2014, what a year it has been, thanks in no small part to having had two Group 1 Winners. The horses in question were The Wow Signal who won the Prix Morny Gr.1 and Garswood who won the Prix Maurice de Gheest Gr.1.
Royal Ascot – The Wow Signal
The Wow Signal also won the Coventry Stakes Gr.2 at Royal Ascot and to any potential owners reading this I would say that this day was the greatest thrill of my racing & bloodstock career – the atmosphere was incredible and I was very grateful to Harry Herbert, Racing Manager to Al Shaqab Racing when he took me by the arm in the Winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot and introduced me to Sheikh Joaan by announcing ‘Sir, this is Richard Knight who purchased the horse for you’.
The biggest well done should be for John & Sean Quinn and their team at home who trained the horse and had always held him in such high regard – this day and his day when winning the Prix Morny Gr.1 further highlighted what excellent trainers they are.
The Wow Signal Winning the Coventry Stakes Gr.2 at Royal Ascot
Garswood
Garswood’s Win in the Prix Maurice de Gheest came exactly 2 weeks before the The Wow Signal’s Prix Morny win so was my first Group 1 winner.
As a foal he was tall, scopey and a great walker but he was in 3-parts and needed to knit together – he was by Dutch Art who I had felt at the time would make it as a stallion and he cost just 19,000gns.
He was always held in such high regard by his trainer Richard Fahey and I remember him saying that he was working as a 2yo with 115 rated 3 and 4 year old sprinters. He won a Listed race and was Group placed at 2, won a Gr.2 and was Gr.1 placed at 3 and then won his Gr.1 as a 4yo.
Richard Fahey described him as ‘The fastest horse he has trained’ and hopefully he can pass on some of this speed and his superb temperament to his progeny.
2014 Yearling Sales
The yearling sales in 2014 were very successful and I was able to purchase approximately 25 yearlings mainly on behalf of trainers John Quinn and William Knight. I am delighted with what was bought and hopefully there will be a few decent ones amongst them.
There are a couple of yearlings for sale in their respective yards, if anyone is interested please do make contact with me or the trainers directly –
1) Approve colt ex Miznapp who is a half-brother to Listed placed performer Clean Bowled – he was purchased for €47,000. In training with John Quinn.
2) Lilbourne Lad colt ex Elizabelle who is half-brother to 3 time 2yo winner in 2014 Power Play – he was purchased for 34,000gns. In training with William Knight.
2014 Foal Sales
Having just returned from the various December Sales I was delighted to have come away with having purchased eight foals, most of which will come back for re-sale in 2015 having been ‘pinhooked’. The market was very strong though and I actually had more foals to purchase but was unable to fill the orders with the right horse at the right price. I always take the approach that I hope my clients will be with me for many years to come and so would rather not buy, than buy just for the sake of it.
Of the foals that I did purchase, here are a few that really stood out for me –
1) Mayson colt ex Viola da Braccio. This was a very strong and mature foal whose dam is five winners from 5 runners including the Listed winner Sarinda & Hong Kong black-type performer Pleasure Gains. He walked very well and should make a 2yo and is likely to return to Tattersalls Book 1. He cost 90,000gns.
2) Nathaniel colt ex Navajo Rainbow. This colt oozed quality and was very athletic. He is a brother to Listed winner Navajo Chief and will return to Tattersalls Book 1 or 2. He cost 85,000gns.
3) Sea The Stars filly ex Mamonta. This filly was scopey and quality and by the very exciting sire Sea The Stars from the family of Gr.1 winner Mourayan. She cost €160,000.
Mating Plans
I have completed many mating plans over the past couple of months on behalf of clients and have most of the mares booked in to stallions for 2015. The stallions that we are visiting include 1st season sires Slade Power, Charm Spirit, Toronado and, of course, Garswood. It was a great moment when I went up to Cheveley Park Stud and saw Garswood in his new home and surroundings – he looked very happy, relaxed as ever, and I look forward to seeing his foals in 2016.
Forthcoming Sales
The early part of 2015 starts with the mixed sales at Tattersalls & Goffs in early February – here I will find a selection of just turned yearlings for sale which could be bought to race in 2016 or to re-sell in October 2015. There will also be a large number of fillies and some in-foal mares being offered for sale which can be mated and retained or re-sold.
Tattersalls Feb Sales – February 5-6
Goffs February Sales – February 11-12
And then it’s on to the Breeze-Up Sales where I will get the chance to purchase unraced 2yo’s which are already in full work and some only weeks off a run.
Ascot Breeze-Up Sales – April 1
Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sales – April 14-16
Doncaster Breeze-Up Sales – April 22-23
Osarus Breeze-Up Sales – April 28
Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up & HIT Sale – April 30 – May 1
Arqana Breeze-Up Sale – May 9
Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale – May 21-22
Investment
In 2015 I am going to set-up an Investment Company for trading bloodstock. Over the past few years I have enjoyed much success pinhooking foals for clients with sale price increases including turning €42,000 into €130,000, 42,000gns into 110,000gns, 120,000gns into 220,000gns, 40,000gns into 80,000gns, €48,000 into 80,000gns, €55,000 into €90,000, to name just a few.
This company would buy foals to sell as yearlings, buy fillies off the track to get in-foal and sell on and buy in-foal mares to sell the foals they are carrying and then re-cover the mare and sell on.
If you would have interest in this please email [email protected] or phone +44 7769 349240.
All that remains to be said is a big ‘Thank You’ to those of you who have supported me and whom I have done business with – your support is greatly appreciated and I hope together we ‘have’ or ‘can’ achieve the goals which we set out to do.
To those of you who are interested in working with me in the future, please do make contact and I will be delighted to discuss your interests in more detail.
I am currently taking orders for the February Sales and also the various Breeze-up sales – if this is of interest to you then please email me [email protected] or phone +44 7769 349240.
I wish you all a very Happy Christmas & New Year and a very successful 2015.
Richard
Richard Knight Bloodstock Agent Ltd
[email protected]
www.richardknightbloodstockagent.com
+44 7769 349240