In this series, we ask agents and others who book a lot of mares for their clients which sires might be flying slightly under the radar in this breeding season. Who might be getting overlooked in the rush for the new, hot thing? Read on.
Marette Farrell: HARD SPUN, Darley America, $40,000
Straightaway, I'd say Hard Spun. He's a phenomenal stallion and gets you a real runner. At the end of the day, we all get caught up in the whole sales thing, and he can get you a proper racehorse, and a sales horse, plus he's an emerging top-class broodmare sire. How can you overlook a horse like that at $40,000?
We are always trying to anticipate which stallions are currently quiet and which ones are about to take off. I think Hard Spun is in this spot right now. His first crop since he came back from Japan have just turned three and he is poised to kick right into gear now that they are going to get the chance to go two turns, be it turf or dirt. In my opinion he is real value. Dave Anderson of Anderson Farms who I work with, had a filly of his sell for $950,000 (at Keeneland September 2018). That's right there at the top of the tree, and you don't have to pay $300,000 for a stud fee. For me, the versatility of that and the consistency of a stallion like that is hugely important. If you have a young mare from a good family that you think might have the tools to be a producer, Hard Spun can be a solid foundation sire to get her up and running. So, Hard Spun; a) because he'll help make a mare, b) because you'll have a chance at a racehorse and c) because you'll have opportunity for a good sale horse.
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