SALES WEEK DONE AND DUSTED.

I have often mentioned the similarity between football teams and their coaches to racehorses and their trainers. We often hear terms like, rebuilding, retirement of older competitors, injuries, peaked, trained well or training off, having an easy few weeks at training etc etc. Well I reckon that sales week must be similar to the end of season recruitment week where young footballers are put through their paces and deals are done to recruit the best young players to the team. If as a trainer you recruit poorly, the following season or two could be bleak. If on the other hand you are able to recruit a few stars, the team is most likely going to be in the headlines over the next few years.

Last week, after weeks and weeks of inspecting and catalogue studying, the Magic Millions Sales were completed at the ageing Belmont Park sales complex. Both Dion and I have covered many miles over the past few weeks inspecting the babies at their respective studs and even more leg work inspecting others at the sales complex.I have to say that it was a whole lot easier on me this year having Dion on board to share the workload. Dion has developed a good eye over the past few years and I am confident that when he inspects a yearling, he is able to see the same things I do. He will improve even further over the next few years.

We were able to come away from the sales with some nice babies and these along with the two year olds we have educated this season are sure to help us put together a more than useful team of racing horses over the next few seasons.

It was nice to be able to go to the sales and buy some nice horses for loyal stable clients like Peter Walsh, Rick Maio, Amelia Park Club, Keith and Bill Biggs and others. The boys who race Amelias Dancer were able to secure his half sister for $50,000 and there looks like being some very handy horses amongst those who will join the Amelia Park Club this year. There are a few which I bought on spec and I am confident that these will find owners over the next week or two. Dion and I can both be contacted if any information is required on any of the babies purchased.