FEATURE STALLION
APRIL 6, 2006
by Jordan Strickler
The buzz around the sales ring hit an all-time high last month as a
two-year-old colt by FORESTRY (Storm Cat) sold for $16 million at the Fasig-Tipton
Florida Calder Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, making him the highest-priced
horse ever sold at public auction. Purchased by Demi O’Byrne, agent for Coolmore
Stud, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, the
bay colt was named The Green Monkey after a golf
course at the Sandy Lane hotel in Barbados. Smith, Tabor and Coolmore managing
partner John Magnier are part owners of the hotel.
“Everyone was surprised,” said Byron Rogers, Taylor Made Farm’s Director of
Stallion Operations
On March 25, Discreet Cat remained undefeated from three attempts when
annexing the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2), dominating 12 opponents with a six-length
decision in
the about 1 1/8-mile affair. Having only two prior races under his
belt, the bay colt was deemed inexperienced by Godolphin racing manager Simon
Crisford, but attitudes changed once the colt passed the winner’s circle.
“He’s a horse that’s going places and we are really excited,” Crisford said.
“It was important to put a victory on the board and it’s very lovely that it was
this horse because he’s the future. Obviously, all our options are open for him,
including the Kentucky Derby (G1).”
The victory was his second under jockey Franki Dettori, who captured an
allowance event at Nad al Sheba with the sophomore on March 9.
Later that same day, Smokey Glacken earned her first Grade 2 score when
holding on by a neck to capture the Distaff Breeders’ Cup H. at Aqueduct. The half-sister to champion sprinter Smoke Glacken is
undefeated so far this year, winning the First Lady H. (G3) in her five-year-old
debut before following that up with a victory in the Hurricane Bertie H. (G3).
Smokey Glacken has captured 10 of 18 starts, including three other Grade 3 events, and has proved victorious in eight black-type events overall while placing
second in the 2004 First Flight H. (G2) and Safely Kept Breeders’ Cup S. (G3), as
well as last year’s Gallant Bloom H. (G2). She has earned $652,360 to date.
Diplomat Lady stamped herself as an early Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender last
year when capturing the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1), and opened up her sophomore
year with a fifth in the Las Virgenes S. (G1) before finishing a solid fourth in
the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) to Balance (Thunder Gulch)
Last year, it was Forest Danger who stole the headlines. In his first start
of the year, the Todd Pletcher charge dominated allowance/optional claiming foes
by 9 1/2 lengths, setting a new track record going 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14 2/5,
before taking on the Carter H. (G1) in his next outing. He finished out
the year with fifth-place finishes in both the Metropolitan H. (G1) and Forego
S. (G1). Incidentally, the five-year-old bay now resides at the same farm as his
father.
Other notable progeny for the 10-year-old stallion include Teton Forest (2004
Jerome H. [G2]), Forest Grove (2005 Los Angeles Times H. [G3]), Woodlander (2005
Lexington S. [G3]) and Congressionalhonor (2004 Bay Meadows Derby [G3]).
Forestry didn’t start racing till his three-year-old season in 1999, and it
didn’t take long for people to take notice of him. After breaking his maiden in his second
start and recording a third against allowance company, the bay colt reeled
off five straight victories, including the San Pedro S. and Dwyer S. (G2). That
streak came to an end when he finished a close third to Menifee in the
Haskell Invitational (G1), but the Bob Baffert trained-Forestry would go on to a
very impressive score in the King’s Bishop (G1) next time out. He concluded his career
with a solid fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
Although having only raced one year, Forestry made quite an impact on the
track, winding up his career with a 11-7-1-2 and $591,225 in earnings.
Duncan Taylor, president of Taylor Made Farm, describes Forestry as a very
correct horse with a beautiful head and square hip, a trait, he says, that seems
to get passed on to his offspring. Rogers backs this up and says that the
stallion is a nice horse to work with.
“Forestry is straight forward and looks after himself pretty well,” Rogers
commented. “(His progeny) are quite determined.”
Forestry’s success at stud resulted in Aaron and Marie Jones and
Taylor Made raising the stallion’s fee to $100,000 for the 2006 breeding
season.
“Before Christmas, he already had 100 mares in his book,” Rogers said.
By the time the breeding season ends, Forestry will have covered anywhere
between 120 and 135 mares. The recent success of Discreet Cat should influence his demand even further. Out of the Grade 1-winning Shared Interest (Pleasant Colony), a half-sister
to 1989 and 1990 Vosburgh S. (G1) winner Sewickley (Star de Naskra), Forestry is
a half-brother to 1999 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine Cash Run
(Seeking the Gold).
In four crops, Forestry has produced 83 winners from 127 starters, 20 of
who were black-type winners, with $8,196,069 in progeny earnings.