion to do the “reverse” shuttle from Australia to America.

Arrowfield

Arrowfield

On a roster which also includes Flying Spur, Manhattan Rain and Starcraft, as well as the separately housed Charge Forward (the alpha male scenario has been explained many times but Charge Forward does not abide the company of other stallions, so he lives up the road at Bellerive), the last to parade was the champion stallion Redoute’s Choice who once again has had another stellar year with 2010/11 stakes winners including Absolutely and King’s Rose wining Group 1’s, Melito and Rekindled Interest winning Group 2’s and Drumbeats, Sister Madly and Zingaling winning Group 3’s.

Great roster, wonderful hospitality.

Buyers like Big Brown

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Big Brown’s progeny have been proving popular with US buyer this week, his only two Saratoga Selected Yearling sale entries in New York selling for a combined total of $370,000. The two Big Brown colts on offer were very well received and sold for $150k and $220k respectively.

Wednesday’s results follow on from Big Brown’s good showing at the Fasig Tipton July Yearling sale where was the leading first season sire by average.

”The first crop of Big Brown’s sold very well last year as weanlings which was an obvious pointer to what might happen at the yearling sales and that’s how it has turned out,” says Vinery Stud’s Adam White, ‚ÄúThey are very much in the mould of their sire.‚Äù

”Not only are they making good money in a tough climate but they are subject to genuine competition which shows that the stallion has broad appeal from owners, trainers and pin hookers who will no doubt be getting some of them ready to re-sell at the two-year-old ready-to-run sales which is big business in the US.’