The business end of the season is rapidly approaching and owners are wary of this as they seek a bargain at the sales. The G1 arena didn't show up the massive four figure sums that we have got used to in recent times, far from it, although trawling the sales room some very learned stables have appeared to net a good deal or two. The unraced horses of the sale were never going to reach the dizzy heights, in terms of hammer price. The sands of time for qualification into finals and consolations are not in the horses favour this late in the season but that was never going to stop trainers getting their fresh meat under the hammer. One such horse that almost didn't even make it to the sales room was Awesome Leader. It is hard to believe that a £3 claimer would go, firstly, without a claim and then go on to sell as well as it did. It had the community questioning exactly how Frank does it, the horse now representing the black and yellow. Well, this is exactly how he did it. You had to be on early with this horse. A quick look at the time trials on Friday would have given you everything you need to take a punt, in fact, I had her in my fancy list. The one thing that did happen though is, by today and virtue of the twenty visible trials, the information had all but vanished to those who didn't catch a glimpse on Friday. On viewing the trials today it indicated a fair enough staying filly, worthy of a stayers handicap at two and maybe stayers cups at three, should she train on. However, there was a beauty of a 1200m trial on low fitness on display Friday, not to mention a few decent efforts over 1000m which indicated that this horse was not a stayer after all. At a guesstimation, this horse is in the upper echelon of sprint ability and even though the price looks high, I think she could be a class act, time will tell. It will be interesting to keep an eye on her over the coming weeks and just think, you could have had her for the price of ten cigarettes!
The German franchise and recent challenge champion, Scheer Stalle, was on the prowl today, looking to invest some of the prize fund their monster sprinter, Gerd Der Bomber has netted in his final winning run. Don't be fooled into thinking that there isn't a monster in the sprint division, I'm sure this one is it. In fact, I know he is and you will all see why when he hits them for six in the sprinters final at the end of March. You don't win a final as easy as he did against opposition as classy as some of the field behind him to eliminate him as a "monster" type. Though I am sure the rewards he will bring will serve the yard very well indeed and we are immediately seeing some investment in new blood. I think the colours worn by the yard's horses are genius to the origin of the trainer and something tells me we are likely to see quite a lot of this one in the future. Today they snapped up a nice enough sprinter in Birgit Frank. The majority of the time she had figured over 1400m on a fast going, leaving a little to the imagination in gauging her credentials over the shorter trip. It is most definitely too late for her to impact on this seasons final with only three races remaining in qualification. A consolation is about the best she will get this season but first she has to crack her maiden. She might have enough about her to contend over 1600m and it may be worth the risk chancing her arm at the Ladbrokes Final, run at the dirt of America. I think there is a bit of scope for improvement in her and her auction price was fair and about right for this type late on. It is evident that the yard are targeting the right horses, confirming the intention to make an impact on the racing fraternity.
Sumner' was the one that got away from me. She was my only bid at this auction, yet, once again the might of the green colours beat me to, what I consider a good deal. She is certainly a horse that will require a bit of patience, due in fact to the amount of wins she has already acquired. Showing a distinct liking for a bit of cut in the ground and hitting some very nice numbers over the sprint trips, may not be enough to help her cause this term, as she is probably weighted out of a consolation final. I expect to see more of her as a three-year-old and beyond. Having muscled me out of a sprint filly it appears the sentiment is shared, after naming one of today’s acquisitions, maybe Sky Castle had too much for a horse on the champions radar. Frank The Muscles, may have a comedic ring to its name but there is nothing funny about the horses ability. He is a serious sprint hope from 1000m upwards. The handling of this horse will have to planned extremely well, something you expect from the one who knows best! The aim is most likely to get this horse into a consolation race by seasons end, where he should do extremely well, given his probable favourite ground of muddy. It took an age for the bidding to even get started on Sprinter Sacre. This multi functional sprinter will have his new owner praying for the rain to stay away. Fast, firm or good, it doesn't bother him in the slightest. Trawlers may chance him in the monthly over 1600m but his ultimate focus would be on the sprint series, whether a consolation or a final push. He would need to finish high up the order in all of the remaining races to give him any sort of chance to materialise a finals berth, that's pretty unlikely and I'm not overly convinced that he enjoys the 1200m stretch. In hindsight, a consolation race is more probable. G1 Racing has parted with over £420 to secure the service of a smart miler. Arnav was subject to a bidding frenzy with no less than ten trainers battling it out. With the Ladbrokes Monthly series reaching its climax this month, this one will be all out to record a victory. Aided by firm going and he will have a massive chance. His attributes over the 1600m trip will stand him as one of the front runners for the trophy but it is his 1400m credential that is most likely to warrant him the most success. The Nunthorpe will travel to England's 1400m turf track next season and a good campaign looks on the cards for the yards new hope. The price paid does look a little inflated so late, however, with a whole career ahead of him it all points to a sound investment and a healthy profit. Amongst the sprint ranks today, there were a couple of horses who looked nailed on to find a new home, which never materialised. Stuttering Poet looks as though his auction entry came a month too lat as this one had solid attributes over the minimum trip and would have been a lively contender in the final that was won by Gerd Der Bomber. The one that most surprised was Exponential Bay. This one sits on the fence of final qualification in thirteenth place, which should have seen the reserve met. It wasn't to be on this day and maybe the reserve was slightly too high to attract the attention with a two pound penalty looming for his second win. Nevertheless, he is of good breed at 1400m and should he return to the sale next time, with a little give in the reserve, he might well be a sound investment.
