First Foals

Usually backed up by, " He's as nice a foal as we've ever had"

'The best foal out of the mare' for sure!

We hear this sort of stuff year in year out,things we don't hear is the reality of breeding comments like 'its a rat''its as crooked as a cork screw' 'god that's light of bone' or its leggy 'Christ that looks very expensive'or 'oh no not another effing filly' or that's going need the farrier!!!....I'm sure you know what its like

I particularly like 'crooked as a corkscrew'! I'm going to trot that out next time it happens. And it surely will

Not holding my breath for the stallion masters to come out with it though

Any foals yet Prima? And indeed all other Betfairian breeders!

Not yet but soon I'm sure,when's your first one due and what's the sire?

I'm overdue but I'm being a bit stupid because it's a mare that goes nigh on 12 months and this year she looks like she'll beat that record! Bally nuisance as it's a beggar to get more than 3 foals in a row before you need to call it a day. I'll keep schtum on the sire because I think it was me, the owner and the local farmer as the only takers last spring!

I thought it might be worth refreshing this thread.

Coolmore are on the case with their foal pictures as ever. I know that it is the best way to promote a 2nd season sire.

There are some poor pictures on Whitsbury's site of some Showcasings and as discussed elsewhere the Helvellyns seem encouraging. Anyone got any comments about 1st season foals they are pleased with or have heard about?

I have a nice topped Showcasing so there's your starter for 10. Lots of Mr Prospector, but the wheels would be a worry.

My showcasing is nicer than those on their website and he's not a fortnight old, very promising. Seems they are all 'well' marked.  I've seen a few nice Mawatheeqs, all pure bay and strong.

Interesting yer ma. I always had a sneaky thing for Mawatheeq. That much pedigree and classy looks always has the potential to bail you out.

I've seen a couple of Showcasings stock Pot M and I can't help it they are nice enough only not yet seen any that really grab me like you say 'the wheels'I'd hope to see better one's this year or his glossy image might fade out fast.Approve is getting smashing sorts I'd guess his foals will be better received than Showcasings we will have to wait and see.
I have a filly by Silver Frost who is very nice I'd naturally hope for a colt but a good sort like that one is always better than a rat of a colt.
Helvellyns foals are superb strong sorts connections must be delighted with what he's getting,I understand his book this year is near 90 mares so that's very good well done to them I think he will be hot at the foal sales.I have seen one foal by Danetime stallion Le Cadre Noir and it was very nice similar to the Bushrangers but perhaps with a touch more class,it is mind the only one of his I've seen.

i would love to see some pictures of foals with comments on how you think they look. It would help the likes of myself with little experience of what to expect.

Mawatheeq!

Saw a neighbour's Showcasing colt yesterday which was nice, strong bodied with plenty of white on it's head. Would be pretty happy with it if it was mine.

Also seen a Mawatheeq a few weeks ago. Was a bit leggy for my liking, but probably a nice "improver".

Actually Prima that is a very salient point. It's the knee jerk reaction to fall into a trough at the delivery of a filly. My pages are not really strong enough to give any guarantees but the fact is a really nice filly beats an ordinary colt and ofcourse if you have a stonking page it can beat a really nice colt too.
It is all well and good to mourn the beautiful colt that should have been but the fact is all the dangling bits in the world don't a commercial colt make. It's tough to breed a really nice foal which ever way you look at it and that longed for colt would have been most likely to be ordinary at best, because that's the way the cookie crumbles.
It would be nice if Silver Frost turned into a replacement for the old man, not just for connections, but to keep variety available to us all. I've just been looking at his picture and whilst there seems plenty of Anabaa there, it seemes pleasantly reigned in by a bit of Verglas strength. I shall follow dutifully.
Pleased about your neighbours Showcasing Wily. Seems like mine's the only one with no white!
Leggy Mawatheeq sounds scarey!

Is the white reference about stamping stock, or similar to the chesnut prejudice?

I was just making conversation really Proxygene. I don't think Showcasing has a white marked sort of pedigree but he does have a bit himself. (The Minstrel, I suppose)
For what it's worth I like a bit of white but as I am sure you know you can have too much, particularly if you couple it with chesnut!

