Bernardini probably done...

My dad and brother are both at Keeneland November buying and the word at the sale is Bernardini has been retired this morning. My dad says he's heard 3 different fees which probably means they havent quite set it yet. He was told 150k twice though.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Had he won the race, it could have been set at $500,000 I would think.

That was an expensive length.

I should mention he heard from his consignor who sold one of his mares at FT this weekend and then from someone high up at Jonabell who will go unnamed. Sorry folks... but I would say its 99% certainty he's done.

Originally Posted by Cardus

Had he won the race, it could have been set at $500,000 I would think.

You're brave. I would have said 200k...

[Cajungator26]

He's well worth the $150k IMO (if that's what it's set at.)

Hell, even GZ started at $200k with an average ped.

http://www.darley.co.uk/jonabell/ind...nardini%20(USA)

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Balletto

http://www.darley.co.uk/jonabell/ind...nardini%20(USA)

Someone posted Bernie's stallion page last week.

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Someone posted Bernie's stallion page last week.

Ahh, didnt see that. Unfortunately, word at the sale is pretty deafening. Its funny, we were both anti-Bernardini until he showed us he was a very talented 3yo... not much more than that... but thats more than enough. Oh well, it was nice for one race result, huh? lol

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Someone posted Bernie's stallion page last week.

I posted it but they then took it back down so the fact that they put it back up and added the part about Standing at Jonabell Farm doesn't look too good.

[GenuineRisk]

Well, if that's true, it bites. In that case, I'm glad he lost the BCC. I'm hopeful that will stick in the Sheik's craw, and may I also hope he doesn't sire a Derby winner? Bernie won't care; he's a horse and will get plenty of nice fillies and top-class care. The only ones who will care what he does in the breeding shed are the ones who own him. So there! Pbbbbt.

On the bright side:

http://bc.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36256

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Well, if that's true, it bites. In that case, I'm glad he lost the BCC. I'm hopeful that will stick in the Sheik's craw, and may I also hope he doesn't sire a Derby winner? Bernie won't care; he's a horse and will get plenty of nice fillies and top-class care. The only ones who will care what he does in the breeding shed are the ones who own him. So there! Pbbbbt.

On the bright side:

http://bc.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36256

I dont know how you can wish "bad" upon the connections for making a safe business decision. Until you're in the position and you're shelling out money and watching each race with breath held hoping your horse returns safely, I wouldnt be so quick to JUDGE.

Yeah, maybe they do have more money than God, but he loves his horses and wants the best for them. And maybe, just maybe, the best for this horse is retiring now. You dont know the quirks and possibly physical ailments or weaknesses... stop assuming its your place or right to make such an ignorant comment.

You disagree with the retirement... GREAT... voice your opinion... we all will... thats what the forum is for and the right of all fans... but dont sink so low to ignorantly voice personal attacks and ill-wishes upon someone you dont know, especially a person who helps keeps this sport alive, more so than any other owner.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Balletto

I dont know how you can wish "bad" upon the connections for making a safe business decision. Until you're in the position and you're shelling out money and watching each race with breath held hoping your horse returns safely, I wouldnt be so quick to JUDGE.

Yeah, maybe they do have more money than God, but he loves his horses and wants the best for them. And maybe, just maybe, the best for this horse is retiring now. You dont know the quirks and possibly physical ailments or weaknesses... stop assuming its your place or right to make such an ignorant comment.

You disagree with the retirement... GREAT... voice your opinion... we all will... thats what the forum is for and the right of all fans... but dont sink so low to ignorantly voice personal attacks and ill-wishes upon someone you dont know, especially a person who helps keeps this sport alive, more so than any other owner.

Balletto, do you think they are retiring him due to injury or ailment?

Yes, it's a safe business decision. Though the safest business decision would have been not to ever run him at all; why, he could have broken down this past year! Come on...

I'm well aware this is a breeding business, first and foremost, and the sport aspect is basically to take money away from suckers, but not having any stake in breeding, I'm here because I like watching horses run. So I can be disappointed, and I can hope that retiring him turns out to not produce the superhorse that they're expecting and guess what, that doesn't make me an evil person. Because I'd like to see breeding take a backseat to racing. Not going to happen, but I can't help but be chagrined when a talented, young and as best I can tell, sound horse is rushed off to the breeding shed. It's a bummer for the fans.

