The New Team

Dear Partners and Friends,

Even as we are beginning to enjoy the rise to prominence of our two year olds, a NEW TEAM is being assembled for Derby Dreams VII. Just like Saturday last year (when we bought six out of six) yesterday proved to be our day as we came away with five new colts to bring our total to seven.

Today you get to have your first look at the seven as we begin to assemble photos for you to view.

We start off with two horses you have already heard about. First up, here is the Candy Ride colt. Out of an A.P. Indy mare A.P. Double Cat:

 Next up is the Harlan's Holiday colt. Out of a Gone West mare De Aar.

Turning to Saturday's efforts:

First up Saturday was a magnificent Hard Spun colt out of top broodmare sire Unbridled's Song mare named Last Song.

This tall rangy May 9 colt had an outstanding cardio and screamed distance. With Deputy Minister as the grand broodmare sire he has everything he needs to get the classic distances. Here he is:

Next up was a Malibu Moon colt out of a Giant's Causeway mare named Perfect Cause. (No Dr. Jake you can't name him Mitt Romney ;). This boy had a massive two turn cardio and has an outstanding pedigree.

By this point we were on a roll!  A wonderful Curlin colt came our way out of a Storm Cat mare named Royal Tigress. This mare has produced runners before. I want you to compare the photo of this Curlin with the preceding Malibu Moon. Boy do they look like brothers.

At this point we had our oddest moment of the sale.  We had been touted late onto a good looking Paddy O'Prado colt, hip 984.  Conor Foley and I went to see him and found a big good looking colt that oozed personality.  His walk was like a jungle cat and he looked like the picture of conformation and solid build.  We quickly had him scoped and vetted (A+) and did a cardio on him (huge).  I went to the ring hoping to buy him for around 125.  At 130 I dropped out of the bidding and the colt sold for 160. Except he didn't. He RNA'd. (Reserve price not achieved for those of you who don't hang around sales). The consignor Peter O'Callaghan came up to me and acknowledged he had been "caught" (there is nothing wrong with it) bidding on his own horse. At this point we had the leverage. I ended up buying the horse for $117,500 and he is ours! His lineage is that he is out of a Lyphard's Wish mare named Wishful Legacy (how appropriate is that name?!)

So, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado I present to you a magnificent Paddy O'Prado who will join the ranks of DDVII:

Next into the ring for Donegal was Hip 1132, an Unbridled's Song out of a Speightstown mare named French Dip. This colt is an absolute stallion if he hits with the passing of Unbridled's Song. And hit he should. A total racy looking colt with the biggest cardio we purchased. The mare herself could run posting a 5 on the sheets during her career. This colt was a Best of Sale on nearly everyone's list and we felt very fortunate to get him.

Our only strikeout of the night came very late in a very long day when we had our eye on a Lookin At Lucky colt who brought $390,000 and went to a 'fancier' home ;).

We have our eye on one or two colts Tuesday and then we will be finished. 

We will send out partnership information for Derby Dreams VII early this coming week.

In the meantime, Derby Dreams....past, present and future!

Jerry

P.S. The naming committee will have its first meeting this week, so please send your suggestions to office@donegalracing as soon as possible. Please note the horse's hip number with your name suggestion.