I'd have to ask myself when considering using a stallion like Mawatheeq 'is he really the sort I'd want to breed'?Yes he has a strong page but is it one that is going to offer you a chance of getting the so desired precocious sort the markets want?As I understand he wasn't exactly red hot with the uptake of nominations going out for him.I cant see him having much impact either on the racetrack or importantly the sale ring.If I did think of using him(and I don't)I'd want a mare that is going to be able to carry him as I cant see him helping her.
And I agree it would be very nice if Silver Frost became a fitting replacement for his much missed old man.I remember a much respected pinhook buyer saying to me that he was not keen on Jeremy as he got them with too much colour,it can put serious buyers off.........lets hope Showcasing isn't viewed the same way.
You once told me your neighbours were thinking of sending a mare to Helvellyn did they in the end?

Yes. More than one!

I see that Tweenhills have sent 12 or so and this stallion seems to be on a bit of a roll. Lovely when a horse makes his own luck from a modest start, I wish them all the best.

I am not really a Mawatheeq fan. But I do feel that stranger things have happened. I am not sure that 4 winners in April for Sixties Icon isn't stranger!

They want to look after Casper Netscher as well in my opinion, whilst I'm flitting from pillar to post, as he could sneak a berth at stud. He'd sit very well as a foil for the Danzig saturation mares.

From watching the race yesterday does Casper Netscher look a guineas winner to you?To me he won his race in a workmanlike fashion........doesn't look good enough for me to win a classic.I to think its great for a stallion to make it from very humble beginnings,I too hope he makes it himself and for the girl who has had the guts to venture out on her own in a very competitive world.Talking about the 2000gns I do think Montjeu will get his long awaited winner this year and I also think it could be a very special year for the great stallion bringing memory's back from 40 odd years agoand from what I've seen so far if anything's going to nick it my money would be for Trumpet Major!It's going to be a great race that's for sure!

Big Nij!

I hope that Camelot is a bit handier than NijinskyII as he wouldn't be as easy a sell in this day and age. It's potentially such a sensational year with Frankel, Camelot, Black Caviar & co I do hope we don't get a damp squib! A Montjeu championship would be great too.

I don't think Casper is a Newmarket classic winner but he might be good enough to give a Ballydoyle 2nd 11 a beating in the French perhaps. There are lots of inponderables with him not least Dutch Art, but he was a rattling good 2yo who has properly trained on so if I was them I would have an eye on the Jersey and the Challenge the and likes.

I wonder how good the Charlton horse will turn out. For a non bullsh1t yard he certainly does seem of interest.

I do agree its looking mighty likely to be a great year with those horses running,but I also think IF Camelot does pull off the dream and goes onto win the Triple Crown then I don't see any problems marketing him as he will be marketed as a GNS winner much will be made of the fact he was CH 2 y'old who went on to win the TC.
You can almost hear them saying 'The best horse for 40 odd years'upstaging STS(giving connections a lot of satisfaction).If Sixties Icon does turn it in this year then the fact he himself is a St.Leger winner will do no harm to the prospects of Camelot when the time comes for retirement.Remember Camelot's connections are about the shrewdest operators in this game on the planet!
It's possible with that plan for Casper Netscher but to me he looked every inch a GR2 horse certainly not a classic miler.
I'm not sure about Carlton House he does remind me of Tartan Bearer a little,I wonder if he's just a plodder time will as ever tell us.

Have you had a little Adult beverage Prima? I was referring to the Roger Charlton colt, Top Offer!

I wouldn't have many problems with Camelot for sure! Though I suppose there would only be a few lengths difference between him and Authorized. You've got to trust Fethard to do a better job mind and I suppose Authorized can make progress this year too.

Have you had a little Adult beverage Prima? I was referring to the Roger Charlton colt, Top Offer!

Obviously not enough Pot M what a thicket, I read 'Charlton horse' as CARLTON HOUSE! Perhaps I do need to use my glasses after all, rose tinted or otherwise...........

Just so people know, I do keep track of these threads, but don't have much to say - I have next to nothing to say about flat breeding, and not much more about NH breeding (I know people with a grand total of about 5 NH broodmares - all essentially hobbyists). I do find the chatter interesting though.