Singing a different tune

The results of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale – down more than 30 per cent on average – suggests that the global financial crisis is still hitting hard in the northern hemisphere.

There is a perception that a continued decline is unlikely at Australia’s yearling sales in the first half of 2010: Australia’s economy has been less affected by the recession than North America and Europe – although we will be doing well to hold our position on this year’s figures – down 25 per cent  down, across the board, on 2008 figures.

Economies aside, there remains a lot of difference between what happens in thoroughbred breeding north of the equator and in Australia and New Zealand.

The incredible success of the big grey horse, Unbridled’s Song (1993, Unbridled (USA)–Trolley Song (USA), by Caro (IRE)), is one example. Unbridled’s Song is generally regarded as a failure in Australia, but he’s top of the tree on his own dirt track patch.

Four of the top seven yearlings to sell at Keeneland so far are by Unbridled’s Song, who won the 1995 Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (1600m) before his much-heralded arrival in Australia to stand at Arrowfield Stud in 1997.

I remember inspecting Unbridled’s Song in his first season, and my amazement when the big horse was led from his box. “Steeplechaser,” was my unkind remark, although it was taken well enough by the Arrowfield staff because I wasn’t the first or last to make a similar assessment of the monster 17hh steely grey.

Unbridled’s Song was a struggle for broodmare owners, too. It was difficult to find the right mare to suit him, and he only covered 88 mares in his first season, and only 63 in 1998 and 78 in his last Australian season in 1999.

Yet a study of his Australian figures suggests he did a lot better than the failure tag he carries – 10 Stakes winners from only 181 live foals is far from a flop. His best horse, and only Group winner, was the tough gelding Grey Song, who won the 2002 Group 3 VRC St Leger and the 2005 Group 2 Blamey Stakes, and was runner-up to Mummify in the 2003 Group 1 Caulfield Cup.

Unbridled’s Song stands at Taylor Made Farm, Kentucky, at a fee of US$125,000. It’s worth noting that Taylor Made believe the big horse produces his best results when mated to big, heavy mares – a contrast to what you’d expect was put to him in his time at Arrowfield.