Arakan. The largest book covered of 2012

Give me some numbers PotM.

According to a brief precis of the Return of Mares in the Post today he covered 235 mares in 2012.

My only thought is that perhaps the only mare he covered in 2012 was covered at 2.35pm and it is a terrible misprint.
Surely my interpretation is correct?

Dual purpose would have alot to do with it. Exceptional value for money. The jumps boys are keen on them and his sire stats are very decent. Johannisberger was a big talking horse for Noel Meade and Brog Deas looks likely to be an extremely promising juv hurdler.

Thanks Boba. I can always count on my NH ignorance to land me in trouble. I see he has had 8 winners in that sphere according to the racing post. If that is enough to ellicit 235 mares then so be it. Good luck to them.

An interesting snippet from http://www.ownerbreeder.co.uk/2011/12/many-happy-returns-for-selected-stallion-farms/

If Flat breeders think certain stallions are covering too many mares, a glance at the number covered by their National Hunt counterparts would doubtless warrant a stiff G&T and retreat to a darkened room. The most in-demand jumps sire was Whytemount Stud resident Stowaway, sire of Grade 2 winners Western Leader and Hidden Cyclone, who stood for €1,000 in 2010 but whose fee for 2011 was listed as private. Such mystery didn’t stop him attracting 312 mates and giving a thumping in the table to perennial favourites Oscar (268) and Flemensfirth (202), who were also headed by the youngsters Getaway (274) and Mahler (269).

I heard arakan was covering for 1/2k filly/colt foal. Priced lower then unproven NH stallions and able to produce a decent horse in both spheres its easier to see the attraction.

Busiest Flat stallions in 2011, Sire/No. mares
Galileo     214
Duke Of Marmalade    184
Acclamation     174
Teofilo     167
Bushranger     164
Kodiac     164
Excellent Art     163
Iffraaj     161
Zebedee     161
Dark Angel     159
Dylan Thomas     158
Cape Cross 157
Invincible Spirit    157
Shamardal     157
Fastnet Rock     150
Rip Van Winkle     150
Thewayyouare     148
Aussie Rules     147
Lawman     147
Dubawi     144


blimey thats a lot from Tally Ho
Bushranger 164
Kodiac     164
Zebedee     161

"My only thought is that perhaps the only mare he covered in 2012 was covered at 2.35pm and it is a terrible misprint"

Looking good value now. Will be interesting to see how he goes when his bigger book sizes start coming thru.

logged on to create a thread but seems we have one. Is he commercial? I have a mare that would suit him down to the ground, but will there be much demand for his yearlings in 3 years time?

You can't fault Arakan, he has done it the hard way.  According to this months Owner & Breeder, Trumpet Major comes from a 2009 crop of just 15, Sruthan from a crop of 17 and todays impressive National stakes winner Toormore comes from a crop of 50.  He clearly gets 2 yo's and if you have a nice one you'll have the Doyles in the hunt for it.  With a big crop in 2012, if you sell as a yearling you stand a chance of making a profit if you get him at a reasonable fee.  This is of course if every other b#gger hasn't done the same .  Monsieur Bond mk2 maybe.

Posh Paddy 15 Sep 13 21:19 Joined: 24 Mar 05 | Topic/replies: 199 | Blogger: Posh Paddy's blog
You can't fault Arakan, he has done it the hard way.  According to this months Owner & Breeder, Trumpet Major comes from a 2009 crop of just 15, Sruthan from a crop of 17 and todays impressive National stakes winner Toormore comes from a crop of 50

It is bloody impressive!!!

Dick Turpin aswell.

ROC could turn out to be a good purchase by Ballyhane aswell

I am afraid I just don't know what to make of Arakan truehoncho.

I would though be very wary of him if you are coming in off the back of big NH books.

His good 2yo's don't ever look particularly like two year olds to me as they always seem like they have a bit of range and size so that would worry me if I was aiming for the precocious market.

His ability to get a good colt however is truely impressive given his opportunities and I always think that a good mating is more important than a commercial one every time, after all if you are convinced that a mating good then you are more likely to produce an individual that looks like a racehorse than going down the route of the purely commercial union.

He might get you a decent looking racehorse but in the sales ring  - forget it.

When I were a lad (the 60s), the top stallions rarely covered more than fifty mares. Then along came a certain Mr Magnier, who saw that megabucks could be made not only from quantity, but also from shuttling, and the whole scene changed. Not for the better, methinks. There is a serious over-production of foals, excessive in-breeding to Northern Dancer, and little thought of tomorrow.

Sruthan a 1k yearling goes on too win todays feature race at Tip the Concorde Stakes