Worst case scenario, what would happen to the Sheik if he ran Bernardini at four and God forbid, Bernardini broke down? Is the Sheik any poorer? No, because he's got all of us throwing oil back as fast as we can- he'll always be richer than any of us can ever fathom. Of any owners in the world, they are the ones who can afford to lose a valuable animal and not have it affect their financial stability. I'm of the opinion SJ was retired because the owners couldn't keep up with the insurance payments-- how much would he have had to win each year just to pay for that? I'm sure he was injured and worn out, but I think the insurance was a huge factor-- and I don't blame them. I understand the small-time owner retiring a horse and taking the money. These guys DON'T NEED IT. Decades past you had people breeding to race; these guys are breeding to breed. Boy, that's exciting. Woo hoo. Can't wait.

So no, I don't feel bad about hoping their hot prospect doesn't pan out in the breeding shed, because I don't get any thrill out of imaging Bernardini rutting away. I get it watching horses run. And again, he's a fracking horse. He doesn't care what I think of him; he's going to have a lovely life in retirement (a year too soon, as far as I'm concerned) so my ire is purely directed at a what I think is a poor sporting decision. And quite frankly, the Sheik doesn't give a rats' ass what I think of his decision, either.

So again, I say, pbbbbbbtttt.

Originally Posted by Cardus

Do owners hold their breath when it's a $50,000 claimer as opposed to a Grade One winner? There are a lot of racing fans who are not interested in the "safe business decisons" made in the name of horses who win a classic at 3 and are retired by the end of the racing season. While Grade One winners are just as vulnerable as the $50,000 claimer to injury, they should be just as inherently able to continue a racing career after their three-year-old seasons.

I think most owners do. If an owner doesnt, they have no business being in the sport. Animal well-fare comes first and foremost.

And thats my point, fans have every right to be disappointed and to voice their frusterations... but dont personally attack the connections and wish ill upon them for a decision that was made in what COULD be in the best interest of the animal.

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

He's well worth the $150k IMO (if that's what it's set at.)

Hell, even GZ started at $200k with an average ped.

Ghostzapper is down to $150K. Dynaformer is up to $150K from $100K. They said horses that produces turf and dirt runners are going to be the hot sires, with polytrack playing a big role in racing now.

Nostradamus said the Bernardini fee is $200K. I am not sure where he heard that from.

Originally Posted by Revolution

Ghostzapper is down to $150K. Dynaformer is up to $150K from $100K. They said horses that produces turf and dirt runners are going to be the hot sires, with polytrack playing a big role in racing now.

Nostradamus said the Bernardini fee is $200K. I am not sure where he heard that from.

Could be. My dad was told 150, 200, and 175k. He just heard 150 multiple times though.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Revolution

Ghostzapper is down to $150K. Dynaformer is up to $150K from $100K. They said horses that produces turf and dirt runners are going to be the hot sires, with polytrack playing a big role in racing now.

Nostradamus said the Bernardini fee is $200K. I am not sure where he heard that from.

Like I posted, even GZ STARTED at $200k. I believe I heard originally that Bernie was going to start at $200k as well, but perhaps that changed since his loss? I dunno...

Originally Posted by Cardus

It's not outrageous. Think about it: he'd have to be equal value to that of A.P. Indy (even though he is a Seattle Slew), and then go higher, for he has accomplished as much as his sire -- I sense a thread about that one, but some could argue that A.P. Indy had more name than game -- if not more, Saturday notwithstanding.

Also, in an era with a diminishing pool of genuine stamina influences, he would stand out from the pack so much more than if he had races two decades ago.

Who else can command a fee equal to that of Storm Cat?

There's absolutely no justification for setting a fee higher or equal to that of his sire. None. No Chance! No one would breed to him for much more than 200k. There's too many proven commodities out there who can get you a runner and a big sales horse, including his sire, for the same price or near it.

And there is no commercial equal to Storm Cat and that's why he holds the position as highest priced stallion in the world, and will continue to do so until his death, more than likely. His versatility as a stallion is what puts him on his own playing field compared to the solid A.P. Indy and brilliant Sadler's Wells.