this. wholeheartedly agree. and Lentenor is a good looking guy as well. He’s just not going to get an opportunity at really good mares and never has. I would hate to see some of these guys end up overseas to be forgotten about when there is plenty of opportunity for them stateside if someone is willing to look into it
I agree on the Winstar business model. I think they were doing the same with Exaggerator and his previous owners stepped in, purchased him, and brought him back to Texas in recent weeks. I believe Bloodhorse did an article on it? Plans are still pending on him but good on them for doing that (he’s a beautiful individual as well)
I imagine Calumet probably wants the best possible scenario for these guys. Maybe the reasoning why they were withdrawn last year: no one interested or not anyone that fit their criteria. It will be interesting to see if they are withdrawn again this time around.
They had Grey Swallow advertised last year as well by Calumet. He sold on to a dressage farm that also raises TB’s for clients in Virginia to stand 2021 but he died in August of this year. Looked like a lovely place and they were so happy to have him. So one of their stallions DID go on to a sport horse-type place recently.
1 Like
When Calumet consigned Musketier a year or two ago, then withdrew him (I think I’m remembering this correctly) I wondered if a private sale had happened involving someone interested in sport horse breeding. His type and pedigree was really specific, and otherwise completely unavailable in North America. So sad that he passed.
Behesht is a potentially more practical candidate for such a situation though, given his age. I found the video of him selling at auction in France back in 2014. He was lot number 18, and appears at the 43:30 mark. Sadly… it’s crummy quality video and hard to see much about the horse. Still… if I understand the French correctly, he sold for over half a million euros…
He was bought for $656,985 in 2014 and exported to the U.S.
I still wonder what they were thinking, though they did try to race him. He was not a good racehorse. Why they stood him is beyond me.
Hopefully he’ll go to a good place.
He had a good record in France at age 3, and came from a very good mare. But he did not perform well when they tried to race him here in North America.
Between Behesht and Musketier… it seems like they were after adding a few stallions who were outcrosses, sound, and could add distance potential to foals. Just my guess. I can understand it if that wasn’t a good business decision in the US Thoroughbred market, however.
1 Like
He does have good breeding but he raced 8 times in France in Allowance and Maiden company, not Listed races.
From 16 total starts (U.S. and France) his earnings were $143,833.
I hope he’s still sound. but finding a Sport Horse home for him (as a stallion to stand) may be tricky. I hope it works out that way.
There are quite a few Stallions in the catalog this year. By the time of the sale most of them are usually out.
GRP/W
| Black Type | Year | Course | FP | Margin | Race Name | WT | Race PM | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G2 | 2017 | BELMONT PARK | 6 | 28.8L | Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (Grade 2) (4yo+) 4U 2414m | 53.5 | $517,990 | $10,571 |
| G2 | 2016 | CHURCHILL DOWNS | 7 | 6L | Wise Dan Stakes (Grade 2) (3yo+) (Turf) 3U 1710m | 55.0 | $163,280 | $2,772 |
| G2 | 2017 | CHURCHILL DOWNS | 8 | 15.2L | Alysheba Stakes presented by Big Fish Casino (Grade 2) (4yo+) 4U 1710m | 53.5 | $528,560 | $5,286 |
| G2 stats - no wins, no placings from 3 starts | ||||||||
| G3 | 2016 | KENTUCKY | 7 | 9.0L | Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (Grade 3) (3yo+) (Turf) 3U 2414m | 55.0 | $416,790 | $7,081 |
| G3 | 2016 | KEENELAND | 9 | 9.0L | Sycamore Stakes (Grade 3) (3yo+) (Turf) 3U 2414m | 55.0 | $69,200 | $330 |
| G3 | 2016 | CHURCHILL DOWNS | 10 | 10.3L | River City Handicap (Grade 3) (3yo+) (Turf) 3U 1810m | 51.5 | $62,310 | $1,093 |
| G3 stats - no wins, no placings from 3 starts | ||||||||
| LR | 2014 | SAINT CLOUD | 1 | 0.2L | PRIX TURENNE 3CG SPEC COND 2400m | 56.0 | $77,360 | $38,678 |
| LR | 2014 | VICHY | 2 | 3L | PRIX FREDERIC DE LAGRANGE 3 SPEC COND 2400m | 56.0 | $71,930 | $14,386 |
| LR | 2014 | LONGCHAMP | 4 | 4.0L | PRIX DE L’AVRE 3 SPEC COND 2400m | 58.0 | $81,250 | $8,125 |
| LR stats - 1 win, 1 placing from 3 starts | ||||||||
| Non Black Type | 2014 | SAINT CLOUD | 1 | 3.5L | PRIX SEA BIRD 3 Cond (A) 2400m | 56.5 | $82,780 | $41,388 |
| Non Black Type | 2014 | LONGCHAMP | 1 | 0.1L | PRIX DE REUILLY 3 Cond (F) 2400m | 58.0 | $37,060 | $18,529 |
| Non Black Type | 2013 | SAINT CLOUD | 2 | 0.2L | PRIX PHARSALE 2 Cond (F) 2000m | 58.0 | $34,700 | $6,940 |
| Non Black Type | 2014 | SAINT CLOUD | 4 | 2.2L | PRIX CARACALLA 3CG Cond (B) 2400m | 55.5 | $50,400 | $5,040 |
| Non Black Type | 2015 | DUNDALK | 6 | 6.4L | www.valuecentre.ie Race 4U 2148m | 59.5 | $28,710 | |
| Non Black Type stats 2wins - 1placing from 5 starts |
he won a stakes race and placed in a stakes race in France. Listed, but black type
1 Like
Thanks. He just wasn’t what they expected. I’m still puzzled that anyone in the U.S. would think that standing him was a good idea, especially when they didn’t breed him to many of their own mares.
I thought one of the wins in France at 3 was in a Listed race?
RNA at 7K. I wonder if they got her to the track.
the appeal for me was that he is the only son of Sea the Stars here in the US. But … distance turf races are not the norm here. Those poor grassy stayers …
4 Likes
Oooh. I like the video of her. Lovely walk.
It was. I was incorrect. See Springboro’s post above. I should have said most of his races were not Listed.
1 Like
I really like that filly! And she was only 3? in that video.
1 Like
Don’t forget his mother. A beautifully bred mare from Aga Khan stud.
1 Like
Again, Calumet spent a lot on her, bred to her their own stallions and selling the babies for about $1-5K, and then sell her off cheap. I’m not sure what their thinking is. They’re a current leading breeder, though.
Great for Eventing if he can jump.
1 Like
Looks like she was 2.
Calumet doesn’t have a stallion whose fee is over 7.5K. Interesting.
