In November I managed to have a few days to catch-up in my office following all the yearling sales and horses-in-training sale before the breeding stock sales. I almost went over the Keeneland for their massive 3,000+ November Breeding Stack sale but my clients decided to keep their buying to Europe especially as the sale has so few families with appeal to Grass breeders. In all a time to study the upcoming catalogues and plan a bit of a strategy. I worked hard at gathering the stallion fees for the upcoming 2011 covering season so that my Nomination Card would be available at the Breeding Stock Sales.
I went to Goffs in Ireland for their November Breeding Stock sales where I bid on a number of horses for UK clients but only managed to buy 2 mares – Vanity (IF Duke Of Marmalade) for €50,000 to go to England for Charlie Mason and Silview (IF Dandy Man) for €40,000 to be exported to Saudi Arabia.
At the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale I bought 6 yearlings on behalf of clients from England, Hungary and Czech Republic. I thought that the Tattersalls December Foal Sale trade was unbelievably strong and advised my clients not to buy. I did make sure that I saw as many first season foal sires progeny as was possible – a vital strategy to help see a stallion’s progeny and to aid in the planning of clients mating plans for their mares.