AMO

Paying 4.4m gns for a yearling is barking, with residual value if she fails to shine being less than a tenth od that sum. The sensible thing to do would be to invest that amount in one or two proven Group One winners.

some really silly numbers this week

Not really. You can't value something from our perspective, you need to look at it from the super rich's point of view. These people don't earn their money by the same means as working people and certainly not worried about 'value for money' or any other quaint working class notion of worth. They simply want it and go and get it. If the £4m goes south they'll get another £4m and go again. I hope someone reading this forum sells them a horse!

where's all his money coming from? it's a little mysterious - it feels like this isn't going to end well

When KJ first came on the scene I suppose I was as cynical as others were A_T. He seems to be quite well liked and has got himself some very serious backers/partners. We will see how it goes for him and his team, he certainly deserves a bit of success for money he is spending. We need a bit of new blood in the UK and to be honest I quite like the fact he's a little 'anti-establishment'. Too much of the market is very incestuous and half those big money sales are smoke and mirrors with a few players divvying it up amongst themselves. If one of his big purchases go on and do the business it might well create some incentive and momentum for others to take on the big outfits, let's hope so.

some good points there th. he seems amiable and there is evidence of humility. i wish him well

I think after phoenix and vertem cynics might be cautious.

I think this guy and his partners are pretty 'honest' (best word I could think of Proxy). I can't see the Qatari's getting into bed with the likes of those you mentioned. I think there's a massive big elephant in the room which no one seems to be talking about. Shk Mo can't be here for too much longer and there's going to be big opportunities to get the no1 spot in the UK at some point.

I am not sure Roger Varian was a great fan truehonch
I don’t think there are any real elephants surrounding Godolphin. I for one have no idea of how long Sheikh Mohammed will maintain his pursuit of the best races but I do know that such conjecture has been needlessly bandied about since he first entered the scene.
And who knows what succession planning he has in place for the next generation be they less or maybe even more keen?

RV lost a few owners recently, just the ups and downs of the game I suppose.  I don't agree about Godolphin, it's not really conjecture that he is old!! Being even more than Shk Mo seems improbable but who knows. The commitment he has made to racing and Newmarket in particular is remarkable but all things do come to an end, they always have.

sorry, 'even more keen'.

But he is 75 with access to the best health care on earth and he has always kept himself super fit. So whilst another 20 years of participation is unlikely it is by no means impossible. So yes, I am not sure conjecture is totally useful.

The point I was making that new players like KJ and his associates are going to be involved for some time and they certainly will be aware that they will be around when he isn't. There's no conjecture about that and it's not a particularly controversial view. The fact that he has left HC's old stables renovated but empty doesn't strike me as an act of someone 'pushing on'.

So there in lies the discussion. Who will be in the industry longest? I think more people dive in and drown than catch a wave.
We shall see.

You are right PotM. Hope the foal sales go really well for you if you are selling.

Thank you truehonch.
Regrettably I haven’t hit fashion this year -STILL holding on to breed a racehorse after all this time- so I am resigned to accept the worst and look at any improvement on that as a triumph!

truehoncho
I hope someone reading this forum sells them a horse!

I have a horse in a sale in a few weeks.
If AMO go to seven figures it is theirs.
If it goes to only five figures I would be happy.

I tend to echo that sentiment PotM. Unfortunately I am finding improvement hard to come by!!!

The best of luck Kincsem. One thing is for sure, they won't come looking at mine. I think the lights will be turned off at Tatts when mine go around. (At least they won't spot the faults so easily)!!!!

Godolphin could be undiminished if Sheikh Mohammed passed on. Plenty of the next generation investing in racing. Sheika Hissa and the Abdulla family are still pushing on. I am not sure if Kirsten Rausing has any family to take over. If not there will be some dispersal sale one day.

Shadwell and Juddmonte have both been wonderfully successful since the death of their respective founders. This has certainly helped along with Shk Mo's support, to keep the momentum going. It's in the face of a downturn where real motivation will be tested. I don't believe for one minute that Daley or Godolphin will end with Shk Mo but I do wonder how whoever takes it on will deal with the woeful lack of success that Darley go through for periods (arguably continuously) and question whether they will be as enthusiastic at the sales in the face of such poor value for money. I think far too many in that organisation are way below the required standard at the moment.