b4breeding

It was almost 2 years ago, Friday 18 February 2011, parade day at the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale, Karaka.

I was leaning on the parade ring fence, watching a few of them stretching  their legs and get used to the place.

And then I saw him.

He didn’t have a lot number on him. I had no idea who he was or what his breeding was. Goofy, big, good natured. Full of character.

I was smitten.

“He’s nice,” I called to the handler. “What lot number?” “Number 6 I think,” was the reply.

In the formal parade, I checked Lot 6 – yes, it was him. Big Is Good. On sale from Croon Bloodstock. Bay Colt, Art Major-Twice As Good.

Big Is Good leaves the parade ring at Karaka’s Australasian Classic Yearling Sale 2011

I watched him walk around again, and made a note in my catalogue: “Lovely, gawky young thing. Tall.” I fell in love all over again. I even took this photo of him. He didn’t make my last cut for my 2011 yearling sales virtual stable, mainly because I thought he would need a lot of time to mature, but I’ve been following him as best I can.

Today, at 1.19pm Big Is Good makes his debut at the races, after showing up well enough in his qualifying trial. I’ll be watching.

Twice As Good’s family is one I hold in high regard. Stunningly consistent, often underrated at the sales, the family keeps throwing up good performers from a wide range of sires.

Twice As Good was a decent racehorse herself and was bred mainly by Steve and Anne Phillips (for Twice As Hot by In The Pocket, Trelise by Holmes Hanover and Waitfornoone by Albert Albert) and then by Robert Death for St Barts by Island Fantasy (one of the few Island Fantasies that really showed big ability), before moving to Croon Bloodstock. She’s then left the good filly Fight Fire With Fire by Artiscape (again, a sire many have struggled with), the Christian Cullen filly Goodlookinggirl who is now owned by Breckon Bloodstock, and more recently the Bettor’s Delight colt Mark Dennis who is showing up nicely. That sort of production record indicates a mare who has a very good genetic structure herself.

The mare to date has left far more fillies than colts, so it must have been with some relief and hope that Big Is Good by Art Major was foaled and aimed at the yearling sales.

But at auction time, few bids were made and he went for a lowly $5000 (although I noted $10,000 on the day, but maybe that was the auctioneer trying to get a bid). Why?

It was announced he was a rig – but does that really count for much if the product is a big strapping Art Major colt?

I think it was more his type – he looked happy, soft, lanky, like a gawky teenager.  Maybe there was something else amiss that I didn’t spot. But now he’s at the races, and in hindsight he was a real bargain.

PGG Wrightson’s Kerry Shaw is one of the owners, with L J Smith, Mrs E A Whitelaw.

I wish them all the best with Big Is Good, the goofy boy who stole my heart.

Note: Just checked on trainer Cran Dalgety’s website for his comments about Big Is Good and a recent photo – and his chances in the race debut today.

Further note: Sat back, loomed up, sat parked, trucked on but got passed by a few. 5th. You wouldn’t be too disappointed with that run unless you’d thrown the house at him – rather than a little one each way bet like me; he’ll be improved with that.

Breeding note: For those interested, check out Australasian 2013 sale Lot 110, a Bettor’s Delight colt from a Artiscape daughter of Twice As Good (and therefore a sister to Fight Fire With Fire). The family’s record is well displayed there.  He’ll probably get a wee bit more than $5000, me thinks!